Update from Administrator – February 24, 2021
Dear Families,
As always, we hope this letter finds you safe and healthy as we begin the New Year!
Our current CVOID status is 1 newly admitted resident and 1 staff member being out of work for 14 days quarantine.
We are very excited that our residents and staff have now had the opportunity to receive their doses of the COVID-19 vaccine from CVS here at our center. We had our third vaccination clinic on 2/16/21. Any resident and staff member who did not participate or may be new to our center since the clinics were offered, continue to be eligible to receive the vaccine under the Phase 1a category. However, the vaccine will be administered outside of our center.
If your loved one has received their first dose at this facility and planning to be discharged to home or other settings, we will work with you and them to schedule their second dose outside of our center. The Department of Public Health is actively working on developing further vaccine guidance which will include recommended options and strategies for vaccination.
If your loved one is new to our center, we will contact you about your options as we continue to receive information from the state and CVS on the evolving plans.
With most nursing home residents having already received their first, and in many cases, second doses of the vaccine, the state has already reported a significant decrease in nursing home cases of COVID among residents and staff, further proof that the vaccine works and we are doing our part to eliminate COVID!
While the vaccination plan in our state is well underway, we continue to take all necessary precautions, including wearing personal protective equipment and conducting regular testing, to ensure the safety of our residents and staff.
Visitation
As you know, the vaccine will not provide immediate protection and we still need to see prevalence in the surrounding communities decline. We continue to follow the existing guidance from CDC, CMS, and our state’s DPH for visitation and infection control practices. As soon as they adjust their guidance, based on vaccination rates in nursing homes, we will let you know.
We currently performing limited daily family visitations off the residential floors. To schedule 45 minutes visitation for no more than 2 family members at each visitation, please contact our recreation director at recreation@worcesterrhcc.com
Remember we always offer visitations using our technology (iPads, tablets, calls, etc.).
Visitation Reminders:
We want to provide some reminders about our visitation policy, based on requirements set by our state’s DPH and the federal CMS and CDC. We do apologize, but the below is to ensure that everyone has the opportunity for visits, under the strict state and federal guidelines we must adhere to. We know this is not the optimal way to visit your loved one, but these guidelines have been put in place with your loved ones and our staff’s best interest in mind.
- Call main phone number (reception desk) at (508) 860 -5000 or email us at Info@worcesterrhcc.com or receation@worcesterrhcc.com to set up appointment.
- Residents may have up to 2 visitors at a time, and two visits per week per resident.
- Visiting will be 30 to 45 minutes long.
- Please, no drinking or eating during visits.
- Come to the building with mask on that covers your nose and mouth.
- When you arrive, please sanitize hands, fill out COVID exposure questionnaire and sign the one-time document acknowledging that you will follow the visiting guidelines.
- A designated staff will perform a COVIDF rapid test and take your temperature. Allow 15 minutes time for the rapid test result.
- The visitation process with continue if the test result is negative.
- All visitors and residents must wear a facemask that fully covers your nose and mouth, and it must remain in place throughout the entire visit; you must perform hand hygiene prior to approaching the visit area.
- Please maintain social distancing during the visit.
- A staff member will be on hand to answer questions, assist during the visit, and sanitize in between visits.
Thank you and please stay safe and healthy!
Saeed Pourali, LNHA, Dr. B.A.
Administrator