Update from Administrator – February 4, 2022
Hello Family and Friends of Valerie Manor. We hope this week finds you safe and well…
Some updates from our communication last week. State Covid Positivity rates are down to below 10% and hospitalization rates are down. Although Declining…we need to remain diligent. During our weekly staff testing we had no newly identified staff positives as of this morning. We are down to Zero (0) positive staff . Also, As of today we are down to a total of 12 residents with Positive covid stemming from direct or indirect community exposures. Of these residents, seven (7) will be fully recovered tomorrow resulting in a total of five (5) asymptomatic/recovering Covid Positive residents as of 2/5/22. We continue to be vigilant about protecting loved ones and ensure proper social distancing, masking, and infection prevention protocols are followed, even outside our center. With the Community at large seeing the recent surge in cases…
A few Housekeeping items…For those residents who are being discharged and/or are no longer staying in our facility, we ask that a collection of personal items and memory keepsakes be collected in a timely manner. When you come to get personal items, timely collection and pick up are essential to maintain the items you hold dear. We are a very busy building, and vacated rooms need to be cleared, cleaned and set up within 24 hours to make room for new residents needing our care. Any items wished to be discarded or donated we would be happy to take care of for you, but we have very limited, unsecure storage of boxed personal items left behind for pick up. Please arrange timely pick up of personal belongings to assure you get all you need. Arrange Pick with Social Services or Recreation staff.
And finally, we are continuing to follow the Governor’s Executive order for Visitors in Nursing homes. Executive Order 14F from Governor Lamont mandates all visitors to our facility must provide either proof of their full dose of COVID-19 vaccine or show evidence of having a negative COVID-19 test (PCR within 72 hrs. -or- Antigen/rapid within 48 hours). Proof Can be either electronic or actual documentation. We will not maintain these records in the facility so you will need to provide proof at every visit.
As a reminder…
- All visitors must free of symptoms relating to COVID-19, including fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath/difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle/body aches, headache, new loss of taste/smell, sore throat, congestion/runny nose, nausea/vomiting, and/or diarrhea.
- If a visitor has had a recent positive viral test for COVID-19, symptoms of COVID-19, or currently meet the criteria for quarantine, THEY CANNOT enter our facility
- It is imperative that all visitors use proper hand hygiene (use of alcohol-based hand rub is recommended) upon arrival at our facilities.
- All visitors must wear their mask at all times in the facility, regardless of vaccination status.
- Visitors must maintain physical distancing of at least six feet – in accordance with CDC guidance.
- If a visitor gives permission, the facility may keep a copy of their vaccination card on file.
- Visitors must be denied entrance if they have tested positive within the past 10 days. Can resume visitation after completion of the isolation period as long as symptoms have improved.
- Unvaccinated Visitors must be denied entrance if they have had a direct exposure for 14 days, unless they have been COVID positive within the last 90 days.
- When entering our center, all visitors must review the instructional signage and visitor education on COVID- 19 signs and symptoms, infection control precautions, other applicable facility practices (e.g., use of face covering or mask, specified entries, exits and routes to designated areas, hand hygiene).
Current Guidelines are in effect until 2/15 unless otherwise extended by DPH. Please also note that the limited number of tests we will receive from DPH are to allow safe visitation of our residents. It is not to be used as a Testing station for personal need and the results are not maintained or reported to any regulatory agency by the facility. We encourage everyone to either get vaccinated or get regularly tested at an approved testing location and maintain those records if needed for your own safety and for the safety of your loved ones.
Stay safe and warm.
Craig Dumont
Administrator