A Message From Our Administrator Concerning the Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Thank you for your continued support during these challenging times. Our ultimate priority is the health and safety of our residents and staff.

McKnight Place Extended Care continues to take extensive precautionary measures to protect our vulnerable residents by implementing further modifications to help safeguard the safety of our residents and staff. We are collaborating with our Medical Director, Dr. Kaiser, as well as the appropriate authorities and experts, to ensure we are doing everything we can.

We will also continue to monitor information and follow recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), St. Louis County Department of Health and Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services (DHSS).

We continue to screen all staff and any visitor entering the building with a temperature check and health screening questionnaire (which includes questions regarding any travel in the last 30 days, individual symptoms, and any potential exposure to others with symptoms consistent with flu, COVID-19, or any respiratory illness).

We continue to see the success of the vaccinations through lowering positivity rates, and declines in COVID-19 cases. With the Vaccination Regulation in effect on February 13, 2022, all employees have at least the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine or have provided a Medical or Religious Exception. On March 15, 2022, all employees will be fully vaccinated or have provided a Medical or Religious Exception.

Visits

Visitors Coming in to McKnight Place Extended Care:

• Do not visit if you are sick or not feeling well – even if you think it is just a cold.
• Please enter the building wearing a mask, and keep it on throughout your visit, including the resident’s room-regardless of your vaccination status.
• Complete the screening form at the reception desk.
• Practice proper hand hygiene at all times and social distance whenever possible.
• Please visit only in your loved ones room. Common areas, dining rooms, and group activities, remain closed to visitors.
• Please keep visits between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., to allow for screening and periodic cleaning of common areas.
• Visitors that have been out of town will be offered a rapid COVID test.

Residents Going Out:

• Please wear a mask at all times, practice proper hand hygiene and social distance whenever possible.
• Avoid large crowds and gatherings.

The new guidance that effects our residents or your visits are:

• Fully vaccinated residents do not have to quarantine when admitted or readmitting from the hospital if no prolonged close contact with someone with COVID-19.
• Fully vaccinated residents can attend activities without masks and without social distancing if all residents in attendance are *fully vaccinated. If unvaccinated residents are in attendance, masks must be worn and the unvaccinated resident must follow social distancing. At this time visitors are not allowed in the common areas.
• Fully vaccinated residents can enjoy meals in the dining room without masks and without social distancing if all residents in attendance are *fully vaccinated. If unvaccinated residents are in attendance, masks must be worn and the unvaccinated resident must follow social distancing. At this time visitors are not allowed in the dining room.
• Fully vaccinated residents can enjoy meals together in the resident’s room without masks or social distancing.
• When both the resident and all their visitors are fully vaccinated and while in a resident’s room or designated visitation area, residents and their visitor(s) can choose to have close contact (including touching) and to not wear a mask. Visitors must wear their mask and physically distance from other McKnight Place staff and other residents/visitors that are not part of their group at all other times while in the facility.

Fully vaccinated refers to a person who is:

• ≥2 weeks following receipt of the second dose in a 2-dose series, or ≥2 weeks following receipt of one dose of a single-dose vaccine; there is currently no post-vaccination time limit on fully vaccinated status.

Visitors shall have the opportunity to share their vaccination status to determine if the visit may have close contact (include touching and not wear a mask) while alone in a resident’s room.  Visitors may email a copy of their COVID-19 vaccine record prior to their next visit or bring to next visit for a copy to be made.  Having this completed prior to your visit make the screening process smoother when you arrive.

Visitors that decline to disclose their vaccination status should adhere to the infection control principles of COVID-19 infection prevention for unvaccinated persons.

The additional following steps are being taken in our community:

ENHANCED CLEANING:

• Our team remains focused on frequent enhanced cleaning and sanitizing throughout the building.
• Staff are required to wear a face mask while in the building. This requirement includes private duty aides and companions as well.
• Hand sanitizer is also available.
• We have applied an antimicrobial, non-chemical disinfectant mist to all of our common areas to further sterilize the environment against any potential contagious germs and is reapplied monthly.
• We continue to practice proper handwashing.

SOCIAL DISTANCING:

• We continue to practice proper social distancing.

DINING AND ACTIVITIES:

• All events and activities will be in an adjusted setting.
• Residents will be provided meal service in the dining room.
• We welcome outside volunteers and entertainers.
• We are temporarily discontinuing outings.

We are thankful that our staff has continued to show unwavering dedication to our residents. Their love, compassion, and caring nature is unparalleled. 

We remain diligent in our precautionary efforts, and continue to do all we can to ensure the health and safety of both residents and staff.

– Glenda Knittel, Administrator

Additional information concerning COVID-19:

We are closely monitoring the increase in cases of COVID-19. We are following guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), St. Louis County Department of Health and Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services (DHSS). Our decisions are based upon their guidance combined with the expertise of our teams.

We understand this virus is a concern for everyone and our strategy is based on an abundance of caution. We are being proactive but also reasonable about any changes made to day-to-day operations.

We are working closely with team members to ensure they do not come to work when sick. Ongoing training and education is being provided. We ask that residents alert us immediately if they are ill so we can take appropriate action and provide aid.

Health officials agree the best defense techniques are:

1. Frequent hand washing using proper hand hygiene by scrubbing with warm water for at least 20 seconds. Hand sanitizer is useful, but does not replace washing with soap and hot water.
2. Avoid touching your face and keep your hands away from your nose, mouth and eyes.
3. Practice social distancing in all situations.
4. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or bent elbow when coughing or sneezing. Discard the tissue immediately and clean your hands.

We are continuing to prepare for any situations that may arise. We will continue to provide updates as needed as this situation is changing rapidly.

Please note that all statements and recommendations could change as the government agency recommendations change.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.