April 15, 2020
Dear Families,
I realize we recently communicated with you, but we have an important update we need to share.
I’m writing to inform you that an individual we support at the New Hackensack IRA has tested positive for COVID-19. The individual is quarantined at 36 Violet Avenue, Poughkeepsie Recovery/Healing Center.
The Department of Health (DOH), Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) and local health authorities were notified immediately, and all residents and staff who had high contact with the infected resident have been quarantined in adherence with the protocols shared by those authorities. The same actions were taken earlier this month following the diagnosis of two staff members from the New Hackensack IRA, and we are continuing to make every effort to contain the spread.
This is not easy news to share. Sadly, the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting many people in our region and across the globe, but we can assure you that our team is, and has been, taking measures to protect your loved ones and our staff, who we cherish greatly. We are operating under the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control’s (CDC) strict protocols for infection control, and recent measures include:
- Ordering tests for all individuals and staff at the New Hackensack IRA to be tested
- Designating a separate quarantine facility for individuals in our care, for anyone diagnosed with COVID-19.
- Staff designated to work only with the infected individual
- Implementing entry station at New Hackensack IRA to include Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) distribution for staff, enhanced electronic monitoring of symptoms and temperatures and procedure for sanitizing hands, cell phone and footwear at the doorway
- Extensively cleaning and disinfecting of the New Hackensack IRA by a professional company
- Staggering mealtimes to allow for social distancing among residents and staff
- Facilitating additional trainings for clinical staff, including CDC webinar
- Disinfecting entry station
- Prevention training Part 1 and Part 2
In the last letter, we listed additional measures which are still being taken, including:
- Mandating staff who are experiencing any symptoms of illness (i.e., cough, runny nose, headache, fever, body aches) to stay home and self-quarantine for a minimum of 7 days and 72 hours symptom free
- Providing hand sanitizer and extensive cleaning of all sites multiple times per day
- Suspending all visits unless medically or clinically essential
- Taking temperatures of all Greystone-supported individuals and staff daily
- Requiring all support staff to wear masks while on shift
- Holding daily Infection Control Committee meetings
We will send updates as we have more news to share, and, in the meantime, do not hesitate to reach out to me via email at
spryce@greystone.org
or my cell (845) 505-0354. We remain fiercely committed to protecting the health and well-being of your loved ones. Together, we will get through this.
Be well,
