COVID-19 Update
Hanover Hill Covid-19 Dashboard (as of 3/25/2024)
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# In-House Active Covid-19 Residents/Patients |
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Hanover Hill Health Care Center remains committed to providing the highest quality of care and compassion to our residents. Please be assured that your loved ones are being well cared for by our highly skilled, caring staff. We believe the vaccines are an essential tool and continue to promote, educate and encourage all residents and staff to be vaccinated.
All visitors are recommended to:
Sign-in at the main lobby
Perform hand hygiene before/after visiting
Consider wearing a well-fitting face mask throughout the facility
Refrain from visiting when feeling ill
**The CDC recommends staying up to date with the mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine**
Facility Updates
December 22, 2023
Dear Hanover Hill Families & Friends,
I want to give a brief update before the holiday weekend. Unfortunately, we continue to experience an uptick in Covid positive cases in the facility. Therefore, as we continue our efforts to prevent the spread of the virus to unaffected units, second floor residents will be unable to dine in the main dining room or attend activities outside of their units, at this time.
We understand this is not the best news to be communicating so close to Christmas, however, we will do our best to make the holiday special for residents, and it is our hope that we will be able to resume normal activities shortly. In an effort to proactively address transmission, our Infection Preventionist will continue to perform scheduled Covid testing of all residents on the affected floor. Of note, our main dining room will be closed starting Tuesday, December 26th for a few days to allow for flooring renovations. During this time, all residents will be dining in their rooms and activities will be modified on each unit.
If you plan to visit your loved one on second floor, a face mask should be worn at all times and we highly recommend refraining from visiting if your loved one is currently on isolation. You may continue to reference our Covid-19 & Visitation Page on our website for daily numbers.
As I close this letter, I do want to wish everyone a Happy Holiday and Healthy New Year. We appreciate all of your support and patience, especially in this challenging time. We have a lot to celebrate as this year comes to a close, and we look forward to a bright new year.
Warmest Regards,
Lori McIntire, Administrator
December 18, 2023
Dear Hanover Hill Families & Friends,
Due to the rise in positive cases we are currently experiencing, we are airing on the side of caution and cancelling our Holiday Open House this Wednesday, December 20. Please know that this decision was not easy to make as we were very much looking forward to hosting this special event. However, we feel it is best to avoid large group gatherings at this time to help keep the virus from spreading to other residents, staff and visitors.
For those of you who have enjoyed some of our craft nights, we will be hosting a fun Gingerbread Cookie Decorating activity in our Main Dining Room on Wednesday evening (12/20) from 5:30pm-7:00pm, up to two (2) guests per resident may attend. If you would like to join us for the cookie decorating, please RSVP by end of day Tuesday (12/19) to Customer Service at (603) 627-3826 ext. 337 or by email Customerservice@hanoverhill.com. Please provide your name, resident name and indicate if another guest will be joining you. Although not a requirement, we will ask all attendees to wear a face mask.
As I close this letter, if you plan to visit your loved one at any point during the holidays, please reference signage throughout the facility as it changes frequently. We ask that you follow our infection control practices, and strongly suggest not visiting if you are not feeling well – even the slightest cold can easily spread to residents who are very susceptible to severe illness.
Please continue to refer to our website at HanoverHill.com/contact-us/covid-19-visitor-policy page for updated Covid-19 cases.
Warmest Regards,
Lori McIntire, Administrator
December 15, 2023
Dear Hanover Hill Families & Friends,
We continue to experience Covid transmission in the facility, with a total of three (3) residents at this time. To help mitigate the spread of the virus, staff are required to wear face masks on our second floor nursing units, and residents and visitors are strongly encouraged to wear a mask as well.
We are in collaboration with the Manchester Public Health Department and following all infection control recommendations. Our infection preventionist continues to provide on-going education to staff and residents, and is closely monitoring compliance to ensure best infection control practices are being met. At this time, the Manchester Public Health Department is not restricting our dining or activities, although we encourage all residents to wear a mask and practice good hand hygiene when outside their rooms.
As always, we continue to educate and encourage all residents, staff and visitors to remain up to date with the current vaccine recommendations. If you prefer not to visit but would like an update on your loved one, please feel free to contact his/her Nurse Manager.
Please know that we will provide further updates on our resident Covid-19 cases through our facility website HanoverHill.com/contact-us/covid-19-visitor-policy page.
Sincerely,
Lori McIntire, Administrator
December 12, 2023
Dear Hanover Hill Families & Friends,
As per CMS requirements, we must continue to notify you of any positive Covid-19 cases. We have confirmed one (1) positive resident case of Covid-19. As always, the individual is following all CDC isolation guidelines at this time.
Surgical face masks continue to be available in our main lobby and nursing units for anyone who desires to wear a mask when visiting. We strongly recommend that all visitors follow our infection control protocols:
Winter tends to bring an increase in potential virus(es) transmission so we ask everyone to be extra vigilant in following all infection control practices to help us keep our residents safe and healthy as possible this season.
Our Hanover Hill Covid-19 & Visitation Information Page has been updated. Feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns you may have.
Sincerely,
Lori McIntire, Administrator
September 19, 2023
Dear Hanover Hill Families & Friends,
As per CMS requirements, we must continue to notify you of any positive Covid-19 cases. We confirmed two (2) positive cases of Covid-19 in one (1) resident room. As always, the individuals are following all CDC isolation guidelines at this time.
Surgical face masks continue to be available to any visitors who desire to wear a mask. As I previously communicated, flu season is almost upon us so we ask everyone to be extra vigilant in following all infection control practices to help us keep our residents feeling well.
Our Hanover Hill Covid-19 & Visitation Information Page has been updated. Feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns you may have.
Sincerely,
Lori McIntire, Administrator
September 12, 2023
Dear Hanover Hill Families & Friends,
On Monday, we completed our final round of response testing as requires for nursing homes experiencing Covid-19 outbreaks, with no positive cases. Therefore, we are considered out of outbreak with all of our cases resolved and no new positive cases, at this time.
We understand that Covid-19 may continue to be prevalent in the community and with the seasonal flu just around the corner, we ask you to be vigilant with following all infection control protocols we have in place (i.e.; wearing a face mask when indicated, proper hand hygiene practices, refraining from visiting when ill). In addition, it is important to reference all signage posted throughout the facility when visiting as information often changes frequently.
Relative to flu season, our infection preventionist will be providing influenza education to staff and residents in the coming weeks about the importance of receiving the annual flu vaccine. We anticipate having the vaccine later this month with expectations to administer the annual flu shot to residents and staff in early October, under the direction of our Medical Director, Dr. Athar.
We will continue to update our Hanover Hill Covid-19 & Visitation Information Page as needed. If you should have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Sincerely,
Lori McIntire, Administrator
August 25, 2023
Dear Hanover Hill Families & Friends,
As a follow-up to our previous communications this week regarding a Covid outbreak, we wanted to provide you the most up to date information.
Our staff remain hard at work attending to the individual needs of all residents while doing all that we can to ensure we minimize the potential spread of the virus. We appreciate your support. Please continue to refer to our HanoverHill.com website (Covid-19 & Visitation Information Page) to stay apprised as to the status of the virus in our facility.
As always, I am available for questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Lori McIntire, Administrator
August 22, 2023
Dear Hanover Hill Families & Friends,
We are currently experiencing a significant outbreak of Covid-19 on our First Floor and Memory Care Units. Therefore, we have posted updated signage indicating that face masks are required to be worn by anyone entering those units at this time. All affected first floor residents are currently following quarantine protocols, however, as I stated in yesterday’s communication, the MCU is a specialized unit thus we are keeping all MCU residents on the unit due to their inability to effectively quarantine in their rooms. Our medical director and nurse practitioner are actively caring for affected residents to help manage symptoms.
We are in collaboration with the Manchester Public Health Department and following all infection control recommendations. Our infection preventionist continues to provide on-going education to staff and residents, and is closely monitoring compliance to ensure best infection control practices are being met.
As always, we continue to educate and offer the Bivalent vaccine to our residents and staff, and we encourage all visitors to remain up to date with the current vaccine recommendations. If you prefer not to visit but would like an update on your loved one, please feel free to contact his/her Nurse Manager.
As a reminder, the following infection control measures remain in place when:
· All visitors are still asked to sign in at the main lobby.
· Please DO NOT VISIT if you are feeling sick or unwell.
· Face masks are encouraged to be worn throughout the facility (required on First Floor Unit & MCU)
· Guests are encouraged to use the hand sanitizer stations located throughout the building.
· We encourage social distancing to the extent possible while visiting.
Our Hanover Hill Covid-19 & Visitation Information Page on our HanoverHill.com website has been updated for reference.
Sincerely,
Lori McIntire, Administrator
August 21, 2023
Dear Hanover Hill Families & Friends,
As per CMS requirements, we must continue to notify you of any positive Covid-19 cases within our facility. We have confirmed one (1) positive case of Covid-19 in a resident on our memory care unit (MCU). Therefore we have posted signage outside the MCU doors instructing staff to wear a surgical face on the unit, and we encourage visitors to wear a surgical face mask when visiting as well.
Based on MCU being a specialized unit with the inability to effectively quarantine an affected resident to their room, we are closely monitoring all residents on MCU for signs/symptoms of illness and offering masks to residents who will wear one. To help mitigate the spread of the virus, MCU residents will remain on the unit for activities and dining (with the exception of the spa room) at this time. We have increased infection control sanitation procedures on the unit as well as throughout the facility.
As a reminder, please continue to refrain from visiting if you are experiencing any signs or symptoms of illness and remember to use the hand sanitizer stations located throughout the facility when here.
Future updates on any additional positive Covid-19 cases will be posted on our HanoverHill.com website (Covid-19 & Visitation Information Page) so we encourage you to check our page frequently to stay apprised as to the status of the virus in our facility.
As always, I am always available for questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Lori McIntire, Administrator
May 22, 2023
Dear Hanover Hill Families & Friends,
Due to the federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) ending, we have updated some of our policies and procedures to align with the PHE changes. As of today, all visitors will no longer have to sign-in using our Accushield Kiosk. In lieu of the kiosk, we are asking all visitors to utilize our new sign-in book conveniently located in the main lobby.
We kindly remind all visitors to perform hand hygiene before/after visiting, consider wearing a well-fitting face mask if indicated and to refrain from visiting if experiencing any signs or symptoms of illness.
Our facility continues to adhere to all infection prevention protocols as we move forward in resuming pre-pandemic events and activities for your loved ones. We enjoyed a wonderful National Skilling Nursing Care Week last week with lots of fun events throughout the week. We hope to kick-off our weekly BBQ season on May 31st (weather permitting) – residents and staff are truly looking forward to it!
Sincerely,
Lori McIntire, Administrator
April 10, 2023
Dear Hanover Hill Families & Friends,
We hope everyone had a nice holiday with loved ones - we welcomed many of you throughout the day yesterday! Our residents enjoyed a wonderful Easter meal and a visit from the Easter Bunny – we will share more details and photos from the day in next week’s e-newsletter.
As per CMS requirements, we must continue to notify you of any positive Covid-19 cases. We confirmed one (1) positive case of Covid-19 in a resident inadvertently through our serial testing protocols for re-admissions late yesterday. The individual is following all CDC isolation guidelines, and we have increased infection control sanitation procedures on the affected unit.
There remains no change to our universal mask use at this time. You may still choose to wear a face mask while in the facility, however, it is not required when visiting your loved one. As a reminder, please continue to refrain from visiting if you are experiencing any signs or symptoms of illness.
Sincerely,
Lori McIntire, Administrator
March 24, 2023
Dear Hanover Hill Families & Friends,
We confirmed one (1) positive case of Covid-19 in a staff member. The individual’s job duties do not include close contact with any residents, and the individual is following all CDC isolation guidelines before returning to work. This communication continues to be required by CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) for confirmed COVID-19 cases.
Per our previous communication, there remains no change to our universal mask use at this time. You may still choose to wear a face mask while in the facility, however, it is not required when visiting your loved one.
Sincerely,
Lori McIntire, Administrator
March 21, 2023
Dear Hanover Hill Families & Friends,
In September 2022, the CDC stated that healthcare facilities may choose not to require universal source control when the community level is low, and community transmission is not high, and maintains those level designations for two weeks or longer. We have met these criteria and decided to no longer require universal mask use within our facility at this time. Should this information change at any point, we will update you with the latest information.
Hanover Hill continues to adhere to all infection prevention measures recommended by the CDC which includes the following:
· Encourage all residents, staff and visitors to remain up to date with all recommended Covid-19 vaccine doses.
· Continue to encourage residents to wear a face mask when outside his/her room due to their higher risk of contracting illness.
· Anyone entering the facility with symptoms of Covid-19 or close contact with someone with the SARS-CoV-2 infection should defer non-urgent in-person visitation until 10 days after symptoms or close contact exposure.
· Anyone with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection should defer non-urgent in-person visitation until he/she has met the healthcare criteria to end isolation.
· Perform proper hand hygiene before/after visiting.
· Maintain social distancing to the extent possible in the building.
In the event of a Covid-19 outbreak, proper signage will be posted and face masks will be required on the affected unit.
Although we are elated to see all the smiling faces that have been hidden by facial coverings over the past three years, we want to remain vigilant with all of our infection control practices. Face masks will remain available at the front desk for anyone who would like to continue to wear a face covering. Please do not visit when feeling ill and help us by following all protocols noted above. As always, I will continue to communicate any pertinent updates and am available for any questions or concerns.
Warmest regards,
Lori McIntire, Administrator
March 6, 2023
Dear Hanover Hill Families & Friends,
As per our CMS requirement to notify you of each new occurrence of Covid-19, we confirmed one (1) positive case of Covid-19 in a staff member today. The individual is currently out of work until the CDC recommended quarantine period has been met. As of today, we have a total of three (3) in-house Covid-19 positive residents whom all are anticipated to be off precautions by the end of this week, and one (1) positive staff member as indicated above.
I also want to provide a brief update that the majority of GI symptoms have resolved on the first floor therefore residents who are feeling well are able to attend activities and dining off the unit as of today. We continue to monitor and make adjustments as necessary for any resident(s) demonstrating signs/symptoms of illness.
Sincerely,
Lori McIntire, Administrator
March 1, 2023
Dear Residents, Family Members and Visitors;
This afternoon we confirmed three (3) new positive cases of Covid-19 in residents. As always, all residents are adhering to isolation protocols, and enhanced infection control measures continue to be enforced throughout the facility.
In addition, our first floor unit is currently experiencing a very sudden and quickly spreading GI illness, also known as acute gastroenteritis. We are following best practices in treating our affected residents in collaboration with our Medical Director, Masooma Athar, MD, and Shannon Duclos, ARNP, as well as the state health department. Although we are not certain of the specific variant of this virus, we are acting out of an abundance of caution due to the number of illnesses thus we are keeping all first floor residents on the unit for dining and activities at this time. For this reason, we strongly discourage visitation at this time. Our activities staff can accommodate virtual Facetime visits in lieu of in-person visits by contacting their office at (603)627-3826 Ext. 311.
If you do choose to visit, we require a surgical face mask to be worn at all times, continued screening with each visit, and visits to remain at bedside in an effort to limit movement throughout the facility. And most importantly, DO NOT VISIT IF YOU ARE FEELING ILL. Please remember that proper hand hygiene is essential in helping us to stop the spread of illnesses. The CDC recommends the use of frequent hand sanitizer, both before and after contact with any resident while the use of soap and water is indicated after having had contact with anyone suspected of experiencing acute gastroenteritis.
In closing, we appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to ensure your loved ones are safely cared for. As always, please contact your loved ones Nurse Manager with any specific questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Lori McIntire, Administrator
February 21, 2023
Dear Hanover Hill Families & Friends,
We confirmed one (1) additional positive case of Covid-19 in a staff member today. This brings our total positive Covid-19 cases to eight (8); two (2) staff members and six (6) residents.
Sincerely,
Lori McIntire, Administrator
February 20, 2023
Good afternoon Residents, Family Members and Visitors;
We wanted to take a moment to bring you up to date on confirmed positive Covid-19 cases in the facility. Per CMS guidelines, we are still required to notify you of each new occurrence therefore currently we have a total of one (1) staff member who is out of work and following all quarantine protocols for healthcare personnel as well as six (6) in-house positive residents/patients. Please note that three (3) of the positive resident/patient cases were found during the required admission/readmission sequential antigen testing and have not been identified as acquired in-house. All residents/patients are following the necessary ten day isolation protocol in a health care facility, and our staff continues to use PPE (personal protective equipment). Our environmental services team has also enhanced disinfecting in an effort to prevent transmission of the virus.
We kindly ask that you continue to remain vigilant and not visit if you are experiencing any signs or symptoms of illness. In the event your loved one is on isolation, please contact Social Services (Lynn Guenther, Ext. 309 or Michelle Lavoie, Ext. 344) if you would like to arrange a FaceTime "visit" as we are happy to help facilitate this process while your loved one is recuperating.
As stated in previous communications, this information will be available at the front desk upon entrance to our facility as well as publicly posted on our Hanoverhill.com website until all cases are resolved. We will continue with timely electronic communications to all those individuals who have provided their email to us to ensure everyone is apprised of important health updates and other special facility events and activities.
Best Regards,
Lori McIntire, Administrator
February 16, 2023
Dear Hanover Hill Families & Friends,
We confirmed one (1) additional positive case of Covid-19 in a staff member today. This brings our total positive Covid-19 cases to three (3); two (2) staff members and one (1) resident.
We continue to remain vigilant with all infection control protocols providing on-going education to staff and residents on practicing good hand hygiene, wearing a mask and reporting any illness to help mitigate further spread of the virus.
The Hillsborough County Covid-19 positivity rate remains at a substantial level thus please help us as well by following all infection prevention strategies we have in place.
I’m always available for any questions or concerns you may have.
Sincerely,
Lori McIntire, Administrator
February 14, 2023
Dear Hanover Hill Families & Friends,
Late yesterday we confirmed one (1) positive case of Covid-19 in a resident. The resident is presently following the CDC quarantine protocols we have in place.
Sincerely,
Lori McIntire, Administrator
February 13, 2023
Dear Hanover Hill Families & Friends,
We confirmed one (1) positive case of Covid-19 in a staff member today. The individual will remain out of work until the CDC recommended quarantine period has been met.
Sincerely,
Lori McIntire, Administrator
February 8, 2023
Dear Hanover Hill Families & Friends,
This afternoon we confirmed one (1) positive case of Covid-19 in a resident. This resident is currently following all CDC quarantine guidelines per our Medical Director. This communication continues to be required by CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) for confirmed COVID-19 cases.
As always, feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Lori McIntire, Administrator
January 25, 2023
Dear Hanover Hill Families & Friends,
This morning we confirmed one (1) positive case of Covid-19 in a staff member. The individual does not have any resident contact and is currently following all CDC quarantine guidelines prior to returning to work.
As always, feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Lori McIntire, Administrator
January 10, 2023
Dear Hanover Hill Families & Friends,
We currently have one (1) resident and one (1) staff member completing their last day of quarantine. Both will be off isolation precautions as of tomorrow (1/11). In addition, we have one (1) unrelated staff member who tested positive for Covid-19 today. The individual is following all CDC quarantine protocols before returning to work.
Sincerely,
Lori McIntire, Administrator
January 5, 2023
Dear Hanover Hill Families & Friends,
We have confirmed a new positive case of Covid-19 in one (1) staff member today. The individual is not currently working and is following quarantine guidelines. We anticipate closing a few of our active cases over the next couple of days as they meet the criteria to be removed from the Covid-19 dashboard. Feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Lori McIntire, Administrator
January 2, 2023
Dear Hanover Hill Families & Friends,
As of today, we confirmed a new positive case of Covid-19 in one (1) resident and one (1) staff. We have updated our Covid-19 Dashboard to reflect a total of five (5) active cases as some earlier cases have met the isolation requirements and are now considered recovered.
Sincerely,
Lori McIntire, Administrator
December 29, 2022
Dear Hanover Hill Families & Friends,
Just a brief update today - we have a new positive case of Covid-19 in one (1) resident. In an effort to keep everyone informed of daily cases, we have put the Covid-19 Dashboard back up in the main lobby. The dashboard will remain in the main lobby until the surge of cases resolves. We have also added the dashboard to our online website at www.HanoverHill.com.
Sincerely,
Lori McIntire, Administrator
December 28, 2022
Dear Hanover Hill Families & Friends,
We confirmed a new positive case of Covid-19 in one (1) resident and one (1) staff member this morning. The new positive resident resides on our memory care unit (MCU). Based on the inability to entirely quarantine resident(s) on that unit due to their cognition status, we posted proper signage advising visitors that they may be at higher risk of contracting the virus. As an additional infection prevention measure, we kindly ask MCU visitors to consider refraining from non-emergent visitation if at all possible until the positive resident has met quarantine requirements.
Again, as I’ve shared in previous letters, we anticipate having positive cases throughout the winter months due to increased indoor activities and visitation. As a reminder, the CDC recommends that visitors with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection or known close contact exposures to defer non-urgent in-person visitation until he/she has met the healthcare criteria to end isolation (CDC website reference https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/infection-control-recommendations.html).
As always, feel free to contact your loved ones nurse manager or our social services department with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Lori McIntire, Administrator
December 27, 2022
Dear Hanover Hill Families & Friends,
We confirmed a new positive case of Covid-19 in one (1) resident and one (1) staff member today. The staff member has not worked at our facility since 12/25, and both individuals are following isolation guidelines. To date, we have a total of three positive (3) in-house residents and one positive (1) staff member.
We are in collaboration with the Manchester Public Health Department and following all infection control recommendations. As of 12/27, Hillsborough County remains in substantial (red) transmission so please continue to wear masks when visiting and do not visit if feeling sick.
In closing, we hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas holiday. It was so nice to see so many of you visiting over the past week enjoying the holiday season together. We were grateful to hand deliver special gifts to every resident through our Adopt-A-Resident program and local state agencies Christmas Bag Project, and our dining services team presented a delicious prime rib meal for residents and staff to enjoy on Sunday afternoon. We look forward to sharing many 2023 memories with all of you.
Sincerely,
Lori McIntire, Administrator
December 20, 2022
Dear Hanover Hill Families & Friends,
In follow up to yesterday’s communication, and per CMS requirement to notify residents and families of any positive cases, we have confirmed a new positive case of Covid-19 in a staff member. The individual is following isolation protocols before returning to work.
As always, I will continue to send notifications of any further positive cases.
Sincerely,
Lori McIntire, Administrator
December 19, 2022
Dear Hanover Hill Families & Friends,
We have confirmed an additional positive case of Covid-19 in a resident, making our current active cases totaling two (2) residents. To date, any identified high-risk close contacts of the positive residents have continued to test negative.
As expected, COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations are rising in many parts of the U.S. following the Thanksgiving holiday, and it is projected to continue through the winter as most gatherings are indoors with loved ones and respiratory viruses like the flu and Covid-19 spread more easily.
CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) announced on Friday that seniors continue to have the highest risk of being hospitalized and dying because of Covid-19. Over the past two months, nearly 90 percent of Covid-19 deaths nationwide have occurred in individuals over 65+ years of age. At Hanover Hill, our primary mission is to ensure the health and safety of our residents and staff so it is very important that we continue to request the following:
· DO NOT visit the facility if you are experiencing any signs/symptoms of illness
· Wear your mask while inside the facility
· Utilize the hand sanitizer stations when entering and exiting the facility
· Get your Influenza and Covid-19 vaccines
The New Hampshire Division of Public Health Services surveillance report for period ending December 3, 2022 states widespread flu transmission in the state. Per the report, they indicate that the annual flu vaccine remains the best way to protect against flu and its potentially serious complications.
We highly encourage everyone to remain up-to-date on Covid-19 vaccines. You may reference the following website https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html?s_cid=11747:cdc%20fully%20vaccinated%20definition:sem.ga:p:RG:GM:gen:PTN:FY22 for more information.
If you have further questions on the Flu or Covid-19 vaccine for yourself or your loved one, please reach out to Laura McGee, Infection Preventionist Nurse, at 603-627-3826 Ext 316, or ask for her when visiting during the daytime hours at facility. Laura would be happy to provide further education and/or assistance in obtaining additional resources or access to vaccines.
Sincerely,
Lori McIntire, Administrator
December 12, 2022
Dear Hanover Hill Families & Friends,
Today we were made aware of two (2) positive cases of Covid-19, one (1) in a staff member and one (1) in a resident. Both individuals remain on quarantine. As being reported in the news, there has been an uptick in respiratory viruses being referred to as the trifecta of Flu, RSV and Covid-19. We continue to educate our staff on all infection prevention strategies to help protect our residents and each other during this challenging season.
Hanover Hill Health Care Center encourages all residents and staff to protect themselves through updated vaccination, including the Covid Bivalent booster and the 2022-2023 Influenza (flu) shot. Vaccines are still available, so if you are interested in receiving a booster or flu vaccine, please contact Laura McGee, Infection Preventionist, at 627-3826 Ext. 316.
As always, I will notify you of any further developments.
Sincerely,
Lori McIntire, Administrator
December 6, 2022
Dear Hanover Hill Families & Friends,
This afternoon we confirmed a positive case of Covid-19 in a resident. The individual remains under our care and is following all isolation precautions we have in place at this time. In careful review of close contacts, we feel that this case is unrelated to our positive staff cases.
For the safety and welfare of our residents and staff, we must implore ALL visitors to refrain from entering our facility to visit loved ones if he/she is feeling ill for any reason. We have seen an increase in visitors answering “no” to screening questions on the Accushield Kiosk when they are experiencing cold-like symptoms. Please DO NOT VISIT if experiencing even the slightest bit of a cough, sore throat, congestion, as these illnesses/symptoms can easily expose our residents to sickness.
Further updates will be provided as necessary.
Sincerely,
Lori McIntire, Administrator
December 5, 2022
Dear Hanover Hill Families & Friends,
As of today, a third unrelated positive case of Covid-19 has been confirmed in a staff member. The individual is not currently working and is following all quarantine protocols at this time. As always, I will keep you informed of any further developments.
Sincerely,
Lori McIntire, Administrator
November 30, 2022
Dear Hanover Hill Families & Friends,
This afternoon, we confirmed a second unrelated positive case of Covid-19 in a staff member. The individual is not currently working and is following all quarantine protocols at this time. As always, I will keep you informed of any further developments.
Sincerely,
Lori McIntire, Administrator
November 30, 2022
Dear Hanover Hill Families & Friends,
We confirmed a positive case of Covid-19 in a contracted employee late yesterday afternoon. The individual is following all quarantine protocols at this time, and we are currently conducting contact tracing to identify if any residents or staff meet surveillance testing criteria. Further updates will be provided if we confirm any additional new cases.
As a reminder, flu season is upon us and the best way to help us prevent the spread of illness is to follow all infection control measures we have in place:
· All visitors MUST check-in using the Accushield Kiosk PRIOR to visiting his/her loved one.
· Please DO NOT VISIT if you are feeling sick or unwell.
· Face masks should be worn while in the building at all times.
· Guests are encouraged to use the hand sanitizer stations located throughout the building.
· We encourage social distancing to the extent possible while visiting.
If you have specific questions regarding your loved one, please contact his/her Nurse manager and/or Social Services.
Sincerely,
Lori McIntire, Administrator
October 20, 2022
Dear Hanover Hill Families & Friends,
We confirmed a positive case of Covid-19 in a staff member this morning. The individual is following all quarantine protocols at this time, and we have taken additional steps on the unit to help prevent the spread of infection.
As a reminder, the following infection control measures remain in place:
· All visitors MUST check-in using the Accushield Kiosk PRIOR to visiting his/her loved one.
· Please DO NOT VISIT if you are feeling sick or unwell.
· Face masks should be worn while in the building at all times.
· Guests are encouraged to use the hand sanitizer stations located throughout the building.
· We encourage social distancing to the extent possible while visiting.
Based on contact tracing, it is felt that the individual tested positive due to community exposure. We are actively coordinating response testing of any affected staff/residents considered a high risk exposure, to proactively identify if there are any additional asymptomatic cases. An update will be provided if any additional positive cases are identified. Our website will be updated weekly.
If you have specific questions regarding your loved one, please contact his/her Nurse manager and/or Social Services.
Sincerely,
Lori McIntire, Administrator
September 15, 2022
Dear Hanover Hill Residents, Families & Friends,
In an effort to keep everyone as informed as possible, we are seeing an uptick in confirmed positive Covid-19 cases throughout the community, and currently have two (2) residents and one (1) staff member following Covid-19 isolation protocols. We understand that as the cooler weather approaches more visits will be held indoors thus we respectfully implore all visitors to refrain entering our facility if they have any signs or symptoms of illness (even mild cold symptoms).
Our Infection Preventionist is working closely with our assigned case manager at the Manchester Public Health Department, and we continue to adhere to all infection control recommendations to assist us in preventing further spread of the virus. To date, fully vaccinated persons have only experienced mild cold symptoms so we are thankful for the benefits of the Covid-19 vaccines and boosters.
Our HanoverHill.com website will be updated weekly with in-house Covid-19 cases as well as any pertinent infection control updates. If you need any assistance accessing our site or having any additional questions, please feel free to contact Holly Lansdale, Customer Relations Director, at (603) 627-3826 Ext. 337. Per CMS regulations, face masks are still required for all staff and visitors, and we encourage residents to wear a mask when outside his/her room.
Lastly, many of you may have seen or heard the recent recommendations regarding the new Bivalent Covid booster, eligible to those persons twelve (12) years of age or older, whose initial and/or previous Moderna or Pfizer booster was greater than two (2) months. We will provide another update once we obtain more information from our pharmacy partners on available resident/patient and staff booster clinics.
Sincerely,
Lori McIntire, Administrator
September 13, 2022
Dear Hanover Hill Families & Friends,
Late yesterday afternoon, we confirmed a positive case of Covid-19 in a resident on our skilled nursing unit. The individual is following all quarantine protocols at this time, and we have taken additional steps on the unit to help prevent the spread of infection.
As a reminder, the following infection control measures remain in place:
· All visitors MUST check-in using the Accushield Kiosk PRIOR to visiting his/her loved one.
· Please DO NOT VISIT if you are feeling sick or unwell.
· Face masks should be worn while in the building at all times.
· Guests are encouraged to use the hand sanitizer stations located throughout the building.
· We encourage social distancing to the extent possible while visiting.
Per guidelines, we are actively coordinating response testing of any affected staff/residents considered a high risk exposure, to proactively identify if there are any additional asymptomatic cases. As always, I will provide an update if any additional positive cases are identified.
If you have specific questions regarding your loved one, please contact his/her Nurse manager and/or Social Services.
Sincerely,
Lori McIntire, Administrator
May 17, 2022
Dear Hanover Hill Families & Friends,
I want to provide a brief communication in an effort to keep everyone apprised on the status of the virus in the facility. Please continue to reference the Covid-19 Dashboard on our HanoverHill.com website for daily updates.
As of today:
· MCU residents remain quarantined on the unit until May 20th. The majority of MCU residents have experienced mild to moderate cold/flu symptoms, and daily activities continue to be offered on the unit for resident enjoyment. All dedicated staff working on the MCU continue to wear full PPE (N95 respirator mask, gown, eye protection and/or face shield).
· All other units are in response testing based on CMS guidelines. We continue to maintain contact with our Manchester Public Health Case Manager and follow all recommendations. As an additional precaution, we have temporarily suspended combining units for dining and activities, and will reassess at the end of the week.
· The highest infection control cleaning/disinfecting continues to be performed including the frequent use of our EMist Electrostatic Sprayers to effectively disinfect all common areas throughout the facility.
· The community transmission rate for Hillsborough County (utilizing the CDC Covid Tracker required by CMS) is at 13.52% as of 5/13/22, leaving the county in substantial transmission.
Despite the challenges associated with the virus, we carefully orchestrated events and activities to recognize and celebrate National Nursing Home Week (NSNCW) last week, and will share some of the highlights in tomorrow’s e-newsletter. With warmer weather here, we encourage families and friends to visit outdoors as much as possible – our back patio furniture is set up with tables, chairs and umbrellas for your comfort!
May 10, 2022
Dear Hanover Hill Families & Friends,
As of this morning, our Memory Care Unit (MCU) is experiencing a Covid-19 outbreak in both residents and staff. Therefore, out of an abundance of caution and to help prevent further transmission of the virus, we highly discourage MCU family and friends from visiting their loved ones until all cases are considered resolved on the unit. If you feel that a visit on MCU is necessary, please adhere to all infection control practices, and visits may only occur in the resident room. Please note that the facility does not supply N95 respirators to visitors. For all other visitors, please be aware that there is an increased risk of visiting during an outbreak thus consider refraining at this time.
Effective immediately:
· MCU residents will be quarantined on the unit for ten (10) days. All affected MCU resident DPOA’s have been contacted with an update on his/her loved one. If there is a significant change in your loved ones condition, the medical provider and/or Nurse will contact the responsible party.
· All dedicated staff working on the MCU must wear full PPE (N95 respirator mask, gown, eye protection and/or face shield).
· Enhanced cleaning/disinfecting will be regularly performed, especially often-touched surfaces and common areas both inside and outside the unit to reduce further spread of the virus.
· Specialized activities will continue to be offered to MCU residents on the unit.
· If a visit with a MCU resident is desired, the visit must take place in the resident’s room.
· Any resident on the MCU who has not been confirmed with a positive Covid-19 test, has been identified as a direct exposure and will receive response testing, as indicated.
Per our previous communications, our 1st floor unit continues to remain in response testing at this time.
The community transmission rate for Hillsborough County (utilizing the CDC Covid Tracker required by CMS) has slightly increased (11.8% as of 5/6/22), leaving the county in substantial transmission.
Please do not hesitate to contact Social Services or your loved ones Nurse for updates.
Sincerely,
Lori McIntire, Administrator
May 5, 2022
Dear Hanover Hill Families & Friends,
We completed our initial round of response testing of our 1st floor unit with no new positive cases. However, this week we have had an additional two (2) unrelated staff members present with symptoms and subsequently test positive for Covid -19. We will perform a second round of response testing for identified 1st floor close contacts on Friday, May 6, with a follow-up scheduled for Monday, May 9.
The community transmission rate for Hillsborough County (utilizing the CDC Covid Tracker required by CMS) is 10.89%, substantial transmission. As always, we continue to take all infection preventative measures necessary in an effort to mitigate further spread of the virus and will maintain communication with any new developments.
Residents will be educated and encouraged to wear their masks while outside of his/her room, as able, and we ask that visitors maintain vigilance through proper hand hygiene, wearing a face mask and social distancing from staff and other residents. Looking ahead to warmer weather approaching next week, we suggest outdoor visits while taking advantage of the sunshine and fresh air on any of our beautiful outdoor patios.
Additionally, we did complete our second Covid vaccine booster clinic provided by HealthDirect Pharmacy. The second booster is eligible to any resident and/or staff member who is 50+ years of age or immunocompromised; and has received the first booster at least four months ago.
We look forward to kicking off National Nursing Home Week with a special Mother’s Day Tea and a fun-filled week of individual and group activities for both residents and staff as we celebrate the national theme, “Creating and Nurturing Connections”.
As always, please do not hesitate to contact Social Services or your loved ones Nurse for updates.
Warmest Regards,
Lori McIntire, Administrator
May 3, 2022
Dear Hanover Hill Families & Friends,
Hanover Hill has just been made aware of one (1) staff member testing positive for Covid-19. The individual has been instructed to follow all quarantine protocols prior to returning to work.
Per guidelines, we are actively coordinating two rounds of response testing of residents that had close contact and any staff considered a high risk exposure to occur over the next seven (7) days, to proactively identify if there are any additional asymptomatic cases.
As always, I will provide an update of any further positive cases, and/or at the conclusion of response testing. If you have specific questions regarding your loved one, please contact his/her Nurse manager and/or Social Services.
Sincerely,
Lori McIntire, Administrator
February 25, 2022
Dear Hanover Hill Families & Friends,
Happy Snowy Friday! What an interesting weather week this has been – from sitting outdoors enjoying the sunshine earlier this week, to digging out from the snow today. New England weather is always so unpredictable!
I want to wrap up with a final outbreak notice. Today, we performed our last round of Covid-19 response testing with no new cases. Therefore, we are officially out of outbreak status and do not have any residents on isolation at this time. Obviously, we know that things can change at any time however, it is important to celebrate this milestone as overall community positivity rates continue to decrease. We have removed the dashboard from our main lobby and website – yay! In addition, we have had no new cases of the Norovirus and have concluded this outbreak.
As always, we will continue with all of our infection prevention efforts to ensure the safest environment possible for our residents, staff and visitors. Please understand that the recent state announcement on face masks does not include health care facilities at this time. Therefore, we are still required by federal regulation to ensure that all persons entering the facility wear a well-fitted face mask and meet the screening procedures at the front desk. Visitation may resume in the public lounge areas, however, we still ask that you socially distance from other residents/staff in those rooms and throughout the building.
Stay warm and safe, and reach out with any questions or concerns at any time.
Best regards,
Lori McIntire, Administrator
February 21, 2022
Dear Hanover Hill Families & Friends,
As of this morning, we have no active resident cases of the Norovirus Gastroenteritis in the facility and we have one (1) active Covid-19 that will complete their quarantine period tomorrow. Following our testing protocols, we will continue with response testing until we have sustained a period of 14 days without any further positive cases.
We continue to monitor all residents very carefully for signs and/or symptoms related to the viruses.
We are always available for questions, comments or concerns.
Sincerely,
Lori McIntire, Administrator
February 14, 2022
Dear Hanover Hill Families & Friends,
Just a brief update that we continue to experience cases of the Norovirus Gastroenteritis throughout the facility and active Covid-19 cases remain posted on our website. All of our infection prevention measures remain in place, and we continue to work in collaboration with the state health department on best practices. At this time, we still recommend limiting visitation to only those visits that are absolutely necessary.
On a happier note, our dining, activities and customer service departments are busy celebrating Valentine’s Day on each unit today with lots of special treats and personal valentine cards. You may check out our Facebook page later today for photos!
We are always available for questions, comments or concerns.
Happy Valentine’s Day,
Lori McIntire, Administrator
January 21, 2022
Dear Hanover Hill Families & Friends,
We continue to experience a surge in Covid-19 positive cases, and the status of our cases is reflected on both our website and lobby dashboard daily.
The team at Hanover Hill has been doing an amazing job working together to ensure the needs of our residents are met, while incurring the most significant staffing shortage in our history coupled with the constraints brought by either individual and/or household Covid-19 cases. We have implemented the decreased duration of isolation allowing us to bring back our staff as soon as possible, while maintaining the utmost infection prevention protocols. As you may have noticed, we have mandated the use of N95/KN95 respirator masks for all staff, in all departments, at all times.
While we remain open for visitation, we strongly encourage each of you to consider the risk of continued spread during these substantial transmission rates. Today, the CDC reported that the Hillsborough Country positivity rate is 27.79%, and we know this is lower than actual as it does not accurately reflect the amount of positive cases identified through home antigen tests. If you do choose to visit, we respectfully request that you consider the at-risk population we serve by;
· Being fully vaccinated against Covid-19 (including the booster)
· Have not been considered a direct exposure to Covid-19 within the past ten (10) days
· Are not experiencing any recent symptoms of illness
· Wear a properly-fitted face mask at all times while inside the facility
We thank you for our continued patience and understanding as our staff continues to work very hard to deliver the best care and services within the challenges faced by the healthcare profession and beyond.
As always, reach out to me with any questions, comments or concerns.
Sincerely,
Lori McIntire, Administrator
"The medical and nursing care is excellent. The providers were very good about keeping me informed of what was going on with my mother and her care. Your nurse practitioner was excellent about listening and reacting to my concerns. We were very pleased with the vast majority of the staff and there were a couple who went above and beyond to meet my mother's needs and happiness."
- Kathie Skinner
"Overall attentiveness and friendliness of all employees was best! Thank you."
- Stephen Gilmartin
"The atmosphere in the back was so nice; very peaceful and calming, even for visitors, with the fish pond, waterfall, day lilies and water fountains. The regular festivities and especially the weekly summer BBQ's were the best. Having a place for patients to have their hair and nails done, stocked kitchenettes, snack cart and lobby refreshments are all great ideas. The consideration of the patients was impressive."
- Sophia Rice
"The caring, the knowledge and the kindness of the entire staff are what make Hanover Hill an outstanding facility. I was treated with genuine care and concern by every staff member. The meals are excellent and the physical surroundings are immaculate inside and beautiful outside. Therapy kept me moving and gave me great strategies to deal with doing things. "
- Sara Blanch