Brendan House now restricting all visitors
The Brendan House care facility in Kalispell is now restricting all visitors as a precautionary measure to protect residents from potential coronavirus exposure.
The facility began the restriction Friday evening.
“The new visitor restrictions follow guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, which recommends limiting the number of people who enter these facilities,” Kalispell Regional Healthcare Chief Medical Officer Dr. Doug Nelson said in a press release. “However, we recognize the importance of regular interactions with family. To help patients and residents stay connected to their families and friends, Brendan House staff will facilitate virtual visitation using tools like Facetime and Skype as well as phone calls and letter correspondence.”
Nelson said Brendan House will continue to monitor the evolving coronavirus situation through recommendations from infection prevention specialists, state and local health officials and the CDC and update the community as the situation continues to develop.
Meanwhile, the Flathead City-County Health Department has established a website specifically dedicated to Coronavirus at: https://flatheadhealth.org/novel-coronavirus-covid-19/ in addition to an automated public information line at 751-8188.
The Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls will start screening visitors starting Monday, Superintendent Joren Underdahl said Thursday.
Underdahl said the Veterans Administration Pharmacy, located inside the home, has already stopped taking outpatient prescriptions. It’s still filling prescriptions for residents.
Underdahl said visitors will be screened at the front door and hours would be restricted from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Other entrances would be locked to ingress.
Folks who are showing signs of illness such as cough or fever would not be allowed to enter and visitors will have to go through a hand-washing station before visiting veterans.
The home at this point does not want to lock down entirely, because outside visitors provide a host of activities for residents, Underdahl noted.
“It would immediately affect quality of life,” Underdahl said.
The facility has 105 beds.
At Bee Hive Homes assisted-living center in Columbia Falls there are similar restrictions, said supervisor Ashley Samples. The home isn’t allowing anyone in with symptoms of illness, and a hand-washing station is set up for folks both entering and leaving the building, Samples said.
Earlier this week The Springs at Whitefish temporarily eliminated non-essential visitation at its assisted-living facility. It also removed reusable silverware that could be touched or coughed on by someone infected, and will be screening staff and others.
Hungry Horse News Editor Chris Peterson contributed to this report.