Blog Post

Dear Families of Residents at The Cove and The Willows:

 

The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) has provided new guidance to all nursing and assisted living homes throughout the state in an effort to relax some restrictions on visitation. 

 

Effective today, we are pleased to announce that you may now visit your loved one at The Cove or The Willows without an appointment, any time of day, seven days a week, for as long as you’d like. There is no longer a requirement to schedule your visit online or to book an appointment in advance. 

 

This is a good sign that we are moving in the direction of “normalcy” once again.

 

 

-Well fitting masks must be worn at all times for indoor visits. Masking of visitors is not required for outdoor visitation if the resident is fully vaccinated. 

 

-Mandatory screening will be conducted at the main entrance for all visitors. 

 

-Visitors are expected to follow screening procedures listed on front door.

 

-Indoor visits will be restricted to 3 people at a time with physical distancing observed.

 

-Visitors aged 12 and older are allowed to enter building, those under 12 years of age should visit outdoors or at window

 

Although visitation appointments are not required, we ask that you provide us with a courtesy call in advance if you have a unique circumstance or special request so we can better meet your needs. For example, if you want to take your mother out to lunch, we need to know in advance so you don’t arrive and she is already eating. If you are planning a birthday party or other celebration, we can section off an area of our backyard to be used for the gathering with required advance notice.

 

Should you become a regular visitor or caregiver, we offer free and convenient COVID-19 testing onsite. We strongly encourage that you get tested along with our staff for the ongoing safety of everyone. Simply give us a call to find out the next upcoming day that testing will occur, so you can take advantage of this opportunity.

 

Offsite visits in the fresh air and sunshine are good for our residents’ wellbeing. Outings are allowed, and we ask that you call us a few days in advance so we can plan meals, clothing needs, medical appointments, etc. Family members can accompany residents on any offsite healthcare or other appointments.

 

Visitors are expected to socially distance themselves from other residents, please remember this is a healthcare setting and the wellbeing of everyone is our main priority.

 

Our Skype and Zoom telecommunication programs are formally ending. However, we can accommodate such calls for connection with remote family or in other situations upon request. It’s important to note that scheduled care plan meetings will continue to be held on these platforms and also by phone. This has proven to be most efficient for our staff, and convenient for families.

 

The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us all many lessons. Perhaps most important among them is cherishing the time spent with our loved ones. As healthcare providers, we thank you for getting vaccinated to reduce community spread of the coronavirus and to help put a stop to the virus finding its next host. Be proud to carry your vaccination card, as we don’t know if or when it will need to be shown in the future. Our priority is to keep our residents, staff and visitors safe, and we sincerely appreciate your continued understanding and personal responsibility in this goal as well.

 

Wishing you a happy and relaxing Memorial Day weekend, as we remember the many veterans who have given their lives in service to our country.

 

Sincerely,

 

Mark Lescault, Administrator

Benjamin Lescault, Assistant Administrator

Mary Beth Lescault, Director of Nursing Services