UPDATE – MAY 23, 2022
Good afternoon WRC Community,
During our continued outbreak testing of all our staff, residents, and tenants of Wilton Retirement Community, WRC has identified a total of 5 positive cases at Wilton Retirement Community since Monday, May 16, 2022. Four of the five positive cases are identified as staff AND 1 positive case was identified as an Assisted Living tenant today, May 23, 2022. No other cases have been identified at this time.
We will continue to test all residents, staff, and tenants of Wilton Retirement Community until we have no new positive cases for 14 days.
WRC will also remain in OUTBREAK status until we have no new positive cases in neither staff, residents, nor tenants for 14 days.
Even with the increasing community infection rate the past couple weeks, WRC staff has continued to stay focused and diligent with resident care and safety.
We encourage all visitors and families to Wilton Retirement Community to also stay diligent with proper social distancing and mask wearing as the community rates for Muscatine County and Cedar County is at the HIGH level per CDC Community Rates.
Please reach out with any questions or concerns.
Thank you for your continued support and understanding,
Laura A. Brandt CNA, LNHA
Wilton Retirement Community Administrator
MAY 18, 2022
To All Residents, Tenants, Staff and Families of WRC
RE: Additional COVID-19 Positive Staff Cases Identified
Good afternoon WRC Community,
During our continued outbreak testing of our staff and residents, WRC has identified 2 additional positive cases in staff members. With these additional cases,WRC has identified a totalof 3 positive cases of COVID-19 in staff members of Wilton Retirement Community since Monday, May 16, 2022.
With these two additional cases, we have extended our outbreak testing to including Leland R. Smith Assisted Living tenants and staff to maximize our due diligence. All the Leland R. Smith Tenants and Townsend Care Center residents have all tested negative. We will continue to test all residents, staff, and tenants of Wilton Retirement Community until we have no new positive cases for 14 days.
WRC will also remain in OUTBREAK status until we have no new positive cases in neither staff, residents, nor tenants for 14 days.
Even with the increasing community infection rate the past couple weeks, WRC staff has continued to stay focused and diligent with resident care and safety.
Please reach out with any questions or concerns.
Thank you for your continued support and understanding,
Laura A. Brandt CNA, LNHA
Wilton Retirement Community Administrator
To All Residents, Tenants, Staff and Families of WRC
MAY 16, 2022
RE: COVID-19 Positive Staff Case Identified
Good evening to You All,
It’s with great regret, I notify all of you of 1 identified positive case of COVID-19 in a staff member of Wilton Retirement Community. The staff member will be isolating at home.
We have since initiated outbreak testing on all residents and staff, and we have no identified no additional cases. We will continue to test all residents and staff of Wilton Retirement Community until we have no positive cases.
We will remain in OUTBREAK status until we have no new positive cases in neither staff, residents, nor tenants for 14 days.
What does this mean for our residents and families?
- Visitation with your loved one is still permitted; however, all visitors need to be aware of the risks of entering our building during the Outbreak status and be encouraged in other types of visitation.
- No matter the vaccination status of the visitor, all visitors will be required to keep their eye protection and face mask on during the entire length of their visits and visits will only take place in resident/tenant rooms.
- Outings will be continued to be approved on a case-by-case basis based on WRC’s Outbreak Status and Community Transmission Rate, currently at Substantial Rate for Muscatine County.
Extra Precautions for Wilton Retirement Community:
- All visitors of Wilton Retirement Community will be required to wear a face mask rather with eye protection. PPE will be provided by Wilton Retirement Community.
- Plastic Table Dividers have been placed and will remain for a minimum of 14 days to allow for limited communal activities at Wilton Retirement Community.
- All residents and tenants of Wilton Retirement Community will continue to be highly encouraged to wear a surgical mask outside of their apartments and rooms.
- Any staff member of Wilton Retirement Community will be required to continue to wear a
face mask and eye protection.
Please reach out with any questions or concerns & as always thank you for your continued understanding and support,
Laura A. Brandt CNA, LNHA
COVID-19 Infection Numbers & Updates – WEST LIBERTY CAMPUS
5/13/22 Further Positive Cases identified among staff & residents in Nursing Home
5/13/22 We have identified 5 cases among residents and 2 cases among staff members. All 5 residents are asymptomatic at this time. One staff member is also asymptomatic. The other staff member is showing symptoms. All involved are vaccinated and up to date.
5/12/22 More cases among staff have been identified in the Nursing Home at Simpson in West Liberty. We are currently testing ALL residents but do not have the results all confirmed yet. The Nursing Home will be in Outbreak Status until further Notice.
Potential Exposure occurred on 5/10/22
Please be aware of a Potential Exposure to Covid 19 from a team member in our Therapy Department. A physical therapist tested positive for Covid-19 at a quick care clinic on 5/11/22. This person was in our building on 5/10/22 but tested negative and was not showing any signs or symptoms. This person saw several residents on the nursing home side and a couple of tenants on the assisted living side. We have contact traced all concerned parties. We want you to be aware of this new risk however we feel that the risk is low since all of our residents and tenants are up to date with vaccinations and the contact made was limited and the person involved was using the proper PPE. We tested everyone affected today and ALL were NEGATIVE. We will test again in 5-7 days unless signs or symptoms develop. We will also be continuing with our daily signs and symptoms monitoring.
As for now, with the county numbers on the rise, we ask that you use common sense when out and about. We are no longer allowing family members or visitors to dine with our residents or participate in any group activities. Please limit your visits to the person you are planning to see and only that person. If you have any questions, please reach out to a team member.
Clifford McFerren – Administrator
319-627-4775
4/8/22 Normal Conditions, No Outbreaks Simpson Memorial Home
3/14/22 (updated 3/18/22) Simpson Memorial Home
To: Family, Friends, Staff and Residents and Visitors of Simpson Memorial Home,
After identifying 2 employees as positive for Covid, contact tracing was completed with visitors and staff members being notified and tested as needed or by request.
Since both of the individuals were up to date with their vaccines and wore the appropriate PPE, overall exposure was minimal.
After completing the risk assessment, we feel that exposure to residents and staff was minimal but as a precaution tested all residents on 3/14/22 and again on 3/17/22. All results were NEGATIVE. No further cases have been identified in employees and we continue to test all staff members 2x week that are not “up to date” with the Covid vaccine (meaning booster eligible) as well as our 4 exempt employees.
Our next steps:
- We will continue to monitor our residents daily.
- We will test our residents again on Monday the 21st unless someone develops signs or symptoms in which case early testing will be necessary.
- Staff not up to date but eligible for vaccine will continue to be tested 2x week until the 30th of March.
We will continue to monitor the situation and send out updates as they occur. If you have any questions, please call us at 319-627-4775.
Clifford McFerren – Administrator
Simpson Memorial Home, Inc.
3/14/22 Simpson Memorial Home
To: Family, Friends, Staff and Residents and Visitors,
We have identified 2 Laundry / Housekeeping personnel on the nursing home side that are positive for Covid. We tested all of the residents today (Monday 3/14/22) and all are negative. Will test again in 3 days.
Both of the individuals were up to date with there vaccines. One was asymptomatic.
After doing a risk assessment, we feel that exposure to residents was minimal, but we will continue monitoring and testing all residents on the nursing home side.
Notification went out via email blast, website posting and POSTED signage.
Residents, Staff & Visitors affected:
- Exposure to residents is minimal as both do laundry and do not clean any resident rooms. However, testing of all residents commenced at 0900 hrs on 3/14/22 and again in 3 days.
- Other staff members in the housekeeping department are being monitored and tested as needed.
- After a check of the visitor log sheets and checking with both personnel, visitors did not have any exposure to either personnel.
We will continue to monitor the situation and send out updates as they occur. If you have any questions please call us at 319-627-4775.
Clifford McFerren – Administrator
Simpson Memorial Home, Inc.
3/4/22
Hello Everyone on the West Liberty Campus,
We have a couple of changes and updates for you so I thought I would put out a campus wide letter since one piece or another seems to affect everyone.
As of 2/28/22, we are no longer in OUTBREAK STATUS as far a Covid-19 goes. All of our residents and staff members have tested negative. We are currently only testing unvaccinated staff members (total of 4) that have approved exemptions.
Last Friday, CDC released new guidelines for measuring Covid-19 across the country. Please note that the new, simplified GREEN, YELLOW, RED ranking system only applies to the general public, NOT to HEALTHCARE settings. What does this mean?
- For the general public, such as our Independent Heath Manor apartments, the new system shows our county as GREEN which then allows for dropping covid-19 restrictions. Tenants at Heath would no longer be required to wear a mask or socially distance themselves. Activities, including guests at meals can resume unrestricted as long as the county level shows GREEN.
- Folks in Assisted Living will need to wait just a little while longer as they will continue to be under the guidance we use for Healthcare. The tenants will see some benefits to the new guidance, but the employees will have to remain under the more stringent guidelines do to being attached to the nursing home and crossing over with regular frequency.
- The Nursing Home will need to follow the stricter of the 2 systems. We must still follow all of the old guidelines and previous ranking method involving BLU E, YELLOW, ORANGE, RED (orange & red technically are the same). One major change is that we are no longer required to report negative Covid-19 test results, only the positive ones. Only negative side effect is now our county shows that we have a 100% positivity rate. Until the CDC figures this out, they suggested we look at the number of new cases per 100k residents and use that number to rank our risk exposure level. That number, on Wednesday of this past week, was 82. According to the chart below, that would take us to the level of ORANGE which is really no different than the RED restrictions. As of 1pm today, that number dropped to 47 (YELLOW) which will allow a few changes. We will wait until Monday to see if that number still holds before making any changes.
| New Measurement | Low | Moderate | Substantial | High |
| New cases per 100,000 persons in the past 7 days* | <10 | 10-49.99 | 50-99.99 | ≥100 |
As a standard practice, we check and record our county numbers on Wednesday. Therefore we can make changes if needed as the week unfolds. If the number drops from the previous week, we record it but still need to let it run for 2 consecutive weeks before making any changes. The biggest change impacts our testing frequency for our unvaccinated staff members, which at this point only consist of 4 persons.
I am sure you will have questions as this whole thing is a bit like river water… real cloudy. We will do our best to keep you informed as things change and /or get updated. Good news is that we seem to be trending down with any new positive cases of Covid.
Have a great weekend and give us a call at 319-627-4775 with any questions.
Sincerely,
Clifford McFerren – Administrator
February 15th, 2022 Update
Simpson Memorial Home in West Liberty conducted another round of POC tests on Friday, February 11th using a new POC kit manufacturer. We had 3 false positives that were verified as actually being NEGATIVE by the State Hygienic Lab. Another Round of POC tests were completed on Monday Feb 14th using our previous kits from Abbott the BinaxNow kits and all were NEGATIVE with no false positives. So currently we only have the one case in our care center that dates back to Feb 9th. That resident is currently asymptomatic but continues on isolation until Feb 24th. If you have any questions please call 319-627-4775.
Sincerely,
Clifford McFerren – Administrator
February 9th, 2022
Simpson Memorial Home in West Liberty has a positive case of Covid. One of our residents has tested positive late this afternoon. This person was discovered while performing our routine weekly POC testing of residents. This person is not showing any signs or symptoms and is up to date (fully) vaccinated. All of the other residents have tested NEGATIVE. A PCR test has been administered and will be sending that off to the State Hygienic Lab for verification. The resident is on isolation precautions and being closely monitored. We will send out an update tomorrow. To date, we have had 16 positive staff members since the original outbreak on 1/4/22. The last staff member testing positive was on 1/25/22. A therapy staff member tested positive yesterday, but that was not at our facility. However, that team member was here on Monday. All of his patients have been tests also and are NEGATIVE. Those residents will be tested again on Friday. All other residents will be tested again in 3-7 days.
As always, please call if you have any questions or concerns. We will keep you updated as the State Lab results come back.
Clifford McFerren
Administrator
Simpson Memorial Home, Inc.
Office: 319-627-4775
February 9th 2022
To All Residents, Tenants, and Families of WRC
RE: Additional Tenant Positive Case Identified
Good afternoon to You All,
Since my last letter to you on February 1, 2022, Wilton Retirement Community has identified TWO additional positive cases in our staff and ONE positive case in an assisted living tenant within the past 24 hours. We also have two additional state hygienic staff tests pending.
The assisted living tenant was identified during our outbreak testing and will placed in isolation for ten days. The family of our tenant has been notified. We will continue to monitor all of our staff, residents, and tenants, for any signs or symptoms and test per CDC guidelines.
We haven’t made any additional changes to visitation or outings but have temporarily restricted our volunteers from entering the building due to continued positive cases in our residents and tenants. We have also been restricting movement between our assisted living and long-term care residents and staff. All of our staff members continue to be are required to wear a KN95 mask and eye protection during their entire shift to assist with source control.
The CDC has announced some additional guidance for visitors as of February 4, 2022. We had posted additional signage at each visitor entrance. With the recent changes for other types of businesses, they are permitted to allow their workers to return back to work after day 5 of testing positive. However, it has been made VERY clear that any visitors who have tested positive will NOT be permitted to enter either the assisted living or long-term care sooner than day 11 from testing positive AND no longer are showing signs or symptoms no matter the vaccination status of the visitor.
Please assist us in mitigating the risk of the spread of the COVID-19 virus as we continue to attempt to return a sense of normalcy. I am hopeful this WILL happen due to the community transmission rate today for Muscatine County at 16% today per IDPH and with the recent actions by Governor Reynolds “ending” the pandemic on February 15.
Please reach out with any questions or concerns & as always thank you for your continued understanding and support,
Laura A. Brandt CNA, LNHA
Wilton Retirement Community
Administrator
February 1st 2022
To All Residents, Tenants, and Families of WRC
RE: Resident Positive Case Identified
Good afternoon to You All,
Since my last notification, it is with great regret, I notify you of 6 additional staff members and 1 identified positive case of COVID-19 in a resident of Townsend Family Care Center of Wilton Retirement Community. The resident was asymptotic and was identified today during our weekly outbreak surveillance testing. The family of the resident has already been notified.
We have continued to test all residents and staff of Wilton Retirement Community until we have no positive cases identified in neither the Townsend Care Center or Leland Smith residents or tenants. residents and our last positive case in staff was 1/27/2022.
We will remain in OUTBREAK status until we have no new positive cases in neither staff, residents, nor tenants for 14 days.
What does this mean for our residents and families?
- Visitation with your loved one is still permitted; however, all visitors need to be aware of the risks of entering our building during the Outbreak status and be encouraged in other types of visitation.
- No matter the vaccination status of the visitor, all visitors will be required to keep their eye protection and face mask on during the entire length of their visits and visits will only take place in resident/tenant rooms.
- Outings will be continued to be approved on a case-by-case basis based on WRC’s Outbreak Status and Community Transmission Rate, currently at 36.5% for Muscatine County.
- Those residents identified as Positive for Covid will be isolated to their rooms for 10 days and will be restricted from outings: however, not from in room visits. Visitors who request to visit their Covid positive loved one, will be required to wear full PPE which will include but not limited to: N95 mask, eye protection, gloves, and gown during the entire length of visit.
Extra Precautions for Wilton Retirement Community:
- All visitors of Wilton Retirement Community will be required to wear a face mask rather with eye protection. PPE will be provided by Wilton Retirement Community.
- Plastic Table Dividers have been placed and will remain for a minimum of 14 days to allow for limited communal activities in Leland R. Smith Assisted Living and Townsend Care Center.
- All residents and tenants of Wilton Retirement Community will continue to be highly encouraged to wear a surgical mask outside of their apartments and rooms.
- Any staff member of Wilton Retirement Community will be required to wear a K95 mask and eye protection; however, will be in full PPE, including a N95 mask when working within the COVID-19 positive rooms/apartments.
Please reach out with any questions or concerns & as always thank you for your continued understanding and support,
Laura A. Brandt CNA, LNHA
January 25th 2022
To All Residents, Tenants, and Families of WRC
RE: Resident Positive Cases Identified
Good afternoon to You All,
It is with great regret, I notify you of 2 identified positive cases of COVID-19 in tenants of Leland R. Smith Assisted Living on January 25, 2022. Both tenants were asymptotic and were identified today during our weekly outbreak surveillance testing. Families of the tenants have already been notified.
We have continued to test all residents of Townsend Care Center and staff and have had no positive cases identified in the Townsend Care Center residents and our last positive case in staff was 1/17/2022.
We will remain in OUTBREAK status until we have no new positive cases in neither staff, residents, nor tenants for 14 days.
What does this mean for our residents and families?
- Visitation with your loved one is still permitted; however, all visitors need to be aware of the risks of entering our building during the Outbreak status and be encouraged in other types of visitation.
- No matter the vaccination status of the visitor, all visitors will be required to keep their eye protection and face mask on during the entire length of their visits and visits will only take place in resident/tenant rooms.
- Outings will be continued to be approved on a case-by-case basis based on WRC’s Outbreak Status and Community Transmission Rate, currently at 36.5% for Muscatine County.
- Those residents identified as Positive for Covid will be isolated to their rooms for 10 days and will be restricted from outings: however, not from in room visits. Visitors who request to visit their Covid positive loved one, will be required to wear full PPE which will include but not limited to: N95 mask, eye protection, gloves, and gown during the entire length of visit.
Extra Precautions for Leland R. Smith:
- All visitors of Leland R. Smith will be required to wear a K95 mask rather than a surgical mask with eye protection. PPE will be provided by Wilton Retirement Community.
- Plastic Table Dividers have been placed and will remain for a minimum of 14 days to allow for limited communal activities in Leland R. Smith Assisted Living.
- All tenants of Leland R. Smith will continue to be highly encouraged to wear a surgical mask outside of their apartments.
- Any staff member of WRC working in Leland R. Smith Assisted Living will be required to wear a K95 mask and eye protection; however, will be in full PPE, including a N95 mask when working within the positive tenant apartments.
Please reach out with any questions or concerns & as always thank you for your continued understanding and support,
Laura A. Brandt CNA, LNHA
Wilton Retirement Community Administrator
563-732-5067
January 17th 2022
To: Family, Friends, Staff, Residents and Visitors,
Over the weekend we had 2 more vaccinated staff members tested positive using the facility POC test kits. State Hygienic test will be run to the lab for verification. Residents were all tested on the 13th and again today, all Negative. So far, during the outbreak that began with one staff member on 1/4/22, we have a total of 11 staff members testing positive. All have been fully vaccinated and 4 had received a booster. Six of the 11 have returned to work after proper quarantine. Five remain off work and in quarantine.
We will continue to do the following:
- We continue to monitor residents daily with health assessments looking for signs and symptoms of Covid and / or test as needed (if showing signs & symptoms). We are testing residents every 3-7 days until there is 14 straight days with no new positive cases with either staff or residents.
- Testing all staff, whether vaccinated or not, 2 times per week unless showing signs or symptoms then we will test as needed.
- Visitors are still welcome, however, they are at a much higher risk of exposure as the county positivity rate is 18% and transmission is rated HIGH. We ask that they reconsider any unnecessary visits, but still have the right to visit.
We will keep information updated via email, web page https://www.simpsonmemorialhome.org/covid-19-updates/ and posted signage at the facility as things develop. Please call 319-627-4775 with questions.
| Wilton Retirement Community Update |
| 01/14/2022 at 1:44 p.m |
To All Residents, Tenants, and Families of WRC
RE: Additional Positive Cases Identified
Good Morning to You All,
With continued outbreak testing of all residents, tenants, and staff, we have identified an additional 3 positive cases of COVID-19 in our staff. Since December 27, 2021, we have identified a total of 8 positive cases in our staff.
We tested all residents and tenants today, January 13, 2022, and all tested NEGATIVE. We will continue to test resident and tenants every 3-7 days until we have no new positive cases for 14 days in any staff, residents, or tenants. We will also continue to monitor residents and tenants for any signs or symptoms daily. We will also continue to test staff, residents, and tenants every 3-7 days and screen staff upon entry for any signs and/or symptoms.
We will remain in OUTBREAK status until we have no new positive cases in neither staff, residents, nor tenants for 14 days.
I also wanted to THANK all of you for understanding the risks associated with visiting your loved ones here at WRC. I will continue to encourage all visitors to visit their loved ones here at WRC, but to also remain vigilant to abide by the visiting and outing policies following the CDC recommendations.
- Be screened by WRC staff upon entry to community.
- Use proper hand hygiene upon entry and exit of community.
- Wear medical grade face mask and eye protection during your entire visit, no matter your vaccination status.
- Visit only in resident rooms, and not permitted in common areas or dining room.
- Use a direct path to and from your loves one’s room/apartment.
- If you are not feeling well, please do not visit the community and be honest in your signs and symptoms when visiting our community.
- If you’ve had a potential direct exposure, of if someone in your family has tested positive in the past 14 days, please be honest to inform our screening staff to assist in mitigating the risk of COVID-19 to our residents, tenants, and staff.
- Please be understanding and patient with our staff during the screening process as we are all staying diligent to mitigate the risk of COVID-19.
The current Muscatine County Transmission Rate of COVID 19 has reached an all-time high of 26.8% for the week of 01/02/2022-01/08/2022. With this increase of community transmission rate, I urge you to follow CDC guidelines to socially distance, wear a mask in public areas, and isolated when experiencing signs or symptoms of COVID-19. I have included how the community transmission rate is calculated to emphasize the importance of keeping each other safe and healthy.
| Low | Moderate | Substantial | High | |
| New cases per 100,000 persons in the past 7 days* | <10 | 10-49.99 | 50-99.99 | ≥100 |
| Percentage of positive NAATs tests during the past 7 days** | <5% | 5-7.99% | 8-9.99% | ≥10.0% |
Determining Transmission Risk
Muscatine County: 26.8%-Community Transmission Rate
62.5% of County Population Fully Vaccinated
Thank you for your continued understanding and support,
Laura A. Brandt CNA, LNHA
Wilton Retirement Community Administrator
563-732-5067
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
January 10th, 2022 10:00hrs Simpson Memorial Home Update
To: Family, Friends, Staff, Residents and Visitors,
We received confirmation from the State Hygienic Lab that the 4 tests we submitted on Friday were POSITIVE for Covid. Further testing over the weekend and this morning provided all NEGATIVE test results for staff. All residents tested today were also NEGATIVE. We will continue testing at least 2 times per week for the next 2 weeks in addition to the information in the January 7th update.
Clifford McFerren – Administrator
January 7th, 2022 1300hrs Simpson Memorial Home Update
To: Family, Friends, Staff, Residents and Visitors,
On Friday morning, January 7th, we completed our 2nd round of group testing. Four additional employees tested POSITIVE using our POC testing method. Those tests were conducted as the employees came into work. PCR test were taken to verify and sent off to the state lab and the employees sent home. All were fully vaccinated but only one had received the booster. In addition, 1 state lab result came back confirming the test we submitted on 1/5/22. All residents were NEGATIVE.
What we are doing now:
- We continue to monitor residents daily with health assessments looking for signs and symptoms of Covid and / or test as needed (if showing signs & symptoms).
- We will be conducting our third round of resident and staff testing on Monday January 10th and / or test as needed (if showing signs & symptoms).
- The few Unvaccinated staff members we have will continue to test 2 times per week per CDC / CMS guidelines.
- Visitors are still welcome, however, they are at a much higher risk of exposure as the county positivity rate is 18% and transmission is rated HIGH. We ask that they reconsider any unnecessary visits, but still have the right to visit.
We will keep information updated via email, web page https://www.simpsonmemorialhome.org/covid-19-updates/ and posted signage at the facility as things develop. Please call 319-627-4775 with questions.
Clifford McFerren – Administrator
January 6th, 2022 11:00am Simpson Memorial Home Update
To: Family, Friends, Staff and Residents and Visitors,
On Thursday morning 1/6/22 we received confirmation from the state hygienic lab that the test we submitted on Tuesday regarding our employee is indeed POSITIVE.
Signs were posted alerting visitors to the confirmed positive case and on-going investigation and higher risk of exposure. In addition, during our investigative testing, another fully vaccinated and boosted employee in a separate department tested positive using our inhouse POC test kit. A PCR sample was taken and submitted to the state lab and we are awaiting results. The employee in question is not working.
What we are doing now:
- We continue to monitor residents daily with health assessments looking for signs and symptoms of Covid and test as needed.
- We will be conducting our second round of resident and staff testing tomorrow, Friday January 7th.
- The few Unvaccinated staff members we have will continue to test 2 times per week per CDC / CMS guidelines.
- Visitors are still welcomed, however, they are at a higher risk of exposure as the county positivity rate is 18% and transmission is rated HIGH. We ask that they reconsider any unnecessary visits, but still have the right to visit.
We will keep information updated via email, web page https://www.simpsonmemorialhome.org/covid-19-updates/ and posted signage at the facility as things develop. Please call 319-627-4775 with questions.
Clifford McFerren – Administrator
January 5th, 2022 15:30hrs Simpson Memorial Home
A fully vaccinated and boosted kitchen employee has now tested positive using one of our POC testing kits. A PCR test was given and sent off the State Hygienic Lab (SHL) this afternoon. As we are in our initial investigation period, no new action is needed and we will continue to welcome visitors. As for the test that was sent to the SHL yesterday, we have not receive the results. We will keep everyone informed as things unfold. Please call 319-627-4775 with questions
-Clifford McFerren – Administrator
January 4th,2022 13:00hrs
UPDATE:
All residents in the nursing home have tested NEGATIVE and will be tested again in 3 days. All staff members that have tested so far are also negative. Contact tracing of employees has been completed. Visitors are welcome but cautioned that the risk of exposure is higher while we go through our initial investigation period. At this time it has been limited to just the one fully vaccinated and boosted employee. Please call 319-627-4775 with questions.
Clifford McFerren – Administrator
January 4th, 2022 08:00 Simpson Memorial Home
SUSPECTED COVID-19 BREAKTHROUGH CASE
This morning, a fully vaccinated and boosted employee tested positive using our facility rapid test (POC test). We did a secondary PCR test and sending to the State Hygienic Lab for verification. The employee has been sent home. We are also testing staff and residents today and will do so again in 3 days. We will post more information as it becomes available. If you have questions please call 319-627-4775.
December 30, 2021
POTENTIAL EXPOSURE 12/29/21 SIMPSON MEMORIAL HOME – WEST LIBERTY
To: Family, Friends, Staff and Residents and Visitors,
On Wednesday afternoon 12/29/21, one of our vaccinated employees at Simpson Memorial Home in West Liberty, a CNA on the nursing home side, who had been off work since 12/26, started back on their shift at 2pm and was notified an hour or so into their shift by a family member, whom they live with, that this person just tested positive for Covid. Our employee notified us right away. A nurse evaluated her, she had no signs or symptoms. We gave her a POC test which was negative. Per guidelines, we sent the aide home for the recommended quarantine period since the employee had not yet received their booster shot. We figured out who the employee had made contact with during that hour they were working. All of the contacts were fully vaccinated and boosted. The employee was wearing the required PPE the entire time. We contacted the families of the residents, as well as their doctors. We will test those individuals in 3 days and again in 5-7 just to be safe. Again, our employee was not positive with Covid, only exposed to someone that is positive. All parties involved are fully vaccinated and boosted with the exception of the employee who was just fully vaccinated. We will continue to monitor residents and employees for signs and symptoms. Please call 319-627-4775 if you have any questions.
Clifford McFerren
Administrator
Simpson Memorial Home, Inc.
December 30, 2021
| Wilton Retirement Community |
| Positive COVID-19 Cases |
| Outbreak Status 12/30/2021 |
To All Residents, Tenants, and Families of WRC
RE: Additional Positive Cases Identified
Good Morning to You All,
With the recent holiday festivities and continued increase in community transmission rate, we had hoped WRC would be excluded from another outbreak or positive cases; however, even with our continued focus and dedication to the safety and well being of our residents, tenants, and staff, WRC was not triumphant.
Late evening on December 29, WRC was notified of an additional positive case in staff. This morning, December 30, 2021, WRC identified yet another positive case in staff. This brings our positive cases for staff to 4. We will remain in OUTBREAK status until we have no new positive cases in neither staff, residents, nor tenants for 14 days.
We tested all residents and tenants today, December 30, 2021, and all are NEGATIVE. We will be testing them all again on Monday, January 3, 2022. We will continue to test staff, residents, and tenants every 3-7 days until we have no new positive cases for 14 days.
I also wanted to THANK all of you for understanding the risks associated with visiting your loved ones here at WRC. I appreciate all the families who have shown great patience with the screening process as well as wearing the appropriate PPE during their visit. I will continue to encourage all visitors to visit their loved ones here at WRC, but to also remain vigilant to abide by the visiting and outing policies following the CDC recommendations.
- Be screened by WRC staff upon entry to community.
- Use proper hand hygiene upon entry and exit of community.
- Wear medical grade face mask and eye protection during your entire visit, no matter your vaccination status.
- Visit only in resident rooms, and not permitted in common areas or dining room.
- Use a direct path to and from your loves one’s room/apartment.
Thank you for your continued understanding and support,
Laura A. Brandt CNA, LNHA
Wilton Retirement Community Administrator 563-732-5067
December 27, 2021
| Wilton Retirement Community |
| Positive COVID-19 Case |
| Outbreak Status 12/27/2021 |
To All Residents, Tenants, and Families of WRC
Good Morning to You All,
On December 27, WRC identified two new staff positive cases of COVID-19. One of the staff members had not worked within the past 48 hours. With these newly identified cases, WRC will be in Outbreak Status effective immediately.
What have we done so far?
- We have performed an initial test on all residents of the LTC/CCDI Units. All the residents’ tests returned NEGATIVE.
- We have performed an initial test on all assisted living tenants. All the tenants’ tests returned negative.
- We have tested all remaining staff present in the building today and they all have tested NEGATIVE.
What will we need to do?
- We will test all residents and tenants again within 3-7 days per CMS guidelines.
- We will test ALL staff again within 3-7 days after their initial test.
- We will need to continue to test all staff, residents, and tenants until we have no new positive cases for 14 days from December 27, 2022.
What does this mean for our residents and families?
- Visitation will your loved one is still permitted; however, all visitors need to be aware of the risks of entering our building during the Outbreak status and be aware and encouraged to participate in other types of visitation.
- No matter the vaccination status of the visitor, all will be encouraged to keep their face mask and eye protection on during the entire length of their visit and only take place in resident rooms.
- Outings will be continued to be approved on a case-by-case basis based on WRC’s Outbreak Status and Community Transmission Rate, resident or tenant vaccination status, type of outing, outing escort’s vaccination status.
- For example, if a resident is fully vaccinated and they are wanting to go home to have dinner with family, returns within 24 hours, and all family members are fully vaccinated, this would be considered a low-risk outing and would be permitted without needing to isolate or quarantine the resident.
Per the new CMS guidelines for visitation: QSO-20-30-NH:
- While it is safer for visitors not to enter the facility during an outbreak investigation, visitors must still be allowed in the facility.
- Visitors should be made aware of the potential risk of visiting during an outbreak investigation and adhere to the core principles of infection prevention.
- If residents or their representative would like to have a visit during an outbreak investigation, they should wear face coverings or masks during visits, regardless of vaccination status, and visits should ideally occur in the resident’s room.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us for any questions or concerns.
Thank you for your continued understanding and support,
Laura A. Brandt CNA, LNHA
Wilton Retirement Community
Administrator
563-732-5067
December 8, 2021
| Wilton Retirement Community |
| Positive COVID-19 Case |
| Outbreak Status 12/07/2021 |
To All Residents, Tenants, and Families of WRC
RE: Positive Case
Good Morning to You All,
Late evening on December 7, 2021, WRC was notified by the State Hygienic Lab, of a positive case in a staff member. With this newly identified case, WRC will be in Outbreak Status effective immediately.
What have we done so far?
- We have performed an initial test on all residents of the LTC/CCDI Units. All of the residents’ tests returned NEGATIVE.
- We have tested all current staff and they all have tested NEGATIVE.
What will we need to do?
- We will test all residents again within 3-7 days per CMS guidelines.
- We will test ALL staff again within 3-7 days after their initial test.
- We will need to continue to test all staff and residents until we have no new positive cases for 14 days from December 6, 2021.
What does this mean for our residents and families?
- Visitation will your loved one is still permitted; however, all visitors need to be aware of the risks of entering our building during the Outbreak status and be aware and encouraged to participate in other types of visitation.
- No matter the vaccination status of the visitor, all will be encouraged to keep their face mask and eye protection on during the entire length of their visit and only take place in resident rooms.
- Outings will be continued to be approved on a case-by-case basis based on WRC’s Outbreak Status and Community Transmission Rate.
Per the new CMS guidelines for visitation: QSO-20-30-NH:
- While it is safer for visitors not to enter the facility during an outbreak investigation, visitors must still be allowed in the facility.
- Visitors should be made aware of the potential risk of visiting during an outbreak investigation and adhere to the core principles of infection prevention.
- If residents or their representative would like to have a visit during an outbreak investigation, they should wear face coverings or masks during visits, regardless of vaccination status, and visits should ideally occur in the resident’s room.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us for any questions or concerns.
Thank you for your continued understanding and support,
Laura A. Brandt CNA, LNHA
Wilton Retirement Community
Administrator
563-732-5067
October 4th 2021
To All Residents, Tenants, and Families of WRC
RE: COVID Status
Good Morning to You All,
All the WRC staff, including myself, are VERY EXCITED to announce we have reopened our building, and are no longer in OUTBREAK Status effective IMMEDIATELY!!
We all still must stay diligent, especially since the community transmission is at 13.09% over the past 7 days per the CDC website.
So, What Are We Doing & What Can You Do?
- Reopening to unscheduled visits for residents and tenants. Visitors are still limited to two per resident/tenant for inside visits. All visitors will be required to be pass screening protocols and required to wear an approved face mask and eye protection/face shield.
- We reopened to communal dining for both sides of our community last week; however, to continue our due diligence, we will keep our plastic table dividers in place.
- Reopened to trans-communal activities. (To be honest, some of our AL tenants are playing cards with their friends in LTC as I write this).
- We will be bringing back our beauticians, volunteers, and musicians, and church services to their normal schedules.
- We will continue to test staff members twice a week per current guidelines with CDC/CMS, no matter their vaccination status.
What are we discouraging/not permitting?
- Due to the community transmission rate over 10%, per our COVID Outing policy, we are discouraging large community gatherings currently. We consider these type of outings high risk to our residents and tenants. We will review this later when the community transmission rate is under 10% for at least 14 days.
In addition, WRC is sponsoring a flu vaccine on Tuesday, October 5th for all residents, tenants, and staff. WRC will also be sponsoring a booster clinic for the Pfizer Vaccine on October 26, 2021, for all eligible staff, tenants, and residents. Please be sure to have the necessary consents for your loved ones her at WRC no later than the day before the vaccine clinic days.
I, also, want to personally, THANK all of you for our continued support, understanding and love you have shown not only for your loved ones her at WRC, but also for the staff. It is truly a blessing to part of this Wilton Community.
Please continue your due diligence to keep our residents, tenants, and each other safe.
Laura A. Brandt CNA, LNHA
Wilton Retirement Community
Administrator
Sept 23rd, 2021
To All Residents, Tenants, and Families of WRC
RE: COVID Status
Good Afternoon to you All,
I hope you all are doing well and enjoying the cooler temperatures. I wanted to provide everyone with a COVID update.
Since the last notification, we have identified one (1) additional positive case in one of our assistant living tenants on 09/17/2021, and (1) additional positive case in a long-term care staff member on 09/17/201. WRC staff has continued its focus to ensure infections control protocols have been kept in place to ensure all staff stays diligent to eliminate the spread of COVID-19. No other positive cases have been identified in any staff, tenants, or residents since 09/17/2021.
All of WRC staff continues to test twice a week and currently our tenants and residents are undergoing outbreak testing in which they are tested every 3-7 days. Per CDC/CMS guidelines, we remain in outbreak status until we have 2 rounds of negative testing of all staff and residents for 14 days.
As of Tuesday, September 21, all the assisted living tenants, except the current positive tenant, have been released from their quarantine and are permitted to have communal dining with table dividers, as well as small group activities with proper social distancing and source control.
Our hope is that on Monday, September 27, with another round of negative testing, our long-term car residents will be able to resume communal dinning with table dividers and small group activities with proper social distancing and source control. All our long-term care residents are currently eating in their rooms as they are isolated due to the higher risk potential exposure from our most recent positive staff member.
Currently, we are not permitting inside visitation for assisted living or long-term care unless for compassionate care/hospice. We do encourage families to contact their loved ones by phone or video chat or by closed window visits until we are out of outbreak status.
We hope to have more good news at the end of next week!
As always, please reach out for any questions or concerns,
Laura A. Brandt CNA, LNHA
Wilton Retirement Community
Administrator
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.