COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Update

May 19, 2022 Letter

Dear Family Members and Friends,

I know that most people are moving about the county without wearing masks and I think that’s great. However, in a long term care facility, we are still required to wear masks and screen prior to entry. I appreciate your understanding of these continued requirements from the CDC and CMS.

<NOTICE>

IF EXPERIENCING A CURRENT OUTBREAK

USE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN VISITING THE FACILITY

VISITING DURING OUTBREAK GREATLY INCREASES THE RISKS OF CONTRACTING AND SPREADING COVID-19

We want to encourage ALL families that if you are showing any new symptom that is consistent with any COVID-19 symptom, you DO NOT VISIT. The health screen in the lobby should be answered TRUTHFULLY.

If you have a new headache, a new cough, congestion, or any other symptom consistent with COVID-19, visitation is NOT allowed. Please do not put our residents and staff at risk. It does not matter that you believe its only a cold or a sinus infection. The questions on the screen clearly list these symptoms.

If you contract COVID or have an exposure, you may not visit for 14 days. So visitation could resume on day 15. Please contact activities to set up virtual visits with your loved one should this be the case.

*UPDATE TO VISITATION POLICY

Even if a visitor has met community criteria to discontinue isolation or quarantine, visitors should not visit if they have any of the following and have not met the same criteria used to discontinue isolation and quarantine for residents. If you have questions, call the facility and ask for Jessica or Todd.

a positive viral test for SARS-CoV-2,
symptomsof COVID-19, or
close contact with someone with SARS-CoV-2 infection

As outlined below in the section titled “Visitation Policy,” a change has been made that all visitors must comply with until further notice. ALL VISITORS REGARDLESS OF VACCINATION STATUS, SHOULD HAVE A MASK IN PLACE WHEN INSIDE THE FACILITY. This is based on updated federal and state guidance for facilities that are located in a county with substantial or high transmission rates of COVID-19. Catawba County is currently in Moderate community commission. When in substantial or high, vaccinated visitors for vaccinated residents are no longer permitted to remove their masks during private/in room visits. You will continue to be updated as changes are made to this policy. Please be aware that we regard the right to ask you to leave if you are unable to comply with this, or any other visitation policy. We stated at the beginning of this pandemic that the safety of your loved one is our highest priority and this continues to be our focus. Thank You in advance for your cooperation.

PLEASE COMMUNICATE THESE POLICIES TO EVERYONE WHO VISITS YOUR LOVED ONE, INCLUDING…

If you have a cold, do not visit.

If you think you have symptoms from allergies, do not visit.

If you have a runny nose, do not visit.

VISITATION CAUTION

As of 5/9/22, MODERATE COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION rate.

It is possible to spread the virus even if you are vaccinated. Please take extra special precautions especially since the positivity rate in our county is 7.4% and rising.

Care Plan meeting will ONLY be conducted by telephone at this time until the community transmission rate in Catawba County remains in LOW for 30 days.

Vaccine Education Links

Updated Vaccines 101 deck
Updated View Your Vaccine Information
NEW videos in the vaccine video library

Please remember that some of our readers are receiving this information for the first time. For this reason, I leave certain informational sections in the updates.

GENERAL VISITATION GUIDELINES

CMS HAS MANDATED SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES TO ALLOW VISITATION AT ALL TIMES, EVEN DURING A FACILITY OUTBREAK. THE FACILITY IS REQUIRED TO INFORM VISITORS OF THE RISK OF VISITING DURING AN OUTBREAK. FACILITIES ARE ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING VISITORS REMAIN SOCIALLY DISTANCED (SIX FEET APART FROM ANYONE ELSE), VISIT OUTSIDE RESIDENT’S ROOM WHEN POSSIBLE IF IN A SHARED ROOM, AND WEAR REQUIRED PPE. VISITORS ARE NO LONGER REQUIRED TO SCHEDULE VISITS.

However, should our families still wish to schedule visits so that their loved one is ready when families arrive to visit or to reserve an outdoor spot, please feel free to do so. You can still do this by contacting activities department.

With the new mandate, we still want our families to know and understand that outdoor visitation still poses the least amount of risk to your loved one, our other residents and our staff. The risks of visitors contracting COVID-19 or passing it on to one of residents is greatly increased when visiting indoors.

The risks of contracting COVID-19 by visiting during a facility outbreak is even exponentially greater.

In order to protect our residents and staff, CMS encourages families to obtain a COVID-19 test within 2-3 days prior to entering a skilled nursing facility. CMS also encourages those who visit skilled nursing facilities to be fully vaccinated.

At this time, residents and visitors are required to wear masks at all times during visitation (regardless of vaccination status) due to the high community transmission rate in Catawba County.

92% of our residents have been fully vaccinated as of 5/16/2022. These numbers change daily as residents are admitted, discharged or meet the definition for being fully vaccinated. Although a vaccinated person may not “feel” sick from COVID-19, they could be infected and/or spread the virus to others. For example, if a vaccinated resident contracts the virus from a staff member or visitor, that resident will likely be protected from the disease, but could put unvaccinated residents, visitors and/or staff members at serious risk.

Ideally, according to the CDC, unvaccinated residents who wish to be vaccinated should not start indoor visitation until they have been fully vaccinated as defined below.

Outdoor Visitation is preferred, even when both the visitor and resident have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. (Fully vaccinated refers to a person who is > 2 weeks following receipt of the second dose in a 2-dose series, or > 2 weeks following receipt of one dose of a single-dose vaccine, per the CDC’s Public Health Recommendations for Vaccinated Persons.)

Outdoor visits generally pose a lower risk of transmission due to increased space and airflow. Therefore, visits should be held outdoors whenever practicable.

Visitation Policy (Updated 9/24/21)

Visitors must wear a mask to be inside of the facility. You must keep your mask covering your mouth and nose for the entire time you are inside the building, for your entire visit. Failure to do so will result in being asked to leave the building.

Visitors must be screened at the front desk, including a temperature check, and cleared from any signs or symptoms of COVID-19. Entry will be denied if visitor has had close contact with someone with COVID-19 infection in the prior 14 days (regardless of the visitor’s vaccination status). Facility staff will also be observing visitors for any signs and symptoms of COVID-19.

CHECK IN/SCREEN SYSTEM

We have installed a stand-alone screening kiosk for visitors. Each person must enter a designated phone number the first time they log in. Visitors may not share the same number. Once you enter your name information the first time, you will log in with your telephone number each time after that. The kiosk is in the lobby and will ask a series of questions and take each visitor’s temperature. Once all screening questions are answered, the visitor will be allowed to visit. Upon passing the screen, a label will print out with the visitor’s name. Vaccinated visitors will place a green sticker on top of their name badge. All visitors MUST wear their name badge in an area visible to staff. This lets our staff know that each visitor completed the check in screen. We ask that only one group at a time enter the lobby to check in. The next group can enter the lobby once the previous family exits the lobby area. This may increase wait times a bit, but we will do our best to keep things moving.

If a visitor cannot pass the questions on the health screen, they should not visit the facility. For example, if you think you have a ‘sinus infection’ or a ‘cold’, please do not visit. Also, visitors who exhibit any symptoms similar to those associated with COVID-19 will be asked to visit another time regardless of answers given on entrance screen.

If visiting in a room with a roommate present, all must wear masks and roommate curtain must be closed. Visitors must socially distance from the resident and roommate regardless of vaccination status.

Visitors should complete hand hygiene frequently and before/after visitation.

Every attempt will be made to accommodate any special requests regarding visitation. Please be aware that visits requested after 9pm may require additional wait times for check-in process.

If a visitor should start to exhibit symptoms during a visit, they should notify facility staff at the front desk and leave the facility immediately.

For residents who share a room, visits will be conducted in a visitation area (when possible). Visitors may also request that a visit take place outdoors when the weather is nice. If no other area besides the shared room is available, curtain between residents must be pulled and visitors must socially distance from roommate and all must wear masks.

Visitors are not permitted to walk around inside the facility. Visitors will go directly to the designated family member’s room or visitation area for visit. When the visit is finished, the visitor will exit the facility immediately. Visitors are not permitted to visit other residents’ rooms, hallways, or any other care areas besides the designated visiting space for that visit.

Residents will also be required to wear masks during visits as well as perform hand hygiene before and after the visit.

Instructional signage regarding hand hygiene and signs and symptoms of COVID-19 are posted throughout the facility.

Appropriate use of additional PPE is required as posted.

Visitors who begin to display symptoms within 14 days after visiting the facility are asked to call the facility and relay that information to Jessica McCain, our Infection Preventionist.

Children will be allowed to visit with a supervising adult as long as they pass all visitor screening criteria AND abide by all infection control protocols including wearing a mask over nose and mouth for the duration of the visit.

Should you have any questions about the visitation policies please do not hesitate to call and ask. This is a lot of information and some of it is technical. We are doing all we can to keep your loved ones as safe as possible

PET VISITATION

Pet visitation is approved on a case by case basis. You may make an appointment for our activity department to meet and approve the pet you would like to bring. In addition, dogs over 25 lbs must personally meet and be approved by the administrator. Prior to approval, we must be provided a copy of current shot records. You will be contacted regarding final approval. Dogs that display aggressive tendencies such as barking or have a tendency to bite strangers will not be approved and should not be brought to the facility.

Visitor Testing and Vaccination Considerations

Families who visit (both vaccinated and unvaccinated) understand that they could pose an exposure risk to our residents and/or staff resulting in an outbreak. It is imperative that infection control core principles are followed while visiting the facility and that our families do their part to protect all of our staff and residents.

Even though we cannot require visitors to be fully vaccinated or tested prior to visiting our facility, we graciously ask that you do your part to protect our residents and our staff.

UPDATE: Taking a Resident out of the facility for a visit/day trip:

Residents may be taken out of the facility as long as the resident is not on precautions (i.e. had an exposure due to the outbreak). Family members and residents should wear a mask (whether vaccinated or unvaccinated) at all times when in a public area, especially indoors and at any time when around individuals other than family. They should also maintain physical distancing from anyone not part of the family. If you have questions about whether or not your loved one can have a day trip, please call and speak to Jessica.

CMS Recommendations for Best Practice

In order to protect our residents and staff, CNRC encourages families to obtain a COVID-19 test within 2-3 days prior to entering a skilled nursing facility.

In order to protect our residents and staff, CNRC encourages visitors to be fully vaccinated prior to entering a skilled nursing facility.

Visitors will be required to sign a statement attesting their understanding that they can still contract and continue to spread COVID-19 to our residents, our staff and others in their community regardless of vaccination status.

General

Please understand as we adjust for infection control measures, residents on all halls may be asked to make unforeseen room changes for their safety.

We remain committed to keeping our residents safe by implementing infection control practices as recommended by CMS and the CDC. Most of our residents are elderly and may have conditions that put them at high risk for becoming sick or even severely ill with COVID-19.

The following guidelines must be followed during any visitation:

Must not have traveled outside the country in the last 14 days.
Must complete and pass a written symptom screen and temperature check prior to EACH visit.
Must not be exhibiting any symptoms of COVID-19 as defined by the CDC; including cough, congestion, runny nose, recent loss of taste or smell, fever, etc. In this day and time, you may not say ‘I have a sinus infection. I get them all the time’. Unfortunately, this means you are not allowed to visit.
Must acknowledge acceptance of visit orientation and infection control protocols.
Must provide your own mask and wear mask that covers both mouth and nose. Once inside another mask may be provided to use during your visit as supplies allow.
Must maintain a distance of 6ft apart from resident and others at all times (please no physical contact unless both fully vaccinated).
Go directly to and from resident’s room and may not leave the room until ready to exit the facility.
No dining during the visit unless both are fully vaccinated.
If you begin to show symptoms while visiting the facility, you must inform a nurse and leave immediately.
We recommend (but cannot require) that if you are visiting your loved one, you get tested regularly if possible.

Failure to comply with required protocols will result in facility ending the visit.

Virtual visits are encouraged and can still be scheduled by appointment with Amber or Rhonda.

We have taken the following actions to reduce the risk of COVID-19 to our residents and staff.

We are monitoring all staff and residents for signs and symptoms of this illness on a routine basis.
Should the monitoring indicate the possibility of the illness, quarantine and prompt testing of the individual would occur.
Our staff is wearing face coverings and other protective equipment to assist in preventing the spread of respiratory infections as well as following other infection control and prevention practices.
We continue educating and monitoring staff and residents on infection control measures to include social distancing, hand washing and cough etiquette.

We appreciate the trust you have placed in us to care for your loved one. We are looking forward to the time when this contagious virus is no longer circulating and we can see all of you again. Room numbers for our residents should be visible from the outside windows. If you find that a room number is not visible from the outside windows please make us aware.

This communication is sent to the primary resident contact. Please feel free to share with other interested family members or friends. Please contact us if you have any questions and check our website often for updates. Lastly, please remember to keep us in your prayers.

It is important to remain up to date with all recommended COVID-19 vaccine doses.

Remember

If you leave home, practice your W’s: Wear, Wait, Wash

Wear a cloth covering over your nose and mouth.
Wait 6 feet apart. Avoid close contact.
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer.

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