5/28/2021
Dear Maristhill Residents and Families,
I am pleased to inform you that we had negative test results from our Covid-19 surveillance testing for the past three weeks for our unvaccinated staff and quarantined residents. I would like to thank everyone’s efforts in following the facility infection control protocols to help us in controlling the spread of Covid-19 in our Maristhill community.
As you are aware we have been implementing in-room visits for our vaccinated residents whose families are also vaccinated. I have taken the liberty to quote the guidelines from the Department of Public Health to help everyone understand the process we are required to follow with in-room visits or in designated visitation areas.
“Facilities should allow indoor visitation at all times and for all residents (regardless of vaccination status), except for a few circumstances when visitation should be limited due to a high risk of COVID-19 transmission (note: compassionate care visits should be permitted at all times). These scenarios include limiting indoor visitation for:
- Residents with confirmed COVID-19 infection, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated until they have met the 2 criteria to discontinue Transmission-Based Precautions: or
- Residents in quarantine, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated, until they have met criteria for release from quarantine.”
“Considerations should include:
- How the number of visitors for each resident and the total number of visitors in the facility at one time may affect the facility’s ability to maintain proper infection prevention and control core principles.
- Scheduling visits for specified lengths of time to establish a process for all residents to receive visitors.
- Limiting visitor movement in the facility
- Direct visitors to go directly to the resident room or designated visitation area.
- Do not walk around other halls of the facility.
- If resident has a roommate, conduct visitation in a designated visitation area.
- If roommate is unable to leave room, instruct visitors in the core principles of COVID-19 infection prevention.
- Physical Distancing of at least 6 feet
- Hand Hygiene
- Wearing a well-fitting face mask
- If the resident is fully vaccinated, they can choose to have close contact (including touch) with their visitor while wearing a well-fitting face mask and performing hand-hygiene before and after.”
- If roommate is unable to leave room, instruct visitors in the core principles of COVID-19 infection prevention.
I have received many calls regarding the reduction in restrictions in the community and why can’t we follow the same rules that apply to us in the general community. The Department of Public Health, CDC and CMS are using their best judgement to keep our residents as safe as possible from the Covid-19 virus. Although, we have seen a steady decline we are not yet at the level of infection that would allow the Department of Public Health to become more liberal with the guidance for visitation to the most vulnerable population. Please bear with us as we work with guidelines provided to us for your loved one’s safety. We would recommend that you receive your vaccination as soon as possible so that you may visit your family member in their room.
As a facility we are fully aware of the benefits of visits for our residents as well as the benefits for each resident’s family. We are striving to achieve these benefits along with controlling the spread of Covid-19 in our community. Our current visitation process will continue as we attempt to control the flow of visitors into the facility to ensure our ability to maintain infection control protocols. I would like to express our appreciation to all visitors in understanding the need to have a consistent process for visits. We should all remember that the vaccine does not ensure that a person cannot be infected with the Covid-19 virus, but it will help minimize the effects of the virus. The continued use of facemasks, hand washing with soap or the use of hand sanitizer will help the efforts to control the spread of Covid-19. If you need to obtain a vaccination, please utilize the DPH website at https://www.mass.gov/covid-19-vaccine.
We are asking families of our residents to provide us with the primary contact’s email so that we can provide updates regarding important information. Please send an email to Anthony Taddeo, our Administrative Support Coordinator at Ataddeo@covh.org. We have had many families respond to this email request, but it will be helpful to have a majority of the primary contact individuals respond for their family member. Thank you for your assistance.
Thank you all for your support. If you have any questions, please let me know.
Regards,
James Tracy
James Tracy,
President/Administrator