Memo – Next Steps-New Family Visitation Guidelines and COVID-19 Update – September 24, 2020
FROM: John Burns, President and CEO
SUBJECT: Next Steps-New Visitation Guidelines and COVID-19 Update
DATE: September 24, 2020
On Thursday, September 17, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released new guidance on nursing home visitation during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. Westminster Canterbury Richmond follows the latest guidance from CMS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Virginia Department of Health (VDH).
Because of this new guidance, beginning Monday, September 28, Westminster Canterbury Richmond is open to family visitation in all areas of living from 10 a.m.-9 p.m daily. Nearly all visitation will be during these hours unless prearranged in coordination with Westminster Canterbury. Please see the Visitation Guidelines and Map for details.
We are happy to invite family members back to our community to spend time with your loved ones. We know this visitation will be beneficial for our residents’ overall well-being and quality of life. However, seniors are at the highest risk for severe illness from COVID-19, so we must continue with an abundance of caution when making decisions about how and when to visit. While family visitation is resuming, previous guidelines remain in place. If there are cases of COVID-19 on our campus, visitation policies may change again. Please check www.WCRICHMOND.org for the latest policies when planning your visit.
Follow the Core Principles of COVID-19 Infection Prevention
• Wear a mask at all times when around others.
• Wash your hands frequently and use hand sanitizer.
• Always maintain social distancing of at least six feet.
• Everyone must be screened before entering our community. Visitors receive a wristband.
• Follow enhanced safety and disinfection protocols based on CDC, CMS and VDH recommendations.
• Stay home if you have any of these symptoms: fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or other new signs of illness. Visitors will not be permitted to enter if they have any signs or symptoms of COVID-19.
Additionally, in accordance with the new guidance, Westminster Canterbury staff must continue to wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), clean and disinfect high touch surfaces and areas, maintain the ability to cohort COVID-19 positive residents in the COVID-19 positive unit in Pavilion Third Floor and comply with CMS regulations for staff and resident testing.
Existing Guidelines Reminders
• Residents are encouraged to stay within their area of living as much as possible.
• All guests should enter at the Gatehouse left lane. Frequent visitor badges will not be activated.
Deliveries from Family and Friends
Because of this change, the last day for Friday deliveries from family and friends with staff assistance will be Friday, September 25, from 1-3 p.m. at the Tower and Center Entrances.
Mary Morton Parsons Health Center
All visitors should exercise an abundance of caution when making decisions about how and when to visit. Family visitation is resuming in Parsons Health Center. General visitation is not resuming. Visitors should only visit with their loved one and not visit multiple residents in one visit. Independent and Assisted Living spouses may visit their spouse in their Parsons Health Center apartment or by reservation in the Rice Assembly or Marketplace Garden. Parsons Health Center residents may not leave the Parsons Health Center.
If you have questions about Parsons Health Center guidelines, please contact
• Vicki Fowler at (804) 264-6067 or vfowler@wcrichmond.org
• Dawn Winecoff at (804) 264-6069 or dwinecoff@wcrichmond.org
Assisted Living
Families will no longer need to schedule visits and are not held to a 30-minute limit.
• For questions about Avalon and Pavilion guidelines, please contact Jennifer Kapel at (804) 261-5376 or jkapel@wcrichmond.org.
• For questions about The Gables and Monticello guidelines, please contact Sloan Verlander at (804) 264-6275 or sverlander@wcrichmond.org.
Independent Living
If you have questions about Independent Living Guidelines, please contact Resident Services at (804) 264-6082. Please refer to The Westminster Canterbury Tales weekly newsletter, Touchtown Community Apps, TV971 and Live Updates for the latest on Grocery, Dining and other updates.
COVID-19 Updates
The Gables and Monticello
On September 14, two residents of The Gables tested positive for COVID-19. The residents are asymptomatic and are in the COVID-19 positive unit until they receive two negative test results. Residents of The Gables and Monticello are under quarantine in their apartments for 14 days from the date of exposure per guidelines from VDH. The quarantine will end on Saturday, September 26.
Westminster Canterbury Richmond COVID-19 Case Summary
We are committed to continued transparency about our COVID-19 response and cases in our residents and staff. Since March, Westminster Canterbury has had confirmed cases of COVID-19 in a total of 15 residents and 30 employees. Two residents are recovering in our COVID-19 positive unit. On Wednesday, September 23, Westminster Canterbury learned that an Engineering employee tested positive for COVID-19. This employee and two others, from Housekeeping and The Gables and Monticello, are recovering at home in quarantine. So far, 27 of the 30 employees have recovered, tested negative twice and returned to work.
Ongoing Updates
• We encourage you to stay up-to-date with us online. Check the COVID-19 Update page at www.WCRICHMOND.org for what to expect when visiting our community and more.
• The latest news and past updates are always available on our blog at www.WCRICHMOND.org.
• Live Update videos air on our in-house TV970 station on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3 p.m. and other times as needed. Recordings are available later on www.WCRICHMOND.org, www.facebook.com/wcrichmond, or on TV971 daily at 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.