Dear Guerin Woods Families & Friends:
Some visitors have expressed frustration with use of the Simply Book Me scheduling application. If you are having any difficulties, please call the general number (812-951-1878) and ask for Jessica Garber, who will be glad to help you.
I. VISITATION
A. Notification Requirement – Before any anticipated interaction with an Elder, Visitors must notify Guerin Woods via Simply Book Me (https://guerinwoods.simplybook.me/v2/#book). Notice must be given via the Simply Book application 48 and 72 hours in advance for on-campus visitation and excursions, respectively. Simply Book Me visits are configured in 30-minute increments, but you may schedule a longer visit by simply booking multiple, contiguous visitation slots. For example, if you wish to visit from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., you should "book" the four 30-minute time slots between those times.
Please note that Guerin Woods is permitted to manage the total number of visitors in a Villa at any time. Accordingly, we may cancel or delay a scheduled visit if an excessive number of visitors book simultaneous appointments.
1. Excursions: Any family member or friend who anticipates having direct contact with an Elder for purposes of escorting them on an excursion off campus (e.g., to a doctor's appointment) must no fewer than 72 hours in advance:
a) Schedule an excursion and "block" the Elder's schedule via Simply Book Me (https://guerinwoods.simplybook.me/v2/#book) and
b) Send an email to kbell@pssmsi.org and cwild@pssmsi.org indicating (A) the excursion destination; (B) the infection prevention practices in place at that destination; (C) the anticipated duration of the excursion; (D) the identity and contact details (email and cell phone number) of the Elder's escort(s), i.e., the person(s) who will be responsible for picking up and dropping off the Elder; and (E) by description any others with whom the Elder will come in contact during the excursion.
2. End-of-Life Visitation: Guerin Woods does not require the use of its scheduling application for end-of-life visitation. Instead, family members should contact Chelsea Wild, Social Services Director (812-951-9088; cwild@pssmsi.org), Bonnie Johnston, Director of Nursing (502-396-0158; bjohnston@pssmsi.org), or Lisa Baker, Administrator (812-399-9046; lbaker@pssmsi.org) to make appropriate arrangements.
B. Testing – Visitor testing for COVID-19 is not required, but Guerin Woods strongly advises visitors to test no less than weekly to minimize the risk to Elders and their caregivers. Any visitor who wishes to be tested on Guerin Woods campus may do so by scheduling an appointment with the Simply Book Me application (https://guerinwoods.simplybook.me/v2/#book).
C. Infection Prevention Requirements
1. Masks: All visitors interacting with an Elder will be given a mask that must properly worn during the entirety of the scheduled visit or excursion. Cloth masks are not sufficient because they provide far less protection to the Elder and Guerin Woods staff.
2. Social Distancing: Within the confines of an Elder's room, the CDC has now indicated that "if [an Elder] is fully vaccinated, they can choose to have close contact (including touch) with their visitor while [i] wearing a well-fitted face mask and [ii] performing hand-hygiene before and after." However, outside the confines of an Elder's room and with regard to all staff and other Elders, visitors must maintain social distancing of six feet or more at all times.
3. Clean Hands: Frequently, and no less than immediately before and after each Elder interaction, both visitors and the Elder must properly use alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water to clean their hands. Alcohol-based hand rub is readily available in each of the Villas. Training materials and signage is available in all of the Villas, but if visitors have any questions regarding proper hand cleaning, they should ask a staff member.
D. Acknowledgement of Visitation Requirements & Health Survey – Prior to interacting with an Elder, all visitors must complete an Acknowledgment of Visitation Requirements & Health Survey form (Health Survey), which includes a temperature check. These forms will available on the front porch of each Villa. WE CANNOT ALLOW VISITATION IF A VISITOR'S SURVEY RESPONSES OR A VISITOR'S SYMPTOMS OR BODY TEMPERATURE INDICATE A RISK OF EXPOSURE. Given the extreme risk associated with the lifting of visitation restrictions, Guerin Woods will be very strict in excluding visitors who have any signs or symptoms of illness.
E. Schedule – Daily, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. (our pre-pandemic schedule).
F. Location – In order to protect staff and other Elders, visitors must restrict their on-campus visits to their Elder's room. After signing the Health Survey and at the direction of a staff member, visitors should walk directly to the Elder's room, avoiding all interaction with others Elders and minimizing interaction with staff. Should a visitor wish to visit with an Elder in the garden area, they should notify staff. If the garden is already occupied or Elders are in the common area near the garden door, a garden visit may be postponed or denied. When visitors wish to leave, they must call for assistance and stay in their Elder's room until a staff member is available to direct their exit.
G. Number of Visitors – Elders may have no more than two visitors at a time.
H. Age Restrictions – Because all visitors must be able to comply with all infection prevention protocols, Guerin Woods strongly discourages any visitor under the age of 12.
II. 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 of Respiratory Symptoms w/in 72 hours of Each Other |
15* | 0 | 0 | 0 |
*COVID-19 positive test dates: 8/5/20 (1); 10/14/20 (1); 10/21/20 (1); 10/23/20 (2); 10/29/20 (1); 11/16/20 (1; new admission from another facility); 11/19/20 (1); 12/11/20 (3); 12/15/20 (2); 12/18/20 (1); 12/20/20 (1).
III. Examples of Facility Infection Mitigation/Prevention/Planning Measures
Visitation restrictions |
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 |
Staff use of masks 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 |
Assessment of elders for CDC-defined COVID-19 symptoms |
Acquisition of additional/excess supplies, e.g., ABHS, soap, paper towels, sanitizing solutions, PPE, oxygen concentrators |
Acquisition of COVID-19 testing equipment/kits and testing of staff, vendors, third-party providers, elders, and others upon request |
Conversion of separate on-site facility to staff sleeping quarters |
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 |
Meetings among executive and senior clinical staff re: state and federal COVID-19 guidelines (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) |
Coordination with local and state public health and emergency response authorities |
Exclusion of COVID-19 positive and COVID-19 exposed employees in compliance with CDC guidelines |
Isolation of elders who may have had an exposure per IDH and CDC guidelines |
IV. Guerin Woods Contacts
Contact (Title) | Lisa Baker (Administrator) | Susan Gernert (President & CEO) |
Cell Phone | 812-399-9046 | 502-830-4336 |
Email |
V. Elder 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 Elder testing. If an Elder were to test positive for COVID-19, the Elder would be transferred to a hospital or other appropriate facility.
VI. 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.
VII. 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
