How is Twin Cedars Assisted Living responding to COVID-19?
Twin Cedars Assisted Living is committed to keeping our residents, families, and staff protected from the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). This virus is highly contagious and the best safety measure we can offer is to reduce the number of individuals who come in contact with our residents.
In accordance with CDC Guidelines and in response to the Department of Health mandate, all visitation has been suspended for Twin Cedars Assisted Living until further notice, beginning March 14, 2020. The few exceptions include emergency medical appointments or end of life situations. Enhanced screening is in place for all who enter, including staff. See below for the Screening Process.
In addition to all the safety precautions we have taken within the facility and by each staff member, we have requested that our residents “retreat to the comfort of their rooms”. Effective April 2, our residents will receive meals, medication and guest services right at their doorstep until further notice.
We continue to monitor the situation with the New Jersey Department of Health, Emergency Operations, Agency for Health Care Administration and Center for Disease Control and will advise you of any future changes as they are announced. Rest assured that our top priority is the safety and security of our residents, who call Twin Cedars Assisted Living home. We appreciate your understanding during this challenging but temporary situation.
What is Coronavirus (Covid-19) and why is it such a threat?
According to the CDC, we are learning more everyday about this new disease; how it spreads; the severity of illness it causes and the extent to which it will spread worldwide.
Person-to-person spread
The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person.
• Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
• Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
• These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.
Can someone spread the virus without being sick?
• People are thought to be most contagious when they are most symptomatic (the sickest).
• Some spread might be possible before people show symptoms; there have been reports of this occurring with this new coronavirus, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.
• Some people can spread the virus with no symptoms.
Spread from contact with contaminated surfaces or objects
• It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.
How easily the virus spreads
• How easily a virus spreads from person-to-person can vary. Some viruses are highly contagious (spread easily), like measles, while other viruses do not spread as easily. Another factor is whether the spread is sustained, spreading continually without stopping.
• The virus, COVID-19 seems to be spreading easily and sustainably in the community (“community spread”) in some affected geographic areas.
Source: http://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/transmission.html
What are the symptoms of Covid-19?
Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure:
• Fever or chills
• Sore Throat or Cough
• Shortness of Breath or Trouble Breathing
• Nausea, Vomiting or Diarrhea
• Fatigue
• Muscle or Body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Congestion or runny nose
Source: http://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html
• We have seen an increase in confusion in the elderly population.
What Precautions are now in place at Twin Cedars Assisted Living?
Who is allowed to visit Twin Cedars?
All visitation has been suspended until further notice. Exceptions include:
• Health Care Providers for our residents
• Representative from a government agency, such as AHCA, DCF or DOH
• Family members due to end of life care for a loved one
Everyone will go through advanced screening before admittance to the Facility. See below for Screening Information.
What is the Screening Process?
Everyone requesting entry to the Facility will be screened as follows:
• All staff members and vendors will be screened prior to being allowed entry. If anyone exhibits signs and symptoms of illness (coughing, fever, or shortness of breath) they will not be permitted to enter the community.
• Everyone will have their temperature taken – a temperature exceeding 100 or higher or signs and symptoms of illness (coughing, fever, or shortness of breath) will be preclude entry into the facility.
• Anyone who traveled through an airport within the last 14 days will not be permitted entry into the community.
• Anyone who has had known interaction with someone with the Coronavirus or visited a community with “Confirmed Community Spread” (as identified by the CDC or a state public health agency) will not be permitted entry into the community.
• Anyone who has been on a cruise ship within the last 14 days will not be permitted entry into the community.
• All vendors must have a negative Covid-19 test done with in the last week and a paper copy in hand.
• All staff members will be tested weekly for COVID-19.
What specific safety precautions are being taken within the facility?
• Strict screening process for entry, including recording temperature for everyone, including staff members.
• Social Distancing is being observed by our residents.
• Staff wear protective equipment including masks.
• Everyone is following the universal safety precautions such as hand washing, using hand sanitizer, not toughing eyes, nose and mouth, coughing or sneezing into a tissue or sleeve.
• Residents have been asked to “retreat to the comfort of their room”, where they will receive all the services they need, right at their doorstep.
• All offsite group outings, activities and onsite entertainment have been postponed.
• All staff members and vendors are required to use the front entrance and to go through the screening process.
• Staff cannot come to work if they are sick.
• Maintenance and cleaning schedule of the community has been accelerated, including disinfecting all high tough surfaces routinely.
• Staying current on the latest updates and recommendations by the CDC and other health care agencies.
What specific preventive measures are being taken for Residents?
• Social Distancing is being observed by residents.
• Residents have been asked to “retreat to the comfort of their room”. They will receive meals, medications and all the guest services right at their door step.
• Residents are being monitored and having their temperature checked regularly to be sure they are feeling well.
• Residents with cold and flu like symptoms will remain in their room and be under our care.
• To be sure our residents stay in touch with family and loved ones, we can assist with phone chats.
How can family members stay in tough with their loved ones?
• Our Administration Staff are always available to address your questions or concerns.
• To be sure our residents stay in touch with family and loved ones, we can assist with phone chats.
How the facility will keep the family updated on the facility status?
• We will do weekly robo calls to all family members to keep them updated on the facility COVID-19 status.
• If a resident is COVID positive the family members will hear from our Administrative and Nursing Staff.
How do you know when to test residents or staff who show symptoms of COVID-19?
We will follow the testing guidelines and recommendations from the CDC.
Source: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/transmission.html
