Alva Review-Courier -

The last resident testing positive for Covid-19 at Share Convalescent Home was on Feb. 11, according to Administrator Kelly Parker. He said that resident was a transfer from another facility.

The nursing home reopened for visitors on Feb. 18 although visitors must make appointments. One staff member is stationed at the door from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day to help with screening visitors. A visitation booth is being constructed and painted for use by those who cannot or choose not to have Covid testing. Parker said that visitation is going well and it has been good for the residents.

The nursing home saw a “tremendous increase” in skilled nursing days. This is a higher level of care but also a higher level of reimbursement which helped the nursing home to have a positive income for the month.

The nurse call system had an average response time of 3 minutes, 54 seconds with 68 percent being answered in five minutes or less. There were 4,045 calls during February using the system.

Share Convalescent is still waiting for the engineer to inspect the HVAC system and make recommendations. Parker said first there was a weather delay and then the engineer was exposed to Covid and quarantined. Just as his quarantine was about to end, he developed symptoms and tested positive for Covid. So the nursing home is still waiting for his visit. Once the engineer visits, the nursing home will need to consult with the state facilities board about how to proceed. Meanwhile Parker describes the nursing home temperatures as “never comfortable.”

The facility experienced a sewer drain line clogged and needed repairs. Then a drain line for the kitchen froze due to poor design. The drain was run through an outside air duct. This meant the dishwasher could not be used for a few days.

During the freezing weather, a furnace unit froze and broke resulting in a small flood on the west wing short hall. The cause was a door that didn’t get pulled closed by a resident.

Parker said the security system is still not completed. Some of the magnetic locks they hoped to reuse will have to be replaced. The roam alert system is now working with notifications going to pagers rather than over hallway speakers.

Nearly 75 percent of the nursing home staff has been vaccinated. All residents have been vaccinated except for those who received the bam infusions for Covid. They must wait for a specific number of days before being vaccinated.

Nine staff members participated in the Leading Age Conference virtually in the preceding two weeks. This resulted in well over 150 hours of education for staff.

Homestead Report

Parker also reported on the Homestead retirement center. Although they’ve had no recent move-ins, they are expecting one in the next week. The census in February was down a little from January.

The Homestead is cautiously opening up with the front doors now unlocked. This makes it easier for resident to come and go and feel more independent. Residents are now allowed to have one guest at lunchtime. Residents are able to have two or three guests or visitors in their apartments.

A new ice dispenser for the café turned out to be one needing electrical and plumbing work done before the installation instead of the easy plug-in type dispenser that was expected.

Currently the Homestead is refurbishing a one bedroom apartment and a studio apartment.

No problems were experienced with the below freezing temperatures.