13th March 2020
In these uncertain times, I wanted to reach out to you personally about what we are doing here at Optima Care to support you at work; our families, friends and colleagues who visit our services.
As the situation around, novel coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to evolve, we are doing everything we can to ensure your time with us is safe and we provide maximum flexibility with our services for you.
Your Safety - In Our Premises
As it has always been, the safety and security of our service users, family and team members remains Optima Care’s highest priority. We take great pride in maintaining the highest standards of care delivery, cleanliness and hygiene. I want you to know that In response to the coronavirus, we have taken additional measures developed in consultation with our local public health authorities including the World Health Organisation ( WHO ) to make our cleaning and hygiene protocols even more rigorous:
• Our Care Home teams are receiving ongoing briefings and enhanced operating protocols.
• We have increased the frequency of cleaning of our public areas (including lobbies, door handles, public toilets, bathrooms and equipment etc.) and have continued the use of hospital-grade disinfectant.
• We are equipped and trained in isolation and infection control nursing practices
• We will continue to adjust food and beverage service in accordance with current food safety recommendations and resident wellbeing.
• We have increased the deployment of antibacterial hand sanitizers.
• We continue to actively audit our staffs practice of Hand Washing to the highest standard.
We have activated our regional response team to provide around-the-clock assistance to our Care Homes and Care Services and are prepared to act swiftly should we be alerted to a case of coronavirus at one of our care facilities
Your Flexibility
We remain committed to offering you flexible access to our services; however given these unique circumstances we are making additional adjustments to our individual homes policies to give you extra peace of mind:
Hand Hygiene. Please use the sanitiser provided on entering the building.
Government Restrictions. In areas affected by government-issued travel restrictions, we will aim to provide family with face time communication with a loved one using Skype and face time services.
Direct Admission to Our Homes. Admission and visiting may be restricted or provided through restricted hours of opening and number of visitors on our premises. Visitors may be required to undertake a no touch temperature check and answer questions about recent travell to any of the affected areas that have confirmed cases of coronavirus in the last 14 days?
If you suspect you have been in contact with some one or are experiencing symptoms, please refrain from working or visiting our care services.
Symptoms. If you have any of these symptoms? Dry tickly cough, Fever/hot chest or stomach Shortness of breath; please contact a member of our nursing team.
Help: We recognise we may become challenged in the staffing of our services should the pandemic evolve. Thus, we are asking for your support and would invite you to take a practical part in our service delivery. If you or someone you know wishes to volunteer their services to our community, then please contact the homes duty manager, this would be very much appreciated. Afterall we are all in this together as they say.
At Optima Care, we believe it is in challenging times like these that the power of hospitality is needed most of all. We are committed to keeping our service users and staff team safe and deliver the safest service we can, and that you’ve come to expect.
I would like to thank our fantastic staff team for their ongoing commitment, continued loyalty and I salute you for your professionalism and dedication to those service users in our care.
Keep safe and well.
Paul Bliss