09/16/2021
Cashmere Post Acute
Community Letter
September 13, 2021
Dear Residents and families,
I hope this letter finds you all healthy and safe. As many of you are aware, our healthcare environment across the country has evolved and changes have been constant. The regulations which govern our long-term care facilities are updated almost weekly as we try to ensure the safety and care needs of our residents. I wanted to take this opportunity to provide some facility updates and appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding as we navigate these uncharted territories.
In order to provide a healthier environment for our residents, staff and visitors, our facility will be transitioning from a smoking to a non-smoking facility effective October 15, 2021. The harmful effects of secondhand and thirdhand smoke in addition to the fire dangers are simply too great to ignore. We are writing to provide you with an update concerning our smoking policy. Strict adherence to the policy and procedures must be followed by both residents and visitors.
Our Building’s New Smoke-Free Policy
Effective October 15, 2021, all new residents will be required to sign our revised smoke free agreement which explains our smoking policy. Please consider this letter as notice about the changes that will be taking place. Please note, residents who are currently participating in our scheduled smoking groups, admitted under our previous smoking policy, will be permitted to smoke if desired or provided options such as smoking cessation and/or information on other facilities or settings that will be able to meet his or her needs in terms of quality, service and location. A copy of this notice has been sent to the Office of State Long-Term Care Ombudsman.
Resident Visits
As our county positivity rate continues to hover between 30-50%, our policy is to facilitate all resident/family visits outside, utilizing facility provided PPE for both family and resident and exercising social distancing as much as possible. Once the county positivity rate decreases to 10% or lower, indoor visits will resume in our lobby. As the winter months approach and outside temperatures decrease, the visits will still be regulated by the county positivity rate and the facility will provide a warm, safe, and clinically appropriate outdoor visiting space should the positivity rate be above 10%. The facility also has numerous iPads and Tablets to facilitate virtual visits should you elect for this option. We will also facilitate compassionate care visits in resident rooms to those applicable individuals.
Our desire is to have families in our facility and visiting with their loved ones. We again appreciate everyone’s cooperation with calling our facility to schedule their visits, completing the screening process prior to the visit and adhering to the infection control protocols which assist in ensuring the safety of your loved ones and our community.
COVID Vaccinations and Testing
Due to the high county positivity rate, all staff working at Cashmere Post Acute are tested twice a week for COVID-19. The regulation stipulates the following testing schedule for staff:
10.1% or greater: twice a week testing
10% or less: once a week testing
5% or less: once a month testing
In the event a staff member tests positive, they will be sent home and follow CDC guidelines for quarantine and a contact tracing investigation will ensue. Notifications will be available via our facility website: www.cashmerepostacute.com. Notifications via our website will also be available should a resident test positive and the family, guardian, POA, etc. will be notified via phone.
We also continue to work with our pharmacy, River Village Pharmacy, with facilitating the Moderna vaccine. 95% of our resident population have opted to receive the vaccination and staff percentages continue to escalate following new mandates and regulations revolving around healthcare workers. The vaccine is available through our pharmacy with visits to our facility every 28 days.
Facility Upgrades
Our facility has undergone significant capital improvement projects including all new interior paint, flooring, and roofing. We have additional projects including the facility’s facia, soffits, signage, and artwork. We are eager to share these updates with you and hope that regulations will again permit visits in resident rooms at the residents’ leisure and desire.
Lastly, we love our residents and greatly appreciate the support, treats, letters and words of affirmation that have been expressed by families towards our staff. We have a tremendous support network and together we’ll continue to provide exceptional care and experiences for our incredible residents.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me directly.
Best Regards,
Paul Foltz - Administrator
Cashmere Care Center is a skilled nursing home facility that meets patients short term rehabilitation and long term care needs. Our goal is to provide a wonderful service to the community and ensure that our residents our receiving excellent care.
