09/15/2021 WILTON RETIREMENT COMMUNITY – COVID OUTBREAK AND ALZHEIMER’S WALK
As it has been a little over a week since we were initially notified of our the COVID positive cases in staff and then tenants, I wanted to provide you with an update and an opportunity.
Since September 10, 2021, we have identified NO further positive cases at Wilton Retirement Community. The WRC staff has been focused to ensure infections control protocols have been kept in place to ensure all staff stays diligent to eliminate the spread of COVID-19. We will keep you updated on any changes to visitation we are able to implement.
On a related subject, the county transmission rate is currently at 13.2% which in combination with WRC’s current outbreak status has reevaluated our decision to attend the Muscatine Alzheimer’s Walk on September 24. We HAVE decided to sponsor an on-site walk at WRC on September 29, 2021 from 10 AM-12PM. Our team truly believes this will be a benefit as we our residents and tenants should be able to attend. We have been doing various fundraising on campus with our T-Shirts, Purple Wednesdays, and Dunk Tank, and our creative minds are still working to help this very worthy cause.
If you would like to contribute to this worthy cause, please go to our team’s webpage at http://act.alz.org/goto/WRCWILTONIA.
Please reach out for any questions or concerns,
Laura A. Brandt CNA, LNHA
Wilton Retirement Community
Administrator
9/10/21 WEST LIBERTY ASSISTED LIVING – SINGLE COVID CASE IDENTIFIED 9/10/21
Late this afternoon, a case of Covid-19 was identified in a tenant. The tenant is being treated for an unrelated condition at a location outside of the assisted living community when tested. All other tenants have since been tested and all are negative and no one is presenting any signs or symptoms. However, as a result of the one case, we are go to suspend all of our visitation (indoor and out) at this time. Unless someone presents signs or symptoms, we will be testing everyone again in 3 days and continue to do daily monitoring. Staff continue to test 2 times per week. We will post updates as they become available. Please know that we take this very seriously. The well being of our tenants and staff are our top priority. If you have questions please call 319-627-4775.
Clifford McFerren – Administrator
WRC September 10th 2021 UPDATE,
After completion of our second round of COVID testing of all residents and tenants of WRC, it revealed one (1) additional positive case in an assisted living tenant. No other residents, tenants, or staff have tested positive since Tuesday, September 7, 2021. We will continue to test our staff twice a week per CMS guidelines due to the outbreak status and current community transmission rate. We will continue to test residents and tenants until we have had completed 2 rounds of negative testing of residents and tenants.
All of the tenants and residents at WRC will remain isolated as a precaution in their room/apartments. For those tenants who have tested positive, they will be quarantined for 14 days. All tenants and residents will be eating in their rooms and group activities will be suspended.
Please keep our residents, tenants, and staff in your thoughts as we continue to work through this outbreak to keep the faith, hope, and love.
Again, we thank you in advance for your understanding and compassion.
Please stay safe,
Laura A. Brandt CNA, LNHA
September 7th, 2021 UPDATE 13:15hrs
To All Residents, Tenants, Families & Staff of WRC,
RE: COVID-19 Positive Cases
Good Afternoon All,
The word “deflation” comes to mind when preparing this notice. It is never an easy decision when to limit or not limit certain aspects of our resident and tenant lives, but today, we have no choice but to manage ways to keep them safe.
After completion of our first round of COVID testing of all residents and tenants of WRC, it revealed WRC has a total of 4 positive cases in the Leland R. Smith Assisted Living and 0 positive cases in the LTC/CCDI unit. We will be sending samples to the State Hygienic Lab to confirm the positive rapid test results. We hope to have our final report within the next 24-48 hours; however, we will treat the positive rapid test as a true positive.
All of the tenants and residents at WRC will be isolated as a precaution in their room/apartments. For those tenants who have tested positive, they will be quarantined for 14 days. All tenants and residents will be eating in their rooms and group activities will be suspended.
Please keep our residents, tenants, and staff in your thoughts as we continue to work through this outbreak to keep the faith, hope, and love.
Again, we thank you in advance for your understanding and compassion.
Please stay safe,
Laura A. Brandt CNA, LNHA
Wilton Retirement Community
Administrator
September 7, 2021
To All Residents, Tenants, and Families of WRC
RE: COVID-19 Positive Case
Good Morning to All,
Late Monday evening, September 6, 2021, Wilton Retirement Community identified a positive case of COVID-19 in a long-term care staff team member. Regrettably, WRC is now considered in OUTBREAK status and under CMS/CDC guidelines, had had to lock down our entire community until we are able to meet CMS/CDC guidelines to lessen restrictions. I assure you the WRC is working diligently to safeguard our residents, tenants, and staff.
However, the following will be effective immediately:
- All visitation and outings will be suspended until community-wide testing is completed.
- Beauticians, Musicians, and Volunteers will be suspended from entering building until community-wide testing is completed.
- Community-wide testing will be conducted every 3-7 days for all staff, residents, and tenants of WRC and will continue for a minimum of 14 days or until no further positive tests are revealed in any staff, tenants, or residents.
- Communal Dining and Activities will continue at this present time with the additional protection of plex-glass table protectors.
- WRC staff will be limited to their own designated areas of care and service.
We are hopeful the community-wide outbreak testing will NOT reveal any further positive cases in any staff, residents, or tenants. We will continue to keep all staff, residents, and tenants notified with any updates.
We all thank you in advance for your understanding and compassion.
Please stay safe,
Laura A. Brandt CNA, LNHA
Wilton Retirement Community
Administrator
8/24/21 The county positivity rate is climbing and now at 15%, up 3.3%. We ask that you limit your visits and outings to only those that are absolutely necessary (medical appointments as an example). “Break-through” infections (vaccinated persons) are on the increase and we want to limit our population from exposure as much as possible. Boosters vaccines are coming, best guess for us will be in November. We do not have anymore details at this time and we will release more information when we get it.
8/16/21 Good Afternoon Wilton Retirement Community Residents, Tenants, & Families,
It is with great excitement and pleasure to announce that our community has the ability to lift most restrictions we have had to impose that past several weeks. With the persistence and dedication of our staff, cooperation of our residents and tenants, we have received notification that all residents, tenants, and staff members have all tested negative the past two weeks.
The question you may ask is, “What does this mean?”
We are now able to permit the following:
- Indoor Visitation
- Closed Window Visitation
- Outdoor Visitation
- Low Risk Outings as determined by either Tifany Rickey/DON, Amy Young/Assisted Living Nurse, or myself.
- Beauticians
- Volunteers
- Musicians
- Religious Services, including Bible Study
Please remember ANY visitors to our campus will be screened for COVID before allowed to visit with their loved one. I have attached the current visitation and outing policies for your review.
Due to the Muscatine County Positivity Rate over 10%, any high risk outings for residents and tenants may lead to quarantine of the resident and/or tenants for 14 days. Any residents or tenants who wish to attend the Founder’s Day Activities will be required to be quarantined upon their return due the high risk exposure. We all here at Wilton Retirement Community recognize the importance of attending the Founder’s Day Festivities, so we have been bringing Carnival Days to our residents and tenants this week. We will also be ensuring all of our residents and tenants have a front row seat to the parade on Saturday. We have some great staff willing to come in on their day off to “Make This Happen”!! Please call with any questions or concerns, Thanks again for all of your support!!!
Laura A.Brandt C.N.A., LNHA Nursing Home Administrator
Wilton Retirement Community
Updated 8/3/21
Good Morning To All the Wilton Residents, Tenants, Families & Friends,
It is with great apology and heavy heart to inform that Wilton Retirement Community has received notification this morning we have a positive case in one of our staff members. We will be restricting inside and outdoor visits, and outings with residents and tenants effective immediately excluding compassionate care visits until further notice. We will be also discontinuing the following services for all residents and tenants: Musicians, Beauticians, and Volunteers. We started to test all staff 2x week on 08/02/2021 due to the county positivity rate of 12.3%. We will be testing all residents and tenants today, 08/03/2021 and then again on 08/10/2021 in the hope we will have two rounds of negative testing before being able to transition lessen restrictions on visits. In the meantime, we are working on a plan to have facetime and zoom calls with residents and tenants, and you are all more than welcome to call your loved one. We are still able to allow closed window visits as well.
All of the staff at WRC is working diligently and swiftly to ensure the overall safety of your loved ones at WRC. Please call or email me with any questions at 563-732-5067. -Laura Brandt, Administrator
On Monday August 2nd, Simpson Memorial Home in West Liberty re-imposed restrictions on Monday after CMS posted county positivity numbers at 12.3%, up from the previous 7.1%. This affects our nursing home and assisted living. At this time we are not accepting visitors inside the facility unless it is for compassionate care reasons. We are offering visits via several options; window box with intercom, closed window visits with cell phone, tablet (iPad) or computer via Zoom or similar app. We are monitoring this very carefully and making adjustments as needed based on risk analysis. For questions about West Liberty, please call 319-627-4775.
On Sunday August 1st Simpson Memorial Home in West Liberty (nursing home side) had an employee with a suspected case of Covid-19. Employee was sent home while PCR test was sent to the State Hygienic Lab in Coralville. That result came back NEGATIVE.
Please note: WE ARE HIGHLY DISCOURAGING UNVACCINATED VISITORS until the county is back under 5% positivity rate.
Simpson Memorial Home: New Resident Infections – ZERO. New Staff Infections – ZERO
West Liberty Assisted Living Residences: New Tenant Infections – ZERO. New Staff Infections – ZERO.
Wilton Retirement Community: New Residents Infections – ZERO. New Staff Infections – ZERO.
Leland R. Smith Assisted Living Residences: Residents – ZERO. Staff – 1.