As we have stated in previous updates, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is now permitting long-term care settings to institute an Essential Caregiver program that would allow designated individuals to provide care and support to their loved one. This program is a recommendation, not a mandate or a requirement.
The safety and health of our residents and staff has guided our work throughout the pandemic. We have felt the impact of social isolation on our residents’ wellbeing and are thankful MDH has moved forward to allow Essential Caregivers in long-term care settings as one option to provide personal care and meaningful connection between residents and their loved ones. This guidance represents the next step in encouraging safe and responsible visitation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
We are currently reviewing the guidance developed by MDH and are preparing policies and ensuring proper protective measures are in place prior to initiating this program. We will continue to actively monitor the presence of COVID-19 in our setting and the broader community, and will review our policies on a weekly basis to decide when to safely implement Essential Caregivers in our setting.
Our primary goal from when we first learned that the coronavirus was spreading through our state was to protect our residents and staff from this deadly virus. We at Renville Health Services have implemented and are maintaining infection control practices that have allowed us to effectively control and manage the spread of COVID-19 in our setting. As of 6/25/2020, we have had no knew cases of COVID-19 in our care center. Meadows on Main and Prairie View continue to have no cases. We remain cautious in modifying our visitation policies to protect the health and safety of our staff and residents. We ask for your patience and understanding as we continue to do all we can to provide safe, quality care and support our residents.
We know that you are eager to find out if you qualify as an essential caregiver. We ask for your patience and understanding as we develop a plan to move forward and determine when to initiate Essential Caregivers. Watch for additional details in the updates to come. In the meantime, we encourage you to take advantage of our other visitation opportunities. To schedule a virtual visit, closed or open window visits and outdoor patio visits please contact:
- RenVilla – Deb Vizecky at (320) 329-4374
- MOM – Deb Wertish at (320) 329-3788
- PV – Lisa McColley at (320) 848-2093
For any questions or concerns, please contact Casie Knoshal, Administrator at 320 329-7373. Additional information on our planning and preparedness can be found on our website at www.sfhs.org.