MEDIA INQUIRIES:  Cheryl Sheehan – 203-721-0870

Elim Park Health Care Center Update 10/22/20

October 22, 2020

Dear Health Care Center Resident Family Members and/or Responsible Parties,

Please note this new contact name and number to schedule visitation appointments:   

Allyson Palma, Director of Volunteer Services at 203-272-3547 ext. 370.  Going forward, please contact Allyson for all indoor and outdoor visitation appointments. 

To protect the high risk population we serve, visitors are strongly encouraged to provide documentation of a negative Covid test result within the past week of an indoor visit.   

• Upon arrival, all visitors should go to the front entrance for screening.
• All visitors must follow hand hygiene recommendations, wear a mask, and practice social distancing requirements.
• Two visitors per family.
  If the visitor is a child he/she must be supervised and wear a mask at all times.
• The indoor visitation area in the RCH/Rehab dining room is available for visitors.  This space is in full compliance with the CDC guidelines and includes 3 visitation booths. 
• No pets during indoor visits.
• Also, please note that for safety reasons, the Health Care Center restrooms are not open to visitors at this time.

Thank you for your support of infection protocol measures currently in place.

Continued vigilance

As Connecticut’s Covid 19 prevalence testing rate increases and hospitalizations are steadily rising, several nursing homes in our state are experiencing new Covid cases.  This being said, while we thankfully remain Covid-free at this time and are doing all we can to keep our community safe, we are prepared for the what-if’s.  Staff continue to be screened daily and tested weekly, supplies of PPE are abundant and readily available, and we are actively planning for all possibilities.  

We will provide updates as necessary.  However, we ask for your prayers that we remain shielded from this virus as we enter colder months.  In the meantime, should have any questions, please contact Morgan Dickson, MSW, Director of Social Services at 203-819-6030.  

May God bless you and our Elim Park family.

Change to Elim Park Place (Independent Living) Visitor Guidelines effective 10/19/20:

Important Update to Visitor Guidelines – Documentation of a negative Covid test is now required for indoor visitation at Elim Park Place (Independent Living).

As of Monday, October 19, visitors will be asked to provide documentation of a negative Covid within 7 days prior to each visit.  Outdoor visitation without Covid testing is still permissable.  

As reported in the news, the Coronavirus is heading in the wrong direction across the country, in our own state and those that share our borders. Each day we hear of significant outbreaks in schools and colleges, rising hospital admissions in 34 states, and more towns identified as hot spots with increasing positivity rates.  In New York, public and private schools in certain areas have closed this week in an effort to contain the spread.  Unfortunately, I think we’d all agree that we’re certainly not out of the woods yet.  

Your efforts in supporting safety measures in place have been vital to our continued success thus far.  With the spread of positive cases all around us, however, we feel it is necessary at this time to increase safety precautions even more.

This decision was made in collaboration with the local health department.   While we understand that this is cumbersome and difficult for residents and their families, we feel it is an important step in protecting our Elim Park community.   In the current world we live in, getting tested has become its own act of love for those we care about.  

We hope you understand and respect this decision. We are committed to doing everything possible to keep staff and residents safe.  We have come too far together to let our guard down now. 

Connecticut Travel Advisory:

Updated October 20, 2020

Please refer to this link for the complete up-to-date list of states included in this advisory:  CT Travel Advisory

If you have traveled to any of these states within the last 14 days, please refrain from coming to our campus to visit outdoors with your loved ones.

This list will be updated on a regular basis as the situation develops across the country.

Thank you for your cooperation in helping us keep our community virus-free.

Psalm 91 Hope, Faith, Pray

Click below for coronavirus testimonials from staff in their own words.