Dear Madrona family and friends,
Thank you for your continued support as we work to keep your loved ones safe.
COVID TESTING UPDATE
The Secretary of Health has ordered assisted living facilities with memory care units to offer COVID-19 tests to all memory care residents and staff, and to administer tests to consenting residents (i.e. through their healthcare POA).
WHO:
The tests will be offered to all consenting staff and consenting memory care residents. We ask that designated healthcare POA’s fill out the consent form found
here
.
WHAT:
The tests are provided by DOH at no cost. We do not yet have full information on the type of tests we will receive.
WHEN:
Madrona House plans to conduct testing (after securing consent) by mid-next week, but we’re still awaiting the arrival of our test kits.
WHERE:
These tests will be conducted on-site by our nursing staff
WHY:
DSHS has issued the following statement, “This testing will help show the scope and magnitude of COVID-19 infections in [assisted living] facilities and help inform COVID-19 prevention and control efforts to limit transmission among residents and staff.”
Earlier this week, we hosted a Zoom Q&A session to discuss questions and concerns. A recording of that session can be found
here
. If you have further unanswered questions, please feel free to reach out
via email
to our Director of Nursing Services.
Please note, the results of testing will have no direct bearing on Bainbridge Senior Living policies regarding compliance with Washington State’s
Safe Start plan
. We anticipate no reduction in the restrictions we’re adhering to for the safety of our staff and residents because of test results. Kitsap County remains in Phase 2, but we expect to be in Phase 3 very soon. Under the plan, “high-risk populations” which include residents of long-term care facilities can “resume public interactions with physical distancing” under Phase 4.
