September 2021 Village Care Center COVID Updates
Village Care Center COVID-19 Cases
As of Sept. 30, 2021
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].
- Sept. 30: No new cases.
- Sept. 29: No new cases.
- Sept. 28: No new cases.
- Sept. 27: No new cases.
- Sept. 26: No new cases.
- Sept. 25: No new cases.
- Sept. 24: No new cases.
- Sept. 23: No new cases.
- Sept. 22: No new cases.
- Sept. 21: No new cases.
- Sept. 20: No new cases.
- Sept. 19: No new cases.
- Sept. 18: No new cases.
- Sept. 17: No new cases.
- Sept. 16: An associate in direct care tested positive.
- Sept. 15: An associate in direct care tested positive.
- Sept. 14: No new cases.
- Sept. 13: No new cases.
- Sept. 12: No new cases.
- Sept. 11: No new cases.
- Sept. 10: One new positive resident case.
- Sept. 9: One new positive resident case.
- Sept. 8: No new cases.
- Sept. 7: Two patients in the rehab neighborhood and one memory care resident, as well as four associates, have tested positive.
- Sept. 6: No new cases.
- Sept. 5: No new cases.
- Sept. 4: No new cases.
- Sept. 3: Four patients in the rehab neighborhood tested positive; five associates have tested positive.
- Sept. 2: Three patients in the rehab neighborhood tested positive.
- Sept. 1: An associate in non-direct care tested positive.
A Message From the Administrator
Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021
I’m excited to announce that later today we will be opening our doors and welcoming loved ones for indoor visits!
Since my last email to you a week ago, we’ve seen a steady decline in the number of COVID cases in the building. Because of this, we can resume indoor visits for all units, including residents who are on quarantine for exposure. As always, outdoor visits are an option. In addition, group activities and communal dining also will resume (more on that below).
Visiting hours are as follows.
- 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday-Friday
- 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday
Please remember, when you are in the building you must wear your mask at all times, even when you are in your loved one’s room, regardless of your vaccination status. Currently, there is a significant level of COVID-19 transmission in our area and across the state, and we are following the CDC’s recommendations for the health and safety of our residents, associates and you.
Other good news:
- Group activities also will resume for all units. Residents will need to wear masks to participate.
- Communal dining also can begin again for all units. Beginning Monday, Sept. 27, the main dining will be used for socially distanced breakfasts and lunches. Mask must be worn when not eating and drinking.
- Finally, the salons will re-open on all the units; masks to be worn at all times.
Residents who are in quarantine for exposure or suspected COVID-19 will not be able to visit a salon or participate in group activities or communal dining until the quarantine is discontinued.
I also wanted to remind you of the Village Care Center’s testing policy, which is based on regulations set out by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Unvaccinated associates continue to be tested twice a week per the county transmission rate. Vaccinated associates are not routinely tested. Instead, they are tested if they have exhibited symptoms or have had a high-risk exposure. Residents who are still on quarantine for exposure will be re-tested again on Monday, Sept. 27.
We look forward to seeing you again!
Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021
On Tuesday, we tested all residents in memory care and the Village Rehabilitation Unit for COVID-19, and I am pleased to say that – at that time – all test results were negative. Also, the Village isolation unit has been seeing a steady decline, as people are discharged, now has only 5 residents.
Unfortunately, though, we now are aware of two direct-care associates who have tested positive; one yesterday and one this morning. Due to the areas they each have worked in, we are testing all residents and associates today and tomorrow. I also am very sad to report that we had one COVID-related resident death last week.
At this point the VCC will remain closed for indoor visits while we wait for these results, but the weather is fantastic, so I encourage you to come for a visit outdoors.
I know that all of this gets more than a little confusing. Currently, per regulations set out by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services:
- Vaccinated associates are only tested if they have symptoms or have had a high risk exposure.
- Unvaccinated associates are tested if they have symptoms, and they also are routinely tested twice a week due to the high county positivity rate.
- If an associate or resident tests positive we test all residents and associates who were exposed to that person. Testing takes place twice within 14 days of exposure. And the resident is placed on isolation for 14 days
Annual State Survey
The Village Care Center recently went through its first Annual Survey since March 2019 (due to COVID-19 restrictions). Surveyors were on-site – using appropriate protection – for five days. Overall, Vice President of Health and Community Services Anthony Columbatto considers it to be an excellent survey. At this point, the only areas commented on were administrative in nature and can be easily resolved, be we have not yet received our official statement of deficiencies.
Elsewhere in the Village
- Village Assisted Living has had two associates test positive – one last week, and one yesterday. All of their residents and associates will be tested again today (Sept. 16) and again on Wednesday, Sept. 22. At this point, VAL is still open for indoor and outdoor visits. They have worked with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services to develop a new set of rules for visitations that are now different than those that CMS requires nursing homes to follow, so you will continue to see some differences between the protocols used in our two licensed facilities. Each has been crafted with the health and safety of residents in that level of care as the highest priority.
- All Areas Outside of the VCC & VAL: Earlier this month, one independent living resident tested positive, after experiencing mild symptoms. The resident is now fully recovered.
I would like to wrap up by saying that allowing indoor visits, when at all possible, is a huge priority for us, as I know how important it is for the mental and physical health of our residents and patients. But even more important than that is the need to keep our residents safe. If you wish to visit the Village Care Center you are part of that equation. Masks must be worn at all times, and visitors must stay in the residents room or outdoors. We can’t make any exceptions to this guideline. We will hold all visitors accountable in adhering to our indoor mask mandate and staying in the resident rooms only.
If you have any questions, please contact me.
Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021
This is a hard message to write. Since my last email on Friday, we’ve had several additional residents/patients and associates test positive for the COVID-19 virus.
Since Friday, two more patients in the Village Rehab Neighborhood, as well as three residents of the Memory Care Neighborhood, have all tested positive. Each of the aforementioned are fully vaccinated and have been moved to our isolation area, bringing the number of residents who are being treated in the unit up to 12. In addition, we’ve had four associates who work in different areas of the building test positive. Finally, a patient who first tested positive for the virus back in August has unfortunately passed away.
Today, we tested all residents and staff throughout the building to make sure no other areas of the facility are being affected by the virus. I also think it’s important to note that any resident or associate who is exhibiting symptoms is tested immediately. Finally, all staff members who are vaccinated are tested once a week. Unvaccinated staff members are tested twice each week.
I want to reiterate that we are following all guidelines that have been released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19. We are doing everything we can to keep our residents, staff and you healthy and safe. These regulations include steps for infection control, testing, isolation and visits with loved ones.
Because of the positive cases, we cannot host any indoor visits until next week at the earliest. However, we welcome and encourage you to visit with your loved ones outdoors. I also want you to know that our residents can participate in doorway activities, and those who live in the long-term care neighborhoods – the 100 and 200 units – can continue to visit the salon. (CMS guidelines say one resident at a time can get their hair done in the salon. Masks are always worn.) Lastly, residents are taking their meals in their rooms.
I continue to receive questions about vaccination booster shots for residents and when vaccinations will become mandatory for all associates. We are still waiting for guidelines from CMS on both topics. I will be sure to share any news and/or updates as soon as we receive guidance.
Please stay safe. The infection rate in this area is extremely high. Please practice the safety measures we’ve been following, including wearing masks, washing hands, social distancing – even if you’ve already had the virus or are fully vaccinated.
I hope to have better news to share with you later this week.
Friday, Sept. 3, 3031
I want to take a few minutes to update you about what’s been happening at the Village Care Center since my last email on Monday.
Case Counts
First, we’ve had four more patients from the Village Rehabilitation Unit test positive for COVID-19. That brings the number of positive cases from that area since Sunday up to nine. The good news is eight of the nine are fully vaccinated – and one is partially vaccinated; all are presenting with mild symptoms. We have done a thorough round of contact tracing and cannot link any of these cases to a VCC associate. All the COVID+ patients have been moved to the isolation unit.
Outside the Rehabilitation Unit, we’ve had no additional residents test positive for the virus.
In addition, five associates have tested positive after participating in VCC-wide follow-up testing. All are asymptomatic and have varying degrees of contact with our residents/patients.
Potential for Indoor Visits
Because of the additional positives, we still are not able to have indoor visiting. We hope to accomplish another round of testing early next week, and if all the tests come back negative, we’ll be able to re-open our doors. Please remember: we are following the regulations set by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid for the health and safety of our residents, you and our associates. Thank you for your patience.
Outdoor visits with loved ones are still occurring, and highly recommended. Although the next 24-hours or so look soggy, the temperatures are dropping and look to be very pleasant in coming days. Please call the neighborhood assistant prior to your arrival so that we can be sure your loved one is ready for your visit.
Elsewhere on the Village Campus
There’s been more COVID-related activity across the Village. As the number of positive cases ticks up in the surrounding community, so too are the number of positives here on the Village campus. In addition to conducting more testing, this influx of cases also is leading to more contact tracing. Here’s a quick recap about what’s happening around the campus as of this morning.
Village Assisted Living: An associate tested positive earlier this week, which prompted VAL to temporarily push pause on indoor visitation, communal dining and group activities. After facility-wide testing was completed, VAL resumed regular operations on Thursday morning.
Areas outside of assisted living and skilled nursing: An independent living resident has tested positive after experiencing mild symptoms. The resident is quarantining at home. Public safety worked through a short list of individuals to meet contact tracing protocols.
As I mentioned before, the number of reported cases in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area has risen sharply in the last month, as has the number of people who are hospitalized because of their symptoms. Our entire health care system is extremely stressed right now. The one silver lining we are seeing is that though some of our vaccinated residents are infected with the virus and becoming symptomatic, the symptoms are much milder. Thankfully, we are not seeing the serious illness and hospitalizations that we experienced last year.
Vaccination News: Booster Shots, Mandates and Clinics
- Booster update: We learned that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) are recommending a booster shot for some individuals. However, we are still waiting for specific details, such as timing, from CMS. In the meantime, we are working with our Medical Director and pharmacy to determine who may qualify for the third dose. If your loved on qualifies, we will contact you for consent.
- Mandatory vaccinations for associates: CMS also announced that it is creating a new regulation mandating that all nursing home associates receive their COVID-19 vaccines. Again, we are awaiting details on this announcement, which will be released in September. We will work closely with the regulators to ensure we are in compliance.
Thank you for your continued support as we care for your loved one. As always, please let me know if you have any questions.
Monday, Aug. 30, 2021
I am sorry to report that today, as part of routine testing due to a recent exposure, we had five patients on the Village Rehabilitation Unit test positive for COVID-19. Each is experiencing mild symptoms. Of the five, four were fully vaccinated and one was partially vaccinated.
We have done a thorough round of contact tracing and cannot link any of these cases to a Village Care Center associate. All of the COVID+ patients have been moved to the isolation unit.
It pains me to no end that I have to share this news with you. Last year at this time, we knew that nursing homes were a leading indicator of what was happening in the broader community. It appears that this is true again this year. The silver lining this time around is that our residents have a vaccine that is extremely effective against COVID-19.
Additionally, last week we received two pieces of news from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). First, they announced that eight months after the second dose of the vaccine it is appropriate to get a booster shot. We are awaiting specific details from CMS. However, we have already had discussions with our pharmacy partner and will be able to administer the booster as soon as it is appropriate. Secondly, CMS announced that it is creating a new regulation mandating that all nursing home associates receive their COVID-19 vaccines. Again, we are awaiting details on this announcement, and we will work closely with the regulators to ensure we are in compliance.
Communication Updates
Email updates frequently are sent to the families and responsible parties of Village Care Center residents. If you have a question, please contact Tami Hoversten, interim administrator, at [email protected] or Anthony Columbatto, vice president of health and community services, at [email protected]. If you would like to see the communication updates from 2020, please email [email protected].