Dear Guerin Woods Families & Friends:
Unfortunately, I have more very bad news to report. We had five additional breakthrough cases among the elders in Villa 3 last evening. This is the only Villa where elders have tested positive over the last week.
In order to minimize the number of elders to be moved, Villa 3 was converted to a “RED” Villa, and after thorough disinfection with a CDC-approved fogger Villa 7 was converted to a “YELLOW” Villa.
YELLOW VILLAS
Villa 2
Villa 4
Villa 7
Only approved EFCs are permitted to visit in YELLOW Villas.
RED VILLA
Villa 3
No indoor visitation is permitted in Villa 3. Family members and friends should contact Chelsea Wild (cwild@pssmsi.org; 812-951-9088) for information regarding alternate methods of visitation, e.g., window and video visits.
Please continue to keep yourself safe, following the basic protocols of wearing a mask, frequent hand hygiene, and social distancing. Let us know if you have any questions regarding your elder’s status or the guidelines for visitation.
1. EXCURSIONS & APPOINTMENTS –
• Medical Appointments / Excursions Greater Than 24 Hours: For all medical appointments and for excursions greater than 24 hours, elders must be screened and tested with a point-of-care (POC) test immediately upon return and must also be tested with a POC test 3-5 days following the elder’s return.
• Excursions Less Than 24 Hours: If the excursion is less than 24 hours and is not a medical appointment, the elder must be screened upon return and only needs to be tested with a POC test immediately and within 3-5 days if the elder experienced a high-risk exposure.
Excursions and non-essential appointments put elders at significant risk, regardless of your elder’s vaccination status. Please consider refraining from taking your elder on excursions altogether. Likewise, please consider turning over to Guerin Woods the task of making all of your elder’s appointments, medical or otherwise. This will allow us to minimize their exposure to infection by arranging telehealth or in-room treatment, as appropriate.
a. If – despite the risk – you take your elder out for an excursion or appointment, please provide Guerin Woods advance notice, if at all possible, via our scheduling application, Simply Book ME. Click Here to Schedule Elder Excursion or Appointment
b. When elders return from an excursion or appointment, we are now required to screen and test them before they return to their room per the guidelines set forth above.
c. If an elder is required to be tested upon their return to campus, they will be required to wait with you in the parking lot until:
i. A nurse is available to perform screening and a COVID-19 test;
ii. The results of the COVID-19 test are available (15 – 30 minutes); and
iii. The nurse establishes that the COVID-19 test result is negative.
d. Elders who leave campus for an excursion or appointment will also be required to undergo a second test between the third and fifth day after their return.
e. Unvaccinated elders who are away from campus for 24 hours or more are now required to be in isolation for no fewer than 14 days upon their return, even if COVID-19 testing is negative and the elder has no symptoms.
2. Visitor Screening: ALL VISITORS MUST COMPLETE A SCREENING FORM AND THE FORM MUST BE SIGNED BY A STAFF MEMBER. YOU MAY NOT PROCEED TO YOUR ELDER’S ROOM UNTIL A STAFF MEMBER REVIEWS AND SIGNS YOUR SCREENING FORM!
3. EFC Program: We strongly encourage visitors to apply to become Essential Family Caregivers (EFCs). In most circumstances, EFCs will be allowed to continue to visit in “YELLOW” Villas, albeit under rules that are more strict, should normal visitation be prohibited. If you have served as an EFC in the past, please re-apply; the Department of Health has altered its guidance and you will need to sign a new acknowledgment. Below is a short summary of the EFC Program. If you have any questions, please contact me. I have attached the EFC Application to this email
b. Purpose: The purpose of the EFC Program is to allow family members or other caregivers to continue to provide routine care during a public health emergency pursuant to state guidance.
c. State Requirements
i. Each EFC applicant must be at least 18 years old; and
ii. The applicant must have regularly engaged with the elder providing supportive or direct care (e.g., help with meals, grooming, or companionship), on average twice weekly, prior to the start of the public health emergency;
iii. The Elder or POA must approve the EFC;
iv. The EFC must be able and willing to (a) undergo COVID-19 testing on the same frequency as Guerin Woods staff and (b) follow all precautionary measures, such as hand hygiene, and use of N95 masks, surgical gowns, goggles, and gloves.
d. Approval Process: Guerin Woods will approve or reject EFC applications on a case-by-case basis. If an application is denied, we will notify the applicant in writing of our reasons and the applicant will have an opportunity to request reconsideration. When an application is approved:
i. Guerin Woods will work with the EFC to determine appropriate visitation hours and duration;
ii. Guerin Woods will provide the EFC all visitation and EFC requirements in writing in the form of an agreement; and
iii. The EFC must attest that they will abide by the EFC requirements congruent with existing guidelines, including those relating to testing, screening, infection prevention protocols, and approved visitation locations.
e. Scheduling: Please contact Chelsea Wild regarding the days/times you wish to participate in EFC visitation.
f. Application/Agreement: Please send your completed EFC Application to me via email, mail, or by leaving a copy at the Administration Building. If your application is approved, you will receive an electronic copy of the agreement via email. Please execute it and return a copy to me.
g. Testing/Training: Before you begin EFC visitation, please contact Chelsea regarding COVID-19 testing and training. We need to ensure a nurse if available to facilitate both. EFCs are subject to all of the same testing and PPE requirements as staff. You will need to arrange for and be tested for COVID-19 twice weekly,on either Monday & Friday or Tuesday & Saturday.
h. Sign-In Process: As with normal visitation, you will be required to sing-in before your EFC visitation. You should also record your temperature on the sign-in form in the same way employees do. Please note that you may be directed to enter the Villa through the rear door.
4. “Non-EFC Visitor” Testing: We strongly encourage you to be tested on a regular basis if you visit the Guerin Woods campus, especially of you are unvaccinated. If you are unvaccinated, wish to be tested routinely but are unable to do so, please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate you.
5. VISITATION
A. RESTRICTIONS
a. NO VISITATION IN VILLA 3! …OTHER THAN EFC VISITATION. SEE ABOVE.
b. NO VISITATION IN VILLA 7! …OTHER THAN ALTERNATE METHODS SUCH AS WINDOW AND VIDEO VISITS. SEE ABOVE
B. Notification Requirement – NONE, unless visiting as an EFC or utilizing alternative methods of visitation, e.g., window and video visits.
*Previously, with scheduled visits, our therapists and CNAs were able to schedule around visitation. Because this will no long be possible, please be prepared to be flexible. Your visit may be interrupted or need to be postponed for a short period of time if therapy or some other intervention is underway or scheduled during your visit.
C. Visitor Screening Form – Prior to moving to an elder’s room, ALL VISITORS – including EFC visitors -- MUST COMPLETE A SCREENING FORM AND THE FORM MUST BE SIGNED BY A STAFF MEMBER. DO NOT PROCEED TO YOUR ELDER’S ROOM UNTIL A STAFF MEMBER REVIEWS AND SIGNS YOUR SCREENING FORM! WE CANNOT ALLOW VISITATION IF A VISITOR’S SCREENING RESPONSES OR SYMPTOMS INDICATE A RISK OF EXPOSURE.
D. Infection Control
a. Hand hygiene – Visitors must adhere to hand hygiene requirements upon entry and during their visit, with the use of alcohol-based hand rub being preferred. You must continue to clean your hands frequently with either alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water, both of which are readily available in the Villas. Visitors should clean their hands after touching potentially contaminated surfaces, using soap and water after using the restroom.
b. Surgical Mask (covering BOTH mouth and nose) – All visitors must wear a surgical mask at all times while on the Guerin Woods campus. (EFC Visitors in a “YELLOW” Villa must wear an N95 respirator, surgical gown, goggles, and glove.)
c. Social Distancing – All visits are limited to Elders’ rooms and visitors may not be present in common areas other than to make their way to an Elder’s room. Visitors are not permitted to interact with other Elders and must maintain social distancing when communicating with staff. Unvaccinated visitors must maintain social distancing at all times, both in the common areas and their Elder’s room.
E. Hours – Daily, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
F. Location – Visitation is restricted to Elders‘ rooms. Families and friends may also use the Villas’ garden areas, but only when visiting a “GREEN” Villa. If a visitor wishes to speak with a staff member, the visitor must use their Elder’s call button and may not – under any circumstance -- wander through the common areas.
G. Number of Visitors – If appropriate social distancing is maintained, Elders may have up to 4 visitors at a time.
H. Age Restrictions – Because all visitors must be able to comply with infection prevention protocols, Guerin Woods strongly discourages any visitor under the age of 12. EFC visitors must be 18 or older.
*Please note that end-of-life and compassionate care visitation follow different protocols. To make arrangements, simply contact Chelsea Wild, Social Services Director (812-951-9088; cwild@pssmsi.org) or Kim Smith, Administrator (812-820-6433; 812-399-9046; ksmith@pssmsi.org).
I. 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 |
22* | 5 | 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); 8/25/21 (2); 8/30/21 (5).
II. Examples of Facility Infection Mitigation/Prevention/Planning Measures
Visitation restrictions |
Visitor screening |
Staff Competency Reinforcement/Training: Infection Control; COVID-19; Proper PPE Use; Handwashing; Social Distancing, etc. |
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 |
Elder social distancing and use of masks (for those willing and able) when in common areas |
Use of telephonic/video meetings whenever required |
Use of telehealth when appropriate |
Creation and use of signage to remind elders and staff re: source control, cough etiquette, social distancing, handwashing |
Adoption of pharmacy policies & practices that ensure availability of all necessary medications |
Pre-shift 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 as required |
Conversion of separate on-site facility to staff sleeping quarters |
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. |
Contingency planning, including adoption of new policies & procedures |
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 |
III. Guerin Woods Contacts
Contact (Title) | Kim Smith (Administrator) | Susan Gernert (President & CEO) |
Cell Phone | 812-820-6433; 812-399-9046 | 502-830-4336 |
Email | ksmith@pssmsi.org |
IV. 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.
V. 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.
VI. 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
