Background & Lessons Learned:

Foothill Acres Rehabilitation & Nursing Center, as many other nursing centers, has experienced the heartbreaking impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Living in a healthcare setting brings inherent risks due to the vulnerability of the residents we care for and the communal lifestyle. Our efforts to provide a homelike environment that promotes independence and person directed care, can contribute to the spread of a respiratory infection such as COVID-19 when aggressive restrictions are not implemented early in the
outbreak. Finding a balance between the need to be aggressive and honoring the basic rights of our residents and families will require a comprehensive plan that includes methods to communicate with residents, visitors and the staff so we can all work together to limit the exposure and to prevent the spread of respiratory infections including COVID-19.

POLICY:

Foothill Acres Rehabilitation & Nursing Center has developed a comprehensive response plan to address the global pandemic due to COVID-19. The plan will be in place to protect the residents, staff and visitors from respiratory infections including COVID-19.

PROCEDURE:

•  The facility will create a COVID-19 Committee team consisting of the following:
  Medical Director: Dr. Richard Corson
  Administrator: Pinny Goldblatt
  Director of Nursing: Diana Truelove
  MDS Coordinator: Linji Li
  Rehab Director: Umang Shah
  Social Service Director: Andrew McGovern
  Admissions Director: Steve Aksim
  Maintenance Director: Jason Toifel
  Activities Director: Mary Walaszek /
  Nancy Guerrera
  Housekeeping David Grove
  Dietary Director: Donald Williams
  Dietician: Jessica Hanna
• Dietician Alexa Leomporra
• Pharmacy Representative: Ann Santos
  Laboratory Representative: Thomas Bejgrowicz
• The facility’s COVID 19 Response Coordinator will be: Pinny Goldblatt, Administrator.
• The facility will coordinate with the transport company if a presumptive or confirmed COVID-19 is going to be transported. Face mask will be provided to the resident for transport to protect the transport staff and receiving facility staff.
• The facility physician will coordinate with the receiving facility’s physician to ensure report is accurately communicated and precaution is in place.
• Dedicate equipment in isolation rooms. If not possible, clean and disinfect equipment using the EPA- registered disinfectant before use with another resident within the cohort.
• Conduct routine cleaning and disinfection of high touch surfaces and shared medical equipment using EPA-registered disinfectant.
• Increase frequency of routine cleaning and disinfection.
• Prioritize rounding in a “well to ill’ flow to minimize cross-contamination.

Communication with Residents and Families:

POLICY:

It is the policy of this facility to inform residents, their representatives, and families of the residents by 5pm the next calendar day following the subsequent occurrence of either: each time a single confirmed infection of COVID-19 is identified or whenever three or more residents or staff with new-onset of respiratory symptoms occurs within 72 hours of each other.

PROCEDURE:

1. Nursing Administration will notify the Administrative Staff if the facility meets either of the criteria listed above. The Administrative Staff will gather all required information as directed in CMS rule: 42 CFR 483.80(g) and with CMS guidance at https://www.cms.gov/files/documents/gso-20-29-nh.pdf.
2.  Administrative Staff will send required information out via email and text to all residents, their representatives, and families of the residents by 5pm the next calendar day following the subsequent occurrence of either: each time a single confirmed infection of COVID-19 is identified or whenever three or more residents or staff with new-onset of respiratory symptoms occurs within 72 hours of each other.
3.  Residents will be notified of a new outbreak via our closed circuit television system which will be posted by 5pm the next calendar day following the subsequent occurrence of either: each time a single confirmed infection of COVID-19 is identified or whenever three or more residents or staff with new-onset of respiratory symptoms occurs within 72 hours of each other.
4. The required information along with an emergency number for urgent calls and complaints will be posted on our website by 5pm the next calendar day following the subsequent occurrence of either: each time a single confirmed infection of COVID-19 is identified or whenever three or more residents or staff with new-onset of respiratory symptoms occurs within 72 hours of each other.
5. Administrative staff will continue to send out information to all residents, their representatives, families and employees at least once weekly for any facility updates.
6. Foothill Acres will also be providing weekly conferences on a scheduled basis for all who like to attend. Scheduled calls will be posted on facility’s website and/or social media along with e-mail address will be made available to all residents, their representatives, families and employees for any urgent issues or concerns that may need immediate attention.

Communication with Employees:

POLICY:

It is the policy of this facility to inform all employees by 5pm the next calendar day following the subsequent occurrence of either: each time a single confirmed infection of COVID-19 is identified or whenever three or more residents or staff with new-onset of respiratory symptoms occurs within 72 hours of each other.

PROCEDURE:

1. Nursing Administration will notify the Administrative Staff if the facility meets either of the criteria listed above. The Administrative Staff will gather all required information as directed in CMS rule: 42 CFR 483.80(g) and with CMS guidance at https://www.cms.gov/files/documents/gso-20-29-nh.pdf.
2.  Administrative Staff will send required information out via email and/or text to all employees by 5pm the next calendar day following the subsequent occurrence of either: each time a single confirmed infection of COVID-19 is identified or whenever three or more residents or staff with new-onset of respiratory symptoms occurs within 72 hours of each other.
3. Should an employee refuse to provide the facility with a means to contact them via email and/or text then it is the responsibility of the employee to reference the website where the information will be posted by 5 PM the next calendar day.
4. The required information along with an emergency number for urgent calls and complaints will be posted on our website by 5pm the next calendar day following the subsequent occurrence of either: each time a single confirmed infection of COVID-19 is identified or  whenever three or more residents or staff with new-onset of respiratory symptoms occurs within 72 hours of each other.
5. Administrative staff will continue to send out information to all residents, their representatives, families and employees at least once weekly for any facility updates.
6. Foothill Acres will also be providing weekly conferences on a scheduled basis for all who like to attend. Scheduled calls will be posted on facility’s website and/or social media along with e-mail address will be made available to all residents, their representatives, families and employees for any urgent issues or concerns that may need immediate attention.

General Facility Control Measures

• Establish testing capacity to identify SARS-CoV2 through RWJUH Somerset Laboratory and ACULABS Laboratory to conduct test, and provide appropriate specimen collection materials.
• Ensure sufficient supply of Hand Hygiene resources in the facility.
• Evaluate personal protective equipment (PPE) and report level to corresponding
  agency/OEM/LDOH/NJDOH.
• Educate staff on infection prevention practices, control measures for COVID-19.
• Facility will implement Universal Source control by providing facemask to person in the facility. As an alternative, cloth mask will be provided in the event of supply shortage for staff that does not provide direct care to the residents.

Daily Reporting

• Complete line listing for residents / staff.
• Submit line listing to Hillsborough Township Health Department per instruction. Hillsborough Township Health Department representative Siohban Spano.

Admission, Transfer and Readmission

• Close the unit affected to new admissions except as needed to cohort individuals and staff.
• Consider closing to new admissions if the facility is unable to appropriately cohort. This does not include readmission back to the facility.
• When transferring a resident to another facility / hospital, transporting company will be informed of the Transmission Based Precaution in place as well the as receiving facility.
• New admissions and readmissions will be monitored for signs of COVID-19 for 14 days and will be cared for by staff using COVID-19 PPE (N95 or Respirator, eye protection, gloves and gown). They will be placed in private rooms (if available). If feasible, a cohort will be created for this population.

Emergency Staffing Strategies:

POLICY:

In the event of an emergency, the Administrator or DON will make the decision to utilize emergency staffing strategies as necessary to provide for care and treatment of residents.

PROCEDURE:

1. All employees in the facility will be notified of the decision to utilize emergency staffing strategies.
2. In the event the facility has difficulty with staffing the facility in an event of an emergency, the following will take place:
   a. Remove tasks from the nursing department that does not need to be completed by a CNA or Nurse including but not limited to passing out water, answering call bells, passing out snacks and meal trays to alternate employees.
   b. Restorative nursing staff will assist on the units as well as Rehab staff within their scope of practice
   c. Nursing Administration (DON, ADON, Unit Manager and Supervisors) may need to work on the units as needed
3. Dietary department may utilize paper products in order to free staff to assist in other areas.

Virtual Communication:

POLICY:

To continue to provide the vital opportunity for family members to interact with their loved ones while minimizing the chance of the spread of COVID-19.

PROCEDURE:

• Scheduling for all video chats will be done by the Activity Department.
  o All family members were notified to send an email for all virtual visitation requests to
  foothillacrescommunication@gmail.com at least 24 hours prior to requested video chat time.
  o Email addresses for new admissions are obtained by Admissions and/or Receptionist.
  o Chats are scheduled daily from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm and are limited to 10 minutes.
  o A daily schedule will be printed and distributed to each unit and Activity Supervisor so everyone knows what chats are scheduled for the day.
  o Activity Director and/or Activity Supervisors will coordinate who will be assigned to carry out each video chat scheduled.
    – On units with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 or 14-day quarantine, the Activity
  Supervisor or Director will coordinate with Unit Managers to identify any residents that
  could done by Nursing staff while in the rooms.
  o When video session is complete, staff are to log the results and notify Activity Director or Supervisor of any issues during the call.
• For units/rooms with no confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19 or residents on 14-day quarantine:
  o Activity staff or other facility staff will complete video chats with residents.
  o All tablets and iPads will be wiped down with disinfecting wipes before and after each use.
  o If resident has difficulty hearing, there are headphones with a mic available for that resident to use and keep at their bedside. Headphones will be labeled with the resident’s name on them.
• For units/rooms with at least 1 confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 or residents on 14-day quarantine:
  o All tablets and iPads will be wiped down with disinfecting wipes before and after each use.
  o All tablets and iPads will be placed in a gallon zip lock bag prior to entering the resident room.
  o Staff will don all appropriate PPE prior to entering room.
  o Stands for devices are available for use to promote social distancing once virtual call has been established. Stands must be wiped down before use.
  o If resident has difficulty hearing, there are headphones with a mic available for that resident to use and keep at their bedside which will be labeled with the resident’s name on it.
  o Dispose of zip lock bag when video chat is complete and wipe down tablet and stand with disinfecting wipe.
  o Activity staff will complete video chats for residents who are not confirmed with COVID-19 or showing any symptoms. To minimize the traffic in an isolation room, the CNA or other nursing staff may complete video chats for those who are suspected or confirmed with COVID-19 or currently on 14-day quarantine.

Infection Prevention and Control

• Restrict visitors and non-essential healthcare personnel, except in certain compassionate-care situation.
• Evaluate all persons who enter the facility for signs/symptoms of COVID-19. Temperature checks at entry point. Temperature checks at the start of each shift for all employees.
• The facility will monitor any visitors/vendors/physician for temperature and any signs of respiratory symptoms. The following will also be assessed: history of international travel with 14 days or travel to any of the high-risk states within 14 days, history of exposure to a presumptive or positive COVID-19.
• Visitors with respiratory symptoms will not be permitted to enter the facility at any time.
• Facility will require visitors who are cleared to enter the facility to perform hand hygiene and use of facemask and restrict visitation to resident’s room.
• Signage for visitation, cough etiquette and hand hygiene will be posted in several locations within the facility.
• Visitation restriction will be communicated through mass letter, telephone calls and posting of signage.
• Active screening for residents for fever (Temperature of 100.4) and other COVID-19 symptoms every shift.
• Any supply delivery will be dropped off by the loading dock and/or right by the reception area.
• Alcohol-based hand sanitizers for hand hygiene will be provided in the hallways and on medication carts based on supply availability.
• PPE needed will be made available outside the doors for easy access to the staff.
• Facility will provide EPA disinfectants to allow for frequent cleaning of high touched surfaces and shared resident equipment.
• Suspend communal dining and all group activities.
• Residents are encouraged to remain in their rooms. If the resident leaves their room, they should wear a face covering or face mask; perform hand hygiene, limit movement in the facility and perform social distancing.
• Waste receptable will be provided for PPE
• Implement Standard and Transmission-Based Precaution including use of N95 mask or other respirators.
• Signs posted for direction of PPE to use in residents on Transmission Based Precaution

Resident Management / Cohorting

• Implement cohorting plan that allows for separation of residents, dedicating staff and medical equipment to each of these cohort and allowing necessary space to do so at the onset of an outbreak.
• In the event staffing cannot be designated specifically in the COVID-19 unit, Staff will work from clean unit to COVID Unit., Staff will cluster work load from clean resident to COVID residents.
• Staff will don COVID-19 recommended PPE: N-95 or respirator, eye shield, gloves and gown when entering resident rooms.
• Laboratory confirmed COVID-19 positive residents will be relocated to designated cohort. Private rooms will be provided if feasible. Cohort with another COVID-19 resident maybe done when private room is not possible.
• Person Under investigation will not be moved to COVID-19 cohort until results are confirmed.
• Roommates of COVID-19 residents are considered exposed and should not share a room with other residents unless they have tested negative and has been asymptomatic for 14 days from last exposure.
• Facility will adhere to the CDC guidelines for the discontinuation of Transmission-Based Precaution.
  Symptom-based strategy
  
•   At least 3 days (72 hours) have passed since recovery defined as resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and improvement in respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath); and,
•   At least 10-14 days have passed since symptoms first appeared

Staff Management

• All residents will be provided mask and instructed to cover their nose and mouth when around others, as tolerated.
• Enforce use of universal facemask (source control) for staff while in the facility in addition to active screening of symptomatic staff.
• Staff will be screened by getting their temperature taken and completing a screening tool at the start of their shift
• Any staffs that shows symptoms consistent with COVID-19 will be asked to put on a mask and leave the facility. Such staff would require clearance from IP before returning to work.
• Identify staff who maybe at higher risk for severe COVID-19 and attempt to assign to unaffected units.
• Educate and reinforce sick leave policy including not to report to work when sick.
• Assess staff competency on infection prevention and control measure including putting on and taking off PPE.
• Conserve use of PPE using CDC guidance for PPE contingency strategies.
• Consider staffing contingency for shortage (refer to separate policy).

November 13, 2020

Good afternoon,

Last night Foothill staff received positive COVID test results from four residents in the Sub Acute unit. With this new outbreak Foothill is following protocols to isolate the positive residents in the designated separate hallway in the sub-acute unit behind double doors with each resident under quarantine in their own room. All residents and staff will be tested twice in the next 2-5 days with additional testing as needed. Residents are being tested today, staff tomorrow. Once round one is complete, we will initiate round two. At this time, all staff are negative from the standard weekly testing. All staff that were identified as prolonged contact with these residents have been removed for the schedule as well.

This new development will continue the need to keep all visitation suspended indefinitely. If you had a visit scheduled for Nov 19 or later, please do not come to the facility. You do not need to go to the website to cancel.  We will send out a notification when it is safe to resume visitation. all virtual visitation modules are still available.

I’d like to remind everyone that we have a weekly conference call hosted by myself and other Foothill staff on Tuesdays from 3:00 to 3:30. To join the conference call please dial 865-666-3900, enter conference room number 116, then enter 1234# for the password.

 We will keep you updated with any further developments. As always, the staff at Foothill Acres are available for any questions, comments, or concerns you may have. Please email safety@foothillacres.com  or call my cell at 973-525-4011.

Respectfully,

Pinny Goldblatt, LNHA

Administrator

Monday, November 30th, 2020

Happy New Year’s Eve,    Two days ago, we tested all the residents to establish a baseline. Unfortunately, one came back positive from Maple. That resident was not having any symptoms but was moved to the COVID wing. These are our current numbers:    Active:  Residents: 4 positives  Staff: 4 positives    Recovered:  Residents: 15  Expired: 1  Staff: 9    This means the earliest time Essential Caregivers may schedule a visit is January 13.    With 2020 coming to an end, I’d like to express my gratitude to all the families of the residents of Foothill Acres.   This has been a tough/frustrating/unprecedented/challenging year. The world was tested in ways that haven’t been seen since the end of WW2. Thankfully with the vaccine here, there is hope for 2021 to be a better year. I very much appreciate every thought, idea, concern, and words of encouragement from you guys. I look forward to the day (hopefully in the not-so-distant future) that the halls of Foothill be filled with the families once again. Until that time, we will keep fighting the fight to keep our residents and your loved ones safe.    Respectfully,  Pinny Goldblatt, LNHA

Dear Family and Friends,

We are happy to announce that our vaccination clinic with CVS Pharmacywas a HUGE success. 94% of our eligible residents received the vaccine, and 78% of our eligible staff. Our overall population at Foothill is 86% vaccinated. We are grateful to the wonderful Foothill Acres staff that worked diligently with CVS Pharmacy to make this happen. We are looking forward to brighter days ahead, and appreciate your continued support.

Sincerely,

Pinny Goldblatt, LNHA

March 1st, 2021

Hello all,    Yesterday we were notified another non direct employee tested positive. The employee had no symptoms so a rapid test was done which was negative. Another swab was sent to the lab for PCR testing. The employee was immediately sent home. At this point we aren’t taking any chances and considering this a positive pending results of the next PCR which we hope to get back in 24 hours. We will keep everyone updated as this event unfolds.   Respectfully,    Pinny Goldblatt, LNHA Administrator Foothill Acres Rehab and Nursing

Dear Foothill Families & Friends,

 

Good News!!  We have received a new memo from the NJDOH that has some new guidelines regarding indoor visitation.   In the previous directive, one of the things that limited indoor visitation was the CALI score in the community.  This score went up last week and would have affected us, however under the new guidance, and since over 70% of the our residents are vaccinated (we are at 90%), we are now will be able to resume indoor visitation by appointment this week, starting on Friday!!! 

 

The new guidelines allow indoor visitation for all residents (regardless of vaccination status or facility’s phases) except now we have different steps that must occur in an outbreak in order for indoor visitation to be continued.  Under the new guidelines, indoor visitation would be limited under the following circumstances:

 

• Indoor visitation for UNVACCINATED or NOT FULLY VACCINATED residents should be limited if the facility is in a region with a CALI score that is high or very high AND less than 70 percent (<70%) of the residents in the facility are fully vaccinated.
• Indoor visitation should be limited for residents with confirmed COVID-19 infection, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated until they have met the criteria to discontinue Transmission Based Precautions.
• Indoor visitation should be limited for residents under quarantine, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated, until they have met criteria for release from quarantine. This means that these residents will not be eligible for a visit until their 14 day quarantine has concluded.

 

When a new case of COVID-19 among residents or staff is identified, we have to immediately begin outbreak testing and suspend all visitation until at least ONE round of facility-wide testing is completed.  We will then be able to resume indoor visitation as long as there is evidence that the transmission of COVID-19 is contained to a single area of the facility.   So if the first round of outbreak testing reveals no additional COVID-19 cases in other areas, then indoor visitation can resume for residents in areas with no COVID-19 cases. However, we are required to suspend indoor visitation for the affected areas until the we meet the criteria to discontinue outbreak testing.  If any additional areas are affected, then we would have to continue to suspend all visitation for all residents until we meet the criteria to discontinue outbreak testing (no new cases identified for 14 days since last positive case).

 

For the safety of all of the residents and staff of Foothill Acres, we have to limit the number of visitors per resident, the total number of visitors in the building at any given time, and the movement of the visitors while in the building.  In order to ensure all residents are able to receive visitors on a weekly basis, visits are still limited to 2 visitors (ages 14 or older) per visit and one visit per week, per resident. Family members will need to coordinate with each other when scheduling visits.  Only one form of visitation may be scheduled per day so, on days that indoor visitation is scheduled, all other forms of visitation (including video calls) will be canceled.

 

Fully vaccinated residents can choose to have close contact (including touch) with a visitor as long as the person and resident are wearing a tight-fitting masks (i.e. Surgical mask).  We will be encouraging the use of hand sanitizer before and after all personal contact.  Please try to maintain social distancing and limit contact with any other residents and staff.  All other infection prevention protocols must be maintained during indoor visitation.

 

Indoor visits will be for 25 minutes and appointments can be scheduled throughcalendly.com/foothillacres . You will see an event labeled ‘Indoor Visits’ .  Please review The Foothill Acres Indoor Visitation Guidelines that are linked here for further instructions on how to check in the day of your appointment.  You can direct any questions to us by emailingfoothillacrescommunication@gmail.com. 

 

On another note, our COVID update includes no new positive cases this week!  We still have one staff member positive out on quarantine.  We have ZERO residents positive at this time. 

 

We are very excited to be able to welcome you all back inside Foothill Acres and look forward to seeing everyone soon!!

 

 

Mary Walaszek
Regional Activity Director


Foothill Acres Rehabilitation & Nursing Center
39 East Mountain Road
Hillsborough, NJ 08844
(908) 369-8711 extention 5203
maryw@foothillacres.com

Dear Foothill Friends & Families,   Unfortunately, our lab notified us today that a direct care staff member has tested positive. This staff member is someone who not only wears the appropriate PPE all the time, but consistently wears an N95 mask. All residents were negative during this round of testing. We will start testing all staff and residents again on Friday (4/2).    All scheduled 25 minute indoor visits will remain outside (weather permitting) until the next round of testing is complete with negative results. Please continue to schedule these visits by going to www.Calendly.com/foothillacres. It is labeled as “indoor visits” but we will automatically change the location, depending on the testing circumstances, without anyone having to re-book with us.     The weather forecast for tomorrow does not appear to be promising for outdoor visitation due to the extreme cold temperatures for this time of year. It is a very hard decision to make, but we feel it is best to cancel the scheduled visits for tomorrow. There is warmer weather forecast for the beginning of next week and without any rain, which should make visiting enjoyable. Mondays have morning and afternoon times available as it doesn’t interfere with the Activity programs. Please remember each resident can receive 1 visit a week with no more than 2 visitors per visit. We encourage families to coordinate with each other when scheduling to avoid conflicts.   Current numbers:   3 Staff Members positive 2 Staff Members recovered   0 Residents positive   Just a reminder, our weekly phone conference is held on Tuesday at 3:00 pm and all are invited. To join the call please dial 865-666-3900, enter conference room number 116, then enter 1234# for the password.    AS always, we will keep you updated with any further developments. The staff at Foothill Acres are available for any questions, comments, or concerns you may have. Please email safety@foothillacres.com. I also invite you to go to our website at www.foothillacres.com which is updated with the latest news.     We wish you all a safe and happy Easter weekend,   Mary Walaszek Regional Activity Director

Good Afternoon,

As the nation as a whole and New Jersey specifically march toward higher vaccination rates, the infection rates for us continue to fall. The good news is based on the latest CALI score, Somerset County achieved a green LOW designation. This is very encouraging news. The one caveat I must share is the Northeast region which was green last week unfortunately went yellow MODERATE this week. So, it is my hope that we in Somerset County keep the low designation. Of course, we will be keeping a sharp eye on this as it’s the best indicator of how we are doing.

We are anticipating to reopening the hair salon for the residents in the coming days. Please look out for a separate email which will discuss this issue in detail.

I must reiterate, we are currently still bound by the visitation rules currently in place. Please continue to use the links below to schedule your visits.

The link to schedule visitation is www.calendly.com/foothillacres

Here is the link to get the latest CALI score for the State of New Jersey. https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/statistics/covid/index.shtml

Here are our current numbers:

Active:

Residents: 0 positives

Staff: 0 positive

I’d like to remind everyone that we have a weekly conference call hosted by myself and other Foothill staff on Tuesdays from 3:00 to 3:30. To join the conference call please dial 865-666-3900, enter conference room number 116, then enter 1234# for the password.

AS always, we will keep you updated with any further developments. The staff at Foothill Acres are available for any questions, comments, or concerns you may have. Please email safety@foothillacres.com or call my cell at 973-525-4011. I also invite you to go to our website at www.foothillacres.com which is updated with the latest news.

Enjoy the rest of your day.

Respectfully,

Pinny Goldblatt, LNHA

Good Evening,

We are very happy to announce that our beauty salon, renamed The Salon at Foothill Acres, will be reopening starting Wednesday, July 7, 2021.  It has been a long time since some of the residents have had any type of salon services and we are certain they will be anxious to get a new hair style, but we are asking everyone to please be patient as we work our way through the facility and get to everyone.  In an effort to streamline this process, we have set up a convenient way for you request services by following this link to an online form.  This form is for setting up routine services, ex. Wash & Blow-Dry/Set/Style weekly, hair cut monthly and color every 6 weeks.  We have made easy to use pull down menus to select your choices and then how often you want that service completed.  There is also a selection if you do not wish to use the salon services.  This form will only have to be completed one time, after that, the services will be automatically done according to your selections.  If you ever need to change the frequency or want to request a different service, you can always submit a new request.  All requests must be in by noon on Friday for the following week to allow time for scheduling.

The Salon will also have an email address so you can communicate directly with the beautician and/or request services for special occasions when the resident may be going out to an event like a wedding.  The email is thesalonatfoohillacres@gmail.com.  Current plans are for the Salon to be open Wednesday-Friday.  The Salon and the staff at Foothill Acres will do everything possible to ensure your loved one is able to have an enjoyable experience while receiving their services.  However sometimes, due to physical limitations, it may be difficult to complete a wash and it may be safer and more pleasant for the resident, if their services coincide with a day their hair has been washed by the staff.  The Salon has been equipped with adaptive devices to assist with shampooing so the majority of the residents can enjoy the complete experience.

Please remember that all payments for salon services will be deducted directly from each resident’s Personal Needs Account (PNA) and funds must be in the account prior to any services.  If you have any questions regarding your resident’s account, you may reach out to Lori Kulik at boffice@foothillacres.com.  

Please take a minute to review the attached flyer for The Salon at Foothill Acres and I thank you in advance for your patience and understanding, as it may take a couple of weeks to get to every resident but we will be sure everyone has the opportunity to receive salon services if that is their wish. 

In other news…

Our region continues to have a CALI score in the low (green) level.  This is very good news, although there have been other regions that have returned to yellow, so we must all remain cautiously optimistic.  Here is the link to get the latest CALI score for the State of New Jersey. https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/statistics/covid/index.shtml.

There have been no new updates to the visitation guidelines for Long Term Care facilities from the State Department of Health.  We look forward to the day when we can return to unlimited visitation, however at this time, we are still bound by the current regulations.  The link to schedule visitation is www.calendly.com/foothillacres  and if you have any questions regarding visitation, please email foothillacrescommunication@gmail.com and they will be able to help you.

Here are our current numbers:

Active:

Residents: 0 positives

Staff: 0 positive

I’d like to remind everyone that we have a weekly conference call hosted by Pinny, our Administrator, and other Foothill staff on Tuesdays from 3:00 to 3:30. To join the conference call please dial 865-666-3900, enter conference room number 116, then enter 1234# for the password.

AS always, we will keep you updated with any further developments. The staff at Foothill Acres are available for any questions, comments, or concerns you may have. Please email safety@foothillacres.com or you may call Pinny’s cell at 973-525-4011. I also invite you to go to our website at www.foothillacres.com which is updated with the latest news.

I want to wish everyone a very safe and happy 4^th of July weekend!!

Mary Walaszek
Regional Activity Director

Foothill Acres Rehabilitation & Nursing Center
39 East Mountain Road
Hillsborough, NJ 08844
(908) 369-8711 extension 5203
maryw@foothillacres.com

Hello,

I am happy to report the Hair Salon has officially opened. We were able to get 10 residents seen and as you could imagine, they were thrilled. It was so nice to see the Salon humming again. Please see last weeks email regarding scheduling and pricing. The email address is thesalonatfoothillacres@gmail.com. It may take a few more sessions but we are committed to getting to every resident as quickly as possible,

You know what I’m gonna talk about next….. the CALI scores. We were on a bit of a streak, staying in the LOW green designation for a little over two weeks. But we went back up to YELLOW moderate yesterday. The experts are pointing to the highly contagious delta variant. New cases more then doubled in the last two days, and its being reported that although vaccinated folks are doing well, the not yet vaccinated are susceptible. This means we educated our staff on being aware of where they travel to and whom they hang out with.

Here is the link for the CALI score:

https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/statistics/covid/index.shtml

Speaking of vaccines, I was looking at our long-term care numbers and would like to share the following data:

If you look at the three long term units Magnolia, Maple, and Cedar, a whopping 98% of our residents (100 of 103) are fully vaccinated.

Additionally, we are now up to 85% our staff being fully vaccinated.

Visitation is still restricted, and we are still using the systems we have in place. Please continue to use the link below to schedule your visits.

www.calendly.com/foothillacres

Our current numbers:

Active: 0

Residents:0

Staff:0

I apologize to everyone who called in to the weekly call this past week. There was a communication error on my part where I thought I asked someone to cover for me, but they misunderstood. I do plan on making the call this coming week.

PLEASE NOTE SCHEDULE CHANGE FOR THIS COMING WEEK ONLY. THE CONFERENCE CALL WILL BE ON WEDNESDAY INSTEAD OF TUESDAY.

To join the conference call, please dial 865-666-3900, enter conference room number 116, then enter 1234# for the password.

To reach me for any reason, please call my cell at 973-525-4011

Enjoy the weekend.

Respectfully,

Pinny Goldblatt, LNHA

Good morning,
 
Unfortunately, we have to suspend all visitation until at least Tuesday due to a positive test by a staff member.  All forms of visitation are affected including compassionate care, essential care, indoor visits, outdoor visits, DDD visitation, and even out on pass visits.  All communal dining and group activities have been suspended as well.  The Activity Programs will return to virtual activities through the tv system so all residents can still participate, and all meals will be served in the resident rooms.  The Salon will also have to be closed this week until testing is completed.  Anyone scheduled for this week will be carried over until
next week.
 
We have started outbreak testing and must have at least one round of negative testing completed for all staff and residents before we can resume any type of visitation.  We will keep you informed of any further developments via Constant Contact emails.  I will also send out any other information regarding visitation as needed. 
 
Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions and thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we try to get through the outbreak testing as quickly as possible.
 
Take Care,
Mary Walaszek
Regional Activity Director

Good morning,

As a follow up to the email sent yesterday, we unfortunately had a 2nd staff member test positive via a rapid test. As per protocol we also did a PCR test and will notify the families of the results which we hope to get tomorrow. That said, we are in full outbreak which means we will now need to have complete 2 rounds of outbreak testing to resume visitation which should be early next week.
Our current numbers:

Active: 2
Residents:0
Staff:2

In light of the current situation, I will be hosting a conference call today at 3:00 PM
To join the conference call, please dial 865-666-3900, enter conference room number 116, then enter 1234# for the password.

To reach me for any reason, please call my cell at 973-525-4011

Respectfully,
Pinny Goldblatt, LNHA

Good morning,

Test results returned to us early this morning and confirmed a rapid test done on a resident in Sub acute is positive with COVID. This resident has been in isolation for the last 36 hours since the rapid was done as part of our outbreak testing, All precautions are being made to keep this incident to one person. Outbreak testing continues as all residents will be tested again in the next two days. We will keep everyone updated on when we will be resuming visitation.

If anyone has any questions, you can reach us via email at safety@foothillacres.com. Additionally, I am available on my cell phone at 973-525-4011.

Stay safe
Pinny Goldblatt, LNHA
Administrator
Foothill Acres Rehab and Nursing

Good Afternoon,

We are happy to report that we have tested all the staff and residents with all negative results.  Visitation will resume starting Thursday for everyone except those who currently are on Orchards.  Unfortunately, visitation cannot resume for Orchards residents until next Thursday, 8/12/21, due to the mandatory 14 day observation period.  You are able to continue virtual visitation via Facetime, Skype, Google Meet or Google Duo by emailing foothillacrescommunication@gmail.com .  Group activities, communal dining in the dining room and The Salon will also resume starting tomorrow. 

Please go to  www.calendly.com/foothillacres to schedule your visits (we have turned it back on).  With the increase of COVID cases in the community and the highly contagious nature of the delta variant, we are imploring all visitors to please follow all of the visitation protocols and do not visit if you are not feeling well. 

We of course will keep you updated if there are any other developments.  If you have any questions, please email safety@foothillacres.com

Our current numbers:

Active: 1

Residents:1

Staff:0

Just a reminder that we do a weekly conference call on Tuesdays at 3 pm.

To join the conference call, please dial 865-666-3900, enter conference room number 116, then enter 1234# for the password.

Our Administrator, Pinny, is also available for any reason, please call his cell at 973-525-4011

Mary Walaszek
Regional Activity Director

Administrato

Good Afternoon,

As the weather gets cooler, everyone starts planning for the holiday season.  We understand spending time with family is a very important part of this time of year so we felt this would be a good time to review visitation guidelines.  At this time, there has been no changes to the directives from the New Jersey Department of Health regarding visitation nor have we received any updates for visiting during the holiday season. 

No changes will limit our ability to invite family and friends to join in our holiday celebrations within the facility, but it won’t limit our celebrating!!  We continue to have our dining rooms open and group activities daily. This week, we even had our first group cooking activity since before COVID!!  The residents had fun making pumpkin bars, but I think they had more fun eating them!! 

Some of our upcoming celebrations include a Halloween Party with costume contest, Thanksgiving dinner and Turkey Tailgate Party (eating deserts and enjoying football), Christmas Party, and a New Years Eve Party with confetti and bubbly!  If there is no change to the NJDOH visitation guidelines, we will host our 2^nd Annual Holiday Shout-Out shows for Thanksgiving and Christmas, where family and friends can send us short video holiday greetings, music dedication, or even a short written note and photo for your loved one.  Our technology staff will put it all together and broadcast it to the entire facility via our private YouTube channel.  We will send out the link when it gets closer for everyone to tune in and join us!  You can start sending your greetings and shout outs to foothillacrescommunication@gmail.com.

Visitation:

Indoor and Outdoor social visits can be scheduled by going to www.calendly.com/foothillacres.  Keep in mind that as the weather gets colder, outdoor visits will be moved inside.  Please note that visitation may be limited on some days around the holidays due to the resident events taking place inside the facility. The key things to remember about these visits are:

• Must be scheduled in advance no later than 4pm the previous day.
• Visitors must be screened upon arrival prior to visiting with resident.
• No food or beverages are allowed during the visit, however you can bring items but must leave with the staff during check in.
• Each resident can have 2 visits a week, however if you check the website in the afternoon the day before and we still have open appointments, you are welcome to come more often.  Please understand if we have someone not able to schedule and we see a resident has had multiple visits during the week, we may ask to reschedule the appointment to allow another resident their visit.  (I really hope we have this problem because it means lots of residents are getting visitors!)
• Visits are 25 minutes in length and up to 2 visitors, ages 2 and up
• Residents not fully vaccinated must follow strict social distancing practices with visitors.
• Masks must be worn at all times inside unless both resident and visitors are fully vaccinated AND there are no other visitors or residents in the same room.

Video Calling is a great way to stay connected!  We can do Facetime, Skype, Google Meet, and Google Duo.  These calls are done in-between group activities and meals so times may be limited.  Not sure how to do a video call, we can help!!  To schedule or get assistance email us at foothillacrescommunication@gmail.com .  The key things to remember about these visits are:

• To allow time to schedule, please request video calls no later than 4:00 pm the previous day.
• Video calls are 10 minutes in length.
• Please include the following information when scheduling:  Resident Name, Type of device or platform you will be using ex, Facetime, Skype etc., Phone number of email address to contact you, Date and time you were hoping to receive call.
• Calls are done 10am-7pm, and are not scheduled during group activities or meals.  Availability may also depend on staffing for the day.

Out On Pass Visitation is available so a resident can go out of the facility (off facility property) with family or friends for special occasions and family gatherings and functions.  There is an online form that must be completed to request an Out on Pass visit by clicking on this link,  https://form.123formbuilder.com/5723781/form. The key things to remember about these visits are:

• Out on Pass visits must be requested at least 72 hours (3 days) in advance so medications can be reviewed and ordered from the pharmacy if needed.
• A request form must be done each time a resident goes Out on Pass.
• Residents who are not fully vaccinated may be required to complete a quarantine period when they return, depending on the Local CALI score at the time and/or the infection prevention practices observed when out of the facility.
• Residents are encouraged to follow safe practices including masks, hand hygiene, and social distancing when Out on Pass in the community and in large gatherings.
• Holiday Out on Pass requests may require additional time due to the large demand on the pharmacy, so please get them in early!  We will send out the dates from the pharmacy as soon as we get them.

Other Facility Information:

• We had our first Pfizer vaccine booster clinic with an excellent turnout.  We will continue to offer boosters to the residents and staff as they become eligible for the injection.  We are monitoring the information regarding boosters for J&J and Moderna and will forward any information we receive about availability as soon as we get it from our pharmacy.
• We currently have no positive COVID cases at Foothill Acres.
• Keep up on what’s new at Foothills by joining our weekly conference call on Tuesdays from 3:00-3:30 pm, hosted by our Administrator or other Foothill Staff.  To join, dial 865-666-3900, enter room number 116, then enter 1234# for the password.

I know we were all hoping to be back to our pre-COVID holiday events this year.  Although we are not there yet, I am grateful that it is better than last year!  We are slowly seeing things get a bit better and maybe by the time the ball drops, we will all be able to greet each other in the hallways instead of at the front door!  We also want to thank all of you for your care and cooperation in protecting all who live and work at Foothill Acres when you visit.  We couldn’t do it without you!!

As always, our Administrator, Pinny, is available for any reason by calling his cell at 973-525-4011.

Take Care,

Mary Walaszek
Regional Activity Director

Friends & Family,

We are very excited to report that we have welcomed several new employees to the Foothill Staff!!  What a pleasure it has been to see all of the new faces around the building and getting to know them as they learn their way.  We have an extensive orientation and training program for all new hires that includes a full day of mandatory inservices and learning about each department at Foothill Acres.  Our staff orientation day is scheduled for Tuesday, November 23^rd.   Unfortunately, the only place to conduct this type of training while observing safe infection prevention practices is the Oak Room, which will conflict with indoor visitation.  We have closed visitation for that day, however we recognize that family and friends may want to visit during the week of Thanksgiving, so we have added afternoon hours for Wednesday, November 24^th from 1:30-4:00 pm.  Please use the Calendly link below to schedule.

With the arrival of the colder weather, we are also ending outdoor visitation until the spring.  Anyone who is already on our schedule for an outdoor visit will automatically get moved to indoors at the same time.  You will receive a confirmation email from Calendly to confirm your new appointment.  Anyone who would prefer not to visit in the facility, may use the cancel button at the bottom of your confirmation email to cancel your appointment.  We understand not everyone is comfortable visiting inside the facility but it is just not ideal for the residents to be outside.  We do offer virtual visitation via video calls.  Please emailfoothillacrescommunication@gmail.com to schedule.

This year we are so happy to be able to celebrate the holidays with a little sense of normalcy inside the facility.  We will be having special activities scheduled on the actual day of each holiday including a visit from Santa and a party on Christmas Eve and a huge party on New Years Eve.  We have modified the visitation calendar for these days to allow the staff to focus on providing these celebrations for the residents.  We have added additional hours on the Wednesday of each holiday week to ensure that any resident who wishes to visit with their family, can be accommodated.  The dates are all listed below.

Closed Dates                                                                                                   Additional Dates (1:30-4:00 pm)

Tuesday, Nov. 23 – Staff Orientation Day                                                                   Wednesday, Nov. 24

Thursday, Nov. 25 – Thanksgiving Day

Friday, Dec. 24 – Christmas Eve                                                                                 Wednesday, Dec. 22

Friday, Dec. 31 – New Years Eve                                                                                Wednesday, Dec. 29

Please schedule all indoor social visitation using the following link:  www.calendly.com/foothillacres

Friendly Reminders

• Be a part of our holiday celebrations by sending us your holiday greetings via short video, music dedication, or even a short written note and photo for your loved one.  We will add it to our 2^nd Annual Holiday Shout-Out shows for Thanksgiving and Christmas!.  We will send out the link to our private YouTube Channel when it gets closer for everyone to tune in and join us!  Start sending your greetings and shout outs to foothillacrescommunication@gmail.com.

• Holiday Out on Pass requests require additional time due to the large demand on the pharmacy, so please get them in early!  Out on Pass requests can be made by clicking on this link https://form.123formbuilder.com/5723781/form.  All Thanksgiving requests must be made by noon on Monday, November 22^nd and all Christmas Eve and Christmas Day requests must be made by noon on Monday, December 20^th. 

• Foothill Acres remains COVID free at this time.

• Keep up on what’s new at Foothills by joining our weekly conference call on Tuesdays from 3:00-3:30 pm, hosted by our Administrator or other Foothill Staff.  To join, dial 865-666-3900, enter room number 116, then enter 1234# for the password.

As always, our Administrator, Pinny, is available for any reason by calling his cell at 973-525-4011.

Take Care,

Mary Walaszek
Regional Activity Director



Foothill Acres Rehabilitation & Nursing Center
39 East Mountain Road
Hillsborough, NJ 08844
(908) 369-8711 extension 5203
maryw@foothillacres.com

Good Afternoon Friends and Family,

It is with much happiness and excitement that we announce we have received new guidance from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and we are now able to have Open Visitation!!!  Visitation is not completely back to pre-COVID standards, but a lot of the restrictions have been lifted.  Appointments will no longer be necessary and you will be able to “just stop by for a minute” if you are in the area!!   Please remember that COVID is still out there in the community and we ask for your assistance in protecting the residents and your loved ones by continuing to follow the Core Principles of COVID-19 Infection Prevention.  The following are those Core Principles:

Core Principles of COVID-19 Infection Prevention

• Anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19, has symptoms of COVID-19, or currently meets the criteria for quarantine, should not visit or enter the facility.  
• All visitors will be screened prior to their visit by using our Kiosk in the front lobby.  Anyone who does not pass the screen will not be allowed in the facility.
• Visitors should follow good hand hygiene (hand sanitizer is available throughout the facility) and try to limit any surfaces they touch.
• Facemask (covering mouth and nose) must be worn while in the facility and social distancing (6 feet or more) must be maintained when around other residents or healthcare personnel, regardless of vaccination status.
• Visitors who are unable to adhere to these principles could have their visitation suspended or be asked to leave.

The New Guidance:

• All visitation should be conducted in a manner that adheres to the Core Principles and does not increase the risk to other residents. 
• All residents have the right to choose who and when they wish to visit and may, on occasion, deny or withdraw consent for a visit at any time.
• Outdoor visitation is preferred when the resident and/or visitor are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19, weather permitting.
• During indoor visitation, visitors are asked to limit their movement within the facility.  Please do not walk around the hallways or go to different offices.  Rather, go directly to the resident’s room or designated visitation area (if arranged in advance). 
• If a resident’s roommate is unvaccinated or immunocompromised (regardless of vaccination status), visits should not be conducted in the resident’s room, if possible.
• If Somerset County COVID-19 community level of transmission is substantial to high, all residents and visitors, regardless of vaccination status, should wear masks and physically distance, at all times. If level is low to moderate transmission, the safest practice is for residents and visitors to wear masks and physically distance themselves, particularly if either of them is at increased risk for severe disease or are unvaccinated.
• If the resident and all their visitor(s) are fully vaccinated and the resident is not moderately or severely immunocompromised, they may choose not to wear face coverings or masks and to have physical contact.
• Visitors should wear face coverings or masks when around other residents or healthcare personnel, regardless of vaccination status.
• While not recommended, residents who are on transmission-based precautions (TBP) or quarantine can still receive visitors. In these cases, visits should occur in the resident’s room and the resident should wear a well-fitting facemask (if tolerated). Before visiting residents, who are on TBP or quarantine, visitors should be made aware of the potential risk of visiting and precautions necessary in order to visit the resident. Visitors also may be required to wear additional PPE.

Indoor Visitation During Outbreak:

An outbreak investigation is initiated when a new onset of COVID-19 occurs (i.e., a new COVID-19 case among residents or staff). When a new case of COVID-19 among residents or staff is identified, Foothill Acres will immediately begin outbreak testing in accordance with CMS QSO 20-38-NH REVISED and CDC guidelines. While it is safer for visitors not to enter the facility during an outbreak investigation, visitors can still be allowed in the facility.

• Visitors will be made aware of the potential risk of visiting during an outbreak investigation and to adhere to the core principles of infection prevention.
• If residents or their representative would like to have a visit during an outbreak investigation, they should wear masks during visits, regardless of vaccination status, and visits should ideally occur in the resident’s room.

Visitor Testing & Vaccination:

• While not required, we encourage visitors to be tested prior to visitation

• CMS as well as Foothill Acres strongly encourages all visitors to become vaccinated
• Foothill Acres may ask about visitor’s vaccination status; however, visitors are not required to be tested or vaccinated (or show proof of such) as a condition of visitation.
• If the visitor declines to disclose their vaccination status, the visitor should wear a mask at all times during the visit.

Our New Visitation Procedures:

Our standard visiting hours are 8 am to 8 pm.  We ask that you come to the front door and use the Kiosk to be screened.  It will print a visitor badge that must be worn while in the facility.  If you are vaccinated, please be ready to show your card to the front desk staff or, to expedite your check-in process, you can email a copy tofoothillacrescommunication@gmail.com.  In an effort to protect your loved one and the other residents, we do recommend unvaccinated visitors to receive a rapid test prior to your visit.  We have them available at the front desk.  They are quick and FREE!  Any visitor who is unvaccinated or prefers not to share their status, SHOULD wear their mask at all times while visiting.  Vaccinated visitors and vaccinated residents may remove their masks if they choose, while in their visitation area.  However, masks are required when in the common areas of the facility.  Unvaccinated residents (or their responsible party) may choose to have close contact with their visitors but assume the risks of possible exposure to COVID.

Once you have completed check-in, please proceed directly to your loved one’s room or other visitation area (if directed for infection prevention reasons).  There is no longer any time constraints or limits on the number of people visiting.  However, if you are coming with 4 or more people, you may be more comfortable visiting in an alternate location that can be reserved by emailing us in advance.  These areas are limited and available on a first come, first serve basis.  Visitors are not permitted in group activities or communal dining areas.  If you arrive at your loved one’s room and they are not there, please go to the nurses station and they will locate your resident and bring them to their room.  We have listed the main activity times and meal times below for reference.

When your visit is complete, please remember to wear your mask when leaving the room and go directly to the Kiosk in the lobby to check out.  A visitor restroom is available on the main floor, please see the receptionist for the key.

Out on Pass Visitation:

• Residents who choose to leave the facility for outings with friends or family are strongly encouraged to follow all recommended infection prevention practices including wearing a face mask, physical distancing, and hand hygiene and to encourage those around them to do the same. 
• Residents who go out on pass, will be screened upon return for signs or symptoms of COVID-19.  Unvaccinated residents are also eligible to leave the facility, however, depending on the COVID level of the community, may require testing or even quarantine upon return.
• Out on Pass requests must be made at least 72 hours in advance by clicking the following link. https://form.123formbuilder.com/5723781/form. 

Other Information:

• Prime Activity Times are 10:30–11:30 am,  2:30–4:00 pm, and 6:30–7:30 pm
• Penthouse (upstairs) Dining Room times:  12:00–1:15pm and 5:00–6:15 pm
• Calendly will be deactivated and the Essential Caregiver Program will be discontinued.
• Foothill Acres remains COVID free at this time.
• Keep up on what’s new at Foothills by joining our weekly conference call on Tuesdays from 3:00-3:30 pm, hosted by our Administrator or other Foothill Staff.  To join, dial 865-666-3900, enter room number 116, then enter 1234# for the password.

We know this will be an emotional time for everyone….us too!!   Unfortunately, the new guidance does not allow us to have large gatherings of visitors but it is a step in the right direction!!  We expect a few bumps in the road and ask everyone to be patient as we figure out this new aspect of visitation.  We understand some of you have never seen the inside of the facility beyond the lobby and the Oak Room, so please don’t hesitate to stop someone and ask for directions if you need it!  We look forward to welcoming you back into the facility in the next days and weeks!

As always, our Administrator, Pinny, is available for any reason by calling his cell at 973-525-4011.

Mary Walaszek
Regional Activity Director

Good afternoon, 

Opening our doors and welcoming our families back home has brought tremendous joy to our hearts this week at Foothill Acres. Seeing loved ones reunite with our residents has been nothing short of amazing. However, we must continue to be vigilant as this pandemic is not yet over, and the safety of our residents is our number one priority. With that said, please remember that when you are here visiting your loved one, visitors are asked to limit their movement within the facility. Please do not walk around the hallways or go to different offices. Rather, go directly to the resident’s room or designated visitation area. We appreciate your cooperation in maintaining a safe environment. 

Here is the link to get the latest CALI score for the State of New Jersey. https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/statistics/covid/index.shtml

Here are our current numbers: Active: 

Residents: 0 positives

Staff: 0 positive 

I’d like to remind everyone that we have a weekly conference call hosted by myself and other Foothill staff on Tuesdays at 3:00 PM. To join the conference call please dial 865-666-3900, enter conference room number 116, then enter 1234# for the password. 

AS always, we will keep you updated with any further developments. The staff at Foothill Acres are available for any questions, comments, or concerns you may have. Please email safety@foothillacres.com or call my cell at 973-525-4011. 

I also invite you to go to our website at www.foothillacres.com which is updated with the latest news. 

I wish you all a safe, happy, and healthy Thanksgiving. 

Respectfully, 

Pinny Goldblatt,

LNHA Administrator

Good morning,

Late last night one of our short-term residents on the Sub Acute unit tested positive for COVID. This required us to test the whole Sub Acute unit which revealed another 4 residents testing positive. Residents who tested positive were moved into the COVID wing and are isolated from the rest of the facility. Additionally, we did PCR testing on all those residents that tested positive and are awaiting results of the PCR tests. We are currently in the process of testing the rest of the residents in the facility. Thankfully, the entire Magnolia Unit was completed with no one testing positive. As per the new guidelines, this will not stop visitation, but we implore you to stay home if you aren’t feeling well. Additionally, if you do decide to visit, we remind you that after checking in at the kiosk you must go directly to the unit you are visiting and when you are done to check out at the kiosk and exit the facility. No one should be walking thru the facility on a unit where you don’t have a loved one. 

Our current numbers:

Orchard Sub Acute = 5 positive residents

Magnolia= 0 residents

Maple=0 pending

Cedar=pending

We expect to complete testing of the Maple and Cedar units in a few hours and I will send a follow up email once I have the information. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to call me on my cell at 973-525-4011

Respectfully,

Pinny Goldblatt, LNHA

Administrator

Foothill Acres Rehab and Nursing Center

Good Evening, 

As a followup to the earlier email, I’m happy to report that both Maple and Cedar tested negative for COVID. As things stand right now, we are holding at 5 cases in Sub Acute. 

As things change in the coming days I will update the families accordingly. 

As a reminder, I host a conference call for families every Tuesday at 3:00 PM. To join the conference call please dial 865-666-3900, enter conference room number 116, then enter 1234# for the password

Respectfully, 

Pinny Goldblatt, LNHA

Good afternoon,

As we continue to work our way out of the current outbreak, I would like to share the latest developments with you.

All residents in the facility were tested again today with no new positive cases, which is really encouraging news.

One staff member (Nurse) who was working with the COVID residents on Saturday night tested positive. This staff member has not worked in the facility since she completed her shift late Saturday night.

Our current numbers are:

Orchard Sub Acute = 2 positive residents, with 2 in the hospital, and one resident who was on Hospice expired.

Magnolia= 0 residents

Maple=0 residents

Cedar=0 residents

Staff= 1 positive.

Contact tracing was done and we successfully identified the source of the outbreak, which was from a family member who visited the facility several times in the days prior to the outbreak. The one really important lesson learned from this outbreak is while visitation is now permitted, I implore everyone to think twice before visiting the facility if you are not feeling well. Its easy to ignore symptoms and justify visiting but in today’s world I strongly feel the safety of the residents and staff should come before any individuals desire to visit. Additionally, we will be aggressively enforcing visitation rules on wearing appropriate PPE while on the facility grounds. If you are unsure as to what your personal responsibility is while visiting, please do not hesitate to reach out to us and we will be more than happy to answer all questions. There will be no exceptions to violations. We are hopeful this outbreak will be contained to the current case count.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call me on my cell 973-525-4011

Respectfully,

Pinny Goldblatt, LNHA

Administrator

Hello All, 

As you know, Foothill is currently experiencing a COVID outbreak. We unfortunately have an additional two sub acute residents who tested positive for COVID. That brings our current in house number at 4, with one resident who transferred to the hospital. Additionally, we will be testing the entire facility again tomorrow. I will update everyone with the results when I have them. 

Respectfully, 

Pinny Goldblatt, LNHA

Administrator