Update from Administrator – November 20, 2020
November 20, 2020
Dear Families,
As you may have seen, more than 60% of Connecticut nursing homes now have at least one COVID-19 positive resident and/or employee. Crestfield is among these facilities with a separate area for our COVID positive residents. Community spread of this insidious virus is affecting nearly every community in our immediate region and the state.
We are reminding our staff to not only practice safeguards against COVID in our center, but to be vigilant outside of our center and share these practices with their friends and loved ones. We still ask you to do your part while in your community and PLEASE wear your mask, wash your hands, and watch your distance. And please promote these very simple precautions with your extended family and friends.
Some updates
- With Thanksgiving upon us this week, below are a few of the activities we have planned, as well as our menu:
- Wednesday we will have Turkey Creations and Pressed Fall Leave Artwork
- Thursday we will be making clay turkeys, participating in our Thanksgiving quiz and partaking of Sweet Potato Pie
- Friday we will have our Thanksgiving themed games and Fall Leaves Designing
We now have ample tablets assigned for our residents to use for virtual visits, games, tele-health visits, news updates, etc. Many of our residents are enjoying learning how to use this technology and having the world at their fingertips.
Indoor Visits
As a reminder, our indoor visitation policy and procedures follow state and federal requirements. They are currently on hold. Based on that, nursing homes and visitors must adhere to many conditions when we begin indoor visits listed in previous emails. Some are listed below:
- We must limit the number of visitors per patient at one time and limit the total number of visitors in the center at a time. This will be based on the amount of physical space we have available for our designated visitation area, which is our Recreation Room.
- Screening for anyone who enters our center – temperature and health screen questionnaire – will take place by a member of our team.
- We cannot allow visitors to move freely throughout our center; visitors will go directly to the designated visitation area, Recreation Room.
- Hand hygiene must be followed, and personal protection equipment (PPE) must be worn by visitors.
Indoor, End Stage of Life Care Visits
As a new case of COVID has been identified in the center, all inside visits, except end stage of life and approved compassionate care visits, are temporarily put on hold.
Outside & “Alternative” Visits
Please know that window and “alternative” visitations will continue. While the weather is changing, we will work to continue to do outside visits on our patio for as long as possible and window visits are still possible. The weather seems to be holding steady for now and we continue to make accommodations and work on new ways to continue safe visitation.
And again, remember that we do offer iPads for our residents to use for video visits, phone calls, etc. to ensure that you and your loved ones remain in contact, as best as you can during these very difficult times.
As always, thank you for your patience and please stay safe and healthy!