How this Memory Care Community in Reno Prevented COVID-19 Cases

This community shares its methods for keeping residents and staff safe

If you or a loved one lives at a retirement community, you have likely been extra cautious during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the coronavirus, like all viruses, spreads in close quarters, extra precautions have been taken to protect residents and staff at retirement communities.

The staff at Stone Valley Assisted Living and Memory Care in Reno, Nevada, has been successful in keeping the community COVID-19-free. They’re sharing their effective virus prevention methods. Here’s how they did it:

Keeping the Community Clean

The staff at Stone Valley has always been diligent about maintaining a clean and healthy environment for residents. But now, the cleaning staff is going above and beyond. The CDC recommends cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces daily. The Stone Valley staff has taken this recommendation very seriously and are diligently cleaning surfaces throughout the day to prevent germs from spreading.

Limiting Visitation and Public Contact

Like many other illnesses, the coronavirus spreads between humans in close quarters. When someone coughs or sneezes, they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth, which may contain the virus. People in the area can possibly contract COVID-19 if the person coughing or sneezing is infected.
As you can imagine, this can cause problems in a tight-knit retirement community like Stone Valley. Therefore, it’s important to prevent the virus from entering the community in the first place. To prevent both staff and residents from exposure to the coronavirus, Stone Valley temporarily altered its visitation policies according to the recommendations from the CDC. While the community is normally open for family and friends to visit, visitation is currently restricted. The community’s visitation policy continues to be subject to state and local regulations. In addition, all people entering the community are being screened at the entrance to the building for symptoms or exposure to the virus, including residents and staff.

The community is still welcoming new residents. However, virtual tours of the property are recommended. For those who wish to have an in-person tour, such tours are being conducted by appointment only, for no more than two people at a time. All touring visitors must be screened at the entrance, wash their hands, and wear a mask while inside the community. While in the building, the touring visitor must remain with their tour guide staff member and to stay six feet away from each other and others within the community.

Keeping Up With Official Recommendations

It seems new information about the virus is being discovered every day. Luckily, there are official organizations responsible for staying updated on the latest statistics and research. It’s important to maintain familiarity with the recommendations of these official organizations, namely the CDC and WHO. Stone Valley has kept up with and implemented the safety recommendations from both the CDC and WHO, including disinfection procedures, social distancing, hand washing, masks, and other virus prevention measures. In addition, the community remains in contact with state and local health officials for any updates on local regulations and information.

Internally, the community’s leadership has made certain that every single member of the community’s staff is knowledgeable about the community’s virus precautions and procedures, as well as any changes.

Testing for Residents

Stone Valley’s parent company, Sunshine Retirement Living, partnered with Vikor Scientific to bring Respira-ID tests to all communities. Any residents or staff with symptoms are given a test to determine their viral status. Any new residents are also tested and screened prior to move-in in accordance with CDC guidelines.

The diligence of the Stone Valley team has protected residents and staff throughout this pandemic, keeping the community free of COVID-19.

To learn more about residency or to schedule a tour of Stone Valley, contact our friendly team today.

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