Cordell Christian Home Remains Healthy After Employee Recovers

The Cordell Christian Home recently experienced its first staff member testing positive for COVID-19, but Administrator Gayle Wilcox says: “We are all negative now.”

Wilcox emphasized, “We are following the guidelines set out by the Center for Disease Control.”

She said the person testing positive was not in direct contact with any other resident.

Wilcox explained, “All the families were notified by a personal phone call from me. We appreciate the family support and community support.”

The nursing home is in Phase 2, she said, adding, “And that is based on CDC guidelines and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS). Phases are directly correlated to the positivity rate sent to me by the CDC.”

Wilcox said the nursing home remains on lockdown and still is not accepting visitors “except for end of life situations.”

She stressed, “We are continually monitoring staff and residents for any signs and symptoms. That goes along with CDC guidelines.”

During an interview about three weeks ago, she mentioned the nursing home at that time had remained COVID-free.

At that time she also noted while visitation is not allowed except in the already mentioned situations, “We allow window visits. That’s not a substitute for hugging and loving, but that’s what we can do,” she stated.

Wilcox said that Skype and Face Time are utilized, too, noting, “Sometimes the residents see themselves on the screen and they don’t want to participate.”

The nursing home is licensed for 110 beds. “It was actually built as a retirement center in the 60’s. The rooms are built as a suite. We have beds only on one side due to the fire code,” Wilcox commented.

She pointed out, “Our census is in the 40’s. Since COVID hit, it’s been a little bit down. Because of strict admission requirements by the State Health Department, families are reluctant to admit their loved ones at this time,” she thinks.

Wilcox pointed to her staff. “We have Heroes who work here. I like to call them that.”

She emphasized then, “There are activities we can’t do. We can’t play toss the ball, so we’ve gotten very creative in the things we do.

“We have hall bingo and we do hall exercises. Just recently we have allowed our residents to come out to a common place, but they must maintain social distancing.”

In talking about the staff, she noted, “They must wear a mask at all times. They sanitize when they enter the building, they have their temperatures taken. They sanitize everything they have, both at the beginning and the end of their shift.”