COVID-19 Updates from ACC Senior Services

July 24, 2020

ACC CARE CENTER REPORTS CASES OF COVID-19

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic ACC Care Center has worked diligently to follow the evolving guidance from local, state, and federal resources in order to maintain the safety and health of our valued residents and staff. ACC maintains robust infection control practices, a universal masking requirement, daily symptom screenings, and strict personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements. ACC also implemented visitation restrictions in accordance with regulatory guidance to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Unfortunately, with COVID-19 numbers surging in Sacramento County and throughout California, ACC Care Center had its first resident with COVID-19 positive results in July.

In early July, a new resident was admitted to the ACC Care Center after two negative COVID tests taken prior to admission. A few days later, while the resident was still in quarantine, ACC Care Center tested all of the staff and residents as part of its routine testing in its COVID-19 response plan. Unfortunately, this newly admitted resident now tested positive under this round of testing, though all other residents and staff tested negative. ACC notified county and state health officials and is working directly these officials to monitor the situation.

A short time later, ACC Care Center completed another round of routine testing and received the difficult news that multiple residents and staff members now tested positive for COVID-19. We timely notified our residents, their family members, responsible parties, and primary physicians. We also notified our staff members. The residents who tested positive were safely transferred out to the hospital for follow-up. The staff members are self-isolating at home under guidance from county health officials.

ACC Care Center will continue to work with the California Department of Public Health and Local Health Department to conduct follow-up testing and closely monitor the results. Our staff and management team are working diligently to ensure the welfare and wellbeing of our residents and staff. We appreciate the support and encouragement of our ACC community as we work through the daily complexities brought on by this novel coronavirus.

June 9, 2020

UPDATE ON ACC SENIOR SERVICES’ PROPOSED PLAN FOR A SURGE UNIT AT MAPLE TREE VILLAGE (MTV), WHICH WAS PRELIMINARILY ANNOUNCED IN APRIL 2020

This proposal was formulated in response to regulatory guidance and with the health and safety of the residents and staff as the primary objective. Unfortunately, at this time, ACC will not be moving forward with its proposal.

On May 28, 2020 the Department of Social Services, the main regulatory body for MTV and Greenhaven Terrace (GT), determined that the present circumstances did not support ACC’s request. After additional communication with the Department, ACC’s Board of Directors made the decision not to pursue further approval of the proposal under the current circumstances.

Our community will respond to any future confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 at MTV or GT based on currently applicable guidance and the availability of resources at the time such case is identified.

ACC’s primary focus was, and remains, the health and safety of the residents and staff at all ACC facilities, as well as throughout our community. ACC and the Care Center/MTV/GT Leadership will continue to evaluate the evolving COVID-19 landscape with the goal of providing exemplary care to all of our residents.

May 4, 2020

ACC CONTINUES DILIGENT MEASURES HELPED BY GENEROUS DONATIONS

ACC continues to enforce rigorous COVID-19 screening and prevention measures at all of its facilities. No additional cases have been reported among residents or employees, other than the one employee who tested positive for COVID-19 on April 9, 2020.

There has been an outpouring of support from the community in the form of surgical and home-made masks, goggles, and face shields. We have also seen an increase in monetary donations to help provide staff with the necessary equipment and personal protective equipment .

ACC’s plan for a surge unit to provide post-acute care for COVID-19 patients in an unoccupied, closed-off wing of Maple Tree Village is still being reviewed by governmental agencies, and therefore, is a work in progress. Until approved, ACC will continue to prepare diligently in the event it needs to be activated.

April 22, 2020

ACC RESPONDS TO COMMUNITY CONCERNS OVER PROPOSED SURGE UNIT FOR COVID-19 PATIENTS

ACC Senior Services has responded to concerns over the proposed use of an isolated section of ACC Maple Tree Village, their new assisted living community, to provide post-acute care to ACC and community members who test positive for COVID-19. The proposed plan for this unit includes utilization of five to ten rooms in a dedicated, closed off, section of the community.

ACC is a non-profit organization that owns and operates ACC Maple Tree Village (an assisted living and memory care community), ACC Greenhaven Terrace (a senior apartment complex and assisted living community), and ACC Care Center (a skilled nursing facility). The ACC Care Center has earned a Five-Star Quality Rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) continuously since 2013. To date, none of the residents in any of ACC’s three communities have been diagnosed with COVID-19.

“We can certainly understand why some of the residents and family members at Maple Tree Village are fearful,” said Melanie Segar, ACC’s Chief Operating Officer, who was also interviewed for a story that was broadcast April 21 on KCRA Channel 3 (watch here). “The world is dealing with an unprecedented virus and we are all worried about it spreading. At the same time, this is a 65,000 square foot facility being used by only 25 residents right now. Maple Tree Village infrastructure provides the safest approach to isolating any residents who may become infected and keeping them away from our healthy seniors. Our primary focus is the health and safety of our residents and staff at all ACC facilities as well as the community at large.”

ACC started developing its COVID-19 surge plan in response to regulatory guidance. On March 30, 2020, the California Department of Public Health mandated (read All Facilities Letter here) that skilled nursing facilities “shall not refuse to admit or readmit a resident based on their status as a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 case.” In response to the mandate, ACC took a proactive and responsible approach to develop a surge unit and to ensure that its residents receive the best care possible in this challenging environment.

ACC’s plan for a surge unit at Maple Tree Village has been reviewed and vetted by medical professionals, architects, building experts, and the appropriate government agencies. If activated, it will be operated by dedicated skilled nursing personnel under ACC’s skilled nursing license. Staff will not work at or enter into other areas outside of the surge unit. There will be no shared services, equipment, or staff. Each room has its own HVAC unit. The stringent infection control practices that have been in place at ACC Care Center will be employed at ACC Maple Tree Village. The 65,000 square-foot building that opened on January 20, 2020, is only 25 percent occupied (25 of 102 apartments are currently occupied), making it the ideal location to sequester the proposed surge unit.

On Wednesday, April 15, before the KCRA story ran, ACC held a town hall Zoom meeting with residents of Maple Tree Village and their families. During the two-hour educational meeting staff explained the plan and answered questions posed by family members. The primary issue was “why bring the virus here?” Ms. Segar says, “After careful planning and thorough discussion with experts, we believe this is the best alternative to safeguard our residents.” In the greater Sacramento community, others have been advocating that hotels and conference centers should be converted to surge units. She adds, “The logistics of converting non-medical buildings and building infrastructure is not an option at this time. We have the facility and we have excellent, dedicated staff. It is our mission at ACC to provide the best care to all of our seniors, whether or not they have contracted COVID-19.”

April 21, 2020

FIRST COVID-19 CASE REPORTED

From the onset of the pandemic, ACC’s goal has been to communicate regularly and transparently to our stakeholders, so they you will know we are doing all we can to protect our residents and staff.

On April 9, 2020, ACC Care Center Administrator, Tamara Kario, received a notice from an employee that this employee tested positive for COVID-19. This employee was completely asymptomatic, showing no signs of fever, cough, body aches, or breathing difficulties. The last time this employee was in our facility was on April 2, 2020, reporting that a family member had symptoms of COVID-19.

ACC Care Center has been preparing for weeks for exactly this type of incident. We began our response protocol the same hour we received this notice, starting with contact tracing to identify people the staff member came in close contact with. We began the review of our video footage to see which areas of the Care Center the employee was in. We initiated notification to Sacramento County Public Health and California Department of Public Health. We also met with our employees that afternoon and notified the board that evening.

On April 12, members of the ACC Board Officers and Executive Team – along with the Administrator, Director of Nursing and Medical Director of the ACC Care Center – conducted a town hall meeting via Zoom with family members from ACC Care Center to answer questions pertaining to the incident. Since then, our staff has been providing updates to family members via email and one-on-one communication.

As of today, there have been no other reported cases of COVID-19 among ACC staff and residents.

People who carry the COVID-19 virus but show no symptoms present a unique challenge to ACC and facilities like ours worldwide. We are not alone in this battle but rest assured that we have a dedicated and well-trained staff caring for your loved ones.

Since the end of February, ACC has employed a series of best practices, including providing in-service training to staff on hand hygiene, infection control best practices, masking and correct use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and taking the temperatures of our employees and residents each shift. The front door is always locked. The only people who come into our facility are essential personnel.

We receive daily updates/guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), California Department of Public Health, and Sacramento County Public Health. We review and implement guidance from the aforementioned agencies into our daily practices.

On April 17, 2020, the California Department of Public Health published the names of each skilled nursing home with a resident or employee who has tested positive for COVID-19. ACC Care Center, along with Eskaton Care Center Manzanita and Midtown Oaks Post-Acute in the Sacramento area, were reported today by the Sacramento Bee as having positive cases among employees. In addition, Melanie Segar, ACC’s Chief Operating Officer, was interviewed by KCRA Channel 3 for a story that was aired at 5:00 p.m. on April 18 to highlight ACC’s best practices in mitigating the spread of the virus. Watch video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_sQoCGOXbA

Through all this, it is important that we all support each other. We all look forward to the day when life will be normal again. If we are all diligent in following the stay-at-home directive, social distancing, hand washing, and other measures, that day will come sooner than later.

We will continue to provide updates to everyone regarding new developments amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Please continue to remain at home and stay healthy.

March 24, 2020

There has been a surge in anti-Asian sentiments with some of our national leaders and politicians labeling COVID-19 pandemic as the “Chinese Virus.”

Read the press release on the STOP AAPI HATE Reporting Center established by the Asian Pacific Planning and Policy Council (A3PCON), Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA) and San Francisco Asian American Studies Department to collect and track incidents of anti-Asian American and Pacific Islander hate violence, adult harassment, discrimination, shunning, and child bullying in California and throughout the country. The reporting center will enable individuals who have been directly impacted by or witnessed firsthand this issue to share their stories at www.a3pcon.org/stopaapihate.

Please share this link and help us report any incidents that adversely affect our community.A

March 11, 2020

Amid concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic, all divisions within ACC Senior Services are taking precautionary measures to protect the health and well-being of our participants, volunteers, and staff members.

To this end, effective Monday, March 16, 2020, ACC is temporarily suspending the following activities:

Lifelong Learning & Wellness Program classes, clubs, and meetings. This includes classes that meet at all ACC sites.
All facility rentals including churches and clubs.
In-person meetings and home visits related to Bridge to Healthy Families Caregiver Support Program.Support will be provided via telephone.
Friendly Visitor and Senior Companion visits.
Utilities Education & Assistance in-person meetings. Services will be provided via telephone, email, and fax.
SCSEP in-person meetings. Services will be provided via telephone, email, and fax.
HICAP in-person meetings.Services will be provided via telephone, email, and fax.
Non-essential transportation via ACC Rides will be suspended (starting Wednesday, March 18, 2020). Supportive and critical transportation will continue at this time.

In addition, we are postponing the following events to the later part of the year:

Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon (originally scheduled for May 2, 2020)
Big Day of Giving Party (originally scheduled for May 7, 2020)
ACC Golf Tournament (originally scheduled for May 21, 2020)

ACC will continue to monitor the situation and keep our community informed. These changes will remain in place through May 31, 2020. A decision on what will happen on June 1, 2020 and beyond will occur at a later date based on the latest coronavirus information at that time.

In the interim, ACC Care Center, Greenhaven Terrace and Maple Tree Village will remain open for admissions. Visitors are being screened and visiting hours may be restricted. No groups are permitted during this time.

Please check the ACC website at https://www.accsv.org/ for updated information on COVID-19. We also encourage you to get the latest reports on the CDC website, www.cdc.gov. Our hope is that this issue will be resolved and we can return to providing all of our regular services to the community.

Thank you for your understanding and for being our partner in keeping our community safe and healthy.

March 5, 2020

ACC Senior Services is closely monitoring the global spread of COVID-19, the “coronavirus,” and is taking measures to protect the health of our community.

Our goal is calm preparedness, as stressed by health experts and advocates for the elderly. So far, no incidents have been reported at any of the ACC’s facilities or among the people we serve.

COVID-19 is a respiratory illness that can be spread from person to person. The symptoms include fever, cough, and shortness of breath, with many patients developing pneumonia in both lungs.

To slow the spread of coronavirus disease into the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is working with state and local public health partners to implement after-travel health precautions.

Depending on your travel history, you will be asked to stay home for a period of 14 days from the time you left an area with widespread or ongoing community spread which includes China, Iran, Italy and South Korea.
If you were in one of these countries within the past 14 days and feel sick with fever, cough, or have difficulty breathing, you should seek medical care. Call the office of your health care provider before you go and tell them about your travels and your symptoms. They will give you instructions on how to obtain care without exposing other people to your illness. While sick, avoid contact with people, don’t go out and delay any travel to reduce the possibility of spreading illness to others.

So far, there is no antiviral treatment for the disease which makes prevention very important to each and every one of us, especially the older adult population. The CDC recommends the following:

Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20
seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.
Stay home when you are sick.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. COV

ACC is a very social environment. As hard as it may seem, we need to maintain “social distances” of a few feet near people who show symptoms.

Rest assured that ACC is keeping its staff and volunteers educated and up to date on the latest developments of COVID-19 and how to prevent its spread. Dr. Stringer, our Medical Director at the ACC Care Center, met with all of the ACC and Meals on Wheels Managers on February 27^th to talk about the virus and the best approach to minimize risk at ACC. Each Director will be meeting with their staff and volunteers to talk about their facility and program specific measures.

Please visit cdc.gov/covid19 for more detailed information.

Prevent the Spread

For up-to-date government information on COVID-19, visit these websites.