COVID-19 News

10/13/20

 

Dear Residents and families:

 

We would like to update you on how things are going at The Grove as it relates to COVID-19.

We are happy to report, we continue to have NO residents or staff with a positive diagnosis of COVID-19, or showing signs or symptoms of illness.

Since our last communication on September 23^rd, there are currently a total of 5 known residents and 1 staff member in the skilled nursing section of our building (2^nd floor) with a positive COVID-19 test. To protect these resident’s and staff members HIPAA and privacy rights, we are not at liberty to provide any staff or residents with information regarding their diagnosis, etc.

The skilled nursing staff currently caring for COVID-19 residents are NOT using the same exit and entrance doors as all other residents or staff in the community. They have a separate pathway in the facility and a separate breakroom so that contact with others is extremely limited. We do not share staff with the skilled nursing floor.

We are continuing to suspend large group activities. This includes any candle light dinners, outside performers, or any activities that would hold more than 5 people in a small area.

We are also asking all residents and their families to NOT conduct visits outside of the facility due to social distancing concerns. Any resident found to be visiting family outside of the facility will be placed on a 14-day quarantine. This is not a punishment, but rather an intervention to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

As a reminder: Any resident that leaves the facility to visit with family and/or friends will be required to go into quarantine for 14 days. This a recommendation directly from the Department of Public Health and Department of Social Services. Residents continuously leaving the facility for non-essential matters requiring quarantine afterwards might be required to pay for any personal protective equipment expenses the facility is required to maintain for that particular resident.

Residents are allowed to leave the facility to attend medical appointments, and will not have to go into quarantine (unless if gone for more than 24 hours).

As you know, our residents and staff share common areas such as the elevator, and kitchen areas with the skilled residents and staff. Therefore, we have increased housekeeping and maintenance staff in order to increase the frequency in which we clean and disinfect door knobs, hand rails, keypads…all touchable surfaces.

Again, we ask that all families and/or friends that wish to visit a resident on facility grounds (patios only – no indoor visits) please notify the facility at least 48 hours in advance. No more than 2 visitors at a time and we are recommending no children visit during this pandemic. Upon arrival to the facility, all visitors must check in at the front desk to be screened by staff. Anyone who refuses to do so will be asked to leave. All visitors MUST be wearing a mask AT ALL TIMES during the visit. Visitors must also sit at least 6 feet from each other. Due to limited shade, we ask that families and friends bring their own personal canopies, umbrellas, foldable chairs, etc. to make their visit as comfortable as possible.

We recently received a new notification from CALA regarding testing:

• Surveillance testing schedule of all staff; Facilities should conduct surveillance testing of 25 percent of all staff every 7 days (e.g., choose different staff to test every 7 days). screening and testing residents and staff;  testing residents returning from a higher level of care or outing; Prior to returning to a facility, residents without known exposure, who are asymptomatic, and are returning from a hospitalization or skilled nursing facility (SNF) stay should be tested by the hospital or SNF.
• Communal dining and group activities; some counties do not allow for indoor dining and indoor gyms, you may still use your facility’s dining room and fitness equipment or gym as long residents, staff, and visitors are adhering to infection control guidelines (e.g., screening and testing, requiring face coverings, physical distancing, and outdoors if possible). Facility salons may operate indoors with modifications, and all licensed salons must follow conditions of their licensure.
• Residents returning from a hospital visit (e.g., emergency room visit), or other outpatient care (e.g., dialysis treatment, mental health treatment), should not be required to be tested, or separated from others in the facility after the resident’s return, unless the resident was exposed to or has symptoms of COVID-19 after returning from the visit. If the facility becomes aware of a known exposure that occurred during the visit, the licensee should notify the resident and if applicable their authorized representative, quarantine the resident for 14 days, and get the resident tested if possible.
• Facilities should consider periodic surveillance testing and cohorting for residents that regularly leave for:
  o   hospital visits;
  o   dialysis treatment;
  o   emergency room visits; and other medical appointments.

Following these recommendations is vital to the safety of our community. DO NOT visit the community if you’ve been exposed or suspect exposure to someone with COVID-19. Per latest CDC data, many new COVID patients showed little to no symptoms of the virus. Therefore, it is so important that families refrain from coming to the community if possible. Otherwise, please visit responsibly.

We will be sending this notice out to residents who do not currently have an email so they are well informed of our current situation.

As always, please reach out with questions, concerns, or requests for assistance.  We will continue to keep you updated if any big changes occur or as additional information becomes available.