Steven Tyer

Our number one priority is everyone’s health and safety here at Copley, and it is our responsibility to follow all regulations regarding this pandemic. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health continues to work with state, federal, and local partners in this ever-evolving situation. As of last month, the visitation guidelines for long-term care facilities were updated with the following physical distancing and protection requirements.

• A resident who is suspected or confirmed to be infected with COVID-19 cannot be visited.
• All visits will take place at the designated outdoor visitation space.
• A resident who has recovered from COVID-19 may have visitors.
• A resident quarantined after a hospital stay and not suspected or confirmed to be infected with COVID-19 can be visited.
• A resident who is not quarantined and never tested positive for the virus can have visitors.
• Before transporting a resident to the designated outdoor visitation space, the long-term care facility must screen the visitor for fever or respiratory symptoms. Any individuals with symptoms of COVID-19 (fever equal to or greater than 100.0F, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, myalgia, chills, or new onset of loss of taste or smell) will not be permitted to visit with a resident.
• A long-term care facility staff member trained in patient safety and infection control measures must remain with the resident throughout the visit.
• Staff and residents must wear a surgical face mask, and visitors must wear a face covering or mask for the duration of the visit.
• Visits with a resident in a designated outdoor visitation space must be scheduled in advance and are dependent on permissible weather conditions, availability of outdoor space, and sufficient staffing at the facility to meet resident care needs and the health and well-being of the resident.

We understand this can be frustrating for everybody. We continue to do our best to accommodate everyone while maintaining our residents’ and staff’s health and safety. We must continue to enforce all safety measures put in place. The visitation restrictions protect our residents and staff and will be lifted once the DPH feels safe, statewide, to do so. We are so thankful for our residents’ families and friends’ continued support through these challenging times.

If you have any questions regarding these regulations, please feel free to call me anytime 781-341-2300. We are here for you and with you. We’ll get through this together.

-Steven Tyer

Global Pandemic. Now that the initial shock has worn off and things are slowly winding down, what does that mean for us? How do you survive in arguably the hardest-hit industry? You adapt. The pandemic is not over, but Copley is making strides in our continuous effort to keep everyone safe.

What does Copley’s new normal look like for operations?

The first question is “Is everybody feeling ok?” including residents and staff. We’ve adapted our programs for residents to enjoy at a safe distance from each other. We provide packets of trivia, word searches, crossword and logic problems to maintain mental stimulation. Doorway Bingo and Pokeno have become a highlight of entertainment. Window visits, Skype, and outdoor activities help us feel together while staying apart. We continue to find ways to adapt programs with the ultimate goal of keeping our residents and staff safe and content.

Pursuant to MA DPH requirements, in the last two weeks Copley has tested all residents once and staff weekly for COVID 19, and we currently have zero active cases. Our number one goal is to not have someone who is asymptomatic bring COVID into the facility. We as the management team and employees discuss this matter daily.

Looking back on what has gone on here the past few months and the adaptations we have made as a business to ensure others’ safety while continuing to run as smoothly as possible, I’ve never been more appreciative of this facility.

We’re still here, along with the need for our services. We understand the apprehension in choosing a skilled nursing facility during this time, but we are here to disarm and inform before the choice is made for you. Copley would be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding our safety protocol and daily quality of life. We have survived, continue to thrive, and our numbers are steady because of our ability to adapt. Our residents are resilient, our employees are exceptional, and I could not be more grateful. This is the new normal. Let’s talk about it.

 

– Steven Tyer

We are so happy to see that restrictions are starting to loosen and slowly but surely, Massachusetts is re-opening. There is hope, and that’s always a good thing.

That said, it is still not time for Copley at Stoughton to open our doors to family and visitors. Our residents and staff remain at risk, as do most long-term facilities across the country.

I know – it’s frustrating. Not being able to visit loved ones is hard for our residents and their families. But our number one priority is the health and safety of everyone here at Copley, and it is our responsibility to follow all regulations regarding this pandemic.

As a long-term care and rehabilitation facility, we are already well trained in infection control. The more we learn about this particular infection, the better we will be at understanding the risks, how the virus works, and adapting our protocols to meet those risks head-on. Until that time, we have to take a blanket approach, ensuring that there aren’t any cracks in our defense. With talk of a possible second wave, we have to stay vigilant. Please know we would love nothing more than to open our door once again and welcome you back.

I want to thank all the families who have taken the time to call, email, or write a letter in support of our safety initiatives. It means a lot to know that you understand how difficult this is for everyone. We couldn’t do it without our incredible staff. I’ve praised them before, and I’ll do it here again. They have all done an amazing job and are helping us weather this storm. I am so proud of the patience and dedication they’ve shown through it all.

I wish I had a date to give you to welcome you back; unfortunately, viruses don’t come and go on a schedule. We’re looking forward to contacting families directly when that day finally arrives. In the meantime, feel free to Skype, window visit, or visit us on the patio – from a safe distance.

 

Stay safe.

 

Steven Tyer

We’ve heard in the news about long-term care staff and the stress they’re under all across the country. I mentioned last month that our nurses, receptionists, housekeepers, CNAs, janitorial staff, cooks, and admissions staff are Copley’s heroes. They have stepped up during one of the most trying times of our lives, continuing to work on the frontlines of this pandemic.

 

But what doesn’t get talked about enough is the emotional connection our staff has with our residents. Working at Copley at Stoughton isn’t your average job where you punch in and punch out. We develop relationships with all of our residents. Often, these relationships last years and years. We know their birthdays, their favorite foods, their favorite colors. We know their spouses and their siblings. We know their children and their grandchildren and their great-grandchildren. We take care of them through the day, and, when needed, we sit up with them at night. We play games with them, chat with them, and spend time with them. They are not just a number. They are our friends and our family. And when we lose someone in our “family,” we grieve.

 

We are mindful that the stress and emotional toll of this virus is not just experienced by our employees, but also our residents. We do everything possible to ease their loneliness and worry, and that includes spending extra time with them because their family cannot. We assist with FaceTime and shortly we will be adding skype for our residents to communicate with their loved ones. We plan distanced activities to keep them occupied and stimulated. We are committed to making the best of a very difficult situation.

 

We look forward to returning to some level of normalcy, but until then, we will continue to take the very best emotional and physical care of everyone under our roof. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me anytime.

 

Thank you and stay safe!