Townsend Care Center of Wilton Retirment Community Out 0f Outbreak Status 03/20/2023
March 20, 2023
To All Residents, Tenants, Staff and Families of WRC
RE: WRC COVID Outbreak Status
Good morning to You All,
It is with great pleasure and excitement that we announce that the Townsend Care Center of Wilton Retirement Community is OUT OF OUTBREAK status as of 03/20/2023. Unfortunately, Leland R. Smith Assisted Living will remain in OUTBREAK status due to the identification of a positive case in a tenant on 03/17/2023. After careful consideration and to provide some relief to our residents and Townsend Care Center staff, we have separated the OUTBREAK statuses between Townsend Care Center and Leland R. Smith Assisted Living.
What does this mean for Townsend Care Center:
- All Fully Vaccinated Staff and Influenza Vaccinated Staff are no longer required to wear a face mask and/or eye protection due to the CDC Community Transmission Rate of YELLOW/MODERATE reported 03/17/2023
- ALL Unvaccinated Staff either for Covid or Influenza will be required to wear a mask; however, may choose to
wear either a KN95 or Surgical Mask for source control, but are no longer required to wear eye protection.
- All Surveillance Testing for Townsend Care Center Staff and Residents will cease immediately.
- Group Activities in Townsend Care Center will be limited to Townsend Care Center Residents.
What does this mean for Leland R. Smith Assisted Living:
- All assisted living staff and tenants will be required to test based on CDC/CMS guidelines.
- Leland R. Smith Assisted Living will remain in OUTBREAK status until no positive cases are identified in tenants or staff for 14 days.
- Leland R. Smith Assisted Living Tenants Will Be Temporarily Restricted from Visiting Townsend Care Center with or without an escort during OUTBREAK status.
- Leland R. Smith Assisted Living Staff will be restricted from entering Townsend Care Center.
- Townsend Care Center Staff will be limited based on need and/or emergency to enter Leland R. Smith Assisted Living.
- ALL Leland R. Smith Assisted Living Tenants will be encouraged to wear a mask outside of their apartments.
- ALL visitors to Leland R. Smith Assisted Living will be required to wear a face mask during visit with Leland R. Smith Assisted Living Tenants.
- Table Dividers will remain in place to allow for Leland R. Smith Assisted Living Tenants to dine in main dining room.
Special Reminders for Families of Wilton Retirement Community:
We discourage any visitors to visit the WRC community who have ANY signs and symptoms of a respiratory illness to defer your visit until your symptoms have resolved.
If you are visiting a resident/tenant who is in isolation, there are increased risks associated with your visit, including risk of infection transmission.
* If possible, defer your visit until the resident/tenant has been discontinued from isolation.
* When you visit a COVID positive resident, staff will provide you with instructions for Personal Protective Equipment to wear during your visit which will include N95 mask, Isolation Gown, Exam Gloves, and Eye Protection. All these PPE items must remain on person during your entire visit with a COVID positive resident.
Visitors WHO have tested POSITIVE for COVID are RESTRICTED from Visiting Wilton Retirement Community for 10 consecutive days based on CDC/CMS Guidelines.
Please notify WRC if you have tested positive before your visit.
We are hopeful we are moving in the right direction and taking all necessary steps to mitigate the spread as well as care for all our residents, tenants, and staff at Wilton Retirement Community.
Please reach out with any questions or concerns & as always thank you for your continued understanding and support.
Laura A. Brandt CNA, LNHA
SIMPSON MEMORIAL HOME UPDATE 03/18/2023
We have identified a resident as being potentially positive for Covid in the nursing home. So we are in “outbreak” status pending confirmation of that test. Testing of all staff and residents will start tomorrow and continue 2x per week until we are no longer in outbreak status. The outbreak is not affecting our Assisted Living or Independent Living. Visitors are still welcome, however we HIGHLY encourage deferring visits, if possible, while in outbreak. If you do visit, you will need to wear a mask at all times and if visiting a covid positive person we have gloves, gowns, and face shields available for your visit. These strains that are circulating are highly transmissible so avoiding exposures, wearing masks, and good hand sanitizing are the best ways to avoid spreading it. We will continue testing staff and residents 2 times per week for 14 days from the point of the last positive test which happened to be today 3/18/23. If no further positive tests after 14 days, we will be done with our outbreak status. If you have any questions, please call us at 319-627-4775.
Wilton Retirement Community Outbreak Status Continues 03/03/2023 COVID Update
March 3, 2023
To All Residents, Tenants, Staff and Families of WRC
RE: WRC COVID Outbreak Status
Good Morning to You All,
As our staff and residents were looking forward to being able to come out of outbreak status on Monday, March 6, 2023, we have identified an additional positive case in a staff member on Thursday, March 2, 2023. All resident and tenants have continued to be tested and we have not identified any new cases in residents or staff since February 6, 2023.
Our staff has remained diligent with their infection control; however, I as well as they are disappointed with this Covid update. We’ve all been so anxious to be able to remove our masks again so our residents and tenants can see our smiling faces, so we can communicate better with them, and overall reliving all the other hinderances from wearing a mask every day. However, we will keep moving forward. I am personally very proud of our staff, residents, and tenants who continue to emotionally and physically push forward with the roller coaster effect of Covid.
We will continue to remain in OUTBREAK and test all residents, tenants, and staff based on CMS/CDC Guidelines until no positive cases in residents, tenants, or staff are identified for 14 days.
As a Reminder to our residents, tenants, and families:
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 the Community Transmission Rate, currently at MODERATE for Muscatine County.
* We also discourage any visitors to visit the WRC community who have ANY signs and symptoms of a respiratory illness to defer your visit until your symptoms have resolved.
If you are visiting a resident/tenant who is in isolation, there are increased risks associated with your visit, including risk of infection transmission.
* If possible, defer your visit until the resident/tenant has been discontinued from isolation.
* When you visit a COVID positive resident, staff will provide you with instructions for Personal Protective Equipment to wear during your visit which will include N95 mask, Isolation Gown, Exam Gloves, and Eye Protection. All these PPE items must remain on person during your entire visit with a COVID positive resident.
Extra Precautions for 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.
* All staff members of Wilton Retirement Community will be required to continue to wear a KN95 face mask in addition to eye protection during direct contact and cares with residents.
* Leland R. Smith Tenants and Townsend Care Center Residents will temporarily cease cross campus group activities to assist in mitigating the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
Please reach out with any questions or concerns & as always thank you for your continued understanding and support,
Laura A. Brandt CNA, LNHA
2/27/23 Simpson Memorial Home West Liberty No Longer in Outbreak Status
2/27/23 After 14 days of no positive tests, we are out of our Outbreak Status. All staff and residents in the care center are Covid-19 free. Activities and dining services have fully resumed which brings smiles to everyone’s faces!
2/14/23
As of 2/14/23 we have no new positive cases of Covid-19. A round of mass testing was completed yesterday in the nursing home and all were negative. We have a total of 8 residents and one staff member as positive. Half of those are asymptomatic. We are still accepting visitors but HIGHLY recommend that you stay away unless absolutely necessary. If you do visit please wear a mask at all times while in the building. If you are visiting a covid positive person, gloves, gown, masks and eye protection (PPE) are available and provided for your visit. Please follow staff guidance when using PPE. If you are having any symptoms of an illness we ask that you not come in until your symptoms have resolved. Remember, we need to wait 14 days without a positive case identified before internal restrictions can be lifted. Our last identified case was on 2/12/23.
Please reach out with any questions at 319-627-4775.
Sincerely,
Clifford McFerren – Administrator
2/10/23 We have identified a total of 7 residents and 1 staff member as positive in the nursing home. The outbreak is not affecting our Assisted Living or Independent Living. Most symptoms are mild and several are asymptomatic. We have stopped the communal dining and all group activities. Visitors are still welcome, however we HIGHLY suggest you stay away until our case count starts to drop. If you do visit, you will need to wear a mask at all times and if visiting a covid positive person we have gloves, gowns, and face shields available for your visit. These new strains that are circulating are highly transmissible so by avoiding exposures, wearing masks, and good hand sanitizing are the best ways to avoid spreading it. We will continue testing staff and residents 2 times per week for 14 days from the point of the last positive test which happened to be today 2/10/23. If no further positive tests after 14 days, things will start to open back up. If you have any questions, please call us at 319-627-4775.
2/9/23 After a full round of testing today no additional cases of Covid.
2/8/23 We have identified 2 additional residents as positive with Covid. This brings our case count up to 6 residents and one staff member. We continue to test 2 times per week both staff and residents.
2/6/23 We have identified 4 residents so far that have tested positive for Covid in the nursing home at West Liberty We are going to take our Covid 19 precautions and ask that you stay away unless absolutely necessary. You are still welcome to visit, we just strongly suggest against it. We will keep you updated as things develop.
02/02/2023 Wilton Retirement Community Outbreak Status
- February 3, 2023
- To All Residents, Tenants, Staff and Families of WRC
- RE: WRC COVID Outbreak
- Good Afternoon to You All,
- It is with disappointment and regret that I notify you all that Wilton Retirement Community has identified a total of 1 confirmed Townsend Care Center resident positive cases and 2 confirmed positive cases in Leland R. Smith Assisted Living Staff. WRC staff members and all residents will be quarantined for up to 10 days.
- Wilton Retirement Community will remain in OUTBREAK status until we have no new positive cases in neither staff, residents, nor tenants for 14 consecutive days. Outbreak testing will occur for all residents, tenants, and staff based on CMS guidelines. We have completed our first round of testing today on all residents, tenants, and staff and have NOT identified any further positive cases.
- 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 the Community Transmission Rate, currently at MODERATE for Muscatine County.
- * We also discourage any visitors to visit the WRC community who have ANY signs and symptoms of a respiratory illness to defer your visit until your symptoms have resolved.
- If you’re visiting a resident/tenant who is in isolation, there are increased risks associated with your visit, including risk of infection transmission.
- * If possible, defer your visit until the resident/tenant has been discontinued from isolation.
- * When you visit a COVID positive resident, staff will provide you with instructions for Personal Protective Equipment to wear during your visit which will include N95 mask, Isolation Gown, Exam Gloves, and Eye Protection. All of these PPE items must remain on person during your entire visit with a COVID positive resident.
- Extra Precautions for 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.
- * All staff members of Wilton Retirement Community will be required to continue to wear a KN95 face mask in addition to eye protection during direct contact and cares with residents.
- * Leland R. Smith Tenants and Townsend Care Center Residents will temporarily cease cross campus group activities to assist in mitigating the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
- Please reach out with any questions or concerns & as always thank you for your continued understanding and support,
- Laura A. Brandt CNA, LNHA
1/3/23 Simpson at West Liberty Out of OUTBREAK
Today Simpson Memorial Home in West Liberty hit their 14 day window with no further cases other than the one previously identified case on 12/21/22. Therefore, visitors do not need to be screened prior to entering the building. We recommend that you continue to wear a face mask for best practice as it will protect our residents but you are not required to wear one unless our county is in Red for the transmission rate. Currently we are in Orange. We do ask that you refrain from visiting in our dining room during meals until we get back down to Yellow. If you would like to eat with the resident you are visiting, you may do so in their room or the activity room if space is available.
12/21/22 OUTBREAK STATUS AT SIMPSON MEMORIAL HOME
An employee tested positive this morning (12/21/22) for Covid. CMS guidelines state that any one case of Covid constitutes an outbreak for Long-term Care Facilities. Therefore, visitors to the NURSING HOME will need to ring the door bell and be screened prior to entry. DO NOT COME INTO THE FACILITY WITHOUT BEING SCREENED. We will also be cancelling any group activities and Christmas gatherings. Although we highly discourage it, you are still allowed to visit but we ask that you go immediately to the room of the person you are visiting. You must wear your mask while in the facility at all times. Please sanitize your hands before, during and after your visit. We will not be serving guest meals during our outbreak period. If you have any questions please call us at 319-627-4775
12/7/22 OUTBREAK STATUS AT WILTON RETIREMENT COMMUNITY
To All Residents, Tenants, Staff and Families of WRC
RE: WRC Outbreak Status
Greatings to You All,
It’s with great regret especially during beginning of the holiday season, I notify all of you of 1 confirmed positive case in a resident of Townsend Care Center and 1 additional confirmed positive case in a Townsend Care Center staff member. The resident has been placed on quarantine and the staff member will isolate at home for 14 days.
Wilton Retirement Community will be in OUTBREAK status until we have no new positive cases in neither staff, residents, nor tenants for 14 consecutive days.
Outbreak testing will occur for all residents, tenants, and staff based on CMS guidelines and will remain in effect until no new positive cases of resident, tenants, nor staff are identified for 14 consecutive 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:
- 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.
- All staff members of Wilton Retirement Community will be required to continue to wear a face mask and eye protection.
- Leland R. Smith Tenants and Townsend Care Center Residents will temporarily cease cross campus group activities to assist in mitigating the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
Please reach out with any questions or concerns & as always thank you for your continued understanding and support,
Laura A. Brandt CNA, LNHA
UPDATE: Covid-19 Cases at Simpson Memorial Home – West Liberty AS OF 11/28/22 We are now out of OUTBREAK STATUS. It’s been 14 days since our last positive test. Visitors will no longer be screened at the front doors. You will no longer be required to ring the door bell for entry. If however, the door is locked, please ring the bell. If you are showing signs or symptoms of Covid-19 or Flu, you are encouraged to stay home and not visit until your condition improves. If you have a fever, you will not be allowed to visit until 24 hours fever free. If you have a cold or similar symptoms and still would like to visit, we ask that you put on a face mask. Please read signage for any updates as all it takes in 1 positive case of Covid-19 to put us back into outbreak status. Call 319-627-4775 with any questions.
Sincerely, Clifford McFerren- Administrator
AS OF 11/23/22
Dear Family, Friend, Residents, & Tenants,
Since we are technically still in “Outbreak” Status, we ask that when visiting over the Thanksgiving Holiday you keep your exposure to others to a minimum by heading straight to the room of the person you are visiting. Avoid contact with others in the hallway and always wear a mask. At this time we are not allowing guest to dine with the residents in our main dining room. You may bring in food and eat with them in their room, or you can make arrangements with our activities department to use the Melick room for a SMALL private gathering. Again, the name of the game is to limit exposure to others.
Although we currently have no active cases in the building, we will notify everyone once we are out of “Outbreak” Status. As a reminder, any single case of Covid-19 puts us into “Outbreak” Status and starts a 14 day clock of testing and monitoring. If after 14 days no further cases are identified, we may resume our new normal life-style based on the county positivity rate.
Clifford McFerren- – Administrator
As of 11/12/22, we had an employee on the nursing home side test positive after exhibiting symptoms. So far we have 2 residents and 2 staff members positive in the nursing home. One of the staff members was away from work for 5 days and when they tested prior to their shift tested positive. This person was not working prior and sent home. We will continue our 14 day cycle of testing everyone 2x week until no further positive tests. All negative in the Assisted Living. We did administer the latest Bi-Valent Covid-19 booster on Thursday Nov 10th to tenants and residents. 98% of those folks took the booster. Several staff members also took the booster. Visitors are still welcome but need to be aware that they will need to mask up and keep the visit to the person they came to see. Call 319-627-4775 with any questions.
October 31st Outbreak Update Simpson Memorial Home
Dear Residents, Tenants, Family and Friends,
Unfortunately we had another employee as well as one resident test positive on the nursing home side during this mornings round of testing. Our resident was asymptomatic and exhibited no signs. Everyone in our assisted living has been negative. We will continue with testing and infection prevention protocols.
27 October 2022
RE: Outbreak Status at Simpson Memorial Home
Dear Families and Friends:
Early this morning, we had a staff member test positive for Covid on a rapid test with very minor symptoms. The staff member had been voluntarily wearing a face mask as a general precaution and had little interaction with other staff, residents, or tenants.
Today, we have been testing all our staff, residents, and tenants, and so far, everyone else has tested negative. We will be testing everyone again on Monday, October 31st, and will provide an update once that is complete.
We sadly had an all too brief time of opening our campus back up with unlocked doors, but unfortunately when we are in “outbreak” status, we are required to take additional infection control measures. For right now, this means:
- Face masks are mandatory for all staff and visitors;
- Visitors will need to be screened by a staff member prior to entering the building; and
- Staff will be following more stringent screening prior to shifts as well as using eye protection in addition to masks when providing resident or tenant care.
If we have no more positive cases, our “outbreak” will end on Friday, November 11th.
After being able to loosen up restrictions over the last couple of weeks, it is disheartening to have to go back to this so soon, but we want to ensure that we are doing our best to provide a safe environment for residents and tenants while balancing that with maintaining a good quality of life. On that end, 1) there are no restrictions on visitors coming in (other than mask wearing); 2) residents and tenants will continue to have their normal routine of communal dining; and 3) residents and tenants will continue to have their group activities and outings.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me or any of our Department Directors.
Chad W. Thomas, Executive Director
Covid-19 Cases at Simpson Memorial Home – West Liberty
In the nursing home, we have a positive resident and one positive staff member with Covid-19. The cases are not connected and purely coincidental in nature. The staff member was off duty for several days prior to returning to work. This person tested prior to shift and never hit the floor so there has been zero exposure.
The resident is on isolation precautions. We did a full round of testing of staff and residents, and all were negative with the exception of the previously mentioned positive case. We will be testing residents again on Sunday and then 2 times per week for at least 2 weeks and will discontinue testing if there are no further positive tests. Please be aware that if you do chose to visit, there is potential for a higher risk of exposure to Covid-19. If you have any questions feel free to call either Melissa Hazelwood, Director of Nursing or myself at 319-627-4775. You can always email me at cmcferren@simpsonhome.org with questions also.
Sincerely,
Clifford McFerren- – Administrator
Simpson Memorial Home
1000 N. Miller St
West Liberty, IA 52776
319-627-4775 (office)
319-430-6125 (cell)
AUGUST 22 UPDATE (A GOOD ONE!)- WILTON
To All Residents, Tenants, Staff and Families of WRC
RE: COVID-19 Happy Update!
Good Morning to You All,
It’s with great excitement that we have had three rounds of negative testing in our residents and all our Covid positive residents have recovered and all remaining Covid positive residents have been removed from quarantine on 08/20/2022.
Townsend Care Center will remain in OUTBREAK status until we have no new positive cases in neither staff, residents, nor tenants for 14 days.
With this exciting news, we are continuing to move in the right direction, and we are making the following changes effective immediately:
1. Residents will no longer be isolated in their rooms; however, they will be encouraged to wear a face mask when outside of their rooms.
2. All applicable staff will be permitted to move freely between assisted living and skilled care.
3. Communal Dining will resume for the evening meal 08/22/2022.
4. Group Activities will resume immediately.
5. Volunteers able to return to assist in group activities.
Leland R. Smith assisted living has been out of outbreak since 08/13/2022, tenants nor staff are now only under surveillance testing based on community rate.
Reminders:
- 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 HIGH RATE for Muscatine County.
4. All visitors of Wilton Retirement Community will be required to wear a face mask with eye protection.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. Any staff member of Wilton Retirement Community will be required to wear a KN95 face mask and eye protection during their shift.
Please reach out with any questions or concerns & as always thank you for your continued understanding and support,
Laura A. Brandt CNA, LNHA
AUGUST 10 UPDATE – WILTON
To All Residents, Tenants, and Families of WRC
RE: Additional Resident Positive Cases Identified
Greetings to All of You,
Since my last notification on August 5, 2022, Wilton Retirement Community has identified 2 additional positive cases of Covid 19 with residents of Townsend Care Center and 1 additional positive case in a staff member.
Since July 28, 2022, we have identified a total of 7 residents and 4 staff members who have tested positive for COVID-19. All positive staff members isolate at home for 10 days before they return to work per CDC guidelines. All Covid positive residents are placed on isolation precautions for 10 days per CDC guidelines. Due to the identification of positive case in a resident on August 3, 2022, all residents of Townsend Care Center have been isolating in their rooms and restricted from group activities including communal dining.
Since July 28, 2022, no tenants or staff members associated with Leland Smith Assisted Living have been identified as positive and all will continue to test until no identified positive cases for 14 days from July 28, 2022.
We will continue to test all residents and staff of Townsend Care Center until we have no identified positive cases for 14 days.
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. Visitors are restricted to two at a time per resident in the Townsend Care Center.
- All visitors of Covid positive residents of Townsend Care Center are required to wear full PPE during visits permitted in resident rooms.
- 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.
4. Outings for Townsend Care Center residents are permitted only granted for medically necessary outings at this time.
5. Outings for Leland Smith Assisted Living tenants are permitted but tenant and family members are encouraged to practice social distancing and wear appropriate PPE (i.e., face mask) while out in the community due to the continued HIGH community rate of Muscatine and surrounding counties.
Extra Precautions for Wilton Retirement Community:
- All visitors of Townsend Care Center will be required to be screened before entry and wear a N95 face mask as source control with eye protection. PPE will be provided by Wilton Retirement Community.
- All visitors
- 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.
- Staff will be limited from entering/re-entering between Leland Smith Assisted Living and Townsend Care Center unless in an emergency basis.
- Therapy and Nurse Management will begin their responsibilities in Leland Smith Assisted Living and if necessary, transition to Townsend Care Center.
WRC staff continues to work diligently to ensure we are following proper infection control policies and procedures to prevent any further positive cases for residents or staff. However, with the new variant, we have learned very quickly to add additional precautions, infection control procedures, and Covid testing protocols.
Thank in advance for your continued support and understanding,
Laura A. Brandt CNA, LNHA
WRC Administrator
August 5, 2022 WILTON UPDATE
To All Residents, Tenants, and Families of WRC
RE: Additional Resident and Staff Positive Cases Identified
Good evening to You All,
Today, August 5, 2022, Wilton Retirement Community has identified 1 additional positive case of COVID in a staff member and 2 additional case in a resident of Townsend Care Center. Since July 28, 2022, we have identified a total of 5 residents and 4 staff members who have tested positive for COVID-19. All positive staff members are isolated at home and all positive residents are transmission-based precautions for a total of 10 days. All other residents will remain isolated to their rooms until our second round of testing on August 9, 2022, in which again I hope to deliver some positive news and be able to allow those residents continuously negative for Covid to return to communal dining and group activities.
We have since tested all our residents in Townsend Care Center and no other cases have been identified at this time.
We will continue 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 for 14 days.
We will remain in OUTBREAK status until we have no new positive cases in neither staff, residents, nor tenants for 14 days.
WRC staff is working diligently to ensure we are following proper infection control policies and procedures to prevent any further positive cases for residents or staff.
WRC staff and residents encourage you to practice proper social distancing and usage of PPE outside the Wilton Retirement Community walls due to the continuously high community rate the past several weeks.
WRC has continuously posted education for our visitors who are at a higher risk of contradicting and transmitting the virus while visiting our community during an outbreak. Please make note of any changes, updates, or new information and plan and visit accordingly.
Thank you for your continued support and understanding,
Laura A. Brandt CNA, LNHA
WRC Administrator
563-732-5067
August 4, 2022 UPDATE WILTON
Good afternoon to You All,
It is with heavy heart; I am sending this notification to all of you of 2 additional positive cases of residents of Townsend Care Center. Since July 28, 2022, we have identified a total of 3 residents and 3 staff members who have tested positive for COVID-19. All positive staff members are isolated at home and all positive residents are transmission-based precautions for a total of 10 days. All other residents will remain isolated to their rooms until our second round of testing on August 9, 2022, in which I hope to deliver some positive news.
We will continue 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.
We will remain in OUTBREAK status until we have no new positive cases in neither staff, residents, nor tenants for 14 days.
WRC staff is working diligently to ensure we are following proper infection control policies and procedures to prevent any further positive cases for residents or staff.
Thank you for your continued support and understanding,
Laura A. Brandt CNA, LNHA
WRC Administrator
563-732-5067
August 3, 2022 UPDATE WILTON
To All Residents, Tenants, and Families of WRC
RE: Resident Positive Case Identified
Since my last notification, it is with great regret, I notify you of 2 additional staff members and 1 identified positive case today of COVID-19 in a resident of Townsend Family Care Center of Wilton Retirement Community. Family of the resident has already been notified. We have also identified an additional 2 residents who started experiencing symptoms but have tested negative on our POC testing. Due to the new identified positive resident case, we will be performing a PCR test on those two residents. The family of those residents affected have been contacted.
We will continue to test all residents and staff of Wilton Retirement Community until we have no positive cases identified in either the Townsend Care Center or Leland Smith residents or tenants.
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?
1. All residents of Townsend Care Center who are not up to date with their COVID Vaccine will be required to be isolated to their rooms until they have two negative tests within the next 5-7 days.
a. WRC will be testing all residents Thursday, August 4th and then again on Tuesday, August 9, 2022.
b. If all residents are negative, group activities, communal dining, and outings will be reinstated for Townsend Care Center.
2. 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.
3. No matter the vaccination status of the visitor, all visitors will be required to appropriately wear eye protection and face mask during the entire length of their visits and visits will only take place in resident rooms.
4. Outings for Townsend Care Center residents that are deemed medically necessary will only be approved at this time.
5. 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.
6. WRC staff will be limited to transfer between Leland R. Smith and Townsend Care Center to mitigate the risk.
7. Tenants of Leland R. Smith Assisted Living will be permitted to attend group activities, communal dining, and outings at this time.
Extra Precautions for Wilton Retirement Community:
1. All visitors of Wilton Retirement Community will be required to wear a face mask with eye protection. PPE will be provided by Wilton Retirement Community.
2. 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.
3. 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 or suspected positive rooms/apartments.
All staff, residents, tenants, and families are highly encouraged to proper social distancing and wear PPE even when not with our community walls as the Muscatine Community Rate is currently at the HIGH/RED level and has been for the past 4 out of 5 weeks.
Please reach out with any questions or concerns & as always thank you for your continued understanding and support,
Laura A. Brandt CNA, LNHA
WRC Administrator
lbrandt@simpsonhome.org
563-732-5067
JULY 29 UPDATE FOR WILTON CAMPUS
To All Residents, Tenants, Staff and Families of WRC
RE: COVID-19 Potential Positive Staff Case Identified
Good evening to You All,
It’s with great regret, I notify all of you of a potential 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?
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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 HIGH RATE for Muscatine County.
Extra Precautions for Wilton Retirement Community:
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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
JUNE 7, 2022 UPDATE FOR WEST LIBERTY CAMPUS
It has been 2 weeks since our last positive case among residents at the Simpson Memorial’s nursing home. Only one staff member tested positive in the past week but that person was not in the facility for 3 days prior. We have let residents go back to dining in the dining room and participate in group activities while socially distancing. Visitors continue to be welcome, however we caution that ALL visitors must wear a mask at ALL times while visiting. The county positivity rate continues to be in the RED for all healthcare facilities which means there are a high # of cases per 100,000 in our county.
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