Vaccines help to improve outlook at Imperial Manor, Parkview-Heights

It has been a long haul for residents and staff at the Imperial Manor and Parkview-Heights through many months of COVID restrictions.
But things are looking up.
“I am very excited that COVID vaccinations have been available and things are loosening up so we can move toward a more normal life,” said Eric Haider, CEO.
There hasn’t been a positive case of COVID among residents and staff since the middle of January, he said.
“Residents are now able to come out of their rooms for group activities, go outside, eat in the dining room and attend church services in the facility again,” Haider said.
“Nearly all residents in the entire facility have agreed to receive the COVID vaccination,” he added.
Vaccinations have already been given to residents and a portion of the staff.
Fourteen days after residents and staff receive the second injection, things will start changing quite a bit, said Haider.
The facility has been routinely testing everyone twice a week for COVID for an extended length of time and will continue a little while longer as needed, Haider said.
“Once the second COVID injection is given, and following the two week waiting period, those individuals will no longer need to be tested twice a week,” he said.
Compassionate care visits for hospice residents are being allowed per required guidelines.
These visits don’t need to be on a set schedule—they just need to be approved and scheduled in advance.
“There really is no time limit on these visits, but we would prefer 15 minutes and no more than one or two people at a time,” he said.
A fairly new program called Essential Caregivers (EC) just released safety guidelines last week, Haider said.
An EC is a friend or family member who was previously engaged with the resident and was committed to providing assistance with basic activities of daily living before COVID.
Those individuals have been prohibited from entering the facility due to COVID visitation restrictions, said Haider.
“Now he/she is allowed to come inside and continue to perform the same duties they did before,” he said.
Not only do ECs help relieve the staff of some of their extensive duties during the pandemic, but they also provides additional interaction with the resident.
Some of those duties might include doing laundry for the resident, taking the resident’s dog out, bringing in groceries,  feeding a family member or sitting at the table for emotional support so the resident will eat better.
To provide services for a resident as an EC, the person must meet the EC requirements and follow all infection control measures upon entering the building, Haider noted.
An EC (or compassionate care visitor) must call either Eric Haider or Margie Haider at 308-882-5333 in advance to see if they meet requirements.
The EC will then be put on a regular schedule, same as staff, for their visitation.
“An EC will be scheduled for only three hours per day,” Haider said.
All infection control measure must remain in place, he said.
All visitors will be required to follow the same safety guidelines and safety apparel as the staff at any given time.
“As you know, everything is always changing nowadays, so whatever staff are required to do, visitors are, too,” he said.
Once staff member vaccinations reach 90% or above, the facility can be opened to the public, said Haider.
But for now, Haider said he is very happy the residents are able to have a little more freedom to participate in activities and life.
“I hope everyone cooperates and takes the vaccine. It will help everyone, and most importantly, it will open up the door for families to come inside to visit residents,” said Haider.
On another positive note, Haider said they were visited by the state surveyor, and they passed with flying colors in all areas of operation.
“We are in compliance with all federal and state regulations and COVID regulations,” he said.