This unprecedented time of response to COVID-19 may have sparked questions with friends and families about how we’re working to maintain the safety of the ladies who live at Mary Ryder Home.

We want you to know, first and foremost, that the health of our seniors is our number one priority. Right now, our main focus is prevention. We are acting with an abundance of caution, reinforcing our policies and procedures for contagious illnesses and minimizing exposure to the virus.

Under recommendation from the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), Mary Ryder Home is doing the following:

Restricting access of all visitors and non-essential health care personnel
For the health and safety of our community, we ask potential visitors to defer visiting until further notice. Any individual who comes to visit will be asked a series of health-related questions and will be subjected to a thermal scan before being granted entrance to the Mary Ryder Home (MRH) building.

Health care workers that provide care to residents will be permitted to come into the facility as long as they meet the CDC guidelines for health care workers
Health care workers, such as EMS personnel and visiting physicians, will be permitted into MRH only after successfully screened for fever and respiratory symptoms, and if they meet the CDC guidelines for health care workers. The Chapel Room will be the sole site for all healthcare visits and will be disinfected after each visit.

Any non-emergency or non-urgent medical doctor visits outside MRH will be rescheduled for a later date.

Social distancing will be enacted as much as possible
We are encouraging residents to remain in their rooms and away from other people within the Home as much as possible. Under this guideline, Mary Ryder Home is serving each meal in three shifts to allow for social distancing. Residents are highly encouraged to practice hand washing before and after meals, and throughout the day.

All group activities, such as visitor-based volunteer activities, in-home resident group activities and off-site day trips, have been cancelled. Because social distancing can create feelings of melancholy and loneliness, we highly recommend these alternatives to visiting: calling to chat over the phone, writing a letter, virtual video-communication or emails.

Residents are asked not to leave the MRH campus
Residents are asked not to leave the MRH building unless it is medically necessary i.e. the resident has medical appointment that cannot be rescheduled. Upon return from her medical appointment (or short off-site), the resident will be screened for fever and any symptoms related to COVID-19, and if found positive will not be allowed to re-enter the building.

If a resident, her guardian or durable power of attorney find it necessary to leave the care of MRH, the Home will follow discharge regulations to the extend possible so that the resident receives appropriate care while away from our community. Those taking the resident out of Mary Ryder Home will be informed that the resident will not be permitted to return until the restrictions currently in place are lifted. If appropriate, the resident may be required to obtain clearance from her medical provider which may include proof of a negative COVID-19 screening.

Medical staff and vendors will be screened before entering the facility
All MRH personnel will be screened at the start of their shift for fever, respiratory symptoms and sore throat. Personal protective equipment will be worn when interacting with residents and cleaning surfaces, and may be worn throughout the day. Staff are asked to refrain from physical contact with residents and other personnel. Any personnel feeling ill or showing signs of respiratory symptoms will be asked to self-isolate.

Supply vendors will drop off their goods at designated areas outside the MRH building, and will only be allowed entrance if necessary and if they are successfully screened for fever and respiratory symptoms under appropriate CDC guidelines.

Residents still have the right to access the Ombudsman program. Their access will be restricted per DHSS and CDC guidelines and Mary Ryder Home may review access on a case by case basis. If in-person access is not available, MRH may facilitate resident communication by phone or other format with the Ombudsman program.

These precautions will be in place for the next four weeks. We will post updates on this website and the Mary Ryder Home website.