On Friday, I told you that 62 of 596 Gracedale residents have tested positive for Covid-19. Sadly, eight have died. In addition, 26 staff members have been infected, although seven have finished their quarantine periods and are now back at work. What's really bad is that between April 1 and April 23, there were 562 call-offs. As understandable as this might be, it threatens the county's ability to serve those who are in its care.
So today, the Pennsylvania National Guard will be assisting at the county nursing home. A contingent of one RN, 50 medics and five generalists will be on-hand to assist with meals and bathing. The RN will dispense medication. They will work on the non Covid-19 floors.
From the County (10 AM) - The National Guard will primarily assist with non-Covid-19 residents, allowing Gracedale employees to focus on residents who are positive for Covid-19 or have pending test results. Their mission is intended to last for no longer than seventy-two hours. When the Guard arrives they will spend their first day getting acclimated to the facility and receiving instruction on the proper way of performing tasks in a nursing home.
Guard assistance will include twenty medics to work as CNAs from 7 AM to 7 PM, eight licensed nurses to work the 3 PM to 11 PM shift and assist with distributing meds, and additional staff to help with delivering food carts, making beds, etc. Guard staff will be focused on the tower building which has the greatest need for help.
25 comments:
What restrictions does The National Guard have ?
Don't understand your question.
The comments made by the county executive, implying that the employees' personal welfare, as well as the welfare of their families, is not as important as the welfare of Gracedale's residents was miserable. Until Lamont is prepared to suit up and work a shift, he needs to sit quietly in the corner, and hope people forget his callousness come Election Day. This county has hundreds of essential employees who have continued to come to work while he sits at home and works remotely.
"hundreds of essential employees who have continued to come to work"
How many have died?
Three days, minus one to get acclimated, equals two days in service. Will that fix the problem?
Probably not, BUT IT WILL GIVE THE STAFF SOME RELIEF!!!
Lamont bites hands that elected him! Be careful here Mr. county executive. These are extreme times and people do what they can and then they need a day to recharge. Get over it and let the heavy lifting to those workers who give a damn every day they work..virus or no virus.
What about the 560 + workers who are coming to work everyday and burning out we have been here since day 1 ...12 /16 hr days doing doubles 13 days 1 day off another 13 days on..Where is our relief and what are they doing to get the workers who have been off for 4 weeks back to work
Obviously there is a ton of staff shafting their coworkers here..so much that the national guard has to come in and take over. Disgraceful if you ask me. Hats off for the staff that are in fact putting the work in to keep the residents safe. Those that called in sick (except the ones who got Corona) should be fired and sent packing.
I've just been informed there've been 1,000 call-offs so far in April. I will not judge, but hope these workers realize they are hurting the residents and their co-workers.
Whatever the hand of government touches is ineffective, bloated, and never gets efficient. The county has no right being in the nursing home business. Toss the home rule chsrter too while we are at it and eliminate the damn county exec. Go to 3 county commissioners instead. Works in other counties.
Not sure what is happening there. But prison employees are doing a great job and showing up. Great job COs
All nurse's and health care workers that are going to work at Gracedale, good for u. Hopefully after all this the county ex. Will remember us all
essential employees during contract time Great job to all
A plea for volunteers to assist at Gracedale went out countywide via email. My co-workers and I tried to help and were swiftly rejected due to our current county positions. We have also heard that another county division of employees was similarly rejected. I can only imagine what they’re going through, but I’m still ready and able to lend a hand.
Maybe the time has come to sell the Home. If you can't depend on employees then you can't run the place.
I have a question. Do we still have any contracted nurses that work there and were they included in the call off totals? I also would have to question the blaming of employees who have called off when we don't know the situation that caused them to call off. Could they have called off because they had a family member who contracted or was exposed to Covid and they did the responsible thing and not brought it into work. Could they have called out because they were afraid of bringing the virus home to their families. The question I believe we need to ask is did the "County" do their due diligence in planning and preparing for this. I would argue they probably fumbled the ball and the employees saw this and thought I don't want to get sick.
Like the way you selectively delete comments you don't like or go against your buddy.
2:44 Bullshit, maybe you should worry more about getting to work and less about how you can manipulate the system so you can get more time off.
You are the Problem, start being the Solution.
I happen to have a parent at Gracedale and see BOTH sides here. First off so much gratefulness goes out to those dedicated workers there religiously everyday.
Yes there are wonderful workers there who are there for the right reasons.
With that said, there are nurses who sit on the rears in the nurses station "WHO NEVER" go out on the floor and assist those hard working nurses aides.Funny thing is gee NOW those nurses have no choice to earn their wages.
My parent has been there a few years and I have seen it all.
Perhaps the National Guard would NOT have had to be called in if the county and the high paid over salaried administrators,nursing supervisors etc would see how much the little guy (nurses aides are valued along with do all their dirty work)
PAY THOSE DAM Nurses aides what they are worth maybe they would show up to work!!!!!!!
I called and offered to also go in as a volunteer. I was turned down! I would have been happy just working with my parent I'm sure others have tried also to assist.
As being an essential employee for the "County" and being denied "Volunteering" to assist at Gracedale and having perfect attendance. I am the solution. So before you try to troll someone maybe you should grow a braincell so you can have two of them to rub together. Go back to your basement and anonymously pick on someone else. I was pointing out that we should have an open mind to the current situation and not attack people. People like you are the problem.
I agree with you. The current situation is unprecedented and this is an all hands on deck situation. I do believe all sides should be looked at from the "County" response to the "Employees". If our "County Executive" can get off his ample backside and start finding solutions instead of playing the blame game he would show he is a true leader. Which I truly doubt he is. Leaders lead from the front not blaming people from the rear. I doubt you would have seen General Patton blaming his soldiers for any failures. He would lead by example. Sometimes it means getting your hands dirty.
Included in that "call out" number are the 26 staff who contracted covid19 and called out for their likely 14 straight days of scheduled shits/doubles....that's a more than a third right there...not to mention those with potential positives who were directed to now work while awaiting test results....or others who had other illnesses or needed to care for their own sick family members. Perhaps it also includes people who had no child care as centers shut down or relied on grandparents to babysit. Personally I think 1000 call offs with all things considered is not bad. What is the average call off amount per month?!?! Give us something to compare to.
Shifts*** not shits
Wow take walk in their shoes don’t sit there and say your not judging if you have never stepped foot into that facility everyone there is a team player from the nurses to the aides so if your burnt out from 3 16 hour shifts in a row and you need a mental stress day take it... not one time has an aide been upset Bc another aide needed that day so before you go and sit there and say your not judging this whole entire post was about judgement get your cna take a walk through what they go through
Bre, Sure, I can understand a call-off after three consecutive 16-hour shifts. I also understand the point about the absence of child care. I even understand some people are concerned about contracting the disease. And that's why the national guard was asked for help. The whole post is not about judging, as you assert. When the national guard gets called to a nursing home, that's something people need to know. It's clearly bc many of you are calling off. The average has been unacceptable, even before this crisis. I know at one point last year, it was very high. If this number were acceptable, there'd be no reason for the guard. Clearly, it's not. The Administrator expressed her frustration, and that needs to be noted as well.
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