Update From Administrator – September 24, 2020
September 24, 2020
Dear Families,
As always, our team and I hope this email finds you safe and healthy.
We continue testing our staff and residents at regular intervals as required by CMS, CDC and DPH. We are happy to report that we remain COVID free!
A few quick points:
- I want to reiterate that this pandemic is still active and while we remain COVID-free, our state continues to report new cases of COVID and as we see in the news, some states continue to surge with new cases. This serves as a reminder that we must all remain vigilant in following all guidelines, recommendations, and best practices to stay safe and fight this pandemic.
- Although we are following social distance guidelines, handwashing protocols, hygiene recommendations, and wearing masks in our facility – it is still STRONGLY encouraged that all staff and residents receive an annual Influenza Vaccine. Our residents have received their flu vaccine if their responsible party has consented to it. Please consider completing a consent form, in advance to ensure your loved one receives their vaccine.
- We have received the “Point of Care Testing Device” from the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that is designed to enable us to conduct COVID-19 Antigen testing within our center, providing rapid results. We are working on getting our clinicians certified in the use of this device and will communicate with you once we begin using it.
- Food is now allowed to be dropped off by families for their loved one’s enjoyment and take out delivery has also been authorized. Our receptionist will meet the individual delivering the food at the front entrance and will have it delivered to the resident by our staff.
- Our Beauty Salon is open for all salon services under strict guidelines to ensure safety.
- Each nursing unit has tablets / iPads assigned for resident use such as virtual visits, games, telemedicine visits, etc. Many of our residents are enjoying learning how to use this technology and having the world at their fingertips.
- We have “fresh air” time where residents can get some much-needed sunshine.
- Our outdoor social distancing activities programming continues to expand and evolve. We continue to offer outdoor supervised social distancing visits – Please continue to use our special email address recreation@tremontrehab.com to request virtual visits, outdoor social distancing visits, or ask questions. All calls and voicemails for visits will go to Lisa in our recreational department.
- Every weekday, I and my administrative team round a different nursing unit and meet with our residents to let them know we’re here for them and give them an opportunity to voice any questions or concerns they may have directly to us. We also use this time during rounds to assess our residents, our environment, and ask our residents specific questions such as satisfaction with meals, preferences, activities being provided, interaction and response from staff, proper operation of all equipment in room and more!
We have saved the best news for last… We just received state guidance for indoor visitation! Just as with our outdoor visits there are several state guidelines we need to follow.
Starting September 25, 2020, we will be starting indoor visits. Indoor visits will be held in our Parlor behind the receptionist area. At the door temperature monitoring will continue just as we did for the outdoor visits. Two visitors are allowed per family. Visitors must be over the age of 18. Visits will last no longer that 30 minutes so please be on time. Call or email us to schedule a visit. The facility will be cleaning the area after every visit per CDC guidelines.
Thank you and please stay safe and healthy!
Deborah Joseph
Administrator