This is a summary of the methods we have taken so far to protect our residents and staff from the threat of the Coronavirus.
March 2nd to 6th:
visiting restricted to bedrooms only.
Stock checked and orders placed.
All public areas deep cleaned.
Daily or as required relatives group emails started.
Information posters put up at front entrance and notice boards.
Installed electronic hand sanitiser unit at front entrance.
Surfaces and door handles sanitised 2 hrly
Staff briefed.
Handkerchiefs and extra bins placed around the home.
March 7th & 8th:
Home closed to non essential visits.
Residents temperatures taken.
Aprons and gloves provided for any visiting health professionals.
Commenced bedroom deep cleans
Surfaces and door handles sanitised 2-hourly.
March 9th to 13th:
Non essential visits discouraged, relatives asked to phone ahead if they were planning to come up. No more than 2 visitors and only in bedrooms.
Residents temps checked daily.
Pushing fluids regularly
Information posters updated.
Wednesday club visit cancelled
Continued communication with relatives.
Staff temperatures taken.
Stock data sheets checked to determine if we should change to something else (no need).
Staff briefed.
Continuing bedroom deep cleans
Purchased new freezer to increase stock capacity in event of kitchen staff taking unwell
March 14th & 15th:
Home will be closed to non essential visits indefinitely.
All previous measures continuing
Management in close and direct contact with the home at all times.
March 16th -23rd
All previous measures continuing
Brief staff on current situation
Allow time to allay fears and answer any questions
Arts and crafts project postponed
Usual Mother’s Day celebrations cancelled, other measures taken
Formalise contingency plan
Increase activities to combat chance of loneliness
Establish video communication with relatives
Send daily bed stats to GCC
Liaise with suppliers re stock levels
Review menus if any changes of supplies require
Keep in close contact with GP surgeries and enquire if pharmacist is expecting any stock shortages
Review care plans
Do not allow delivery drivers into the home, all orders to be placed at the front door and staff will bring in.
Continually monitor news and governmental advice.
March 24th – 30th
As above plus
Staff to take temperature when they come in and record it
Staff to bring a change of clothes and change into it before starting work and out of it before leaving.
Key staff to bring in a weeks worth of clothes in case they need to stay
Set up beds in annexe space for staff to stay
Enhance communication with relatives and start Facebook and WhatsApp groups, possibility for hour by hour updates.
Hold pyjama days for staff and residents and restrict residents to bedrooms only for 3 days.
Organise doorway activities
Recruit laundry staff
Arrange cleaner cover (annual leave cover)
Contact NHS triage for PPE supplies.
March 31st- April 5th
As above plus:
Issued ID badges to staff
Some GP’s providing extra just in case medication.
Council were in contact about converting annexe into bedrooms.
Updated care inspector.
April 6th – 12th
As above plus:
Changed staff rota to 12 hour shifts to reduce footfall in the home and give staff longer time off with their own families.
Manager moved into the home as he was travelling 80 miles between work and home.
Rearranged lounges to keep chairs at least 2 meters apart as some residents were anxious about staying in their rooms.
Took out a contract with Citation to cover all our Health and Safety, HR and staff training under one company.
April 13th -26th
Held an outdoor concert with Kevin Gillon, professional crooner, on the 14th. Broadcast live on Facebook, huge success with family members able to watch and see the fun we were having.
Continuing with previous contingency measures, still no cases present and none suspected so all measures are working well.
With the new rota in place we now have a ratio of 1:4.8 from 8am till 8pm, 1:6 from 8 to 10 pm and 1:8 from 10pm to 8am, as well as the manager staying on the premises.
Made up #clapforcarers posters to display and use during our thursday night clapping video.
Had an outdoor karaoke concert, couldn’t broadcast this one as one resident attending did not consent so we respected their wishes.
April 27th – 3rd May
Continuing with previous safety measures.
Started consultation with family members on social media groups to discuss ideas for safe visits once measures are eased off.
Booked another singer for Friday 1st May.
New feature on care planning software, for tracking COVID-19 symptoms in residents, started.
May 4th – 10th May
Carrying on with current measures, appearing to work well.
Consulting with staff re Annual Leave to ensure good rest and healthy minds.
New notification to be sent to Care Inspectorate re Staffing.
New notification to be sent to GCC re Bed stats.
Now able to get PPE on a weekly basis from local hub.
Preparation for VE Day celebrations.
Interviewed by STV journalist re positive sides to care.
Entertainer booked for Friday 8th (VE Day concert outdoors)
May 11th – 17th
Continue with current measures.
News Story on STV 🙂 re staying positive and covid free
Review new testing guidance.
News Story on Sky News re confusion over testing.
May 18th – 24th
Continue with current measures
introduced mask wearing for staff at all times
Received an Amazon Echo Show from NAPA
Reviewing Risk Assessments
Updating Care Plans
Updating staff questionnaires in accordance with new lockdown measure guidance.
May 25th – 31st
Continue with current measures
Went along for a COVID test to see what was involved (-ve)
Still no cases or suspected cases
Devised a Pathway to Safe Visiting & accompanying Risk Assessment, sent to relatives and Scottish Care.
Arts & Crafts were the residents preference this week, some were drawing pictures, others continued to knit Angels.
Bought paddling pools for the residents to enjoy in the garden but they were having none of it.
Story about us in the Sunday Mail, they tried to be negative but the resulting comments were very positive and supportive.
Abbey Court 1:0 Sunday Mail
June 1st – 14th
Continue with current measures
Still no cases
no staff off sick
Received 4 iPad’s as a donation
All residents well and happy
Developed a Pathway to Visiting and accompanying risk assessment to share with relatives to work towards safe visits.
June 15th – 22nd
Current measures working well and continuing.
Good feedback received from Pathway to visits and set up a trial online booking system for controlled visits, no concrete time when we can start but we will at least be prepared.
June 23rd – June 28th
Continue with current measures
Recruiting for new cleaning staff
Received new guidance on outdoor visits
Informed relatives of next steps
received new guidance on staff testing, to being this week and weekly thereafter
All tests came back negative
June 29th – July 5th
Start preparing for visits next Monday
Ordered more tests for staff weekly testing
July 6th – July 19th
All current safety measures still working well.
Infection Control inspection from NHS, passed.
Visiting outdoors has commenced.
Staff testing going well, all results are coming back negative.