Last updated April 5, 2020
I hope that this finds you safe and healthy. These are challenging times and I want to stay in contact to ensure that you are up-to-date with all we are doing to keep your loved one healthy and safe as the COVID-19 crisis continues. As of today, no Wayfinder staff or resident has shown symptoms or tested positive for COVID-19.
Since our last communication (see below link below), we have implemented the following additional measures to minimize exposure and ensure proper staffing ratios:
- We have closed our residential facilities, campus and offices to all visitors with the exception of representatives from licensing bodies and regulatory partners (you should have received a notification about remote visits).
- All services that can be delivered remotely via a telehealth model have been converted to this mode.
- We have given direct care staff a temporary base pay increase.
- Our nursing department has given advanced training on caring for a resident in isolation in preparation for an isolation scenario.
- We have further increased our inventory of personal protective equipment.
- In an abundance of caution, we asked staff who had recently traveled out of state to take a 14-day leave from work.
- All staff have been provided with personal protective equipment, including masks. We have reminded staff that masks do not thoroughly prevent the spread of coronavirus, and have provided training and information about proper use, maintaining a rigorous hand-washing schedule and all other recommended preventative measures.
- At all locations, staff or approved visitors must answer a health questionnaire and have their temperature checked on a daily basis. Residents are also receiving a temperature screen twice daily.
- We have created a comprehensive isolation plan in case a resident is diagnosed or displaying symptoms associated with COVID-19. This plan includes designated staff and several alternate locations for isolation as needed.
Thank you again for entrusting us with your family member/loved one. Please do not hesitate to contact our Chief Program Officer Veronica Arteaga (varteaga@wayfinderfamily.org) with any questions or concerns.
Take care,
Jay Allen
Chief Operating Officer
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March 17, 2020
Given that your that your loved one’s health and safety remains our top priority during this unprecedented time, we have been focused and working diligently to ensure that all of our residential programs have all the support and resources needed to run smoothly.
I would like to share some steps we have taken to ensure to be well prepared:
We established an internal response team and have been monitoring the situation daily since January:
Our nursing director, who has led our medical team for over two decades is using reliable information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help guide us in making important decisions and recommendations for proactive, preventative measures. Even before Los Angeles County declared a state of emergency, we had already set the following into motion:
- We required all staff to immediately take a refresher training course in Universal Precautions.
- We increased cleaning staff in order to sanitize high traffic areas and surfaces with heightened frequency.
- We immediately obtained extra cleaning and sanitation supplies.
- We installed extra hand sanitizing locations at all of our locations
- We have reviewed and supplemented our emergency supplies, including food.
- We have canceled all non-essential travel, large group meetings and special events until further notice to limit our staff and client’s exposure.
- We have canceled visits from volunteers and non-essential guests at all locations and set up virtual meetings until further notice to implement social distancing.
- We have carefully analyzed our staffing needs during this time to prepare for staff being impacted by underlying health issues, school closures, etc. and are prepared to reassign non-operational staff to critical roles if the need arises.
- We are limiting visitors to our residential programs and screening approved visitors, such as parents, for symptoms prior to visits.
I want you to know that we take our responsibility for your children very seriously and are prioritizing their needs during this time. Our commitment to our families and children remains unwavering and we have been working around the clock to ensure that they remain safe and healthy. Thank you for entrusting us with your family. Please do not hesitate to reach out to our Chief Program Officer Veronica Arteaga (varteaga@wayfinderfamily.org) with any questions or concerns.
Jay Allen
Chief Operating Officer
March 17, 2020