April 3rd, 2023
RE: WRC COVID Outbreak Status
Good afternoon to our residents, tenants, staff, and families of WRC,
Due to the severe weather we all experienced Friday evening, I want to first apologize for the late notification of this COVID update. I hope all of you and your families remained safe.
I am disappointed to notify all of you that Townsend Care Center returned to OUTBREAK status late evening Thursday, March 30th, due to the identification of 1 positive case in an asymptomatic staff member. On Friday, March 31st, all staff, and residents were tested for COVID which resulted in a 2nd identified case in an asymptomatic staff member. Both staff members have been restricted from work and will continue to do so based on CDC/CMS Guidelines. No residents of Townsend Care Center have been identified as positive. We will continue to remain in OUTBREAK and test all residents, tenants, and staff based on CMS/CDC Guidelines until no positive cases in residents, tenants, or staff are identified for 14 days.
As a Reminder to our residents, tenants, and families:
What does this mean for our residents and families?
* Visitation with your loved one is still permitted; however, all visitors need to be aware of the risks of entering our building during the Outbreak status and be encouraged in other types of visitation
* No matter the vaccination status of the visitor, all visitors will be required to keep their eye protection and face mask on during the entire length of their visits and visits will only take place in resident/tenant rooms.
* Outings will be continued to be approved on a case-by-case basis based on WRC’s Outbreak Status and the Community Transmission Rate, currently at MODERATE for Muscatine County.
* We also discourage any visitors to visit the WRC community who have ANY signs and symptoms of a respiratory illness to defer your visit until your symptoms have resolved.
If you are visiting a resident/tenant who is in isolation, there are increased risks associated with your visit, including risk of infection transmission.
* If possible, defer your visit until the resident/tenant has been discontinued from isolation.
* When you visit a COVID positive resident, staff will provide you with instructions for Personal Protective Equipment to wear during your visit which will include N95 mask, Isolation Gown, Exam Gloves, and Eye Protection. All these PPE items must remain on person during your entire visit with a COVID positive resident.
Extra Precautions for Wilton Retirement Community:
* Plastic Table Dividers have been placed and will remain for a minimum of 14 days to allow for limited communal activities at Wilton Retirement Community.
* All residents and tenants of Wilton Retirement Community will continue to be highly encouraged to wear a surgical mask outside of their apartments and rooms.
* All staff members of Wilton Retirement Community will be required to continue to wear a KN95 face mask in addition to eye protection during direct contact and cares with residents.
* Leland R. Smith Tenants and Townsend Care Center Residents will temporarily cease cross campus group activities to assist in mitigating the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
Please reach out with any questions or concerns & as always thank you for your continued understanding and support,
Laura A. Brandt CNA, LNHA
March 20th, 2023
To All Residents, Tenants, Staff and Families of WRC
RE: WRC COVID Outbreak Status
Good morning to You All,
It is with great pleasure and excitement that we announce that the Townsend Care Center of Wilton Retirement Community is OUT OF OUTBREAK status as of 03/20/2023. Unfortunately, Leland R. Smith Assisted Living will remain in OUTBREAK status due to the identification of a positive case in a tenant on 03/17/2023. After careful consideration and to provide some relief to our residents and Townsend Care Center staff, we have separated the OUTBREAK statuses between Townsend Care Center and Leland R. Smith Assisted Living.
What does this mean for Townsend Care Center:
- All Fully Vaccinated Staff and Influenza Vaccinated Staff are no longer required to wear a face mask and/or eye protection due to the CDC Community Transmission Rate of YELLOW/MODERATE reported 03/17/2023
- ALL Unvaccinated Staff either for Covid or Influenza will be required to wear a mask; however, may choose to
wear either a KN95 or Surgical Mask for source control, but are no longer required to wear eye protection.
- All Surveillance Testing for Townsend Care Center Staff and Residents will cease immediately.
- Group Activities in Townsend Care Center will be limited to Townsend Care Center Residents.
What does this mean for Leland R. Smith Assisted Living:
- All assisted living staff and tenants will be required to test based on CDC/CMS guidelines.
- Leland R. Smith Assisted Living will remain in OUTBREAK status until no positive cases are identified in tenants or staff for 14 days.
- Leland R. Smith Assisted Living Tenants Will Be Temporarily Restricted from Visiting Townsend Care Center with or without an escort during OUTBREAK status.
- Leland R. Smith Assisted Living Staff will be restricted from entering Townsend Care Center.
- Townsend Care Center Staff will be limited based on need and/or emergency to enter Leland R. Smith Assisted Living.
- ALL Leland R. Smith Assisted Living Tenants will be encouraged to wear a mask outside of their apartments.
- ALL visitors to Leland R. Smith Assisted Living will be required to wear a face mask during visit with Leland R. Smith Assisted Living Tenants.
- Table Dividers will remain in place to allow for Leland R. Smith Assisted Living Tenants to dine in main dining room.
Special Reminders for Families of Wilton Retirement Community:
We discourage any visitors to visit the WRC community who have ANY signs and symptoms of a respiratory illness to defer your visit until your symptoms have resolved.
If you are visiting a resident/tenant who is in isolation, there are increased risks associated with your visit, including risk of infection transmission.
* If possible, defer your visit until the resident/tenant has been discontinued from isolation.
* When you visit a COVID positive resident, staff will provide you with instructions for Personal Protective Equipment to wear during your visit which will include N95 mask, Isolation Gown, Exam Gloves, and Eye Protection. All these PPE items must remain on person during your entire visit with a COVID positive resident.
Visitors WHO have tested POSITIVE for COVID are RESTRICTED from Visiting Wilton Retirement Community for 10 consecutive days based on CDC/CMS Guidelines.
Please notify WRC if you have tested positive before your visit.
We are hopeful we are moving in the right direction and taking all necessary steps to mitigate the spread as well as care for all our residents, tenants, and staff at Wilton Retirement Community.
Please reach out with any questions or concerns & as always thank you for your continued understanding and support.
Laura A. Brandt CNA, LNHA