Update from Administrator – May 12, 2021
May 12, 2021
Dear Friends and Families of Valorie Manor,
This week, we celebrate National Skilled Nursing Care Week (formerly National Nursing Home Week). This year’s theme is “Together Through the Seasons.” NSNCW began on Sunday, May 9, Mother’s Day and runs through May 15. The theme will honor the collaborative commitment of our staff in providing compassionate care to your loved ones during this unprecedented time.
Over the past year, despite the challenges of the pandemic, our team has shown an incredible and steadfast commitment to providing quality care and ensuring the safety of their residents. Throughout the week, our team has many activities and special meals planned for our residents and staff. Please look on our Facebook or contact our recreation team to learn more.
Also, as you may have seen or heard on the news lately, more than 30 Connecticut nursing homes have threatened to go on strike later this week. Please know that our center is not unionized, therefore unaffected by this strike.
Some updates for you:
Visitation
- Our Current Covid Status remains at Zero (0) for both residents and staff.
- A revised guideline from CMS came out that we are now implementing.
- Residents and visitors who are fully vaccinated may visit without social distancing and masks if alone in the resident’s room or alone in a designated area. Although not mandatory, we recommend you provide a copy of your vaccine to recreation if you have been vaccinated.
- If the visitor is not vaccinated, they can visit with a fully vaccinated resident alone in the resident’s room without distancing while both are wearing well-fitting masks.
- You are also now permitted to eat with your loved one IF you and your loved one are both fully vaccinated and in your loved one’s room alone or alone in a designated visiting area.
- We continue to explore ways to increase our visitation calendar, especially for outside visitations.
- A reminder, even outside visitations still require a mask, currently. The CDC and state continue to update their guidance for nursing homes – and we’ll keep you up to date on any changes. If you are unfamiliar with our protocols, please ask us.
- We always offer visitations using our technology (iPads, tablets, calls, etc.) and when we can, window visits and outside visits.
- For visitation appointments, please contact Tracy, our Director of Recreation.
Recreation / Activities / Dining:
- We are delighted to continue holding small, socially distanced group activities and dining
- This week includes Through the Seasons theme for Nursing Home Week. Today was Taco Tuesday and Garden tea time, Tomorrow is Celebrating Independence day, Thursday is sports themed Tailgate Party and Friday is Holiday Madness with a visit from Santa!
- 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.
- 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. The feedback from residents on the availability of the tablets has been fantastic!
- However, we will ensure that your loved one enjoys the meal, treat, etc. once the visit is complete.
Vaccination Update
- As we have said before, 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. But some good news…We have Collected all consents for the Vaccine and are awaiting our clinic to be scheduled through our pharmacy partners!
We hope you have a great week and look forward to seeing you!!
Craig Dumont, LNHA
Administrator