September 21, 2020

To residents, families, and employees of RCN:

An employee of RCN has recently tested positive for COVID-19.  The employee showed no symptoms but went for testing out of precaution.  They are in self isolation and will be retested per protocol.  As of this writing, no other employees or residents are symptomatic.

Out of precaution, we will test all residents and employees this Wednesday and Thursday, September 23 and 24.  The testing results are normally available within 72 hours.

Please continue to be diligent about mask wearing, whether in or out of our building.

Some have asked about indoor visitation.  Jefferson County continues to report community spread that would warrant visitors to present proof of a negative test before visitation.  In addition, RCN must not have an outbreak – which is two or more confirmed positive.  Hopefully the one employee is an isolated case.

The stylists from PS Salon are awaiting test results.  As soon as those results are back and dependent on this week’s testing results, the salon will reopen.

Thank you,

Mary Besson, ED

September 4, 2020

Dear Residents, Families, and Employees of RCN:

The indoor visitation guidance has been released.  We are excited that we may soon implement indoor visitation for family and friends based on six criteria as indicated below:

https://covid19.colorado.gov/safer-at-home-in-the-vast-great-outdoors/guidance-by-sector/nursing-homes-congregate-care

Degree of community spread https://covid19.colorado.gov/data is specified and baseline testing is required.  This data will indicate whether visitors will have to provide proof of a negative Covid test in the 48 hours preceding the visit.

The guidance also allows for salon services.  I have a Tuesday call scheduled with PS Salon to discuss re-opening.

Plans will be to test all employees and residents who have left the facility within the preceding 14 days.

Have a safe and happy holiday weekend.

Sincerely,

Mary Besson, ED

August 28, 2020

Dear Residents, Families, and Employees of RCN:

As you may know, the Governor has drafted, and the CO Dept of Health has posted a draft for indoor visits in residential care facilities.  Comments to the draft may be submitted by end of business today.

The guidance contains stipulations such as baseline testing of residents and employees, visitors must provide proof of a negative test within 24 hours of the visit, and limits to the degree of community spread.  The indoor visits would be limited to those age 18 and older.

This guidance includes service providers such as salon professionals.  They must be tested weekly along with other requirements.

We will await final guidance as I am certain there will be many comments regarding the draft.

In other news…

Please check our website and Facebook page for pictures and stories of happenings at RCN.

We held an employee appreciation party this week to say “thank you” to all our employees who have gone above and beyond not knowing how long this uncertainty will be part of their lives and the lives of our residents.

It’s nice to see so many families here visiting on the porch and as always, we appreciate your cooperation with distancing and mask wearing.

Random percentage sample testing of employees continues each week.  We are always thankful to receive negative results.

Please continue to reach out to Michelle for facetime calls if you have not already.

Sincerely,

Mary Besson, ED

August 14, 2020

Covid-19 update

To Residents, Families, Employees of RCN:

As you probably know, Governor Polis extended the mandatory mask mandate until September 13, 2020.

Although most families/friends are compliant with mask wearing and distancing, I am discouraged to hear that our receptionists are asking family members at times to wear the mask properly and keep that distance.  I instructed them to let me know if family members habitually disregard protocol which may force me to ban visitation to those family members/friends.  Also, the outdoor visitation guidelines do not include pet visits, so please leave them home when visiting.

We began our random percentage testing this week.  Our plan is to test employees from each department each week.  Many volunteered to be tested, which shows you our commitment to keeping our building free of the coronavirus.

The Covid-19 Residential Care Strike Team with members from the Governor’s office and state agencies are in the finalization stages of when and how to allow salon services and indoor visitation.  The co-chairs in a zoom meeting yesterday indicated we should have that guidance in a week or two.

I am pleased to share that A COVID-19 Infection Control focused revisit survey was completed on 7/22/20, which resulted in compliance with all infection control standards set forth by our regulatory agency.

Please stay well!

Sincerely,

Mary Besson, ED

Covid update

August 10, 2020

Hello Residents, Families and Employees of RCN!

Our third round of all RCN employees and multiple agency employee testing that took place last Wednesday indicated all negative results. I am so proud of the mitigation efforts our employees, residents, and families (during porch visits) are taking to keep us safe!

This week, we will test 20% of our employees, and another 20% each week to follow. This will be the protocol unless a positive case warrants more testing.

I have been asked several times about resumption of dining, activities, and salon services. I reached out to the Home and Community Facilities Branch Chief for the Dept of Health and her response was this:

“The Public Health Order and current guidance has not changed. Per the CMS memo, referred to in the PHO, communal dining and all group activities, such as internal and external group activities, should be cancelled. The LTCF checklist contains this same language. I know there have been ongoing discussions to update the guidance and it is something the Governor’s Residential Strike Force team has talked about. However, I’m not aware of any official updated guidance.”

We at RCN and all other similar communities wish for nothing more than for residents to be able to dine together and join in activities, etc. We eagerly await the lifting of restrictions and know that many family members are an integral part of our care team that are sorely missed.

I will continue to update…thank you.

Regards,

Mar

COVID update

August 4, 2020

To residents, families and employees of Ralston Creek Neighborhood:

As you know, all residents and employees were tested July 13, 14 and 15. The state lab indicated negative results of everyone tested.

We tested all employees again on July 21. Those results also came back negative for all tested.

We are planning a third round of RCN employee and staffing agency testing on August 5.

Further testing will be based on previous test results. One thought is to test a sample of employees each week.

Please know that we ask all new residents to test negative before move in.

No further lifting of restrictions has been issued, except porch visits that are currently taking place.

The mail is dropped at the entrance for us to sort and deliver. This has been time consuming. We will continue to sort, but we ask that residents who are able, come down to the reception desk to collect their mail. In addition, if families have indicated that they will collect mail, please come and pick it up. It is piling up for some residents.

As a reminder – please call ahead to arrange for memory care resident porch visits. This will give the staff time to ready and transport residents.

RCN employees have been providing hair care and minor trims to some residents in a pinch. Although it is highly discouraged, if you choose to have haircare at an outside salon, the three-day quarantine would be in effect upon return. This also applies to any medical appointments, etc.

Michelle continues to hold facetime calls and help with online shopping. She also spends time 1 on 1 with residents and provides books, crafts and puzzles. She is happy to accept any additional personal items for resident enjoyment.

Again, thank you for continuing to wear masks, staying socially distant, and adhering to the guidelines for porch visits.

Please let me know if you have any questions/concerns.

Thank you,

Mary

July 9, 2020

To residents, families and employees of Ralston Creek Neighborhood:

We have received the materials to begin testing of all RCN residents and employees. There is no cost associated with this testing.

We are finishing up the necessary steps to work with the state lab.

We anticipate testing to begin Monday, July 13, 2020. Stacy, Director of Health and Wellness, will perform the tests.

Written consent is not required but recommended so attached is the consent form that we will ask each resident (in assisted living) to sign. We will document verbal consent from POA’s for our memory care residents.

The state lab indicated that results generally take 24-72 hours, but with the increase in testing, it may take longer. We will contact residents and POA’s of residents who are positive for COVID-19 and the actions taken as a result.

All employees (upon consent) will be tested initially next week and subsequent weeks for the recommended amount of time.

In addition, we are glad to announce that porch visits may resume this Saturday, July 11, 2020. Please keep in mind, that may change dependent on what is revealed in testing.

Please let me know if you have any questions/concerns.

Thank you,

Mary

July 6, 2020

To residents, families and employees of Ralston Creek Neighborhood:

As stated in my July 4 note, an employee of RCN has tested positive for COVID-19.  As of today, no other employees or residents are showing symptoms.  We are not considered a community with an outbreak.

I have been in communication with state and local public health authorities.  My most recent contact was with the testing coordinator for Jefferson and Douglas counties.  She indicated that when they urged facilities to sign up for testing, there were more requests than they anticipated.

She asked me to send another request and that those test kits would arrive within 2 – 3 days.  When the tests arrive, we will test all residents and employees initially, then employees again each week for several weeks and residents who go out and come back.

I will distribute another notice when the testing kits have arrived.

Until we can test and receive the results, porch visits will continue to be put on hold.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

I am available for any questions/concerns.

Warm regards,

Mary

July 4, 2020

To residents, families and employees of Ralston Creek Neighborhood:

An employee of RCN has tested positive for COVID-19.  This employee showed symptoms on Wednesday, reported to his/her supervisor and was immediately sent home and subsequently tested.  They are in self isolation and will be retested after free of symptoms.  As of this writing, no other employees or residents are symptomatic.

As you know, we have been wearing face coverings and social distancing for months now.  We ensure our residents wear masks outside of their apartments and families to do the same when porch visiting.  We will continue to be diligent with these protocols.

I have communicated with and am waiting on guidance from the Colorado Department of Health and Jefferson County Public Health for next steps.  We will work together to obtain testing through the state, or other means to ensure we have mass testing at RCN as soon as possible.

Employees are advised to be tested at an off-site facility if they are able, but protocol for employee testing on site will be forthcoming.

I am available for any questions/concerns.

Thank you,

Mary

Hello!

A few updates and requests….

I am still waiting on the timetable for mass testing of residents and employees.  As soon as I know more, I will send that update.  My understanding is that all employees and residents will be initially tested followed by weekly testing of employees and testing of residents only if they leave and come back into the community.

The CO Department of Health has left it up to AL communities to determine isolation protocol upon resident return to the community following medical appointments and other outings.  We feel confident that we can require a 3-day quarantine as opposed to the 14-day that has been in place thus far.  We know that medical offices have strict protocols in place to prevent contraction or spread of the virus.

Regarding other outings, we still ask that residents follow the safer at home guidelines and wait to return to hair salons, shopping, and other outings that may increase risk.  We want to be notified if residents are going out and will determine the isolation protocol on a case by case basis.  A risk assessment of new residents will also determine isolation protocols upon move in.

If an employee goes out of state by air or ground transportation, they will be required to submit a negative Covid test before return to work.  If that employee tests positive, they will need two consecutive negative tests before return to work.  We will perform the test if we have the supplies, otherwise that employee will need to go to a designated testing site.

For memory care families, we ask that you plan and schedule your window visit outside of mealtimes.  Now that we have two seatings for each meal to ensure social distancing, the best times for visitation is between 9:30 am and 11:00 am, 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm and after 6:00 pm.  We also ask that you call and speak with a lead to ensure availability of the apartment designated for window visits.

Please reach out to me with questions or concerns.

Thank you,

Mary