Blog Post

Dear Families of Residents at The Cove and The Willows:

 

We are pleased to announce that all residents and staff at Grace Barker Health remain COVID-19 negative! Our stringent infection control protocols and visitation restrictions that we’ve had in place since March are what enable us to keep your loved one safe, and to keep the coronavirus from entering our buildings. 

 

As businesses throughout the State of Rhode Island are entering into the newest phase of reopening, we, too, are working on what “reopening” will look like at The Cove and The Willows. Here are a few updates we’d like to share with you:

 

We are beginning to relax social distancing for dining and activities. Effective July 1, we are allowing two residents per table for meals, larger groups to participate in activities and, in the common areas, residents can sit on couches while physically distanced. When the weather cooperates, we make every effort to bring residents outside for dining, snacks, Bingo, and other activities in the fresh air and warm sunshine.

 

Everything we are doing is with resident safety in mind. Our screening protocols have not changed, as we continue to monitor temperatures, quarantine the mail for several days, and require all staff to wear PPE supplies such as masks, gloves and gowns.  

 

Despite what you may hear of other nursing homes relaxing their rules, we are not allowing visitation of any kind. We remain under the highest level of restriction per the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and have no reason to jeopardize our COVID-free environment. 

 

We are developing a plan for “reopening” including what visitation will look like at our buildings, down to the smallest detail. This plan will be submitted to the CMS, Centers for Disease Control and the RI Department of Health for approval, and could change in an instant. For example, if, after relaxing visitation rules to Level 2, a resident or staff member tests positive for the coronavirus or exhibits any concerning symptoms, we would immediately return to Level 3 restriction until further notice.

 

It’s important to note that our phases of reopening do not mirror the state’s phases. As a nursing home and assisted living facility, we have to abide by a separate set of federal and state rules that govern our operations. Thank you for your understanding.

 

Wishing you and your family a very safe and Happy 4th of July.

 

Sincerely,

 

The Lescault Family