Letter to Residents & Families 10.29.2020

October 29, 2020

Dear Sunrise residents, family and friends,

This letter is a weekly update of COVID activity for Sunrise staff and residents. 

Sunrise continues to test staff two times per week for COVID surveillance.  In since my last communication, no staff members have tested positive.  The current number of active, COVID positive staff members after the end of business today is 0. Since April 20, a total of 46 staff members have tested positive for COVID-19.

Residents have also been testing on a regular basis, with the frequency depending on whether they live in Nursing or Assisted Living.  Currently one resident is in quarantine from the nursing center for testing positive for COVID. None of the assisted living tenants are in quarantine at this time.

For nursing residents, when positive test results are obtained, the individual is quarantined to our COVID specific hot zone with dedicated staffing.  For assisted living residents, we will allow them to quarantine to their apartment unless they have a change in condition that requires them to need more care. 

We will continue to test residents every 3-7 days as testing supplies are available or if there are any suspicions of illness.  Staff continue monitoring residents for any signs or symptoms of illness on each shift (3 times per day).  Please be aware that this information is being reported in the media. Nursing facilities that have more than 3 reported cases of COVID are considered in an “outbreak status” by the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) and have case information reported on their website. The information that Sunrise sends to you will be the most updated information and will count only currently active cases, while IDPH has different parameters for when they update numbers.

Sunrise’s nursing facility is currently considered in “outbreak” status and will remain in this status until we have not had ANY positive COVID cases in residents or staff for 14 days.  As such, we are limited on providing visits, but will continue allowing closed window visits for nursing facility residents and outdoor visits for assisted living.  We do need our visitors to follow the visiting guidelines as established by CMS, including checking in/out for appointments, wearing masks & using social distancing during the visit. Please be sure to schedule these visits with the Activities department prior to coming to the facility.

Our staff screen for exposure, symptoms and temperature at the beginning and end of each shift and wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) throughout their shift.  This has been our policy for months now and will continue to be the policy indefinitely.  Our staff members are also testing regularly as part of our surveillance program.

We are working closely with our local public health department, the Iowa Department of Public Health, and our medical director and following their recommendations.  We are notifying our constituents and all regulatory bodies necessary to keep them informed about this current situation as required.

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Hallie Salmen, CEO

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