DELCO SALUTE
COUNTY COUNCIL, RESIDENTS THANK BRAVE STAFF AT FAIR ACRES
MIDDLETOWN » “Have faith,” “Hope” and “We will beat this” - these are some of the messages that medical workers have posted in the upper floor windows of the 850-bed Fair Acres Geriatric Center as they battle the COVID-19 pandemic. On Wednesday, Delaware County Council had a message of its own for the staff: “Thanks!”
“We just wanted to come out publicly, yell to the hills how grateful we are, for the work you are doing here,” said county Councilwoman Elaine Paul Schaefer to a small number of medical staff. “The hundreds of staff members here, who are dedicated to the residents, who are our community members who are facing this, they have it worse than any of us. Thank you.”
Councilwoman Christine Reuther, who is liaison for Fair Acres, added that she hears from families struggling because they can’t see their loved ones right now but are very supportive of the staff.
“I have not had anybody I’ve spoken to, no matter how frustrated they’ve been by the lockdown, no matter how scared they are… they are so grateful for the work you are doing here,” Reuther said.
The councilwomen also presented cards from residents who wanted to show support for the staff and residents.
“Thank you for everything. Thank you for coming out today,” said William D’Amico, administrator for Fair Acres. “All the staff here are very dedicated. They spend a tremendous amount of hours, days away from their families. Unfortunately we have seen some loved ones, not only family ones but also from our Fair Acres family, succumb to this pandemic right now. We are doing everything possible to mitigate it and I can’t say enough about our staff, in the fight to do that. These nurses, dietary, even the maintenance men - everybody is going above and beyond. I can’t say enough. Thank you for your support.”
Fair Acres nurse Ricky Lurch said conditions have been a little difficult with the isolated conditions.
“You come in every day, it’s difficult. The community has helped a lot,” Lurch said. “Our worry is are we going to give this to somebody else not knowing it. This is one of my fears.”
D’Amico confirmed that 105 residents and 53 employees have presently tested positive for the coronavirus. In addition, 32 residents have died from COVID-19 complications.
D’Amico said they are presently able to be properly staffed but that it is a struggle. He said they were not yet at the point of requiring outside assistance such as from the National Guard.
“We’re able to staff to the state minimum. Some days are better than others,” D’Amico said. “So far, we are able to handle it with our staff, with agency nurses and with the new guidelines.”
D’Amico said officials are following state Department of Health guidelines. COVID19-positive patients are isolated on separate floors from other residents and, while some negative pressure, or isolation, rooms exist at the facility, it is not possible to provide every COVID-positive patient with one. All staff are monitored everyday upon arrival through temperature checks. If a staff member does test positive with COVID, they are paid. No employees have died from the virus, D’Amico said.
“I appreciate our staff and the community for all their support and I think for our size and with the condition of the residents - they have other co-morbidities - I think we are doing pretty well. This is a nasty pandemic and a nasty situation. We have to figure out to deal with it,” D’Amico said. “We are trying to slow it down and mitigate as best as possible here in the facility.”