Dear Family and Friends,
We continue to test staff weekly. Results from testing this week is shown below. We are following recommendations from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
- Little Falls Care Center – all negative results
- Bridgeway Estates – all negative results
We plan to open for indoor visits on 2/1/21 utilizing our visitation areas. For the safety of our residents and staff we ask that any visitors have a negative COVID test prior to their first visit and at least monthly thereafter. Visitors should bring their negative results to their first visit. Care center visits can be scheduled on Facebook or by contacting Activities Director- Molly Vannurden at 320.632.2069 or by email at mvannurden@lfhs.sfhs.org. Visits at Bridgeway Estates can be scheduled by contacting Sam Tousley, LPN at 320.632.2062 or Krista Bauch, Housing Director at 320.632.2089. Residents and tenants may not participate in indoor visits if they are on transmission-based precautions (quarantine).
MDH Community COVID-19 Testing Sites can be found here:
Visits at BWE will take place between 9a and 4p M-F. Visits at the care center will take place between 830a and 6pm with hours varying each day based on staff availability. Schedules are subject to change.
This week, MDH health officials contacted a computerized random selection of Minnesotans aged 65 and up, who signed up to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Unfortunately, with only 11,700 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to give away, many on this list will not receive the vaccine this week. If you were not contacted on Wednesday, your name will remain on the list for the next round of vaccine distributions. For staff and residents at our care center our next vaccination date is 2/2/21.
Valentine’s Day is fast approaching and like previous holidays throughout the COVID Pandemic, must be celebrated cautiously. MDH and CDC have not changed guidance regarding residents leaving our care centers during the pandemic and do require residents to quarantine upon return. With any holiday this year, we have seen an increase of visits requested. Please remember to plan ahead and schedule your virtual visit or, if available, indoor visits, with Molly Vannurden, Activities Director (320.632.2063) as soon as possible.
Looking for ways to help? We have a variety of positions available with flexible scheduling and on the job training. For more information or to apply, visit www.jobswithus.org. Thank you again for being partners with us in fighting the COVID-19 virus. Please follow our Facebook page (@Little Falls Health Services) for all COVID updates and information on what is happening inside our care center. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to Madelyn Blaha, Administrator, at 320-632-2061 or by email at mblaha@lfhs.sfhs.org