May 05, 2020
In response to the many questions received in the past couple of weeks as to when residents might be able to leave the confines of their apartments, we have some good news to share based on guidance received within the past 24 hours from the New York State Dept. of Health and Schenectady County Public Health.
Beginning tomorrow, Wednesday, May 6, all residents will be offered the opportunity to enjoy some supervised outdoor time. Activities staff will coordinate the outside time, weather permitting, based on a pre-established schedule. This schedule ensures that previously positive residents remain together and are not intermingled with any resident that, to date, has tested negative. These groupings will be revisited should there be new admissions/re-admissions, discharges, etc.
Residents will be guided to and from their apartments individually by Activities or Resident Care staff at their denoted times and social distancing maintained. Those residents that are able to navigate the a stairway, will be escorted one at a time. All banisters will be sanitized before and after each resident utilizes the stairs. Each resident will sanitize their hands as well; staff will have sanitizer for that purpose. Residents that require use of the elevator will also travel one at a time; the elevator will be sprayed with disinfectant before and after each use. All assisted living residents will be wearing masks.
We know how anxious you are to see your loved ones and they to see you. However, residents' family members are urged not to leave their vehicles should they be on-site at Ingersoll during their loved ones' outside time. Residents will not be allowed to approach any vehicle closer than a distance of six feet. Staff will be instructed on these procedures and associated restrictions so they can properly supervise and resolve any visitor situations that may arise during residents' outside time.
At the present time, in-room quarantine and isolation protocols remain unchanged in our ongoing efforts to reduce the risk of coronavirus exposure to residents and staff. We are awaiting updated information from the NYS Dept. of Health as to when those protocols can be modified or discontinued and are anticipating notification this week. All staff continue to use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) throughout the course of their workday and there are adequate supplies on-hand to meet these needs. PPE usage will remain in effect until we are advised by the NYS Dept. of Health to do otherwise.
Also, please note, Ingersoll has not received notification from state or county health departments regarding further testing of residents or staff. At the present time, no additional facility-wide testing is anticipated.
As some of you may already be aware, Ingersoll's Resident Care Director Cori Meservey, RN, is recovering from a recent illness unrelated to coronavirus. Cori is grateful for the prayers and kind wishes being sent her way and is looking forward to returning to Ingersoll soon. To help ensure the continuity of daily resident care and provide clinical support in Cori's absence, Kim Towne, RN, is welcomed as a fulltime staff member of the Ingersoll team.
Lastly, a personal note from Christopher J. Healy, President of the Ingersoll Place Board of Trustees, "On behalf of the board of trustees and leadership staff, I extend my sincere thanks to all of you for your support, patience and understanding. We are all very much looking forward to brighter days ahead."
Please continue to direct non-urgent questions and concerns to Ceil Mack, 518-370-4419, ext. 303.
