Update from Administrator – April 15, 2021
April 15, 2021
Dear Friends and Families of Valerie Manor,
We hope this email finds you healthy and as optimistic as we are about the continuing decline in COVID cases in our surrounding community. Considering these encouraging numbers, we will begin to take a slightly different approach with these weekly email updates to you, focusing more on recreation activities taking place in our center, special events, and significant changes taking place.
Vaccination Update – Although not mandatory, we continue to encourage any employee who has not been vaccinated to obtain one. Currently, they may obtain one at a community clinic. We are also working with our state to do “catch-up” clinics to assist our team and new residents in obtaining the vaccine right here in our center. A production halt of one of the vaccines have caused some delays in the planning process, and we are awaiting DPH communications for the scheduling of these catch up clinics. In addition, Regional hospitals are working on plans to offer the first dose of a COVID vaccine to their patients being discharged to nursing homes.
Visitation – Our Current Covid Status is Zero (0) Staff and Residents . We are back to Surveillance and Monitoring residents, and weekly testing of staff . That being said, we are open to Visitation. We always offer visitations using our technology (iPads, tablets, calls, etc.) and when we can, window visits and outside visits. If you do not have an appointment scheduled, please contact the facility to schedule an appointment for an outdoor visit, indoor visit, window visit or virtual visit. Outdoor visitation is still the recommended form of visitation from CMS and the CDC.
Recreation / Activities / Dining:
- We are delighted to once again safely begin holding small, socially distanced group activities.
- Outdoor activities are always encouraged and preferred by the CDC and CMS, however indoor events are once again taking place following the outbreak guidance.
- These events will safely welcome back in our volunteers and vendors including entertainment, clergy, artists, and instructors.
- We are also getting ready to celebrate Nursing Home Week 5/10-5/14. This year’s theme is “Through the seasons”…it will be a week long celebration with lots of great things planned….more to come…
- This week’s fun included root beer floats, outdoor strolls, bingo, exercise games, trivia, crafts, and lots of family visits!
- A reminder to everyone that we do have various tablet devices for your loved one to utilize to access games, various communication tools, games, news, and more. We have done some tutoring and training of the tablets so that residents are more comfortable with them.
- In addition, we are once again welcoming our Residents back into a communal dining atmosphere following all guidance set forth by the CDC and CMS. This means our Dining Rooms are again re-opening for meals, allowing for additional opportunities for socialization among our residents.
Thank you and, as always, please stay safe and healthy!
Craig Dumont, LNHA
Administrator