Dear Friends and families,
As we approach the holiday season, your continued support throughout the COVID-19 pandemic is greatly appreciated. Our goals are to place residents first. We provide high-quality care to keep everyone safe.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recommends that all staff, residents and visitors should continue to follow the guidelines for visitation they released in late September. Families, residents, and providers must work together to take precautions during the holidays to help reduce the risk of spread while supporting family and resident engagement as much as possible.
In addition, CMS strongly recommends against residents leaving a nursing home for the holiday, given the increased risk for exposure to COVID-19. Residents who leave for a family visit will be placed in the yellow zone – not their regular rooms – with full precautions for a minimum of 14 days upon return.
Documents outlining best practices for resident outings and holiday precautions are available on our website’s COVID-19 page, as are other pandemic cautionary documents and links.
Additional resources for your reference are:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance for holiday celebrations and small gatherings >
- Pennsylvania Health Care Association (PHCA) resource for considerations for the holiday season >
We have completed weekly testing of our staff and residents on 5th floor this week. Results should be back in by the weekend. If we have no positives in either group we will be able to open back up for in building visits in our neutral zone on 1st floor. If you have a visit scheduled for next week, we will call to let you know if your visit next week changes back from window to in house. Please note that test results are reported on our daily call in line at 570-207-6711.
Our Facility’s Resident Impact (Since March 30, 2020, through November 24, 2020)
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
34 – Confirmed Staff Total: with a positive COVID -19
We continue to focus on the basic principles of cleanliness set forth by policies and procedures from the CDC, Department of Health (DOH), and Regional Response Health Collaboration Program (RRHCP). These are our guidelines for prevention and mitigation of COVID-19. Guidelines related to visitations and screenings are based on county positivity rates.
Family members and all others impacted by the virus will be contacted and provided with results/updates.
We thank you for your continued support through the COVID-19 pandemic. Our main goal remains to provide high-quality care and to keep your loved ones safe. Please accept my best wishes for a safe and happy Thanksgiving holiday.
Sincerely,
Mary Rose Applegate, MBA, RD, NHA
Administrator
