At Elderberry Healthcare, the safety and health of our residents, patients, and staff is our top priority. We are monitoring the COVID-19 situation closely and are following guidance from the CDC, other local, state and federal health organizations to do our part to help lessen the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus).

To provide you with timely and relevant information, we are adding this web-based communications platform. This allows us to provide daily updates so that you have access to the most up-to-date key information on our efforts to protect our residents, patients and staff.
Even prior to COVID-19, we routinely prepare to minimize the transmission of various infections through policies, procedures, training and use of Personal Protective Equipment. Although routine admissions continue within our facility, rest assured we are following CMS and CDC guidelines and protocols regarding new admissions to provide care for our newly admitted residents while ensuring the safety of our existing residents and staff. In addition to our standard protocols, we have enhanced our admissions criteria during this time to include more in-depth screenings and have designated an area/environment within the facility for our new residents.

Our web-based update is below:

As a matter of precaution, we continue daily COVID-19 surveillance of all residents as well as daily screening and monitoring including temperature checks. Separate care givers will continue to work exclusively outside the isolation area to reduce the risk of contact with coronavirus (COVID-19) positive residents.
Positive staff members will not return to work until released by local health officials. We continue to perform staff screenings at the beginning of each shift including temperature. We are currently testing staff twice a week. We are continuing to screen and monitor our residents including daily temperature checks. Today, there are no active covid cases in the facility. As you know, this can change rapidly. Family members are updated regarding covid status through email and phone calls.

Outside Healthcare providers are coming into the facility only to perform essential care functions. They are screened at the door for signs and symptoms with temperature checks.
Some visitation protocols remain in effect. All visitors must be screened before visiting residents.
Our PPE supply levels remain sufficient to serve our residents at this point in time.

We know that it is difficult to be away from your loved one for an extended period of time. We encourage you to write letters, text, call, email, skype, facetime, email photos or use other electronic means to continue to communicate to your loved one. We have tablets available for the residents to use to communicate. These small gestures have a tremendous impact on our residents!

Today there are no residents or staff that have tested positive.

We want you to know that we share your desire to keep our residents and staff as safe as possible during this time. We are continuing to conduct weekly surveillance and exposure testing. We are currently conducting the surveillance through in-house rapid testing. This is in addition to laboratory exposure testing.

Receiving timely results with outside labs have been – and remains – a top priority for our facility and other skilled nursing facilities across the state. Although testing ability is more readily available, the time it takes to receive lab results remains a concern for us as well as other skilled nursing facilities.

Rest assured that protecting our state’s skilled nursing facility residents is a priority for North Carolina health care officials.

We are carefully monitoring residents and staff. In addition, we continue to carefully follow the guidance of local, state and federal health officials with regard to the preventative and precautionary measures we are taking to protect our residents and staff. We will continue to monitor recommendations for surveillance and exposure testing.

Currently we have outside visits and inside visits. Visitors will be required to be screened. It is required that you were your mask over your nose and mouth. You can visit in the rooms, but please remember to social distance.

Thank you for your thoughts, patience and support as we navigate through these unprecedented times.

We continue to have questions regarding… can I and what types of snacks, food or drinks can I bring for my family member or loved one. There are no restrictions on food items or laundry at this time.

We realize it is helpful to be able to drop off something for your loved one so everyone can feel connected. Or they’re calling because they miss a favorite dish, sandwich, snack or drink.

• We are attempting to stock a variety of food, snacks, and drinks in an effort to provide for your loved ones’comfort and taste.
• Label who for, whom from, date and room number prior to bringing. Or fill-out stick- on labels will be available on the table to complete and place on item(s).

Residents Still Having Fun during Coronavirus Precautions and Restrictions.
The absence of visitors and the continuing need to social distance as much as possible within our facility has temporarily changed how we socialize, engage and entertain our residents.

However, rest assured our activity and other staff members have been coming up with creative ways our residents can still have fun while staying safe.
In general, all our staff members are engaging with residents at every interaction, asking questions about their day, how they are feeling, and what they have been doing. Regular attempts are being made to ensure residents are staying in touch with family and friends by helping them set up various forms of video chat, phone calls, or writing cards and letters.

Of course, residents are staying in their rooms a lot more, and those who are able have been doing individual activities like reading, word searches, coloring and making crafts.  Residents are being encouraged, condition permitting, to stand, stretch and move to increase circulation. Technology, computers, tablets, e-readers, etc. are being utilized to explore virtual activities such as online museums, online classes, online games, online religious events, product browsing, movies, concerts and past sports events.

Residents are continuing to be asked what Activities they would like to do. If it is something usually done in groups, inventive ways are being explored to modify the activity, so it will work within guidelines from the CDC and various other health offices. We have resumed most of daily activities including dinning group. Pre-cautions are being taken.

90080095_2591629081157003_1532489656002674688_o

NC 2-1-1 is now available 24/7 as a resource for assistance related to COVID-19.
Dial 2-1-1 to get connected to resources in your community