Important Updates on COVID-19 and Resident Health
Golden West, The Towers
Oct 11, 2021
Colorado - Boulder County
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We continue surveillance testing of all employees and Mezz residents since we had positive test results back on September 16, with all coming back negative, so there does not appear to have been any spread from those cases! We will test all employees and Mezz residents again this week and if the results are negative, we will be officially out of outbreak status and can stop testing everyone. We will continue to test any employees that are not yet fully vaccinated (two weeks after final dose) with rapid tests each shift and weekly PCR lab testing.
Vaccines
On August 30, the Colorado Board of Health approved emergency regulations requiring all healthcare facilities have 100% of employees be fully vaccinated by October 31, 2021.Assisted living falls under these regulations and therefore Golden West must comply with the regulations. Golden West has finalized our policy and procedures to be in compliance with the new regulations and all employees have gotten at least the first dose or been approved for an exemption based on medical or religious reasons. Any staff granted exemptions from the vaccination requirement will have to follow strict infection control procedures to minimize any risk to residents or co-workers. The infection control procedures will include daily COVID rapid tests, and at minimum, weekly COVID PCR tests, masking and distancing requirements.
Boosters
The FDA and CDC approved boosters for individuals 65 and older or those with compromised immune systems.We have scheduled the on-site vaccination clinic with Good Day Pharmacy for October 25! Good Day is the pharmacy that serves our assisted living. They will be able to administer flu vaccines as well. We will distribute more information as we finalize the plans.
Golden Wests continues to follow the CDPHE guidance for infection control in long term care communities which is as follows:
All Golden West staff and visitors must continue to be screened before entering the buildings and everyone must wear a face covering that covers the nose and mouth.
Screening is at Door #4, West Entrance.
Staff and visitors must be screened for symptoms and fever.
Anyone with symptoms of COVID-19 or a temperature of 100 or higher will be denied entry.
All staff and visitors must wear a facial covering.
Visits
Residents may only have two visitors at any one time.
Visits should take place outside when possible.
Visits to Towers residents should be in the residents apartment and not in indoor public areas.
Mezzanine visitors
Unvaccinated visitors must schedule an appointment and may not participate in activities.
Vaccinated visitors do not need an appointment and may participate in activities if documentation of vaccination status is provided.
Everyone should follow these basic infection control procedures:
Hand Hygiene
Use hand sanitizer that is available in public areas.
Wash hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water.
Disinfecting Frequently Touched Surfaces
Residents should continue to clean and disinfect hard surfaces in their apartments.
Golden West will continue to clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces in the public areas on a daily basis.
Illness
Residents that do not feel well should stay in their apartments. Please contact your physician and notify Golden West if you suspect you may have COVID-19.
Golden West staff are required to stay home from work if they are not feeling well, regardless of vaccination status.
Visitors that are not feeling well should stay home.
Residents directly exposed to someone with COVID-19 will need to quarantine, regardless of vaccination status.
Golden West staff with a direct, unprotected exposure to COVID-19 will need to quarantine, regardless of vaccination status.
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About Dignity Care
Dignity Care is a homegrown business in Boulder.In the 1990s, Mary Kirk, a registered dietitian, began caregiving for family and relatives. Her husband, Ged, offered a companion travel service for the elderly and disabled. Together they established Dignity Care, LLC in 1997 as a home care business with just two caregivers and a home office.As demand for home care service increased, Mary recruited additional caregivers, but always with an emphasis on the compassionate, respectful, personalized care that was Dignity Cares trademark. Mary created her own approach to senior home care, unique in this area.With this dedication and passion to provide the best caregivers in the Boulder County region, Dignity Care has continued to grow and in 2009 became licensed as a Class A home care provider. We specialize in using Certified Nursing Assistants on our teams so we can bring you the skill and experience you deserve, if you have any questions, please call us at 303-444-4040.
In Home Care Helps Seniors with Depression
Too many seniors grapple with isolation and depression, but these are not a normal part of growing older. They are treatable medical illnesses, much like heart disease or diabetes. Depression is a serious illness affecting approximately 15 out of every 100 adults over age 65 in the United States.Seniors experiencing feelings of depression and isolation have a higher risk of hospital admissions, as well as a higher risk for being scammed. Not to mention it makes for a miserable life.So, what can you do? Helping seniors stay healthy means more than ensuring they get good physical care. Individuals living alone miss out on the stimulation of interactions with others on a regular basis. Our caregivers serve that dual purpose of providing physical care and social connection. We enjoy our clients, building a relationship with them, and sharing the highs and lows of their days. Caregivers can laugh with their clients and be an empathetic ear. We make sure our clients are getting out of the house and attending events and activities that interest them.Hiring a caregiver to help out, even for a couple of hours each week, brings conversation and spark along with the physical help. Caregivers are a good antidote for depression. If you have any questions, please call us at 303-444-4040.
Why Is Staying Hydrated So Difficult for Seniors?
Hot summer days are a good time for everyone to think about staying hydrated. For older adults the topic of hydration is a year-round discussion that never goes away. Its a serious issue for most seniors but doesnt get resolved because it needs to be addressed every day and cant be solved with a pill.Seniors have a very high risk for dehydration, which is one of the most frequent causes of hospitalization after the age of 65. They have a greater risk of dehydration for many reasons, including the fact that as we age, our kidneys become less efficient at conserving fluids, our sense of thirst weakens, and we are less able to adjust to changes in temperature. Some medications like diuretics, sedatives, and laxatives can also cause increased fluid loss.Dehydration can cause temporary symptoms that mimic symptoms of Alzheimers. If dementia-like symptoms seem to appear suddenly, it could be dehydration which is easily curable.Symptoms of dehydration range from minor to severe and include persistent fatigue, muscle weakness, headaches, dizziness, nausea, forgetfulness, confusion, lethargy, increased heart rate, sunken eyes, dry mouth, dark colored urine. Urine should be clear to pale yellow. I tell my clients that if their urine is darker than pale yellow, they should head straight to the kitchen from the bathroom and drink a full glass of water. Keeping a glass of water beside you all day to sip on rarely results in someone drinking enough fluids. Its more effective to drink the entire glass, even if its a small glass. Seniors cant rely on their sense of thirst to tell them when to drink water. Scheduling a glass at each meal and/or after a bathroom visit, making sure to drink the full glass, is the best way to make sure youve gotten your full daily amount.If you have any questions, please call us at 303-444-4040.
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