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Assistance to the Elderly and Residential Plaza at Blue Lagoon are following federal, state, and local guidelines for preventing the spread of infection and for responding to confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19 in our community. The safety, health, and well-being of our residents and team members remain our highest priority. We will continue to be alert and proactive in navigating this challenging situation.
We are educating our residents and staff on COVID-19 following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for Prevention & Treatment.
The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus.
The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person.
- Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
- Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks.
- These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.
- Some recent studies have suggested that COVID-19 may be spread by people who are not showing symptoms. 1
The CDC always recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
- Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a facemask.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
1 https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html
Frequently Asked Questions
As of April 13, 2022
To learn more about general and specific information, we recommend a couple of helpful websites:
Information
How can we find more information about COVID-19 developments at Residential Plaza?
- Check your email (including the spam folder, just in case) to read our updates.
- Contact your assigned case manager for specific updates or urgent questions you may have about your loved one.
Whom do I contact about questions or concerns?
Email us at info@residentialplaza.com using “COVID-19” in the subject line. Please, note that responses may take up to one or two days.
What is the best way to contact my assigned Case Manager?
- Email is the best way to reach your assigned Case Manager.
- To find your assigned Case Manager’s email address, visit our website at www.residentialplaza.com/en/staff (English) or www.residentialplaza.com/personal (Español), and scroll down to Resident Social Services Department.
– To determine the Case Manager who has been assigned to your loved one, email us at info@residentialplaza.com - We understand we live in an uncertain situation and that you would like to talk to someone. We are trying our best to offer timely communication, but remember, our main priority is resident care.
- During this period of high call or email volume, we could use your help with keeping your other family members informed about your loved one. If one of your family members is your loved one’s primary contact, please check with them first in case they may be able to answer your question.
What about the updates—how often they are, who gets them, and what to do if they are not received.
The updates are going out as needed by email to the primary contact, we have on file for your loved one. If you are not the resident’s primary contact, please check with the resident’s primary contact. They may be able to share the information we provide. If, as a primary contact, you are not receiving the weekly updates, we suggest first checking your spam settings just in case, then emailing your loved one’s assigned case manager so they can update your contact information if needed. And if you need us to re-send you the latest update, please send your request to info@residentialplaza.com.
Visitation
What are the guidelines to visit my loved one?
Please review the Visitation Guidelines here
Prevention – General
How is Residential Plaza at Blue Lagoon managing the Coronavirus’ challenges?
We are closely monitoring developments of the COVID-19 outbreak and adopting current guidelines for residents, employees, and medical providers to licensed assisted living facilities from multiple sources. These include but are not limited to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), as well as state and local authorities, such as licensing and public health agencies.
How Is my loved one being monitored to address the possibility that Coronavirus has infected s/him?
Staff is trained to observe and report Coronavirus signs and symptoms for follow-up by nursing staff.
Are facemasks required?
The use of a facemask is recommended but optional for residents and staff.
Prevention – Employees
Is the staff wearing Personal Protective Equipment?
The use of facemasks is recommended but optional for residents and staff. Staff will use their professional judgment and training to inform your decision on using masks while providing direct care.
Do you have enough supplies of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for all staff?
After reviewing our inventory and needs for the next several weeks, we are pleased to report that we are well stocked for personal protective equipment, such as facemasks, face shields, N95 respirators, gloves, and gowns, as well as cleaning/sanitation supplies.
Do employees taking care of resident’s positive for COVID-19 are also taking care of the negative residents?
Guidelines for caring for individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 require specialized training in such areas as the use and disposal of specified Personal Protective Equipment and supplies; cleaning and disinfection of used equipment; and other infection control procedures designed to minimize the spread of infection from resident to resident and resident to staff. These guidelines and other isolation procedures are specifically designed to enable trained staff to safely care for residents regardless of their COVID-19 test status.
Prevention – Public Areas
How are building common areas (e.g., reception, lobby, front of the elevator, offices, activity rooms, etc.) maintained to prevent Coronavirus exposure?
Staff disinfects all contact surfaces (e.g., handrails, reception, doors, furniture, desks, etc.) multiple times a day, following CDC guidelines for cleaning and disinfection of high-touch surfaces. In addition, all common areas are provided with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Resident Engagement and Needs
Is Wi-Fi available in the resident’s rooms?
Wi-Fi offered by Residential Plaza is only available in the TV room on each floor and activity rooms on the first and second floor. We continue to educate our residents to make sure they use these spaces without putting themselves at risk and complying with CDC recommendations of social distancing. If your loved one has a cellphone, we encourage you to call the provider and inquire about adding a hot spot to the device. Our staff could help with the setup.
Are the residents having activities?
Yes, group activities have resumed considering social distancing and the use of facemasks. We are being cautious and making sure that what we implement is safe and consistent with federal, state, and local agency guidelines.
My loved one has a private bathroom. S/he may forget to replace the soap and paper towels. How can I make sure she/he has the proper supplies to practice good hand hygiene?
All sinks around the building are provided with soap and paper towels. The inventory is checked daily to ensure proper supply.
Getting Tested
Will COVID-19 testing continue in the future?
We will be performing COVID-19 rapid tests to residents and staff randomly, or in case someone is showing symptoms or is at risk by contact.
Do the tests that the residents received reveal if the person has the virus…or does it also reveal if the person has the antibodies that immunize them from contacting the virus?
Results from recently provided tests will only reveal if the individual is positive or negative for COVID-19. We are looking forward to the future availability of antibody testing, which we understand can also provide helpful information about having had and/or developed immunity for the virus.
Positive Test Results
We have learned about some positive cases of COVID-19 at Residential Plaza, how do I know if my loved one is infected or at risk?
Upon receipt of positive test results, our staff conducts an internal investigation to identify individuals who may be at risk by contact. If your loved one has been identified as being at risk by contact with another confirmed case, the Case Manager will arrange testing and notify the resident’s primary contact. Respecting and recognizing privacy guidelines, we cannot share information about the location or name of other individuals who have received positive COVID-19 test results.
If my loved one has tested positive for COVID-19, is s/he going to be hospitalized or placed on self-isolation?
Every case is different, and the decision to be transferred to the hospital or placed on self-isolation at Residential Plaza will be based on medical history, symptoms, resident preference, and other considerations. In the event of a positive test result, staff will reach out to the resident’s primary contact to discuss next step options.
If a resident must be hospitalized to be treated for COVID-19, what hospital are they being sent to? Can the resident or family select a hospital of their choice?
Hospital transfers are normally coordinated with the resident’s physician with consideration for resident preference. Bed availability, insurance requirements, distance, and other factors may require sending the resident to a different hospital.
If my loved one tests positive for COVID-19 and is transferred to a hospital, how do I stay informed about her/his condition as it may change?
After we notify the resident’s designated primary contact about such a hospital transfer, we recommend that family members contact the hospital directly for the most current information about their loved one’s condition. Although our staff may be in contact with the hospital staff, we may not necessarily have the most current information or be authorized by the resident to share such information with all family members.
What is Residential Plaza’s policy for residents returning from a hospital stay?
Consistent with CDC guidelines, hospitals are required to provide a negative COVID-19 test results before returning to the community. Criteria also include being free of symptoms for respiratory illness (cough, fever, shortness of breath) and resolution of fever.
My loved one lives in a room that shares the bathroom with other residents. If one of them tests positive for COVID-19, I am concerned about my loved one’s safety.
Once a resident is identified as positive for COVID-19, we are requiring self-isolation, which may involve transferring that resident to a specially assigned unit.
Other Concerns
What changes have the Memory Care Program implemented to keep COVID-19 from spreading?
Staff is continually facilitating for residents to practice proper hand hygiene; hand sanitizers are always available; we are following cleaning and disinfection CDC guidelines. Staff is also re-enforcing social distancing.
How are residents becoming positive, given the safety measures that are currently in place?
We all know that this virus is highly contagious, more so than the flu. We also know that individuals may be carrying the virus without showing symptoms for weeks, if ever. We perform COVID-19 rapid tests on residents and staff randomly, or if someone is showing signs or is at risk by contact. Our best collective efforts can help slow down how quickly the virus spreads. However, even when most of our staff and residents have been vaccinated, it is not entirely possible to prevent someone from contracting the virus. During the last several weeks, we have seen that the precautions and access to testing have made a big difference.
How is Residential Plaza addressing potential staffing shortages as the number of confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases increases?
The Administration has developed staffing contingency plans that provide for: (a) emergency staffing assignments designed to support the continuation of services in the event of significantly reduced staffing levels; (b) an emergency staff pool with new personnel; (c) a temporary agreement with staffing agencies.
Can we donate money or supplies?
Yes, we welcome donations. You can visit our webpage (www.residentialplaza.com) and in the COVID-19 section or online giving, you will find the COVID-19 Fund. If you wish to donate Personal Protective Equipment, please contact Luisana Hung Salazar at lhungsalazar@residentialplaza.com
PPE
Personal Protective Equipment
The use of Personal Protective Equipment or PPE is critical to maintaining our residents and staff safe. All staff and medical providers are following COVID-19 CDC guidelines for Personal Protective Equipment and resident care.
We welcome the donation of Personal Protective Equipment to ensure the safety of our residents and staff.
High demand PPE items are N95 respirators, Surgical masks, Protective goggles, Gloves, Face Shields, Wipes and Disinfectant, Coveralls, Booties, and Gowns.
If you would like to donate PPE, please contact: Luisana Hung Salazar at lhungsalazar@residentialplaza.com