NewAldaya Lifescapes Frequently Asked Questions – This document will be updated on a weekly basis. Current as of September 2, 2020.
New Long-Term Care Facility Testing Requirements:
The federal government has released new testing requirements for nursing facility residents and employees that work in this particular care setting. The following is a summary of requirements NewAldaya Lifescapes (NAL) will be following, effective September 2, and how it will affect NAL residents and employees going forward:
Like NAL, nursing facilities across the state and the nation have been issued a point of care testing machine to be used for COVID-19 testing. This is a rapid test that will provide results within 15 minutes of the test being administered. In addition to our current testing of symptomatic residents and staff and individuals with known or potential COVID exposures, the following testing guidance is required:
What does this mean? A lot of testing……
On September 3, 2020, routine testing of NAL staff will begin. Due to the current positivity rate of 10% or greater in Black Hawk County, each staff member must be tested twice in a seven- day period. Employees who fail to achieve the requirement will not be permitted to return to work until doing so.
NAL must continue to routinely test at this frequency until the county rate declines and remains at a lower rate (5-10%) for 14 days. At which time, NAL will move to weekly employee testing. The lowest activity rate (
Currently, all residents and representatives are notified of positive COVID cases of staff and residents, and this will continue. With the confirmation of a single positive test in either staff or residents, NAL communications also will include the notification that all residents in the nursing facility will be tested. The NAL clinical team will continue to notify residents and their representatives of test results.
Are there sufficient testing supplies?
Currently, NAL has sufficient testing supplies to begin routine testing, however, additional supplies will be required to continue testing as mandated and have been ordered. As the detailed guidance for new testing requirements was only recently released on August 26, NAL has responded promptly to develop internal procedures, including the acquisition of testing supply inventory. There are early indications that supply chain may experience shortages. NAL will continue to work with local and state health departments should supply shortages occur.
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 |
0 |
|
Brook Extended Care |
0 |
0 |
|
Cascade Extended Care |
0 |
0 |
|
Memory Care House |
0 |
0 |
|
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. 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 cases to report.
2. Since April 23, a total of (24) twenty-four NAL staff members were diagnosed with COVID-19 and (23) twenty-three have recovered.
3. We completed the first week of staff testing under new CMS guidelines. Because of Black Hawk County positivity rate being greater than 10%, per the guidelines, we are to test anyone who has direct contact with nursing facility residents twice a week. We completed 463 tests and all were negative.
Thank you.
Q. Are you testing all residents and staff?
A. See above.
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 continues phase 3 of its reopening plan.
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 have resumed. 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 is 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. Is the Salon open?
A. The Salon is open 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. Elm's Pub is closed and Friday Night Live performances have been canceled until September 20th per the Governor's proclamation.
River Rock Cafe is open to the public offering a full menu as well as a choice of non-alcholic or alcoholic beverages.
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.