Update from Administrator – February 13, 2021

Update from Administrator – February 13, 2021

February 13, 2020

Dear Families and Responsible Parties,

Happy Valentine’s Week-end!  I hope this letter finds you safe, healthy and ready to celebrate this week-end of kindness and generosity with 6 feet distancing and masks on if you happen to venture out of your homes to the grocery stores, for Valentine Take-Out, etc.

Our current CVOID status is 5 Residents who have tested positive for the Coronavirus and no Covid Positive Staff.

As you know by now, our staff and residents have completed two COVID-19 vaccination clinics, with the majority of our eligible staff and residents now having received at least one dose. The third and final clinic occurred on 2/9/2021. A 2nd dose of the Covid-19 Vaccination for our residents and staff will be offered next door at The Commons on 2/21/2021.

We are very excited that our residents and staff have had now had the opportunity to receive their doses of the COVID-19 vaccine from CVS.  Any resident and staff member who did not participate or may be new to our center since the clinics were offered, continue to be eligible to receive the vaccine under the Phase 1a category. However, the vaccine will be administered outside of our center.

If your loved one is new to our center, we will contact you about your options as we continue to receive information from the state and CVS on the evolving plans.

With most nursing home residents having already received their first, and in many cases, second doses of the vaccine, the state has already reported a significant decrease in nursing home cases of COVID among residents and staff, further proof that the vaccine works and we’re doing our part to eliminate COVID!

While the vaccination plan in our state is well underway, we continue to take all necessary precautions, including wearing personal protective equipment and conducting regular testing, to ensure the safety of our residents and staff.

Visitation

As you know, the vaccine will not provide immediate protection and we still need to see prevalence in the surrounding communities decline. We continue to follow the existing guidance from CDC, CMS, and our state’s DPH for visitation and infection control practices. As soon as they adjust their guidance, based on vaccination rates in nursing homes, we will let you know.

Our current visitation status is: Virtual Visits and Window Visits for any resident not on the Covid Positive Unit or the Observation Unit.

If you are interested in a Window Visit, please call the Recreation Dept. to arrange a date and time for the visit. Window Visit will not be held during Snow and Ice Storms for the safety of all involved.

Visitation Reminders:

We want to provide some reminders about our visitation policy, based on requirements set by our state’s DPH and the federal CMS and CDC. We do apologize, but the below is to ensure that everyone has the opportunity for visits, under the strict state and federal guidelines we must adhere to. We know this is not the optimal way to visit your loved one, but these guidelines have been put in place with your loved ones’ and our staff’s best interest in mind. If you would like to arrange for a Window Visit,

  • Call 203-426-5847 and ask for the Recreation Department. The Recreation Dept. will set up the Window Visit appointment.

 

Please note that Compassionate Care Visits and End of Life Visits, will be set up by the facility. A member of the Social Services Dept. or the Nursing Dept. will reach out to you and ask you if you would like to come to the facility for an indoor visit with your loved one. An appointment will be set up at your convenience. We ask that you come to the facility with a mask on covering your nose and mouth. Once inside the facility, you will be asked to take your temperature and don Personal Protective Equipment (Gown, Gloves, Surgical Mask and Face Shield ) before entering your loved one’s room or designated visiting area.

Thank you for your continued cooperation.

Sincerely,

Linda A. Urbanski, Ph.D., Administrator and the Team at Newtown Rehabiltation

February 15, 2021 A Healthier Approach To Caring