Hello Cedarwood family,
This update letter may be a little long, but I am hoping to clarify a few things and update everyone on our plan for the Holidays. We continue to have zero cases of COVID, the state did come in one more time today to test AL and Staff. I will keep everyone posted on results.
I wanted to Clarify the different types of testing we have been Doing:
- PCR Testing – which is a nasal or throat swap, this is the most common type of testing. When the state comes, they use PCR and when we want to identify who is positive in a specific pool, we use PCR.
- Pool Testing – This is the test that we do 1 -2 times a week for all residents and staff depending on if they are low or high risk (2 x a week for staff and residents who leave the community for any reason) this is a saliva based.
- Saliva testing- this is the new testing we will be doing to make it possible for families to be able to come into the building for a short period of time to visit with their loved one. (I will explain how this works later).
- Rapid Test- We have rapid test here at the community that can allow us to test a resident or staff showing symptoms and get results within 15 minutes, these are most effective when someone is showing symptoms. If a result is positive, we will follow up with a PCR test.
THANKSGIVING:
We have decided to follow the guidelines set by the department of health and Governor of Utah. We are encouraging families to have thanksgiving with those living in their own households. If residents choose to leave the community to spend thanksgiving with their families, we ask that they and all Their family in attendance wear a mask the entire visit (besides when they are eating), social distance, and please make sure that no one at the dinner is sick or showing any symptoms.
Here at Cedarwood we will be having a big Thanksgiving dinner/Lunch during our lunch dining hours. Although we are not fully opening our dining rooms for another week or so, we will be opening it for our Thanksgiving Lunch. For dinner that night we will being doing a great room service that will be delivered early around 2:00 so the dining staff can be home early for dinner with their family. Sending the dining staff home early on Thanksgiving and Christmas was an idea from the residents last year which is such a thoughtful suggestion.
If residents are planning on leaving the community for Thanksgiving, we ask they let the front desk know as soon as they can so we can plan accordingly. Families can pull up to the entrance and pick up the resident there. Families are not allowed to come into the community to pick up their loved one.
Upon returning to Cedarwood that resident will now become part of our “C” pool testing group and will need to be pool tested Monday and Wednesday in the MPR if they are on IL and in their apartment 2x a week in AL for the next two weeks.
MOVING FORWARD:
Now that we are doing our pool testing, residents who leave the community for any reason will not be on quarantine when they return as long as they are participating in the pool testing twice a week (Monday and Wednesday for IL in MPR and In apartments for AL) . If residents do not participate twice a week, they will be on a 2-week quarantine. With the large spike in cases in our state we do highly encourage residents to leave the community as little as possible.
Our best guess is that our last outbreak was caused by residents going to Doctor appointments, outside agency coming in (Physical therapy or Nurses), and staff getting it outside of work and bringing it in. So please be careful and minimize the time to leave the community
SALIVA TESTING FOR VISITS:
Starting 12/1 we will be starting our new Saliva testing for visits that will allow family to come into community to visit their loved one. This is a way that will allow to hopefully fight the effects of COVID by allowing family to come into the community. We feel like by pool testing residents and Saliva testing families it will hopefully keep everyone safe and allow a few more visits.
Here is how it works:
-Test will be given Tuesdays from 1:00-5:00 pm
– Only 20 spots available per week, please call in to sign up at the front desk.
– Test are covered under insurance so please bring your insurance card, if not test are $75 per test.
– If more than one visitor is coming each person will need to be tested
– Test will be overnighted Tuesday night to lab
– Once lab receives test, it is taking around 30 hours for results. Please be flexible with us since we are relying on the lab for results
– Results will come to the community as well as those who were tested
– Once results are received the visitor will be able to come for 1 visit within a 24-hour window.
-We will have visit areas set up in the parlor for your visit. If family needs to go to apartment to help with something that is fine, we just ask that you make it short as possible
– During Visit please wear a mask, wash, and sanitize hands prior to visit and enjoy being together. Hold hands and even give a big hug.
CHRISTMAS:
At this point Christmas will be much like Thanksgiving. If residents leave the community, they will go into our “C” pool and will be tested twice a week. If they participate, they will not be on quarantine. With the new Saliva testing starting 12/1, we hope that not only can family come to visit our residents but that we will be able to Saliva test a few vendors and they will be able to come in for some great holiday entertainment.
Obviously, things change (more often than we would like) but we are really excited that all of this testing will hopefully help us fight not only the virus but it’s effects. I have not heard when we are likely to get the vaccine, but we will be ready and excited for when that happens. Thank you all for your support please let me know if you have any questions.
Jesse Buntjer, Executive Director