NewAldaya Lifescapes Frequently Asked Questions – This document will be updated on a weekly basis. Current as of July 6, 2020.
Phase One Nursing Facility Reopening Update
Iowa Department of Public Health and Department of Inspection and Appeals released reopening guidance for Iowa’s nursing facilities on June 4, 2020. Guidance reflects a phased easing of restrictions over three phases. Upon release of this guidance, all Iowa nursing facilities were deemed to be Phase 1- the most stringent restrictions are in place. Specific requirements must be met to progress through phases, including the absence of confirmed coronavirus activity in either NewAldaya staff or residents within the last 14 days.
Providers have worked these past weeks to clarify requirements for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) supply within the guidance. Iowa Department of Public Health requires conventional PPE supply levels must be achieved before advancing through the phases.
What does this mean? NewAldaya does have sufficient PPE to maintain contingency (conservation) level of supply but is greatly concerned with Public Health Department’s conventional level requirement for advancing through reopening phases. For example, face masks are worn currently by each staff member for their shift and then discarded. In contrast, conventional level of face mask supply would necessitate a new mask be worn with each resident encounter. We estimate this would require over 5000 face masks per day. We know of no other organization who has the supply to meet this requirement.
We want to promote not only safety for our residents but also their rights and well-being. Visits with loved ones are important considerations on both fronts.
LeadingAge Iowa and Iowa Healthcare Association are protesting this requirement as unreasonable and unattainable for providers and ultimately punitive for our residents and families, who desire to see one another.
What can you do to help? It’s time for our families to get involved and advocate for their loved ones.
To register an opinion electronically with the Governor’s office, click the link below.
Call the Governor’s office: 515.281.5211 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Send a Letter to the following address:
Office of the Governor
Iowa State Capitol
1007 East Grand Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50319
Important COVID-19 Communications
Consistent with CMS guidance, our COVID-19 activity reports include any cases of active COVID-19 among our staff and residents.
|
Neighborhood: Extended Care |
Resident Active COVID-19 Cases |
Staff Active COVID-19 Cases |
|
Harbor/River Ridge Extended Care |
0 |
2 |
|
Brook Extended Care |
0 |
0 |
|
Cascade Extended Care |
0 |
0 |
|
Memory Care House |
0 |
1 |
|
Neighborhood: Post-Acute Care |
||
|
Bay/Bay Suites Post-Acute Care (Temporary COVID Care Unit) |
0 | 0 |
|
Neighborhood: Assisted Living |
||
|
Bryhl Assisted Living |
0 | 0 |
|
Neighborhood: Independent Living |
||
|
Sena Rownd |
0 | 0 |
|
Glen Arbor |
0 | 0 |
|
Glen Meadows |
0 | 0 |
|
Park Ridge Ranches
|
0 |
0 |
|
Ancillary |
2 |
1. We have (17) seventeen staff members who have tested positive for the virus. Of these staff members, (12) twelve have recovered.
2. 3 or more residents and/or staff have new onset of symptoms of illness within 72 hours of each other.For today, the current status is as follows:
3. Since May 4, twenty-five (25) total nursing facility residents were diagnosed with COVID -19; twenty-one (21) have fully recovered. There are no new residents diagnosed with COVID -19.
4. As part of our aggressive containment effort, NewAldaya completed testing for 107 nursing facility residents for COVID-19 on Sunday, May 10. Further testing is being done for any resident presenting with symptoms, per public health guidance. Testing results reflect a particular point in time. An individual can be exposed to the virus, and for a window of time test negative, before eventually testing positive. Many of the residents living in the nursing facility, where there is COVID activity, are tested multiple times.
5. An outside vendor has professionally cleaned the nursing care neighborhood experiencing COVID activity. The cleaning service follows current CDC guidelines in the disinfection and bioremediation of COVID-19.
Thank you.
Q. Are you testing all residents and staff?
A. NAL’s resident, tenant and staff comprehensive testing program was conducted in early May. Since then, as part of our on-going prevention and containment efforts and in accordance with Iowa Department of Public Health Guidance, any staff or resident who presents with symptoms of illness may be tested for COVID-19.
Q. Does NAL have sufficient PPE?
A. We began receiving manufactured PPE the week of April 13 and currently have sufficient supplies to meet immediate needs. PPE inventory is tracked and reported daily to Iowa Department of Public Health. This process allows us to work collectively to meet continued needs.
Q. Do all staff wear masks and PPE?
A. All staff must wear face masks while working in any resident setting. Additionally, face shields are worn in the Bryhl and Nursing Facility and by Home Connections workers when providing services in our residential neighborhoods. A full complement of PPE is required for staff caring for residents who’ve been placed in isolation for any reason.
Residents are encouraged to wear masks in all resident settings.
Q. Are you informing residents and families when a resident was in direct contact with a staff member who tests positive for the virus?
A. Residents who had direct contact with a staff member who tests positive for the virus are individually notified as well as their primary contacts. All NAL community residents, tenants, primary contacts and staff are notified when a positive COVID-19 diagnosis is received, and/or 3 or more residents and/or staff have new onset of symptoms of illness within 72 hours of one another. At least weekly, the above contact groups are updated regarding cumulative COVID -19 activity including: total, active and recovered COVID -19 cases among staff and residents. Current information can also be found on NewAldaya’s Face Book page and website: www.NewAldaya.org.
Q. How is an “outbreak” defined?
A. Iowa Department of Public Health defines an outbreak as three residents that test positive within a building.
Q. How do I contact a loved one?
A. If your loved has a telephone or other communication device, we encourage you to have regular contact with them. For those residents without a telephone, our program team is doing its best to offer video-chat calls for residents and families on a regular basis. However, due to a number of factors, we are not able to schedule video-chat appointments at this time.
Q. Can I visit a NewAldaya resident?
A. NewAldaya Nursing Facility
Bryhl Assisted Living:
The Bryhl reopening plan will be announced soon.
Residential (Independent Living:
Q. Where can I find the most current visitor information?
A. NAL is providing communications on both our website and social media pages to inform the public of changes to visiting guidelines and operations.
Q. Are you accepting appointments for residential living, nursing facility and Bryhl tours?
Q. Is Main Street open?
Q. Are you still screening staff and visitors?
Q. Are Chapel services being held?
A. Chapel services will resume as normal on June 21. All current public health precautions are in effect: Social distancing, seating for groups, cleaning, etc.
Q. Is the Wellness Center open?
A. The Wellness Center will reopen on June 15th to the public. All current public health precautions with regard to these spaces are in effect: Social distancing, seating for groups, cleaning, etc.
Q. Is the Salon open?
A. The Salon will re-open to the public on June 15th by appointment only. Please call 319.553-2210 to schedule your service. All current public health precautions with regard to salons are in effect: Social distancing, face coverings, cleaning, etc.
Q. Are Friday Night Live Performances resuming?
A. Friday Night Live Performances will resume their normal schedule on June 19th and will be open to the public. All current public health precautions with regard to these spaces are in effect: Social distancing, seating for groups, cleaning, etc.
Q. If I am committed to a volunteer activity, what should I do?
A. Thank you in advance for your continued and loyal commitment to our residents and community.
As the NAL community has varying reopening timelines and phases relative to its resident neighborhoods and facilities, NAL staff will contact volunteers directly during the coming weeks.