UPDATE FROM PALOLO CHINESE HOME
IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19
Updated:
June 15, 2020
Aloha Residents and Family Members:
I hope this message finds you healthy and safe during these challenging times. As you know, the state government is beginning to carefully reopen Hawaii’s economy in stages. In response, I want to explain what this reopening means for our facility.
The health and wellbeing of our residents and our staff is always our primary concern. From the start of the outbreak, we have received and carefully followed guidance from the Hawaii Department of Health (DOH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). There are no shortcuts to preventing the spread of COVID-19 and it’s important that we continue to protect ourselves and support each other as the situation continues to unfold in Hawaii and around the world.
Here’s how we will handle the coming weeks:
- We will continue to follow the heightened protective measures recommended by the CDC – including restricting visitors and health screening and temperature checks for everyone who enters the facility.
- While state leaders continue to be diligent in keeping COVID-19 out of our state, healthcare facilities like ours most likely won’t be safe to re-open until long after our state begins to relax stay-at-home orders.
- We will only begin to update our protective measures when we know our community is no longer at risk, and with careful consideration of the recommendations of Hawaii’s public health officials.
- We encourage family members to stay connected through video chat, calling, texting, or other social media formats, and we will be here to help. Please call (808) 748-4921 to schedule virtual communications with your loved one.
Though I must re-emphasize that we aren’t modifying our protective measures at this time, I can assure you that when it is prudent to make changes, you will be the first to know. I recognize that it has been incredibly challenging for all of us to remain distant from friends and family, and I want to thank you for the sacrifices you’re making to protect our community. I’m inspired every time I hear how our community has found new ways to support and celebrate each other during these unprecedented times. And while we’re not in the clear, we can all be optimistic about the future.
In the event we have a confirmed case for COVID-19 in our facility:
- We will contact you if your loved one is suspected to have or diagnosed with COVID-19. Please make sure we have your current contact information including email, cell phone, and mailing address. We may contact you if we don’t have this information on file.
- Due to patient privacy laws, we are unable to share any specific information about confirmed case(s) in our facility, but we will notify the immediate family members/guardian.
- A COVID-19 specific response team will be deployed.
- Designated quarantine areas that have been set-up to isolate and treat positive individuals will be utilized. Please note the CDC does NOT recommend transferring residents either home or to the hospital. Moving the elderly or frail out of the facility is not only risky, but also has long-lasting negative impacts on the resident.
We need your help in battling COVID-19, and encourage you to visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website to learn how you can help prevent the spread in our community. Please also visit our website at www.palolohome.org where we will share ongoing information.
For the latest COVID-19 updates at PCH, a dedicated COVID-19 hotline has been activated. Please call 808-748-4906.
Sincerely,
Darlene H. Nakayama, RN, LNHA
Chief Executive Officer
Palolo Chinese Home
Additional Contact Numbers and Email
- Tristan Florentin, Food and Nutritional Services / Meals-To-Go Coordinator – (808) 739-6031; tflorentin@palolohome.org
- Weinberg Hall Nurse Station 1 (808) 748-4922
- Weinberg Hall Nurse Station 2 (808) 748-4926
- Harry Wong Nurse Station 1 Pikake (808) 564-4202
- Harry Wong Nurse Station 2 – Lehua/Ilima (808) 564-5205
- Lani Booth ARCH Nursing Station (808) 748-4912