To Our Families:
We know you are concerned about the spread of COVID-19 and how it may impact your loved ones. Ensuring our residents are in a safe and healthy environment is our first priority.
Per guidance issued on November 18, 2020 from the federal government agency that oversees nursing homes, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), we are encouraging families to carefully consider family/group gatherings over the holidays. CMS recommends that residents do not leave the building, including during the holidays. Leaving the center could increase your loved one’s risk for exposure to COVID-19.
We understand this is a challenging time, and we want to make every effort to help you to connect with your loved one in safe but meaningful way, especially during the holidays. We will continue to offer and encourage you to utilize our Zoom video conferencing or window visitation.
If You Still Decide to Take a Resident Home for the Holidays
Should you and your loved one ultimately decide to leave the center despite these government recommendations, please be advised that the federal government has also directed us to take extra precautions upon your loved one’s return in an effort to keep all of our residents and staff members safe.
If you believe your loved one may have been exposed to COVID-19 while visiting with you for the holidays, please notify us immediately.
The center may implement the following actions when a resident returns.
Please bear in mind that recommendations for infection control precautions such as those listed above may continue to change and it is important that we follow local, state, and federal guidance.
Ways You Can Help Reduce the Spread of COVID-19
Meanwhile, we hope that we can count on you to help us curb the spread of COVID-19, so we can better protect your loved ones and allow for more in-person visitations. Below are some suggestions on how to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spread.
As we navigate these challenging times, we express our sincere gratitude for your support in helping to protect our residents. This year’s holiday celebrations will undoubtedly be different than we have ever seen before, but together we can find safe ways for our residents to enjoy the holidays with their family and friends.
Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact the center’s Infection Prevention & Control Specialist or me.
For additional information on COVID-19, please visit www.cdc.gov/coronavirus.
Thank you for your commitment and dedication to our residents.
Sincerely,
Nursing Home Administrator
NEW ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING ON-SITE VISITATIONS AT OUR CENTER EFFECTIVE 1/8/21
We are delighted to inform you that we will be able to welcome you back for Visitation. If you would like to schedule a visit, please contact the Admissions Office to set up your visitation appointment.
The State of Florida has determined that the public response to COVID-19 has progressed to the point where long-term care centers may reopen to visitors, under carefully controlled guidelines to ensure the continued well-being of our residents. It is vitally important that everyone carefully comply with these guidelines, both to protect the residents and to make sure no new cases emerge – a circumstance that would force us to once again close Indoor General Visitation until we are free of new cases for at least 14-days. The center must also have sufficient staff to support management of visitors, adequate PPE, adequate cleaning and disinfecting supplies and adequate capacity at referral hospitals for the center.
Our highest priority is the safety and well-being of our residents – and we know that your visits with them are important to their health and happiness. We will continue screening residents and each approved and scheduled visitor as they enter the center, and will continue testing staff weekly.
General and Compassionate Care Visitation: The resident will have no more than two (2) visitors per visit at any one time and the visit shall not exceed 45 minutes. Visitation shall be by appointment only and will be conducted in designated areas with center staff supervision. Visitors shall plan to arrive 15 minutes prior to your appointment to allow for proper screening and education.
In addition, to help keep the doors open, visitors will be required to meet the following conditions:
The center will deny access of a visitor for noncompliance with center infection prevention and control requirements.
We understand some of these requirements may present a challenge, but they are necessary to protect the loved ones under our care. We appreciate your cooperation in complying with the state’s requirements for visitation. Our residents, staff, and management are thrilled to welcome you back soon!
As we continue dealing with the unprecedented threat of COVID-19, the health and safety of our residents and staff remains the center’s top priority.
As we have throughout this crisis, we are focusing on limiting COVID-19’s impact at our center. Our professional staff are doing heroic work and have been trained on recommended protocols and guidelines from federal, state, and local public health agencies. The staff continues to follow CDC guidelines, including protocols for pre-screening residents prior to any admission or readmission, ongoing monitoring of all residents, screening of staff, and continual focus on infection control techniques and personal protective equipment recommendations.
The center remains in operation, but with restricted access and limited activities within the center to comply with social distancing. Therapy services continue to be provided in the resident’s room or one-on-one with a therapist in the therapy gym. Meals are served in the resident’s room. We encourage you to set up for virtual visits with your loved one via Zoom, FaceTime, or similar electronic applications.
Part of our mission and our responsibility is to keep you and the public fully informed about the steps we are taking to address COVID-19’s impact in our center. In the interest of transparency, we are providing the most current information about the status of COVID-19 at our center. We urge our residents, their families, and the community to remain safe and well throughout this ongoing situation.
We want to convey our sincere concern for those who have been diagnosed positive for COVID-19. Our thoughts are with them and their loved ones at this challenging time, and our deepest condolences go out to everyone who has lost a loved one during this crisis.
Additional information on mitigating steps the center is taking to prevent and control the spread of COVID-19, as well as cumulative information on COVID-19 cases at the center, can be found below.