6/14/2021

Dear Residents, Friends and Family Members,

Thank you all for your understanding and compliance with our visitation procedures. We have made some positive updates to our visitation schedule and want to share those with you now.

To ensure the continued health and safety of residents, staff, and visiting caregivers, we have outlined these updates to our systems for in-person visitation at The Lodge at Bear Creek as follows:

  • We still require all visitors to screen for COVID prior to their visit.
  • Visitors are required to wear face masks throughout the visit.
  • Vaccinated and non-vaccinated residents will be allowed to have visitors indoors.
  • Scheduling your visit is requested, but not required.
  • Visitors must use hand hygiene before and after their visit.
  • All visitors must be at least 6ft from staff, visitors, and all other residents.

For patients that have been in the facility for less than 10 days: Visitation will take place in patient rooms only, with one or two designated essential caregivers at a time:

  • An “essential caregiver” is a family member or other outside caregiver, including a friend, volunteer, clergy member, private personal caregiver, or court-appointed guardian, who is at least 18 years old and has been designated by the resident or legal representative.
  • Residents on quarantine are only allowed 2 designated essential caregivers to visit during those first 10 days. The caregivers can visit at the same time.
  • There can be 2 visits per day with up to 2 essential caregivers per visit.
  • We request that you call ahead to schedule your visit, but it is not mandatory.
  • Once you arrive for your visit you can stay until 7:00 pm. All visitors must leave the facility by 7:00 pm.
  • Per CDC guidelines, endorsed by the state of Texas, quarantine is no longer recommended for residents who are being admitted to a post-acute care facility, such as a nursing facility, if they are fully vaccinated and have not had prolonged close contact with someone with a COVID-19 infection in the prior 14 days.

For patients that have been in the facility for more than 10 days, all fully vaccinated residents and those who meet the requirements to discontinue quarantine precautions:

  • Quarantine can end after Day 10 without testing if the person has no symptoms as determined by daily monitoring.
  • Once a resident has been in the facility for longer than 10 days or is fully vaccinated and has no symptoms of COVID, they will be moved to a different area of the facility. In this area, residents can have essential caregiver visits and additional visitors that are not “essential caregivers”.
  • There can only be 2 visitors at a time if those are the residents designated essential caregivers.
  • Each resident can have 2 visits per day with up to 2 people per visit.
  • Each resident can have up to 2 people visit at one time.

When both resident and visitors are fully vaccinated:

  • While alone in the resident’s room or the designated visitation area, residents and their visitors can choose to have close contact, including touch, and not to wear source control.

When either the resident or any of their visitor(s) are not fully vaccinated:

  • The safest approach is for everyone to maintain physical distancing and to wear a face covering. However, if the resident is fully vaccinated, they can choose to have close contact, including touch, with their unvaccinated visitor(s) while both continue to wear source control.

Visitation is requested to be scheduled at least 30 minutes in advance but is not mandatory:

  • You must be screened prior to your visit.
  • Patients on quarantine can have 2 essential caregivers visit at one time and they can have 2 visits per day.
  • Patients that are not on quarantine can have any 2 general visitors visit at one time and they can have 2 visits per day.
  • There can not be more than 2 people attend a visit at one time.
  • There can not be more than 2 separate visits per day.
  • You also must sign in and out when leaving the facility.
  • To ensure you get the assistance you deserve, we are scheduling visits as follows:
    • Monday – Friday Visitation 9:00 am – 7:00pm.
      • Visitors can come to the facility to visit between 9am-6pm.
      • Visitors must leave by 7:00 pm.
    • Saturday and Sunday Visitation 11:00am – 6:00pm.
      • Visitors can come to the facility to visit between 11:00am – 5:00pm.
      • Visitors must leave by 6:00pm on the weekends.

Arrival for visitation:

  • You will be screened at the hospital entrance, then directed to the 6th floor. You will be greeted by our staff and receive education.
  • Every visitor will be screened and will be provided with a surgical mask and appropriate PPE
  • If you don’t feel healthy, please stay at home.
  • If you fail the screening process you will be asked to leave and return when you are feeling better.
  • If you are not compliant with proper infection control procedures, you will be asked to leave the facility immediately.

We want to keep our patients/residents as safe as possible. Please call or email if you have any questions. We’re happy to hear from you!

Sincerely,

The Lodge at Bear Creek Team

6/10/2021

Dear Residents, Friends and Family Members,

Thank you all for your understanding and compliance with our visitation procedures. We have made some positive updates to our visitation schedule and want to share those with you now.

To ensure the continued health and safety of residents, staff, and visiting caregivers, we have outlined these updates to our systems for in-person visitation at The Lodge at Bear Creek as follows:

For patients that have been in the facility for less than 10 days: Visitation will take place in patient rooms only, with one or two designated essential caregivers at a time:

  • An “essential caregiver” is a family member or other outside caregiver, including a friend, volunteer, clergy member, private personal caregiver, or court-appointed guardian, who is at least 18 years old and has been designated by the resident or legal representative.
  • Per CDC guidelines, endorsed by the state of Texas, quarantine is no longer recommended for residents who are being admitted to a post-acute care facility, such as a nursing facility, if they are fully vaccinated and have not had prolonged close contact with someone with a COVID-19 infection in the prior 14 days.
  • Residents on quarantine are only allowed 2 designated essential caregivers to visit during those first 10 days. The caregivers are able to visit at the same time.
  • There can only be 1 scheduled visit time per day. Once the visitor leaves the facility they cannot return until their next scheduled visit.
  • All visitations must be scheduled with the receptionist.
  • Once you arrive for your visit you can stay until 6:00 pm. All visitors must leave the facility by 6:00 pm.

For patients that have been in the facility for more than 10 days, all fully vaccinated residents and those who meet the requirements to discontinue quarantine precautions:

  • Quarantine can end after Day 10 without testing if the person has no symptoms as determined by daily monitoring.
  • Once a resident has been in the facility for longer than 10 days or is fully vaccinated and has no symptoms of COVID, they will be moved to a different area of the facility. In this area, residents can have essential caregiver visits and additional visitors that are not “essential caregivers”. These visitors are still required to schedule their visit. There can only be 2 visitors at a time if those are the resident’s designated essential caregivers. Otherwise, there can only be 1 visitor at a time.
  • Each resident can have 1 scheduled visit time per day. Once the visitor(s) leave they cannot return until their next scheduled visit.

Visitation needs to be scheduled at least 30 minutes in advance:

  • You must be screened prior to your visit.
  • You also must sign out when leaving the facility.
  • To ensure you get the assistance you deserve, we are scheduling visits as follows:
    • Monday – Friday Visitation 9:00 am – 6:00pm
      • Visitors must call ahead to schedule their visit and they can schedule between 9am-4:30pm.
      • Visitors must leave by 6:00 pm
    • Saturday and Sunday Visitation 11:00am – 6:00pm
      • Visitors must call ahead between 11:00am – 4:00pm
      • Visitors must leave by 6:00pm on the weekends.
    • Each patient can have no more than 1 scheduled visit per day.

Every visitor will be screened and will be provided with a surgical mask and appropriate PPE:

  • If you don’t feel healthy, please stay at home.
  • If you fail the screening process you will be asked to leave and return when you are feeling better.
  • If you are not compliant with proper infection control procedures, you will be asked to leave the facility immediately.

Arrival for visitation:

  • Once you arrive for your first appointment it is required that you are educated by designated staff on proper precautions and escorted to the resident’s room. After your first visit, you will no longer be required to be escorted to the resident’s room. We ask that you maintain social distancing from other residents and staff. We also ask that you walk directly to the patient’s room and not come out until your visitation time is over.
  • Please try to arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled visit to allow staff to give proper education. If visitors arrive late to their appointment, they will not be able to make up the time they missed.

We want to keep our patients/residents as safe as possible. Please call or email if you have any questions. We’re happy to hear from you!

Sincerely,

The Lodge at Bear Creek Team

3/29/2021

Dear Residents, Friends and Family Members,

Thank you all for your understanding and compliance with our visitation procedures. We have made some positive updates to our visitation schedule and want to share those with you now.

To ensure the continued health and safety of residents, staff, and visiting caregivers, we have outlined these updates to our systems for in-person visitation at The Lodge at Bear Creek as follows:

For patients that have been in the facility for less than 14 days: Visitation will take place in patient rooms only, with one or two designated essential caregivers at a time:

  • For new residents there will still be a 14-day isolation period. Those residents are only allowed 2 designated essential caregivers to visit during those first 14 days. The caregivers may visit at the same time.
  • All visitations must be scheduled with the receptionist.
  • We prefer a negative covid test completed but this is not a requirement.

For patients that have been in the facility for more than 14 days and meet the requirements to discontinue isolation precautions:

  • Once a resident has been in the facility for longer than 14 days and has no symptoms of COVID, they will be moved to a different area of the facility. In this area, residents can have essential caregiver visits and additional visitors that are not “essential caregivers”. These visitors are still required to schedule their visit and there cannot be more than 2 visitors at a time.

Visitation needs to be scheduled:

  • You may schedule your visit by calling our receptionist at 817-527-7500 between 9:00 am and 4:30 pm.
  • Each patient can have no more than 1 scheduled visit per day.

Every visitor will be screened and will be provided with a surgical mask and appropriate PPE:

  • If you don’t feel healthy, please stay at home.
  • If you fail the screening process you will be asked to leave and return when you are feeling better.
  • If you are not compliant with proper infection control procedures, you will be asked to leave the facility immediately.

Arrival for visitation:

  • Once you arrive for your first appointment it is required that you are educated by designated staff on proper precautions and escorted to the resident’s room. After your first visit, you will no longer be required to be escorted to the resident’s room. We ask that you maintain social distancing from other residents and staff. We also ask that you walk directly to the patient’s room and not come out until your visitation time is over.
  • Please try to arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled visit to allow staff to give proper education. If visitors arrive late to their appointment, they will not be able to make up the time they missed.  

We want to keep our patients/residents as safe as possible. 

Please call with questions 817-527-7500

Sincerely,

Toni Headstream MSN, LNFA

Executive Director

The Lodge at Bear Creek

3/4/2021

Dear Friends and Family,

The first two months of 2021 have been full of encouraging news related to our fight against COVID -19. The number of new COVID cases are down, hospitalizations and deaths related to the virus have decreased, three new vaccines have been approved, and over 3 million Texans have received at least one vaccine dose.  In a response to these positive trends, on 03/02/21, Governor Abbot issued an Executive Order lifting the requirements for face coverings to be worn in general public settings, allowing for the reopening of businesses.

Unfortunately, the battle against COVID-19 is far from over for the skilled nursing populations – for the frail, the elderly, and the immunocompromised, there continues to be a high risk leading to serious health complications and even death. Governor Abbot’s Executive Order addresses Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF) specifically in paragraph 5 stating, “Nursing homes, state supported living centers, assisted living facilities, and long-term care facilities should follow guidance from the Texas Health Services Commission (HHSC) regarding visitations and should follow infection control policies and practices set forth by HHSC including minimizing the movement of staff between facilities whenever possible”.

Texas HHCS has directed skilled facilities to continue operating under the current guidance regarding visitation restrictions, infection control policies, COVID-19 testing, and vaccine administration.  No changes are anticipated at this time.

We understand that these restrictions have been burdensome for families and friends and have continued far longer than any of us would have liked.  Please remember, our intent, like yours, is to provide a safe healthcare environment for our residents by keeping them as healthy as possible and limiting their risk of exposure to this threatening virus. 

Thank you for your patience and understanding.  I encourage you to engage with your loved one as often as possible through essential care visits, facetime visits, phone calls, window visits, or drive by visits.  We know that all things are temporary with brighter days ahead. Looking forward to that day with you!

Sincerely,

Toni Headstream, Administrator, LFNA, MSN

The Lodge at Bear Creek

1/27/2021

Dear Residents, Families, and Essential Caregivers,

Thank you for your patience and support while we navigate this next phase of COVID-19 – vaccinations and visitations.

There have been several questions raised about whether essential caregivers, those registered and allowed to visit their loved one at our facility, need to continue COVID testing on a regular basis.

We continue to follow the regulatory guidance provided by Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) for essential care giver visits, as detailed in the governor’s COVID-19 Emergency Rule. While there are too many statutes to list here, I would be happy to send you the documentation at your request.

HHSC advises us that all essential care givers must follow the same COVID testing frequency as the facility staff and residents based on the county’s current positivity rate as follows.

If your county is:

  • Green – test 1 x per month
  • Yellow – test 1 x per week
  • Red – test 2 x week

Currently, Tarrant County is rated Red, so we are testing employees and resident on a twice per week schedule.

While the country, the state, and our county anxiously look forward to securing vaccine clinic dates through CVS, we continue to be vigilant in our infection control practices providing the safest environment possible for your loved ones, who have become our extended family.

The first vaccine clinic, previously scheduled for Thursday, January 28, is being rescheduled. We will inform you of the new date as soon as we receive confirmation from CVS pharmacy.

Thank you for understanding. Together, we will find our way to the end of this pandemic and to happier, healthier times ahead.

Sincerely,

Toni Headstream, Administrator, LFNA, MSN

The Lodge at Bear Creek

12/31/2020

To Our Health Care Heroes, Families, and Residents

As we conclude one of the most challenging years in U.S. history, I want to take time to recognize the commitment and bravery of our health care heroes, our front line of defense against the devastating COVID virus. I commend their unwavering leadership, commitment, and service to others throughout this difficult year. Their sacrifice, strength, and compassion will be remembered in the years to come and I am honored to work with such exceptional individuals!

As we move forward into 2021, our battle against COVID-19 is far from over and while there is new hope on the horizon with the distribution of the new COVID vaccines, we must continue to persevere in the fight against COVID while serving the needs of those entrusted to our care. 

The COVID-19 vaccines are an important tool to help us stop the spread of the virus and allow our residents the opportunity to regain a life beyond their four walls as well as pave the way for a return to more normalcy in our broader communities. 

As health care professionals, we have a responsibility to lead out the defense against COVID that will positively impact communities through participation in the first round of COVID vaccinations offered.  Employee vaccinations are voluntary however, strongly recommended to promote safety for all we serve. Vaccination clinic times are being rationed and facilitated by local CVS pharmacy; these hours are scarce, therefore will be used through a prescheduled appointment time for all staff members. Staff members with pre-existing medical or religious practices can opt-out by contacting the Administrator.

In consideration of the safety and effectiveness of the COVID vaccine, we strongly recommend our residents to partake in early inoculation. The vaccine is our pathway to help restore safe visitation and a healthy, social lifestyle for residents.

The CDC has identified the following benefits of the new vaccines:

  • The vaccine has been tested and is highly effective at preventing COVID-19.
  • The vaccine will reduce your risks of getting COVID as well as reduce the risk of infecting others. 
  • The vaccine reduces your chance of becoming seriously ill if you do test positive for COVID.
  • The vaccine helps to protect people around you: your family, your friends, your loved ones, your community.
  • COVID is unpredictable. While some individuals present with mild symptoms, the elderly population has a greater risk for life threatening complications. The vaccine allows your body’s immune system to build a defense without having to experience the illness.
  • Wearing masks and social distancing are not enough to stop the spread of the virus. These actions combined with the administration of the vaccine are our best defense to reduce the spread of the virus.

We encourage you to visit the CDC website which will help answer any questions you may have concerning the vaccines. 

Thank you for your continued support and prayers. We remain hopeful for a brighter new year and will continue to do our very best in providing care and services to the residents we serve.

Sincerely,

Toni Headstream, Administrator

The Lodge at Bear Creek

12/22/2020

12/21/2020

Dear Families of The Lodge at Bear Creek,

We are so appreciative of your support, partnering, and prayers as we have navigated this difficult year together.

Today, we are pleased to share some very encouraging news! The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced a COVID-19 vaccine to be safe and effective, and our facility will be able to administer the vaccine to residents and staff soon.

This vaccine has gone through testing and clinical trials to ensure it meets the highest safety standards. The health and safety of our residents is always our top priority, and we are confident this vaccine is a much better option than the risk of getting this virus. (It also is safe to get the vaccine if you already had the virus.) Learn more about the vaccine at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines.

With the support of our partnering pharmacy, CVS, we are preparing to host a vaccine clinic on 3 distinct dates for residents and staff. We will share additional details as soon as CVS confirms dates. There will be no cost to receive the vaccine.

The vaccine requires two doses – the second dose following approximately 1 month later. Residents will need to get both doses to ensure the best results. We have learned that side effects are similar to the potential side effects of the flu shot.

We will continue to take all necessary precautions after the vaccine is administered, including wearing personal protective equipment and conducting regular testing, to ensure the safety of our residents and staff. We will also work with public health officials to determine how and when to adjust our policies for visitations and social activities and keep you updated.

We are encouraging all our residents to receive this vaccine, as the elderly have a much higher risk of becoming very sick, being hospitalized, or even dying from COVID-19. The more residents that get vaccinated, the better we can protect our community against potential outbreaks and save lives.

We are hopeful that the vaccine is the light at the end of the tunnel and will be a lifesaving turning point in the fight against COVID-19.

Warmest Regards,

Toni Headstream – Executive Director

Samone Haynes – Director of Nursing

The Lodge at Bear Creek

11/05/2020

Dear Residents, Friends, and Family Members, 

What an amazing journey we have been on this year. The challenges of the pandemic have forced us to think outside of the box and look for new ways to provide our services in the best and safest way possible. One of our greatest challenges has come in the past month as we have worked hard to develop policies and procedures to safely re-connect you with your loved one. As you know, in addition to virtual visits, we also started providing essential caregiver visits last month under the new emergency rules for the expansion of visitation. It has been so encouraging to see the glow in the demeanor of the residents who are participating in these visits. 

As you are planning your visit, please remember that education and training will need to be done prior to your visit. It will take about 15 minutes so plan your time accordingly. This change will allow us to facilitate more visits each week. This is a one-time training that you must complete prior to your first visit. In addition, we require a recent (within 14 day) COVID test prior to all visits.

We are excited to announce that in an ongoing effort to reconnect you with your loved one, we have applied for general visitation. General visitation must be scheduled, but unlike the essential caregiver visit, requires strict adherence to social distancing of the resident, and supervision by staff throughout the duration of each visit. General visits include open window visits and parades, as well as indoor and outdoor visits behind plexiglass barriers. We will update you as soon as we learn that general visitation is approved.  

Thank you for your continued prayers, understanding, and support as we navigate these uncharted waters. We are truly excited about the different opportunities now available to you for visitation. Please contact your facility ambassador for more information and/or to schedule your visit. Ella is looking forward to seeing you all.

Respectfully, 

Toni Headstream, LNFA, MSN

Executive Director

The Lodge at Bear Creek

PLEASE NOTE THAT OUR RESPONSE TO THIS PANDEMIC IS DEPENDENT ON MANY VARIABLES AND THE INFORMATION RELATED TO VISITATION IS TIME-SENSITIVE AND MAY CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. IN THE EVENT OF A CHANGE TO THE VISITATION REQUIREMENTS, WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO NOTIFY YOU PRIOR TO YOUR SCHEDULED VISIT.

10/07/2020

Dear Residents, Family Members, and Friends:

The Texas Department of Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) has enacted the “Emergency Rule”- (Texas Government Code §2001.034). The Emergency Rule provides the Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF) and Nursing Homes (NF) with guidelines that encourage indoor and outdoor visitation promoting the psycho-social, mental, and emotional well-being of residents.

At this time the Emergency Rule (ER) allows for a resident or resident family member to designate two (2) individuals who will be known as “Essential Caregivers”. The designated Essential Caregivers are required to complete specific steps – education and skills competency, that are necessary in order for them to be cleared to visit without social distancing.

To take the next step and setup your loved ones’ designated essential caregiver, please contact the facility Receptionist or  Social Services Director at (817) 527-7500 and provide them with the name of two individuals, along with the best way to contact them. Our facility will reach out shortly and provide the designated essential caregivers with the specific requirements needed to successfully visit your loved one within our facility.

Regards,

Toni Headstream, LNFA

Administrator

The Lodge at Bear Creek

9/24/2020

Dear Friends and family,

In reference to CMS’s QSO-20-39-NH and Gov. Abbott’s recent mandate, we are providing the following guidelines for in-person visitation at The Lodge at Bear Creek:

Visitation will take place OUTSIDE:

  • No visits allowed inside the building, unless authorized by management.

Visitation needs to be scheduled:

  • Please call our receptionist at 817-527-7500 between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm to schedule your visit.
  • To make sure you get the assistance from management you deserve, we are scheduling visits from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday. We will also schedule visits for the weekend. We have a manager on duty on Saturdays and Sundays, usually between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm.
  • Two individuals (family or friend, over 18 years old) must be designated as essential care givers, and only these individuals may visit at this time. Only one individual may visit at a time.
  • Covid-19 negative test report must be provided at each visit and must be completed within 14 days of the visit.
  • We are restricting visits to 30 minutes to give more families the chance to visit loved ones.

Every visitor will be screened and will be provided with a surgical mask:

  • If you don’t feel healthy, please stay at home.
  • Although it may be extremely difficult, PLEASE observe social distancing rules while visiting your loved one. A mask must always be worn, a screening process as well as infection control related to hand hygiene and patient safety education must be reviewed and adhered to.

Outside visitation applies only to patients in the “Cold Zone” and to long-term care residents:

  • Outside visitation does not apply to patients admitted from the hospital within 14 days. These patients are on isolation in a “Warm Zone”.
  • Outside visitation does not apply to COVID-19 positive patients in the “Hot Zone”.
  • We encourage family members or friends to schedule window visits for those patients to enjoy a more positive experience. We want to make sure the patient is awake and ready when you come to visit through the window. 

Visitations are weather permitting. 

We want to keep our patients/residents as safe as possible. Please call us or email me if you have any questions. We’re happy to hear from you!

Sincerely,

Toni Headstream, LNFA

Executive Director

The Lodge at Bear Creek

8/17/2020

Dear Family Members, Friends, and Loved Ones of The Lodge at Bear Creek,

As the coronavirus continues to spread across many parts of the United States, our country as a whole is adjusting and adapting to a new normal. Whether your personal new normal includes home-schooling your children, working from home, or managing the anxiety and financial stress of a job loss, as we learn more about the coronavirus, profound lifestyle changes are becoming necessary.

Here at our center, our new normal includes expanded testing of residents and staff, creating new and individualized visitation scenarios, social distancing of all residents, wearing a uniform of protective garments, and elevated infection control policies and procedure to support containment of the virus as much as possible.  Truly, we are experiencing and adjusting to changes in all areas of our operations and these adjustments have increased our collective and individual workloads.

In light of recent state communications regarding visitation, I’d like to clarify that The Lodge at Bear Creek is continuing to follow the cautionary measures recommended by the Executive Commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) – Phase 1 reopening guidelines.

Nursing homes have been severely impacted by COVID-19, with outbreaks causing high rates of infection, morbidity, and mortality. We are feeling extremely blessed that our facility has been successful in minimizing the impact of COVID-19 within our building despite the numbers of positive cases in our local regions. We are committed to keeping our people and our patients as safe as possible.

We prioritize human life and understand that we care for those individuals who are at highest risk to be negatively impacted by COVID-19.  However, we also understand that human life is made meaningful based on the relationships we have with family and friends. We recognize that it is important that we get to a point where our patients and residents can enjoy these relationships “in person” again. 

Per Texas Department of Health guidelines (see page 50), a skilled nursing facility must meet the following criteria before allowing Phase 1 visitation:

  • Have no confirmed COVID-19 cases in staff for at least 14 consecutive days.
  • Have no active COVID-19 cases among residents. 
  • Facility staff are tested for COVID-19 weekly.
  • If the facility had previous cases of COVID-19 among staff or residents, and LTCR conducted a verification survey and confirmed the following: 
    • all staff and residents have fully recovered;
    • the facility has adequate staffing to continue to care for all residents and monitor visits permitted in Phase 1; and 
    • the facility is in full compliance with infection control requirements and emergency rules related to COVID-19.

Though our facility visitations remain restricted, please be aware that we are able to schedule end-of-life and compassionate care visits under special circumstances.

We are carefully and optimistically watching the statistics surrounding COVID-19 and invite you to monitor these reports with us:

In accordance with CMS requirements, our Community Updates website page hosts a COVID-19 dashboard that is updated daily with the most pertinent and current information. In addition to these updates entered directly from our facility, we’ve integrated additional data available through respected source, Johns Hopkins University.

By clicking the “United States” button on the dashboard, you’ll land on new page. Here you can drill down into a world of additional, up-to-date, comparative statistics about COVID-19. Enter “Texas” in the search box and the center of the dashboard will show you every county. Click on “Tarrant” and all the boxes around the page change to show you what’s happening in our county. It’s encouraging to see that our county is indeed beginning to “flatline”.

This dashboard provides a wealth of information that you may be wondering about, and it is right at your fingertips. I encourage you to explore and find your answers. You are also welcome to share the Facility COVID dashboard with friends or family members – below the black background, in the gray bar, hover over the “share” icon on the right, then click it. A new box opens, with a variety of ways to share. Click the email icon (envelope) to share directly.

As we all continue to adapt to our new normal, I’d like to send out our positive thoughts to you all. We are praying that your own lifestyle adjustments will be smooth, and you’ll be successful in achieving the goal of protecting yourself and your family.

Thank you for your continued support and trust,

Christian Butler

Administrator

The Lodge at Bear Creek

7/21/2020

Dear Family Members, Friends, and Loved Ones of The Lodge at Bear Creek,

As I mentioned in my letter last week, we have been so grateful to have been COVID-free for several weeks now, but we also knew that the COVID-free status was very fragile. Unfortunately, within the last 24 hours, we were notified and can currently confirm one COVID-19 positive employee case associated with our facility. This individual currently remains at home on quarantine.

We have done everything we can to prevent the spread of this virus within our facility. However, as I’m sure you are aware, the virus is prevalent in our county, our state, and our country. We continue to be committed to our rigorous precautions of testing staff and residents, following infection control processes, procedures, and policies, and using air filtration systems and personal protective equipment,

We also commit to being transparent about the status of COVID-19 within our building. The dashboard at the top of this page is updated and timestamped daily for you to have the most current, accurate information. It is integrated with data from leading source, Johns Hopkins University, to give you comparative statistics for our county, state, the U.S. and other countries around the globe.

Please refer to this dashboard for your updates. We are no longer communicating via Facebook as we cannot expend the manpower to social media at this time. Our team is 100% focused on patient care and safety.

Many of you have been generous with your warm thoughts and prayers. I can speak for our whole team to say how much we appreciate your support and your confidence in us.

With gratitude,

Christian Butler

Administrator

The Lodge at Bear Creek

7/17/2020

Dear Family Members, Friends, and Loved Ones of The Lodge at Bear Creek,

The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted societies worldwide, changing our daily lives in ways we could not have imagined just six months ago. Our senior citizens, and especially those with medical conditions, have been the most highly impacted segment of society. As professional skilled nursing providers, we are meeting this unprecedented challenge with the courage and the faith to navigate these uncharted waters.

Though it is impossible for us to speculate on the duration of the COVID-19, it is our commitment to continue to share updates and report the status of positive cases at The Lodge at Bear Creek. The dashboard at the top of this page is being updated and timestamped on a daily basis for you. It is integrated with data from leading source, Johns Hopkins University, to give you comparative statistics for our county, state, and other countries.

Our #1 priority is the care and safety of the individuals residing in our facility. As we continue our fight against this highly infectious virus, our ongoing initiatives include:

  • COVID testing as recommended by state and local authorities and based on staff and resident exposure
  • Strong, solid Infection Control processes, policies, and procedures, which were evaluated and enhanced in March at the onset of COVID-19 and supported by CDC, state and local health officials’ guidance and direction.
  • Air filtration systems to help mitigate the spread within our facility
  • Ample supplies of personal protective equipment and supply chain access to arm our staff members and keep them as safe as possible

I would like to share good news that we have remained COVID-free since May 18. However, we realize how fragile that status is, and we continue with our rigorous precautions.

We are so grateful for your positive thoughts, kind words, and prayers during this COVID-19 challenge. We eagerly anticipate the day that we reopen our doors to your visits. Please feel free to send us any questions by using the Contact Us button at the top of this page.

With appreciation,

Christian Butler

Administrator

The Lodge at Bear Creek

6/01/2020

Family members and Friends, We are thrilled to announce that we have been COVID-FREE since 5/18/2020 and that the Tarrant County Office of Public Health has cleared us to accept new admissions. We are so grateful!

5/21/2020

4:00 PM CST

Dear Family Members, Friends, Employees, and Loved Ones,

While the media is reporting “Opening Up America Again,” the White House Coronavirus Task Force and CMS are still taking aggressive action to protect those most vulnerable to the virus – many of whom reside in America’s nursing homes.

On Tuesday, CMS announced a 3-Phase approach for reopening visitation in nursing homes, with a goal to protect residents from possible transmission of the virus. Phases 1 & 2 continue to prohibit visitation, with the exception of compassionate care situations.

Nursing homes have been severely impacted by COVID-19, with outbreaks causing high rates of infection, morbidity, and mortality. We are feeling extremely blessed that our facilities have been successful in minimizing the impact of COVID-19 within our buildings despite the numbers of positive cases in our local regions. We are committed to keeping our people and our patients as safe as possible.

We prioritize human life and understand that we care for those individuals who are at highest risk to be negatively impacted by COVID-19.  However, we also understand that human life is made meaningful based on the relationships we have with family and friends. We recognize that it is important that we get to a point where our patients and residents can enjoy these relationships “in person” again. 

We’re going to continue to work tirelessly with each facility, step by step, to ensure that we evaluate specific criteria before we make a decision to reopen their visitation policy. These criteria include careful review of:

  • Community and state factors related to COVID-19 testing status and results
  • Number of COVID-19 cases in the local community
  • Status of COVID-19 positive cases in local nursing facilities
  • Adequacy of staffing
  • Adequacy of personal protective equipment
  • Local hospital capacity

We will be carefully considering each of these areas before making any decisions regarding relaxing visitation restrictions in our facilities. Each facility will have its own plan and strategy for reopening.

As business leaders, we often find that the best and most effective solutions are found closest to the problem. To that end, we invite each of our employees, patients, family members, and larger community to be a part of our plan and thinking for re-opening each center to visitors. Please feel free to respond to this letter with comments or suggestions. On our end, we will ensure to communicate our plans with you via the website, virtual town halls, and Facebook.  

In the meantime, we continue to promote and encourage virtual and facetime calls, window visits, and outdoor and drive-through visitations to ensure our families stay connected and engaged. 

We appreciate your understanding of our commitment to your families,

Eric Tanner

CEO

OnPointe Health, LLC

4/27/2020

9:00 AM CST

Dear Family Members, Friends, Employees and Loved Ones of The Lodge at Bear Creek,

We are grateful to report that since last Thursday – there have been no new COVID-19 positive cases of either patients or employees at The Lodge at Bear Creek. Additionally, we have no new patients or employees demonstrate any symptoms consistent with the virus. We remain vigilant in ensuring this remains the case and will continue to communicate our progress with you.

Kind Regards,

Christian Butler

Administrator

The Lodge at Bear Creek

4/24/2020

10:00 PM CST

Dear Family Members, Friends, Employees and Loved Ones of The Lodge at Bear Creek,

This will be a shorter update this evening. Over the last 24 hours we’ve had no new positive cases of staff or employees – nor have we seen any new patients or staff with symptoms consistent with the virus.

While that is obviously good news – we are still incredibly focused on the task at hand – which is to ensure as many patients and staff are able to recover where possible.

This week has been a daunting one for all of us at The Lodge at Bear Creek. We are so very grateful for our team, our patients and their family members and friends who have supported us through it all.

Best,

Christian Butler

Administrator

The Lodge at Bear Creek

4/23/2020

10:00 PM CST

Dear Family Members, Friends, Employees and Loved Ones of The Lodge at Bear Creek,

Continuing to update you on the status of COVID-19 in our building. Over the last 24 hours we’ve had one more positive case of COVID-19 in our center. Currently, we’ve had 19 positive cases of COVID-19 of patients at The Lodge at Bear Creek. We also received one negative test back. To date, we’ve still had no positive cases on the first floor. In total that brings the total number of positive cases to 19 positive patient cases with 2 positive employee cases for a total of 21 COVID-19+ cases.  

Many have asked about the health status of the patients. While we cannot go into specific details of any individual’s health status – we can say that the overwhelming majority of the COVID-19+ cases continue to remain at The Lodge at Bear Creek. Here they are watched over, cared for, and hopefully will recover soon. We have had a few patients that have required more acute care at nearby hospitals. Each of those patients are in different stages of health – but we heard back today that one of those patients was recently discharged from the hospital – and we were glad to hear that.

As mentioned yesterday – we are updating our Facebook page and our website with more features so that you can continue to engage with us and your family members directly for more news/updates. That change will occur likely early next week. More on that to come.

As it stands now – we will continue to be transparent and send updates on the facility and COVID-19 on our website https://lodgeatbearcreek.com and our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/thelodgeatbearcreek/

Sincerely,

Christian Butler

Administrator

The Lodge at Bear Creek

4/22/2020

10:00 PM CST

Dear Family Members, Friends, and Loved Ones of The Lodge at Bear Creek,

Continuing to update you on the status of COVID-19 in our building. Over the last 24 hours we’ve had more positive cases of COVID-19 in our center. Currently, we’ve had 18 positive cases of COVID-19 of patients at The Lodge at Bear Creek. To date, we’ve still had no positive cases on the first floor. Additionally, two patients that we tested yesterday on the second floor came back negative for COVID-19. Additionally, 5 members of our staff were tested yesterday – each of those cases came back negative. So recapping, to date at TLBC – we’ve had 18 positive patient cases with 2 positive employee cases for a total of 20 COVID-19+ cases.  We continue to await some test results, monitor symptoms and treat individual patients based off their specific care plan needs with hydration, additional monitoring, oxygen as required, and pharmacological interventions as prescribed.

I will continue to do my best and send updates as they arrive. Many of you have reached out via phone, email, over Facebook, etc. with your well wishes to me, to the staff, and on behalf of your loved ones. Please know how much that means to us. Please also know that we deliver the messages of hope and encouragement to everyone we can.

In the near future – we update our Facebook page with more news/updates. Through that page our team will continue to get family and staff vital information, create feedback loops on resident activities and engage our residents with opportunities to connect and communicate with their families. We hope this provides an even better way for information to flow both ways and for you to be able to engage directly with us.

In the meantime – we will continue to be transparent and send updates on the progression of the disease on our website https://lodgeatbearcreek.com and our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/thelodgeatbearcreek/

Fondly,

Christian Butler

Administrator

The Lodge at Bear Creek

4/21/2020

11:00 PM CST

Dear Family Members, Friends, Employees and Loved Ones of The Lodge at Bear Creek,

As you can see from the last few days – I’ll likely continue to update you daily on the status of the progression of COVID-19 in our building. To that end, I can tell you that we have received notification of one more COVID 19+ patient. To date – that makes 12 patients who’ve tested positive for the virus and 2 employees who’ve tested positive for the virus. Again, all of the patients with COVID-19 or with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 are cohorted on the 2nd floor of the building. We have a few test results still outstanding for a few more patients and employees. These test results are being turned around quicker than they had been, and we are grateful for that.

Indeed, I find much to be grateful for amidst all of this. I’m grateful to our caring staff members. Each of them who arrive at work each day do so knowing that we have COVID-19+ in our building. Yet every day, each of them walk into our doors to care for and nurture to the sick and afflicted. There are angels among us – and many of them work at The Lodge at Bear Creek.

I’m grateful for each of our wonderful residents. Each of them has had their lives upended over the last two months – missing visits with loved ones, activities with each other and dining experiences with friends in the building. Each of our dear residents has shown an increased capacity of compassion and kindness to me and to our staff as we’ve navigated these difficult waters.

I’m grateful for our good vendors who continue to get us the vital equipment, supplies, food and resources we need to manage operations. I’m grateful for knowledgeable public health officials who have helped and guided us along our path to full recovery. I’m grateful for our corporate team and the many hours they’ve invested in ensuring that we have all the pertinent information, vital personal protective equipment, and clinical support that we’ve needed here from the beginning.

I’m grateful for our family members and loved ones – sons, daughters, grandchildren and friends – who’ve “Stayed Home,” so that we could care for your dear loved ones while concurrently keeping people as safe as possible. I’ve imagined how difficult it would be to not see your loved one for months and feel the worry each of you have. You should know, that my team and I carry your worries not as burdens – but rather as indications of the significant responsibilities we have to care for your loved one, care for our staff, and care for each other as we defeat this virus.

I truly believe that this too shall pass. While it will be difficult and as we’re learning every day, unpredictable – it will end. When it does end – I will be the first one here to welcome you back to Bear Creek with open arms and a grateful heart.

With Sincere Gratitude,

Christian Butler

Administrator

The Lodge at Bear Creek

4/20/2020

10:00 PM CST

Dear Family Members, Friends, and Loved Ones of The Lodge at Bear Creek,

Apologies for the late notice on this letter. It has been another long, but productive day.

I wanted to reach out to you and let you know that we’ve received notification of one more COVID 19+ patient. Again, all of the patients with COVID-19 or with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 are cohorted on the 2nd floor of the building.

I had the opportunity to meet with Dr. Catherine Colquitt of the Tarrant County Epidemiology and Public Health again today. As with previous visits, Dr. Colquitt assured us that we were doing everything we could to navigate a powerful and complex virus.

Many nursing and rehab facilities across the United States (and the World) have dealt with COVID-19. While each situation is different, what we’ve learned is that generally – the most difficult weeks in the progression of the disease are around weeks 2 and 3. As you know – our first positive case of COVID-19+ was discovered on April 8th. So, we are well into our second week and moving into our third week of the virus in our facility. With this understood – we anticipate more potential positive cases as we test symptomatic patients and staff members. That said, we also fully anticipate that we’ll get through this together. If we’ve learned anything in the past few weeks – we’ve learned that the patients and staff of The Lodge at Bear Creek are both courageous and resilient. Together – we’ll continue to persevere.

As in all things, we will continue to keep you updated.

My Best,

Christian Butler

Administrator

The Lodge at Bear Creek

4/19/2020

8:00 PM CST

Dear Family Members, Friends, and Loved Ones of The Lodge at Bear Creek,

As promised, we want to continue to update you on the status of COVID-19 in our building.

As I mentioned yesterday – the state and county agencies that we’ve been working with both recommended that we test people (both patients and staff) who were symptomatic. Additionally, they warned us that there would likely be more positive cases.

We can confirm today that we’ve now had 10 confirmed positive patients with COVID-19. In addition, we found out today that two employees came back with COVID-19 positive tests. Again, while we cannot give specifics about the individual health status of each patient or employee – we can say that the patients are currently cohorted on the second floor of our building, which is acting as our isolation area. (Currently, there are no COVID-19 cases on the first floor). Both of the employees are currently resting at home.

I know that this news may be discouraging. My intent is not to bring you down but rather to be fully transparent about where we are in the progression of the virus. It was almost 11 days ago that we found out about our first positive case. While we’ve seen the virus progress through the facility – we’ve also seen the staff respond in such a tremendous way. Nurses, aides, and the whole team have galvanized around containing this virus to the best of our abilities. The reality is this containment requires significant amounts of extra work – but our kind and good people have gone about their duties with conviction and courage. I’m so grateful to be a part of this team. I’m honored to be their leader, for in this time together, I’ve been taught daily through their characteristics of service, love, and grit.

As always – we will communicate directly with you through Facebook https://www.facebook.com/thelodgeatbearcreek/ and the website https://lodgeatbearcreek.com.

Additionally, our department heads will continue to reach out to family members and loved ones individually with their daily outreach calls where we’ll help answer any specific calls you have about your loved one or family member.

We appreciate your support, thoughts and prayers. We feel buoyed up by you, our patients, and especially our staff.

Warmly,

Christian Butler

Administrator

The Lodge at Bear Creek

4/18/2020

6:00 PM CST

Dear Family Members, Friends, and Loved Ones of The Lodge at Bear Creek,

As promised, we want to continue to update you on the status of COVID-19 in our building. Over the last 24 hours we’ve had more progression in the evolution of COVID-19 in our center. As it stands right now, we’ve had 7 positive cases of COVID-19 since my first letter over a week ago. While each of the positive cases are in different stages as it relates to their health status (some resting comfortably and some more critical) – each are now cohorted onto the second floor with isolation practices in place and consistently staffed by the same nurses and administrative staff. The first floor of the building is currently unaffected.

Per guidance from Tarrant County Epidemiology, it is not necessarily useful nor practical for all facility and all staff to be screened. They recommend testing only those people who were symptomatic as, per their multiple visits they saw that we were doing everything that had been asked and expected.

The additional sobering counsel they gave was that there would still likely be more positives but not to get discouraged. In a pandemic of this nature, with a virus this virulent, that was to be expected. They stated we could only do what we could do, and, in their view, we were doing all we could.  We will continue to work directly with both Tarrant County Public Health and the Texas Department of State and Health Services to ensure this remains the case.

Some of you have asked questions about our process. I can tell you that we have a solid supply of PPE and have since the beginning. Both our management company and the county have been helpful in getting us the equipment we need. That said, we always have our ear to the ground for additional sources of vital PPE (namely gowns, gloves, masks, etc.) Also, we have cleaned rooms, surfaces, and common areas with greater regularity and stronger (but still allowable) chemicals than would be customary.

As promised – we will continue to be transparent and send updates on the progression of the disease and any countermeasures we utilize to blunt its progress. You’ll continue to find these updates on Website https://lodgeatbearcreek.com and our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/thelodgeatbearcreek/

Additionally, our department heads will continue to reach out to family members and loved ones individually with their daily outreach calls.

Kind Regards,

Christian Butler

Administrator

The Lodge at Bear Creek

4/16/2020: 

5:00 PM CST 

Dear Family Members, Friends, and Loved Ones of The Lodge at Bear Creek, 

As promised, we want to continue to update you on the status of COVID-19 in our building. Today, we found out that the roommate of our second COVID-19+ patient came back with a COVID-19+ test as well. To date, that leaves 3 COVID-19+ cases at our center.  

In addition to the COVID-19+ case today, we had another visit from our state department to investigate and give any advice regarding our policies and procedures. In our conversations with both our state regulators and the team at Tarrant County Epidemiology, both separate groups emphasized that the team was doing everything they would want us to be doing. The team lead from Tarrant County Epidemiology office reassured us that we were doing exactly what we needed to do. She was encouraging and wanted to remind us that it is not uncommon to get more positive tests after the first positive. Additionally, the lead from the Department of Public Health made the point of how impressed she was at how prepared we were.  

I give you their examples because I know and care for each of you as family members, staff, and residents and I want to assure you that others see that, even in an incredibly difficult situation, team members at The Lodge at Bear are rising to the occasion.  

I understand how hard it must be for you to get my notes and room round calls from your loved one’s guardian angels every day. I recognize how difficult it is for everyone to be separated each from other right now – and I want you to know that we here at The Lodge at Bear Creek will continue to do everything within our power to keep our patients safe, cared for, and loved.  

One additional thought – as I’ve previously mentioned – while I can’t go into details about specific health circumstances of any one patient – I can say that many are resting comfortably. Specific interventions including temperature checks every two hours, oxygen checks every two hours, additional hydration as needed and specific pharmacological interventions as prescribed by each patient’s attending physician are allowing us to get ahead of the virus where we can.  

Hopefully you know by now we will do everything we can do contain the spread, protect our care givers, strengthen the foundations of The Lodge at Bear Creek so that someday soon we can return to some type of normalcy. We miss you. We love you. You continue to have our commitment of transparency throughout this process as we fight back against this insidious virus.  

Many thanks for all your thoughts and prayers,  

Sincerely,  

Christian Butler 

Administrator  

The Lodge at Bear creek 

4/15/2020

11:00 AM CST

Dear Family Members, Friends, and Loved Ones of The Lodge at Bear Creek,

We continue to do everything that we can to ensure we prevent the spread of COVID-19 within our facility.  Unfortunately, we have been notified and can currently confirm a second positive COVID-19 case associated with our facility.  

While we cannot go into specific details about the individual (name, health status, etc.) we can say the individual is physiologically stable, is not currently in need of more “urgent” interventions (i.e. not requiring discharge to an acute hospital), and remains resting in the patient room.

As is the case whenever a COVID-19 positive case is manifest at the facility, we are in very close communication with local and state health officials to ensure we are taking the appropriate steps at this time. We can say that since we reported our first positive case, regulators and physicians from both our local health department and local county epidemiology office have been on-site to evaluate our infection control processes, policies, and procedures. Throughout those visits our staff demonstrated what we were doing to isolate the virus, contain the spread, and ensure that our guests and team members were protected and well cared for. Outside regulators were pleased with our efforts and remain committed to assisting us wherever they can as we navigate this pandemic together.

As a reminder – because of the layout and availability of private rooms in our building, every patient currently remains in isolation to their room. All our staff members are working with gloves and surgical masks and gowns during all cares. Additionally, our center is situated with a separate isolation “step-down” unit for patients who are presumed positive and patients under investigation with active symptoms (i.e. either patients who’ve had a confirmed COVID-19+ test or patients with exposure or symptoms consistent with COVID-19+). In our isolation wing – employees are working with gowns, masks, gloves, and goggles. All efforts in room locations are made to isolate and contain the spread to the fewest amount of people possible. For further questions you may have about these specific infection control policies and our response – please see my earlier letter, sent April 8th 2020.

As you likely now well know, COVID-19 is now prevalent in our nursing home, in our county, in our state, and in our country. As we continue to care for your loved one, we will continue to keep you directly informed about the prevalence of the virus in our center. While we do not know exactly how the situation will evolve over the next few days, weeks and months – you have my commitment that we will continue to work doggedly and determinedly until the virus has been fully eradicated. 

Sincerely,

Christian Butler

Administrator

The Lodge at Bear creek

04/08/2020

6:00 CST

Dear Family Members, Friends, and Loved Ones of The Lodge at Bear Creek,

We have done everything that we can to ensure we prevent the spread of COVID-19 within our facility.  Unfortunately, within the last hour, we have been notified and can currently confirm 1 positive COVID-19 case associated with our facility. That individual currently remains under observation at the hospital.  We are in very close communication with local and state health officials to ensure we are taking the appropriate steps at this time. Since the onset of COVID-19, in early March, our staff and residents have followed the recommended preventative actions: we have restricted visitors from entering our facility, practiced infection control policies such as hand washing and proper PPE usage, and cancelled all group activities within the building.  With the confirmed COVID-19 positive case, we will continue to follow best practices until the virus has been eradicated.

Some additional information about our preventative actions and response:

  • Due to patient privacy laws, we are unable to share any further specific information about the confirmed case in our facility, but we have notified their immediate family members/guardian.
  • Resident safety is a top priority for The Lodge at Bear Creek. This virus is especially dangerous to our population—older adults with underlying health conditions—so, this is a critical issue that requires our immediate attention. 
  • The Lodge at Bear Creek is in close contact with our local and state health departments, as well as the CDC, to stay up to date on the information to prevent and manage the spread of Coronavirus.
  • Skilled nursing and assisted living providers rely on local, state and federal resources to help prevent the spread of this virus.
    • We continue to acquire additional personal protective equipment (PPE), so our health care workers have the proper armor for this battle.
    • We have requested priority testing for our patients and health care workers, so we can properly identify anyone who may have the virus but not currently present symptoms, and then take necessary actions to prevent further spread.
  • We have reviewed and updated our infection prevention and control plans and our emergency communication plan.
    • We are following general public health best practices: handwashing, using alcohol-based hand sanitizers and surgical mask usage in patient rooms and common areas throughout the building.
  • We have reinforced to our staff that anyone who is sick should stay home, and we are screening all essential personnel as they enter the building.
  • We will continue to keep family members up to date as this situation unfolds, so they have the latest information about their loved ones.
  • We are restricting all non-essential personnel, per direction from local health department (as well as the federal/state government).
  • Family members can interact with their loved ones by using video chat, calling, texting or checking in on social media.  We will also post updates to our facility website.

FAQ’s

Should families who are worried move their loved ones out of skilled nursing centers or assisted living communities?

  • No. Moving the elderly or frail is risky and often has long-lasting impacts. Research around natural disasters and other emergency events has proven this over time. CDC does not currently recommend transferring residents either home or to the hospital.

How concerned are you for skilled nursing center or assisted living residents?

  • We know that the frail and elderly are especially susceptible to this virus. That’s why we are in close communication with our local health department, CDC and CMS to ensure we have the latest information and resources available.

Are you having trouble getting things like masks and gowns?

  • We have heard that some long term care providers are having some of the same difficulties as other health care providers getting masks and gowns. In our facility, we currently have ample PPE for our residents and staff.  
  • We have coordinated with state and local officials to ensure that our supplies continue to be replenished.
  • It’s important to remind the public that the CDC does not recommend surgical masks for the general public—cloth face coverings are acceptable—so we can prioritize masks for health care workers. We also urge members of the public to not hoard items like hand sanitizer, so we can make that available to residents and staff, who need to use it regularly.

If staff have to stay home because they are sick/schools close, how are you ensuring that there are enough staff to care for your residents?  

  • Our state and national associations are encouraging both federal and state governments to waive current licensing requirements that would hinder care professionals from working across state lines, so we can potentially address any shortages due to employees needing to stay home.  
  • Our state and national associations are also advocating for priority testing for our employees and residents, so we can quickly identify whether staff need to remain at home or if they can come back to work.  

Additional information will continue to be made available through the facility website and the facility Facebook page.  We are grateful to our employees, to our patients, and to the family members of all involved, who give their expertise, their support, and their prayers to defeating this virus.

Gratefully,

Christian Butler

Administrator

The Lodge at Bear creek