Update from Administrator – May 5, 2020
As some states begin to ease restrictions on businesses and the general public, please note that our center will NOT be included in any category. The visitor restriction placed on us by the state in early March is still in effect for the foreseeable future; we will advise you when this changes. We continue to offer our weekly conference call for families and FaceTime calls, Zoom meetings, and window visits for you and your loved ones.
From the beginning of this crisis, we have implemented extensive infection control measures to protect residents. I have listed those in many past emails, our weekly “Town Hall” conference calls, and this information remains on our website. As always, if you would like any details on them, please let me know.
Shady Knoll Health Center currently has 17 positive COVID-19 residents. We now have 19 residents considered COVID-recovered. These residents have been or are in the process of being moved to our COVID recovery unit. We expect the number of COVID-recovered residents to continue to increase. Please note, we are continuing to do room changes based upon each resident’s condition.
For perspective, in Massachusetts, patients and staff have tested positive in more than 300 centers. That is more than 80% of all nursing homes. In Connecticut, patients and staff have tested positive in more than 2/3 of the nursing homes in the state. In Rhode Island, patients and staff have tested positive in more than 40 centers.
We also continue to do all we can to protect our other residents and remain committed to ensuring the personal protective equipment (PPE) our staff needs and are in compliance with CDC and state guidelines regarding the appropriate use of PPE. We continue to follow every lead to secure PPE from existing and new vendors and request equipment from the state. We are satisfied with our supply but are always monitoring it and working to build it up for the long road ahead.
We are in touch daily with the Department of Public Health and our local Health Department. DPH and CDC (with the National Guard) visited our facility last week to review practices, supplies, and staffing. We continue to follow all CDC and state guidelines and receive regular updates on new guidelines that are offered.
I remain incredibly grateful for our dedicated team and ask you to join me in ensuring that they are included as “Health Care Heroes” battling COVID-19. They are doing everything they possibly can to care for those suffering and support them as they battle this disease.
We support our talented staff whose commitment to caring for our residents throughout this health crisis inspires us every day.
We have heard from many of you about how you can recognize our staff – like what is happening all around our state with other “Health Care Heroes.” If you want to organize a Parade for our team, make them customized masks, deliver a meal, etc., they would appreciate the recognition as they are a huge part of the health care heroes doing their part in the battle against COVID-19.
Our commitment is to be as transparent as possible and work to address any issues that arise. This is an incredibly challenging time and we will continue to do all we can to get through this, together.
Thank you and please stay safe and healthy!
Deborah S. Torrey
Administrator