Visitation

We are pleased to welcome our families and friends back into our centers after a long pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Visitor education forms are provided in Connecticut and Massachusetts. Visitation can continue even for those who are COVID + , as long as the visitor is wearing proper personnel protective equipment.

Vaccination 

To protect all residents, staff, and others in our communities from the known and substantial risks of COVID-19, Athena Health Care Systems and its managed centers have strongly advocated and educated our staff, residents and their families to become vaccinated. We also strongly advocate for the vaccination of all health care personnel. COVID-19 vaccines protect health care personnel when working both in health care facilities and in the community. They provide strong protection against workers unintentionally carrying the disease to work and spreading it to patients and co-workers.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recommends all staff to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or have an approved religious exemption on file as explained below:

Two types of employee exemptions can be implemented: medical and religious exemptions. As of October, our facilities must ensure that all personnel (including non-direct care staff) are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 unless:

• Administration is medically contraindicated, which means administration of COVID-19 vaccine is likely to be detrimental to the individual’s health, or
• The individual objects to vaccination based on a sincerely held religious belief and the individual is able to perform their essential job functions with a reasonable accommodation that is not an undue burden on the nursing home.

Employees may not otherwise decline the vaccine.

As a reminder – if your loved one is not yet vaccinated, please contact their center to schedule a vaccine. Booster shots are currently being administered to our residents.