Weekend Message for Residents and Families

As our Easter holiday approaches, families and friends of loved ones cared for in our nursing homes and residential group homes look forward each year to spending time together. Whether that is at our facility or taking a resident home for a visit. This year, due to Covid-19, we want to provide recommendations from Dr. Robert Gouthro, Chief Medical Officer of North Central Health Care regarding residents leaving the nursing home for the Easter holiday. The health of your loved ones is our first priority. As you know our facilities are still currently closed to visitation to prevent the spread of illness during the Covid-19 pandemic.

At this time, we strongly discourage residents from leaving the facility unless they have a medically necessary reason to do so. North Central Health Care has taken the appropriate precautions inside the facilities to prevent the spread of illness including using appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), restricted visitation and non-essential personnel including volunteers, restricted employee access and traffic flow across the facility, increased resident vital and health monitoring, employee screening including temperature monitoring and cancelled group activities within the facility.

While NCHC cannot refuse the right of a resident to leave the facility, we strongly discourage residents from leaving the facility and returning for reasons that are not medically necessary. A decision to do so would go against the medical advice of our Chief Medical Officer and the Stay at Home Order issued by the Governor of the State of Wisconsin. For the safety of all our residents and staff, residents who choose to leave the facility may be subject to 14 days of isolated quarantine upon their return.

Residents may contact the State of Wisconsin Long-term Care Ombudsman for questions they may have or discuss with their social worker.

We want you to know our wonderful teams of Life Enrichment and activity professionals will continue to go above and beyond to make sure your loved one has a glorious holiday. We are using phone and technology connections as much as possible. You can also look for a special Easter message from our residents that will be shared on our Facebook pages, https://www.facebook.com/NorthCentralHealthCare/ and https://www.facebook.com/pinecrestmerrill/ as well as our website!

Thank you for your understanding. We hope that you and your families have a safe and happy Easter.

Kim Gochanour
Executive of Nursing Home Operations
North Central Health Care