We at Memory Care of
Naples understand the seriousness of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and
we are taking every possible precaution to protect our residents and staff
based on the most updated guidance from local and federal authorities.
We are also committed
to communicating with our residents and their loved ones on a regular basis during
these unprecedented and difficult times. Family members have been notified
when COVID-19 cases have been identified and informed of the steps we are
taking to prevent the spread.
From the moment we
opened our first facility, we have always considered the health and welfare of
our residents and caregivers to be our highest priority. We have long-standing
protocols and procedures to help ensure the safety and welfare of our residents
and caregivers, including with respect to infectious diseases.
We have reviewed, and
will continue to review, these protocols and procedures in light of the
guidance and information provided by the CDC, other state and federal agencies,
our community physicians, and other medical professionals. Based on emerging
information and guidance, we will supplement our protocols and procedures as
warranted.
In addition, in
response to the COVID-19 situation, we have already implemented several new
procedures and strengthened others, including:
- We have instituted daily team
meetings with leaders from each of our facilities to assess the latest
information and to continue reviewing and supervising our sanitization
safety procedures.
- We have taken steps to dramatically
limit the presence of visitors in our facilities:
- Family members may now visit
residents virtually, but not in person. Please contact us for further
information about services we are providing free of charge to facilitate
virtual visits.
- We have cancelled all meetings and
other events that would result in non-essential visitors to our
communities until further notice.
- Our community physicians are
continuing their visits, but, if a physician manifests coronavirus
symptoms, he/she will not be allowed in the facility until tested and
cleared.
- We are monitoring all residents on a
daily basis for fever, symptoms of respiratory illness, and any other
potential health issues that could be an indication of any illness. If a
resident manifests symptoms, we will promptly isolate that resident to the extent possible and
notify their physician and family.
- We have increased and intensified
the monitoring of our employees for any manifestation of symptoms. New
procedures ensure that if any employees manifest symptoms, they will not
be allowed in the facility until they are tested and cleared. We have also
reinforced direction that staff with any symptoms should take full
advantage of our paid sick leave.
- We are sanitizing our facilities
with greater frequency, including additional cleaning and disinfecting of
high-traffic and common areas such as handrails, bathroom faucets and
levers, door handles and knobs, as well as tables and chairs in the common
areas. We have increased the number of hand sanitizers located throughout
the buildings and we have begun using a cleaning product called microSURE.
microSURE
is a unique antimicrobial solution – hand sanitizer, surface cleaner,
laundry detergent - that protects multiple diverse services. After
applying, it dries and creates a covalent bond that becomes a barrier on
the surface and continues to protect for 30 to 90 days. This is called a Mechanical Kill as
opposed to the more traditional Chemical Kill, which becomes inactive
within a matter of minutes from increased contact with the surface.
- We have increased the frequency of
regular in-service caregiver training meetings, with a specific emphasis
on disease control measures.
While we cannot
guarantee that coronavirus will not impact our residents or staff, we have
extensive experience with infection control, especially related to seasonal
influenza, and our long-standing policies and procedures are designed to keep
our residents in a healthy and nurturing environment. The President of Memory
Care America, Linda Carrasco, has over 30 years of experience in this field,
and we will continue to be proactive to protect our residents, caregivers, and
other community members.
Finally, knowing the
facts is an important component in our planning, and we encourage you to review
available resources. For your convenience, please refer to the following
websites for additional information:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
https://www.nih.gov/health-information/coronavirus