I’m hopeful that this update finds you healthy and well.  Here at Saint John XXIII Home, we are making progress toward creation of a “new normal”.  I’m thrilled to report that we have had no further cases in relationship to our initial baseline testing.  All residents have tested negative at this time.   With that in mind, as explained in the last update, we are approaching a time in which we will be able to implement a “scheduled visit” process for family members.  As you can imagine, for the health and safety of our residents, staff and family members, we will implement the process in stages.  This is a very exciting time for everyone involved but we must remember that there are risks associated with increased exposure.

The requirements to re-open are NOT yet complete, however, we have the plan in place, anticipating that we can begin scheduled visits on 7/29/2020.  We will begin accepting appointments today.  To schedule a visit, please call the Front Desk (724-981-3200) between the hours of 9am-9pm.  Initially, we can accommodate visits on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.  Visitation will be scheduled in half hour blocks of time and will be LIMITED TO the covered front porch/patio.  We have established 5 meeting tables in this area for each time slot.   Visitation slots will be as follows:  (5 time slots x 5 tables = 25 slots per day)

                        Start Time                   End Time

                          1:00pm                       1:30pm

                          2:00pm                       2:30pm

                          3:00pm                       3:30pm

                          4:00pm                       4:30pm

                          5:00pm                       5:30pm

EXPECTED STANDARDS OF VISIT:

• We request that you arrive for your visit no earlier than 15 minutes PRIOR to your scheduled visit, to maximize social distancing, allow time for cleaning between visit slots and “wellness checks”.
• Visitors will be required to wear a mask at all times.  Residents will be offered a facility supplied face mask.
• Visitors and residents will be required to sanitize their hands before/after the visit.
• Visitors will be required to have their temperature taken and complete a wellness questionnaire.  If you have been COVID exposed, traveled to a “hot spot” state in the past 14 days and/or have signs/symptoms of COVID, the visit will be rescheduled.  A screening log will be maintained by the facility staff.
• Each visitation slot will be restricted to 2 visitors, per resident, per visit on a weekly basis.
• Each visit will be restricted to half hour visits.  Visitors arriving late will not be granted an extension of visit time.
• Visits will be limited to the outdoor porch in the designated social distancing area(s).  This covered porch will allow for visitation even during inclement weather.  Appropriate seating will be provided for both resident and visitors.  Visitors will not enter the facility.
• No food/beverage/tobacco shall be permitted during visitation.  All items brought from home shall follow the facility practice related to sanitization and delivery.
• Facility staff will oversee any required cleaning and disinfecting of visitation areas.  Surfaces in the visitation area will be sanitized according to CDC guidelines between EACH visit.  This includes: seating, tabletops and other surfaces likely to be touched during the visit.  Facility has spaced visitation slots to allow ample time for proper cleaning, as well as, visitor screening.
• At the conclusion of your visit, we ask that you do not linger.  We need everyone to practice social distancing. 
• Please understand that should MERCER COUNTY PA, revert to a “Red Zone/Red Phase”, we will be required to return to a no visitation policy.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation during this transition.

Sincerely,

Kirk Hawthorne

Administrator/CEO

Saint John XXIII Home

Please continue to watch our website (www.saintjohn23home.org) and follow us on Face Book for further updates.  A hard copy of this letter was provided to all residents and will be mailed to the resident responsible party on Tuesday 7/21/20.

I hope this update finds you and your family in good health and spirit.  We are now in week 18 of “COVID measures” here at Saint John XXIII Home.  Our baseline testing is complete and we did have one worker test positive (asymptomatic) for COVID-19.  We have taken the proper measures to mitigate the spread of the virus internally and of course, the employee has quarantine at home.  Any resident that was potentially exposed to this individual has been in isolation as per facility policy and directed by the Department of Health.  At the end of the 14 day isolation period, those residents will be retested for COVID-19.  Please continue to pray for resident health and negative test results.

As you have likely seen in the news, cases continue to “spike” across the nation.  Our requirements continue to be “fluid” and ever changing as we attempt to stay a step ahead of this virus.  Our top priority is the health, safety and well-being of our residents, staff and family members. 

Facility standards have been released by the Department of Health to allow PA facilities (nursing homes and personal care homes) to resume visitation.  We are currently in the process of writing a multitude of policies related to visitation and a new normal.  In addition, there are several standards that must be achieved before proceeding to visitation.  1) Facility must reside in a county that is in the “Green” or “Yellow” phase.  2) Facility can not have any new onset cases of COVID-19 for the past 14 days. 3) Facility must have the above mentioned policies in place and posted on the facility website.  These policies place restrictions on visitation location, times, frequency, number of visitors at a time, etc. 

As mentioned above, the key to our implementation of visitation is dependent upon the status of Mercer County.  Should Mercer County go BACK into a “RED PHASE”, we will be required to return to our current structure of no visitation.  With this in mind, I ask everyone to do your part to mitigate this virus, follow the Governor’s order of wearing masks, wash your hands frequently, avoid large gatherings, social distance and be aware of travel to “hot spot” cities/states.

Due to the requirements listed above, it is impossible to announce a specific date to resume visitation at this time.  However, it appears that we will be able to implement scheduled visitation by months end.   We are getting close and will move forward with visitation as soon as we meet the criteria listed above.  Please monitor the facility webpage for ongoing updates/information.  (www.saintjohn23home.org)

Thank you for entrusting the care of your loved one to us.  Thank you for all of your support, patience and understanding through this pandemic and most of all, thank you for your continued prayers.

Sincerely,

Kirk Hawthorne

Administrator/CEO

Saint John XXIII Home