Dear friends and families,
We thank you for your continued support throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Our goal is to provide high-quality care for your loved ones.
Testing News:
We are continuing to test our staff twice weekly as the positivity rate in Lackawanna County remains at red status.
Our resident groups have continued to remain symptom free! We last tested 5th floor on Monday January 18, 2021, for the second two-week period after potential exposure. We are very happy to report that all tests came back negative. All of units have returned to green status. We continue have our designated section on 4th floor, which is yellow, for new residents coming into the building or returning from the hospital.
We had one staff positive test result from the second round last week. The staff member did not have direct resident contact. The second round of staff testing this week was conducted on Thursday January 21, 2021. Results from yesterday’s staff testing will be back on the weekend. We are happy to see the positive results from our staff group trending down. Hopefully we check the county positivity rate on Monday it will also continue to trend down a move out of the red status soon!
Our Facility’s Resident Impact (Since March 30, 2020, through January 21, 2021)
0 – Residents currently in our building with a confirmed active case of COVID 19
56 – CONFIRMED: Residents with laboratory positive COVID-19
0 – SUSPECTED: Residents with new suspected COVID-19
47 – Confirmed Staff Total: with a positive COVID -19
- Please note that test results are reported on our daily call in line at 570-207-6711.
Family members and all others impacted by the virus will be contacted directly and provided with results and updates. Due to the community positivity rate being at red status and the need to have 14 full days without positives from staff or residents in our building, we will remain closed to in person visits with the exception of compassionate and end of life visits.
We are being optimistically hopeful that we soon will see continued decline in the county positivity rate which will help reduce the potential for outbreaks and allow us to start back up with visitation again. On Nov 13, 2020, we shared our updated guidelines on visitation based on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) guidelines regarding visitation. These guidelines related to visitations and screenings are based on COVID-19 county positivity rates.
The recommendations are summarized in the attached document. We will be providing more guidance and specifics as we are able to open back up.
COVID-19 Vaccine Campaign at the Jewish Home of Eastern Pa
We are thankful to report that the second half of our group has received their first COVID 19 vaccine clinic was today! Consenting residents from 3rd and 5thth floors along with more than half of our staff group signing up for vaccine participated. Our sign-up rate for the vaccine has been very high for our resident group. Our staff group is trending high with over two thirds having signed up and taken the first vaccine dose. We will report the actual final vaccination for both groups upon completion of the two shot series and our full clinic.
Please stay tuned to our website and social media pages for pictures from our clinics.
Life Enrichment News:
Sherri Collins, our Life Enrichment Director asked that we share the opportunity for you to send in a special Valentine card for your family member for a craft they will be working on with our residents.
Please address the card to the resident, but be sure that on the envelope it also says ATTN: SHERRI COLLINS or LIFE ENRICHMENT DEPT. Cards can be dropped off at the building in a box at the rear lobby entrance or mailed to the facility to arrive no later than February 3. The Life Enrichment staff encourages you to pass this information on to your family and friends who do not receive this e-mail or letter. Please join in to help us brighten our residents’ day on the valentine holiday of love!
Thank you for entrusting us to care for your loved ones. If you have any questions, we are always available for you.
Sincerely,
Mary Rose Applegate, MBA, RD, NHA
Administrator
