Honey Creek nursing home in Connersville fighting COVID-19 outbreak: Indiana National Guard to help beginning Nov. 2

Connersville News Examiner

Thursday, October 29, 2020 11:48 AM

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, nursing homes and long-term living facilities have been among the hardest hit.

Hickory Creek in Connersville has now joined the list of nursing homes facing that fight.

In a press release, the facility revealed that 29 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed among the residents.

“While the source of COVID-19 is unknown, we have acted quickly and diligently to provide the necessary care to our residents,” Jessica Ucul, Director of Marketing and Community Relations, said in the release.

Ucul said that the Indiana National Guard will be working in the facility, beginning on Nov. 2.

Additionally, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have provided actionable guidance to mitigate the spread in nursing homes and Ucul said that Hickory Creek will be utilizing this guidance to take appropriate steps within the home.

Some of those steps include:

• Enhanced infection control precautions, such as wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) at all times. Residents who test positive have been cohorted within the home to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
• Only staff and essential personnel will be permitted entry. Staff and essential personnel are to be screened for COVID-19 before entering.
• Restricting all visitation except for situations such as end of life.
• Regularly testing staff and residents for COVID-19 based on current protocols.
• Providing face coverings for residents, if tolerated and following CDC guidance: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/long-term-care.html.

“We are acting with diligence and enforcing the highest health standards required to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 while maintaining our person-centered care approach; communicating compassionately and effectively to our residents and their family, and maintaining an environment that feels calm, comfortable and home-like,” Udul said. “The health and safety of our residents, staff, and ultimately the community that we serve, is our highest priority.

“We’d like to thank the community, St. Gabriel Church, and our dedicated staff for their support during this difficult time.”

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