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Care centers taking precautions in Sun Cities

Protecting the most vulnerable

Posted 4/6/20

In communities like the Sun Cities where most are in the high risk categories for coronavirus, some of the most vulnerable are those in care or assisted living facilities.

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Care centers taking precautions in Sun Cities

Protecting the most vulnerable

Posted

In communities like the Sun Cities where most are in the high risk categories for coronavirus, some of the most vulnerable are those in care or assisted living facilities.

State and center officials put precautions in place to provide protections for those residents. Most were in place before Gov. Doug Ducey’s “stay at home” order announced March 30, which went into effect March 31.

“I wake up and go to bed thinking about the safety of our residents and staff,” said Dean Kidder, Sun Valley Lodge, 12415 N. 103rd Ave., Sun City executive director.

Sun Valley officials limited visitors to their facility, allowing them only in end of life circumstances, Mr. Kidder said. Staff is also screened as they come in to work.

“Those with a high temperature or flu-like symptoms are sent home,” Mr. Kidder said.

Staff is also screened with a questionnaire. Those who have traveled to a high COVID-19 incident area are also sent home, according to Mr. Kidder. Staff complaining of aches and fatigue are also closely examined, he added.

“We have no COVID-19 cases among our staff or residents here,” Mr. Kidder said the week of March 23.

Washington state had a high incidence of COVID-19 cases in nursing homes at the start of the virus incidents earlier this year. Mr. Kidder said that concerned Sun Valley staff.

“This is at the top of our priority list,” he said.

According to Center for Disease Control and Prevention officials, there are 400 long-term care centers nationwide that reported COVID-19 cases. That included an increase of 172%, from 146, since March 23.

CDC officials offered a set of guidelines for care centers and Sun Valley Lodge officials are following those closely, as are officials at Brookdale Camino del Sol, 14001 W. Meeker Blvd., Sun City West, as well as all other Brookdale communities, according to Heather Hunter, Brookdale Senior Living public relations project manager.

“Brookdale’s number one priority is the health and safety of our residents, patients and associates,” she stated in a media release. “We remain focused on prevention. We are acting with an abundance of caution.”

Brookdale officials are also restricting visitors to end of life situations, according to Ms. Hunter. In such cases, visitors are screened prior to entry and restricted to the loved one’s room or another designated area within the facility. Health screenings are not limited to visitors, but conducted on anyone coming into the community, Ms. Hunter added.

“Brookdale suspended all sponsored/planned group outings and requests that unless medically necessary, residents refrain from making trips from the community,” Ms. Hunter stated.

Ms. Hunter did not indicate there was a confirmed COVID-19 case at Brookdale Camino del Sol, but if any were found, facility officials will follow CDC guidelines.

Brookdale officials also keep in communication with residents’ and patients’ families, and are providing meaningful and safe engagement opportunities, according to Ms. Hunter.

Atria Heritahe of Sun City, 10101 W. Palmeras Drive, officials also put a number of precautionary measures in place. Staff there, for the past several weeks, have been singularly focused on preparing for and responding to COVID-19, according to Mike Gentry, Atria Heritage senior vice president of care.

“We have escalated our safety protocols and expanded our extensive emergency-scenario planning at all Atria communities, including Atria Heritage Sun City,” he stated in an email.

Beginning March 4, Heritage officials began actively screening all visitors and prohibiting anyone from working in any of the communities if he or she is unable to pass the screening or develops an illness while working, according to Mr. Gentry. They took additional steps March 9, including eliminating all excursions to public places and, March 12, included limiting visits to only essential visitors, such as immediate family members and critical medical providers.

“On March 22, we implemented full quarantine protocols at all Atria communities,” Mr. Gentry stated. “We are taking residents’ temperatures twice per day and symptom screening employees three times per day to help ensure our residents and employees stay healthy and safe.”

Heritage officials are closely monitoring the situation and continue to follow the recommended guidelines from the Maricopa County Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control, according to Mr. Gentry.

“We also continue to refer members of our communities to the local departments of health so they may receive adequate assessment and testing for COVID-19 when appropriate,” Mr. Gentry stated. “We are conducting daily calls with each of our communities to ensure they have the appropriate supplies and are tracking inventory closely. Our primary concern right now is supporting our residents and staff.”

Arizona Department of Health Services officials posted a checklist on their website, azdhs.gov, for screening visitors at care centers.

State officials said staff, essential outside contractors and all visitors are to be screened. That screening is to include checks for symptoms consistent with COVID-19. These include a fever of 100.4 F or higher, new onset of a cough within the last 14 days, shortness of breath and contact with a COVID-19 patient within the previous 14 days.

If visitors are allowed within a facility, they should be educated on hand hygiene, limit touching of surfaces, limit movement to the area of business only, limit physical contact and if they become ill with COVID-19 within 14 days of their visit they should contact facility officials immediately.

Officials from other Sun Cities area care centers — The Gardens of Sun City, Grandview and Royal Oaks — were also contacted multiple times for input for this story but none responded by press time.