Dear Guerin Woods Families and Friends:
As you know, during an outbreak, we are required to test both our elders and staff much more frequently. Continuous testing is required until we have no positive cases for a period of 14 days because COVID-19 takes varying lengths of time to develop and testing sometimes does not identify positive cases early in the infection process. The very good news is that our last round of testing has not identified any additional elders or employees with COVID-19!
For those of you who may have questions about the use and efficacy of face masks, I have summarized several public health guidelines and considerations below.
The CDC recommends the use of masks in public settings, i.e., anywhere there are other people. For the same reasons surgeons wear masks to prevent the spread of infection during surgery, we should be wearing masks to prevent the spread of Coronavirus. Masks prevent respiratory droplets from traveling into the air and onto other people. (If you are in doubt, try blowing out a candle with a mask on!)
The CDC recommends all people 2 years of age and older wear a mask in public settings and when around people who don’t live in their household. COVID-19 can be spread by people who do not have symptoms and do not know that they are infected. That’s why it’s important for everyone to both wear masks and practice social distancing (staying at least 6 feet away from other people).
If you are ill, you should not visit public areas, even with a mask. To prevent further community spread, it is important that anyone feeling ill stay home, except when they must go out for medical care. Even at home, those who are ill should stay in a specific room and away from other people and pets as much as possible. If there is a need to be around other people, it is critical that the person who is ill wears a mask to prevent spreading the virus to other members of the household.
Although the protective effects, i.e., how well a mask protects healthy people from breathing in the virus, are unknown, if you are caring for someone who is ill with COVID-19 you should nevertheless wear a mask. It is very important that caregivers also practice everyday preventive actions, like avoiding close contact as much as possible, cleaning their hands often, avoiding touching their eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands, and frequently cleaning and disinfecting surfaces.
You may have noticed people wearing masks with exhalation valves or vents. Although much easier to tolerate, these masks do not prevent the escape of respiratory droplets and therefore do not provide source control. You may have also notice people wearing face shields rather than a mask. Unfortunately, the primary purpose of a face shield is eye protection -- for the person wearing it -- and not source control. Thus, these are not good alternatives to a face mask.
In order to maximize source control and the effectiveness of a mask, it must be worn correctly. I am sure you have seen people wearing a mask that is pulled under their nose. This provides little to no source control. To wear a mask correctly, you should follow these steps:
- Clean your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitizer or soap and water (before putting on your mask);
- Put the mask over your nose and mouth and secure it under your chin; and
- Try to fit it snugly against the sides of your face.
When you take off your mask, do so carefully:
- Untie the strings behind your head or stretch the ear loops;
- Handle your mask by touching only the ear loops or ties;
- Fold the outside corners together;
- Place your mask in the washing machine;
- Be careful not to touch your eyes, nose, and mouth; AND
- Wash your hands immediately after removing your mask.
Please encourage your friends and families to embrace these safe practices and keep our elders and staff in your prayers.
- Guerin Woods COVID-19 Statistics
Total # of Elder Cases | New Elder Cases in Last 24 Hrs | Elder Deaths in Last 24 Hrs | Instances of 3 or More Elders/Staff w/ New Onset ofRespiratory Symptoms w/in 72 hours of Each Other |
5* | 0 | 0 | 0 |
COVID-19 positive test dates: 8/5/20 (1), 10/14/20 (1), 10/21/20 (1), 10/23/20 (2)
- Examples of Facility Infection Mitigation/Prevention/Planning Measures
Limited visitation |
Decontamination of all personal items delivered by elder families and friends |
Staff Competency Reinforcement/Training: Infection Control; COVID-19; Proper PPE Use; Handwashing; Social Distancing, etc. |
Daily staff reminders to self-monitor for fever and symptoms of COVID-19 and to stay home if unwell |
Cohorting of staff (among Villas) |
Exclusion of non-essential staff |
Staff use of masks and goggles/face shields: 100% of the time in Villas |
Increased cleaning frequency & use of COVID-19/EPA approved sanitizing solutions for equipment, frequently touched surfaces and common areas |
Placement of alcohol-based hand sanitizer throughout the Villas and in elders’ rooms |
Placement of tissues and trash cans in elder’s rooms and in common areas for respiratory hygiene, cough etiquette, and source control |
Elder social distancing and use of masks (for those able) when in common areas |
Transition to telephonic/video meetings whenever possible, e.g., Care Plan Meetings |
Use of telehealth when appropriate |
Creation and use of signage to remind elders and staff re PPE usage, cough etiquette, social distancing, handwashing |
Creation of signage in anticipation of positive COVID-19 cases re proper use of PPE, precautions, etc. |
Adoption of pharmacy policies & practices that ensure availability of all necessary medications |
Pre-shift health assessment/screening of every staff member, including all CDC-defined COVID-19 symptoms |
Assessment of elders for CDC-defined COVID-19 symptoms every shift |
Cancellation of all non-essential medical appointments, e.g., routine eye exams |
Acquisition of additional/excess supplies, e.g., ABHS, soap, paper towels, sanitizing solutions, PPE, oxygen concentrators |
Conversion of separate on-site facility to staff sleeping quarters, including procurement of beds, linens, etc. |
Conversion of separate on-site facility to accommodate COVID-19 positive elders, including but not limited to new flooring, rental of beds, use of donated storage and office furniture, and waiver application |
Conversion of separate on-site facility to accommodate COVID-19 supplies, including preparation of individual kits for ease of use |
Staging of COVID-19 materials in anticipation of providing immediate response |
Preparation for ability to teach CNA/PCA courses on-site, including but not limited to staff training, licensure, procurement of necessary course materials, etc., in anticipation of potential staffing shortages |
Daily meetings among executive and senior clinical staff re newest state and federal COVID-19 regulations & guidance (and changes thereto), associated changes to policies/procedures, education/training, facility changes, etc. |
Extensive contingency planning, including adoption of new policies & procedures (and frequent amendment of same as guidelines from federal and state public health authorities change) |
Frequent coordination with local and state public health and emergency response authorities |
- Guerin Woods Contacts
Contact (Title) | Steve Brian (Administrator) | Susan Gernert (President & CEO) |
Cell Phone | 812-399-9046 | 502-830-4336 |
Email |
- Guerin Woods Current Visitation Policy.
- Indoor & Outdoor Visitation - Until further notice, Indoor and Outdoor Visitation is suspended.
- Compassionate Care Visitation - Compassionate Care Indoor Visitation is limited primarily to end-of-life situations. Guerin Woods will also consider Compassionate Care visitation for elders who (a) meet objective, clinical criteria indicating a meaningful decline in their psychosocial wellbeing and (b) have not or cannot benefit from other forms of visitation. Guerin Woods will proactively contact the POAs of elders who meet these criteria. If you would like to contact us regarding the possibility of compassionate care visitation, you are welcome to do so by sending an email to guerinwoodsvisitations@pssmsi.org. Please know that we will assess any such request on a case-by-case basis, based on a set of objective criteria. Those who are approved will be instructed – as appropriate – regarding visitation scheduling, duration, frequency, location, and other restrictions, such as training, COVID-19 testing, etc.
- Facilitated Phone Calls & Video Chats - Please call your elder’s Villa on the day you wish to have your call or video chat to confirm the availability of staff. Please know that our staff remain very busy throughout the day, and they may ask that you be flexible regarding the time and length of your call or video chat. Individual CNAs cannot commit to staff availability other than their own because they do not know what the demands may or may not be on another shift or when they are not working.
- Closed Window Visits - Please continue your closed window visits! Risk-free. Mask-free. ...and no social distancing required!
- Testing & Transfers: Guerin Woods is following the guidance and directives of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH), and Floyd County Health Department regarding COVID-19 testing. If an elder were to test positive for COVID-19 and Guerin Woods was unable to provide the necessary care, the elder would be transferred to a hospital or other appropriate facility.
- General Information: For more information about COVID-19, please refer to: https://www.coronavirus.in.gov/2400.htm; https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html. You can also address general questions about COVID-19 to the ISDH COVID-19 Call Center, available 24/7, at 877-826-0011.
- Indiana Long-Term Care Ombudsman: The Ombudsman is NOT a representative of the facility, ISDH, or any other organization. However, we do want to provide accurate information to ensure families are comfortable that their loved ones are as safe as possible and are able to make informed decisions.
Physical Address | Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman 402 West Washington Street, Room W451 Post Office Box 7083, MS 27 Indianapolis, Indiana 46207-7083 |
Phone Number | 800-622-4484 or 317-232-7134 |
Fax Number | 317-972-3285 |
Email | |
Website |
Susan
Susan Gernert
President & CEO
Providence Self Sufficiency Ministries, Inc.
Guerin, Inc.
The Meadows of Guerin, Inc.
502-830-4336 (cell)
8037 Unruh Drive
Georgetown, Indiana 47122
guerininc.org
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