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January 2022 Village Care Center Updates

Village Care Center COVID-19 Cases

The following report summarizes the daily number of new COVID-19 cases at the Village Care Center. The data is updated when new cases are reported. Cumulative totals can be found in the Communication Updates section. If you have questions, please reach out to Tami Hoversten, administrator, at 816-347-2414 or [email protected].

  • Jan. 1: An associate has tested positive
  • Jan. 2: No new cases.
  • Jan. 3: One resident and three associates have tested positive.
  • Jan. 4:  No new cases.
  • Jan. 5: An associate has tested positive.
  • Jan. 6: No new cases.
  • Jan. 7: No new cases.
  • Jan. 8: No new cases.
  • Jan. 9: No new cases.
  • Jan. 10: No new cases.
  • Jan. 11: No new cases.
  • Jan. 12: Three associates tested positive.
  • Jan. 13: Two associates tested positive.
  • Jan. 14: Two associates tested positive.
  • Jan. 15: No new cases.
  • Jan. 16: No new cases.
  • Jan. 17: An associate tested positive.
  • Jan. 18: No new cases.
  • Jan. 19: Three associates tested positive.
  • Jan. 20:  Six associates tested positive.
  • Jan. 21: No new cases.
  • Jan. 22: No new cases.
  • Jan. 23: One associate tested positive.
  • Jan. 24: A resident tested positive.
  • Jan. 25: One associate has tested positive.
  • Jan. 26: No new cases.
  • Jan. 27: One associate has tested positive.
  • Jan. 28: No new cases.
  • Jan. 29: No new cases.
  • Jan. 30: No new cases.
  • Jan. 31: No new cases.
  • Communication Updates

Email updates are sent to the families and responsible parties of Village Care Center residents. If you have a question, please contact Tami Hoversten, administrator, at [email protected]. If you would like to see the communication updates from 2020, please email [email protected].

Jan. 24, 2022

I’m sorry that I am writing again already, so I’ll try to keep my message brief.
In this morning’s COVID-19 testing we did have one Long Term Care resident’s results come back positive. This person’s symptoms are mild, and in continuing our efforts to keep everyone as safe as possible, they are being moved to our isolation unit. As a result of this new case, we will continue with weekly testing until Feb. 7. I addition, one VCC associate tested positive yesterday.
Please be assured that we are still following the infection control guidelines established by the various authorities that govern licensed facilities such as the Village Care Center. These include:

  • All associates wearing masks.
  • While caring for residents who have active COVID-19, associates wearing N95 masks.
  • Visitors wearing masks, signing in, and being screened upon arrival.
  • Visitors traveling directly to the resident’s room only, and remaining physically distant at all times while community transmission is high.
  • Performing frequent hand hygiene.
  • Testing all unvaccinated associates regularly.
  • Testing fully vaccinated associates when displaying symptoms or when exposed to someone who has COVID-19.

Visitors are still able to come to the Village Care Center. You should be aware of the risks, and you must wear a facemask regardless of vaccination status. Please see the attached document which more fully outlines the VCC’s Visitation Guidelines.

If you are feeling ANY of these symptoms, delay your visit so you don’t unintentionally bring it into the building.

Finally, if you have not yet been vaccinated, I strongly encourage you to consider doing so soon. Yes, some vaccinated people are testing positive, but local and national data show that they are FAR less likely to be hospitalized or to die from COVID-19.
If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Jan. 21, 2022

Community spread of COVID-19. According to the Mid-America Regional Council, the positivity rate in Jackson County is continuing to rise. As the Village Care Center is a microcosm of the community around us, our associate cases are continuing the same trend. From Jan. 13 through today, we have had zero VCC residents and 14 VCC associates test positive for COVID-19.
These associates work in a variety of roles within the Care Center; we are not finding any common trend as far as where the associates work or their roles.
What we are doing. Due to the number of associates and the variety of units with potential exposure, we have are testing all residents residing in the VCC.

  • I am happy to say that in our Monday testing this week all residents tested negative.
  • All residents will be tested once again next week.
  • If a resident exhibits any symptoms, we will test immediately.
  • The VCC social workers or managers will contact you, individually, if your loved one is needing more frequent testing.
  • We will continue to test all of our associates and residents per CDC guidelines.

Elsewhere in the Village:

  • Village Assisted Living: Three residents and four associates currently have active cases of COVID-19.
  • Independent Living Residents have reported only a small number of new cases since last week.
  • Associates Outside of VCC and VAL: Five active cases in various parts of the Village.

I know that this is frustrating, but I can tell you that we are doing all that we can to keep your loved ones safe. We appreciate everyone’s help with this, so, please wear your mask when visiting, and if you’re feeling any COVID-related symptoms, before you arrive please get tested or quarantine for the appropriate amount of time. (See CDC guidelines here.)
At-Home Test Kits. You may have heard on the news that every home in the U.S. is now eligible to order 4 free at-home COVID-⁠19 tests. The tests are completely free. The official website says that orders will usually ship in 7-12 days, and they recommend ordering your tests now so you have them when you need them. Please visit this website for information on how to order. (Place your order here.)
In addition, they have provided this link to more information. If you need a COVID-⁠19 test now: “Please see other testing resources for free testing locations in your area.”
Visits. Also, since we do not have any residents who have tested positive, we ARE ABLE to continue with visitors on all of our units.  We do mandate that all visitors wear masks while in the building. Again, we ask that you use extreme caution and NOT visit if you have any symptoms – even if it just seems like a cold or the flu.

Please stay safe out there.

Jan. 13, 2022

Well it’s that time again – time for a COVID-19 update for the Village Care Center.  As you have all seen, the positivity rate in Jackson County is continuing to rise, and we too are experiencing a rise in the number of our associates who have tested positive.  From Monday, Jan. 10 through today, we have had 5 VCC associates test positive for COVID-19.  These associates work within the Village Care Center in a variety of roles; we are not finding any common trend as far as where the associates work or their roles.  I can tell you that 3 of the 5 associates are in some degree of resident care.  I will break this down a bit for you by each associate role.

  • Associate 1- Direct Care but had not been working, therefore had no contact residents.
  • Associate 2- Non-direct care with no resident contact.
  • Associate 3- Last day worked Jan. 9, did have some resident contact on LTC and LTC-memory care.
  • Associate 4- Last day worked Jan. 11, not in a direct care role but may have had some contact with residents on LTC.
  • Associate 5- Last day worked Jan. 13, some resident contact on all units within the VCC.

All associates working in the VCC, regardless of role, are wearing masks. Additionally, those associates who have tested positive have experienced zero to mild symptoms.

Due to the number of associates and the variety of units with potential exposure, we have decided to test all residents residing in the VCC.

  • With the initial potential exposure date being on Jan. 9, we have already tested all of LTC and LTC-memory care this week. I am happy to say that all residents have tested negative.
  • All residents will be tested once this week, and weekly for the remainder of the month.
  • If a resident exhibits any symptoms, we will test immediately.
  • The VCC social workers or managers will contact you, individually, if your loved one is needing more frequent testing.
  • We will continue to test all of our associates and residents per CDC guidelines.

I know that this is frustrating, but I can tell you that we are doing all that we can to keep your loved ones safe.

Also, since we do not have any residents who have tested positive, we ARE ABLE to continue with visitors on all of our units.  We do mandate that all visitors wear masks while in the building.

Again, we ask that you do not visit if you are experiencing any of these symptoms.

At Village Assisted Living, they have had several Memory Care 3 residents who have tested positive recently. Unfortunately, one more tested positive today, and will need to be in isolation for a period of time. But they also had one resident return after isolation today, and if all goes well, two more will do so on Friday. They will be doing more testing, on Jan. 19. Visitors are allowed, but, like us, they are asking for extreme caution and for people to NOT visit if they have any symptoms – even if it just seems like a cold or the flu.

Jan. 4, 2022

I want to provide you with an update about what’s been happening around the Village Care Center related to COVID-19 since my last e-mail late last week.  As the case count in our metro area continue to rise, we too are seeing more positive cases at the Village Care Center.

Positive Cases

  • Associates.  Yesterday we had three associates – all from the Long Term Care (LTC) unit – test positive for the coronavirus.  We immediately tested all residents and staff yesterday, and I am very happy to say that all of the additional results were negative.
  • Residents.  We also had one resident from our Village Rehabilitation Unit who went to the Emergency Room. While in the Emergency Room, per protocol, the resident was tested for COVID and the results came back as positive. This resident had no contact with the other residents.  As of now, we do not have any residents in the VCC with COVID-19.
  • Isolation Unit. We will open the Isolation Unit tomorrow, and will have two Village residents staying there by tomorrow afternoon.
  • Testing. In following with CDC/CMS guidelines, we will test all staff and residents on the Rehabilitation and LTC units again next week.

Visiting
I am happy to report that all units are open for visitors.  That said, I cannot stress enough the importance of infection control both inside and outside of the care center.

  • If you experiencing any type of illness I ask that you please postpone your visit until you are well.
  • While you are inside of the VCC, masks are required, and we ask that you go directly to your loved one’s room.
  • Once you are inside your loved one’s room you may remove your mask if your loved one approves.
  • Once you leave your loved one’s room you must put your mask back on and head directly out of the building.
  • We all have the same goal and that is to keep all of our residents healthy.

COVID-19 News Elsewhere on Campus

  • Village Assisted Living.  On Monday, Village Assisted Living announced that they had three residents who tested positive. They will test all residents and associates tomorrow (Wednesday).
  • Independent Living.  There currently are five independent living residents who have active cases of COVID-19. Contact tracing has taken place, and the appropriate parties have been notified.
  • All Areas Outside of the VCC & VAL.  There are currently 17 associates who work outside of the Village Care Center and Village Assisted Living who have tested positive for COVID-19. Contact tracing has taken place, as necessary, and these associates are now isolating at home.

Masking Requirements on Campus

  • Village Care Center and Village Assisted Living visitors are required to wear a mask while in public areas in the building. You may remove your mask once in the resident’s room/apartment, with that resident’s permission.
  • Independent Living Residents are being strongly encouraged to wear masks when they will be around others who are not from their households.
  • Effective Thursday, Jan. 6, all associates must wear masks, regardless of vaccination status.
  • Everyone is being asked to be diligent in carrying out the other now-famous infection control procedures, such as distancing, handwashing, covering coughs and sneezes, and most importantly – to stay home if they don’t feel well.