Visitation is an area we are struggling to meet due to staffing constraints minimizing the number of visitation opportunities we can provide in a week. As the weather continues to improve, we will transition to outdoor visits which will allow us to double our available visitation opportunities. Tentatively this looks like we will not be able to add additional visits until at least Mother’s Day. Once we can comfortably be able to move outside, the direction from the Health Department is that this is the preferred visitation venue due to increased air flow and will be the method of visit if the resident is able to be out of their room. The time currently allocated for a visit has been well received and we will not reduce to the program we had last fall of 15-minute visits. If you as the visitors are wanting to trade time for more opportunities to visit in a week let me know and if appears this is the preference, we will adjust our program.
In addition to indoor/outdoor visitation, you are always welcome to take your loved one out of the facility for a visit. Keep in mind that if you loved one is not vaccinated, they will have to quarantine on return. However, for those who are fully vaccinated, quarantine is not required unless you believe the resident has been exposed during the outing. The only requirement is to follow the COVID dial guidelines which are now set by individual counties during the outing. If you would like to pursue an outing, please coordinate with the facility beforehand so we can ensure we have a plan for medications/treatments that may be necessary during the outing.
Active outbreaks have increased and are at 38 (25 last week) still active in the community with 5 of those being in health facilities/entities (3 in the last week). Positives through yesterday are 855 which is more than 300 additional positives for all of March, and the rolling average for positive results for individuals tested in the last 7 days decreased to 15.3%. The trend since in the last week has shown a slight decrease. Parkview Hospital increased hospitalizations related to COVID with 34 cases as of yesterday while St Mary Corwin has 0 COVID cases in their care. Parkview reported occupancy at 211 while St Mary Corwin is reporting 17 for occupancy. This leaves 57 available beds between the hospitals.
This letter is provided electronically either through email or our website. We do mail a copy the first week a new admit joins us if no email has been provided to share the information how to receive future copies via the website. If you are not receiving by email and would like to do so, let us know your address. Please contact the facilities with your questions.
Sincerely,
Keith Jackson
Executive Director
