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. Community spread of this insidious virus is affecting nearly every community in our immediate region and the state. Our facility has 1 staff member and 1 resident who have tested positive. The staff member has been in quarantine at home and the resident has been in quarantine in a private room on the designated unit.
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
Menu on Thanksgiving:
Roasted Turkey, Gravy, Stuffing, Green Bean Casserole, Mashed Potatoes,
Cranberry Sauce and Pumpkin Pie. Sliced Ham will also be available.
• With the Holiday upon us next week, we will conduct video chats on Thanksgiving Day, as well as throughout the week.
• Also, there will be a musical serenade outside at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Residents will be able to listen to the music from inside their rooms.
• We have more tablets dedicated 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. Based on those requirements, the facility has put on hold Indoor Visits until such time when the facility does not have any Covid positive test results from our resident population.
End Stage of Life Care Visits
End stage of life and compassionate care visits are still permitted at this time for residents whose doctors have approved the visit.
Outside & “Alternative” Visits
Please know that outside 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 this safe, in-person visitation.
Please, 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.
Just so you are aware, we will not hold our weekly call on Friday 11/27/2020. We will resume the calls on Friday, 12/4/2020 at 1:00 p.m.
In closing, I would like to wish you and your extended families a blessed Thanksgiving.
Even though this holiday will be unlike any other for many families, it is good to remember that even though we may not be under the same roof sharing a meal or watching parades and football games, we still are able to share our heart-felt love and caring with those dear to us. In moments of silence we can reflect and feel connected to all the wonderful people we have celebrated with in the past, as well as those who we will celebrate with in the future.
Best wishes to each of you and thank you for trusting us with your loved ones.
Sincerely,
Linda A. Urbanski, Ph.D. and the team at Newtown Rehabilitation and Health Care Center