Covid-19
Statement on Department of Public Health COVID-19 Visitor Restriction
April 20, 2020
Covid-19 Prevention
April 20, 2020
April 7, 2020
Dear Residents, Families and Friends:
As part of my ongoing communication to you regarding The Cannondale Campus response to COVID-19 and status in our local community, I have gathered data effective 4:00 pm today.
Over the past 10 days, rates of COVID infection in Fairfield County have increased from approximately 700 to 4,200 test-confirmed positives cases with 90 in Wilton alone. The statistics in our location of Fairfield County more closely resemble those in New York and indicate we are at approximate peak. Currently, Connecticut has 7,800 confirmed cases and statistics suggest that the outbreak will travel East through the State with earlier /larger spikes in urban areas.
We remain in daily contact with State and Local health officials to ensure that our infection control measures are optimal. These officials remain confident that our campus policies are stringent and were implemented swiftly. Many of our campus policies are being shared as best practices for other facilities – they include but are not limited to:
- Measuring the temperature*/ oxygen levels of all Greens at Cannondale residents each day.
- Restricting visitation to essential caregivers only.
- Staff screenings each time an employee enters the building including health and temperature* checks.
- On March 30th, all staff members were mandated to wear masks. Direct caregivers had already been doing so.
- Ongoing deep-cleaning with EPA- approved agents to kill Corona viruses and a professionally contracted antiviral spray treatment in resident rooms/common areas related to a suspected case.
- Frequent written and verbal (in multiple languages) in-servicing to staff detailing our policies.
- Limiting activity programs to in-room visits for Face timing and/or one-to-one visits. Small group functions can occur but only when a six-foot social distance arrangement can be maintained.
- Limiting dining to room-service with single-use serviceware for non-memory care areas. Our memory care residents are also using single-use serviceware but are enjoying their meals in six-foot social distanced groups outside of their room to ensure monitoring during mealtime.
- Resident transportation is limited to emergencies. We are facilitating personal resident shopping services through the recreation department. Residents and families may contact reception to make shopping requests.
- Free and ample soap and facemasks masks are being provided to all residents that would like these items.
- Restricting delivery personnel from the building – all essential deliveries are “drop and go” with special arrangements for pharmacies. Deliveries are either treated or staged to minimize the chance of transmission through mail and packages.
- Live tours and move-ins to assisted living are suspended – virtual tours only.
- Any resident who is suspicious of COVID infection will be immediately quarantined to their room until further instructions are received from their physician. These residents will be cared for by staff using full Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and may require hospital transfer if symptoms progress and present as COVID-19 or any other serious condition requiring acute care.
* The Greens at Cannondale is using 99.4 degrees as a guideline rather than the 100.4 advised by the CT epidemiology.
As a result of these measures, The Greens has, thus far, staved off illness greater than most facilities in our area and; our medical director agrees, we have responded to illness quickly leading to better outcomes. Norwalk Hospital staff report that the mediation regime being used for COVID-19 has provided a positive “blunting” effect to symptoms in patients who receive early intervention and do not have significant co-morbidities. Frail elderly patients, are, sadly, experiencing a very high mortality rate. Since my last communication to you regarding Greens at Cannondale specifically, and as of this writing:
- There are 0 positive cases of residents with COVID-19 at The Greens.
- Many residents have been isolated/monitored per our policy above. Low grade temperatures are common among our population and create the need to isolate many residents who’s symptoms or fever resolve with non-medical approaches. Most of these cases have resolved without further suspicion of infection.
- Approximately 8 of our isolated/ monitored Greens at Cannondale residents were sent out to Norwalk Hospital to rule out COVID-19 or to receive treatment otherwise. Few tested negative for the virus.
- Four of our residents who tested positive for COVID-19 are stable and ready for hospital discharge. We are prepared to receive these residents at Wilton Meadows Short Term Rehabilitation. Their care and treatment will be under the direction of our medical director and our 5-star Wilton Meadows clinical team. Care will be to treat them medically and provide rehabilitation services as needed.
- Greens at Cannondale COVID + residents who rehabilitate at Wilton Meadows will remain in short term rehabilitation until they receive 2 negative nasal swabs (24 hours apart) and are adequately rehabilitated otherwise. Wilton Meadows is currently only providing post-acute COVID + Short Term Rehabilitation to our own campus clients.
- Greens at Cannondale resident who are ready for discharge back to The Greens will be re-admitted to a separate and specialized section at the Greens where staff, resources and expertise can be concentrated to ensure optimal recovery.
I am pleased to report that The Greens and Wilton Meadows are adequately supplied with PPE and cleaning/ disinfecting supplies. We enjoy a full compliment of staff and are fortunate to have wonderful guidance from the State and Local health departments, as well as, our Medical Director, Dr. Alan Radin.
You can help by kindly complying with our protocols and by staying informed to remain free of infection. The CDC is updating it’s website at www.cdc.gov/ncov. Also, we are having weekly “town hall” type sessions each Tuesday at 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm. Just call in to:
Phone number: 475-277 2700
Access code: 922537
This and future written messages will be emailed to you and posted on our website weekly. They will contain information specific to The Greens Cannondale or Wilton Meadows to provide enhanced details to you.
In closing, I must extend a heartfelt thank you to the many families, friends and our residents themselves who have been nothing but supportive, kind and understanding. These are uncertain times but you should know with certainly that our tireless Greens team is united and committed to caring for your loved ones without relent. I will personally continue to remain in the building 7 days per week to ensure that our standards are maintained and that our team of caregivers is supported. You should also know that we are still enjoying life though worship and by having fun through various games, “mobile happy hour”, our “we love our PEEPS” contest, going for social distanced outdoor walks, hallway bingo, a fearsome mask sewing resident group, playing various music genre’s overhead or just enjoying each other’s company.
If you would like to schedule a Face time session with your loved one, please call the main number at 203 761-1191 or email Elanit Linder at elinder@nullwiltonmeadows.com. You may also email Elanit if you have not been receiving our email communications. She will gladly add you to our database for future messaging.
As always, please stay well and contact us if you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely Yours,
Ronald Bucci
Senior Executive Director
The Greens at Cannondale
