Employee and Resident Testing Update

You should have received notice already, either by phone or by mail, that we have had one (1) asymptomatic employee test positive for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) which was discovered during the first round of our newly mandated twice-weekly COVID-19 testing of all staff. This employee worked at the Lutheran Home and Rehabilitation Center and is currently in quarantine until they test negative for the virus. This employee has worked with the Department of Health to institute proper contact tracing measures and we have continued testing our employees as mandated by New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo. As of this writing, we have tested nearly all of our employees and have had no further positive cases.

While a positive COVID-19 test is a cause for concern given the information overload we are surrounded by every day, it certainly is not a cause for panic or fear. Long term care facilities, specifically nursing homes like ours, are settings in which people who are chronically ill or frail elderly can go to receive the skilled nursing care they need to survive. Our staff are trained to handle infections like this and many others. They have my full confidence and I would entrust them with my own family during this time.

Another related message that needs to be shared with you is that during the week of May 31-June 6, the Department of Health will be visiting the nursing home to test every resident for COVID-19. This currently does not apply to residents of Hultquist Place. This is a precautionary measure being conducted in every nursing home in the state; it is not due to suspicion of infection or wrong doing. This measure will be conducted by Department of Health personnel along with our own nursing staff. Consent is required by our residents or their health care proxies so you will be contacted directly by our social work team. Please be aware that you do not have to consent to this testing, however it is encouraged to err on the side of caution. These tests are at no cost to you or your loved ones. They will help us identify, isolate, and treat anyone who happens to be actively infected. The sooner this virus is identified, the more likely a full recovery can be achieved.

If you or a loved one NOT residing with us are experiencing symptoms of respiratory illness, or if you believe you may have already contracted and self-healed from COVID-19, you may visit https://www.hhs.gov/coronavirus/ for a list of community-based testing sites. As always, we encourage you to continue social distance measures, wash your hands, and avoid touching your face.

As a reminder, you should call our information hotline at 716-720-9715 any time to hear the most recent COVID-19 status updates as they relate to our campus. The message is updated daily and will be our primary means of communicating any positive COVID-19 infections (staff or residents) going forward. We will also begin providing an infection tracker (shown below) in all written communications.

Thank you again for your patience and understanding during this time.

Symptomatic Residents Tested for COVID-19 – 14
Residents Testing Positive for COVID-19 – 0
Employees Tested for COVID-19 (Mandated) – ALL
Employees Testing Positive for COVID-19 – 1

Sincerely,

Tom Holt
President and CEO