Nursing home hit by COVID cases, deaths

NORTH BRANFORD — As infection rates increase around the state and nation, Evergreen Woods, a retirement community on the Branford/North Branford line, is fighting a COVID-19 outbreak that has been connected to the deaths of six residents in the last two weeks, according to officials.

While the property also includes independent and assisted living sections, the outbreak is confined to its nursing home residents.

According to Jaclyn Martinelli, Evergreen Woods’ administrator, there were 21 active COVID-19 infections among the nursing home’s 24 current residents as of Tuesday.

Six residents have died in the last few weeks, according to Martinelli, who said nine staff members have tested positive for the virus.

Michael Pascucilla, director of the East Shore District Health Department, confirmed the number of deaths.

Evergreen Woods’ nursing home typically houses around 30 residents, Executive Director Blair Quasnitschka said, adding that the assisted-living facility has around fifteen residents and the independent living section has just under 200.

‘What changed?’

The state in May conducted a survey of Evergreen Woods that focused on COVID-19 protocols and found “no deficiencies,” according to the report, which is available online.

The facility has no history of COVID-related complaints filed with the local health department, according to Pascucilla, who said that until now the facility had been spared the kind of outbreak that hit other nursing homes in the

spring.

According to state data released last week, Evergreen Woods did not report any COVID-19 infections prior to July 22.

The facility had recorded four deaths as of Nov. 17, per the data, which indicates all deaths were reported this month.

“For the most part, Evergreen Woods has been doing well,” Pascucilla said.

Quasnitschka said that led to the question of “what changed?”

“Our protocols and our practices never changed,” Quasnitschka said. “What changed over the past month is that external pool has become more contaminated, and the likelihood of our staff contracting it outside of here went up.”

Quasnitschka praised the facility’s staff for their “bravery” and their work during the pandemic.

But he acknowledged that “the biggest threat to a facility like ours is probably not going to be the residents. ... The biggest X factor is going to be staff that have to come and go.”

Those staff members have domestic lives to attend to, and as parents, some may have connections to school communities, Quasnitschka said.

“It’s difficult in a congregate setting when you’re going to have staff members that have to touch multiple people,” he said. “It’s very difficult once [COVID] gets in to keep that number down.”

Changing procedures

Martinelli and Quasnitschka spoke of the changes the facility has made to cope with COVID-19.

To keep people from congregating in the dining area, Evergreen Woods has, for example, implemented a program whereby all meals are delivered to residents, according to Quasnitschka.

Because a lack of communication around COVID can distress families, Quasnitschka said, he also issues regular communications about the facility and its protocols.

“We’ve been nothing if not, I feel, communicative and transparent,” he said.

Other policies include visitation restrictions, which do not allow visitors allowed into the nursing home areas, Martinelli said.

According to the administrators, the facility no longer allows apartment visits, instead offering a designated area — disinfected after each use — where visitors can meet with residents for scheduled blocks of time.

Residents sometimes use Skype or Zoom to videochat with loved ones, Martinelli said, adding that “basic telephone has worked wonders for certain individuals.”

“They also still get deliveries,” she continued. “Families drop off special items for them.”

The outbreak also has been hard on staff.

“It’s been a lot,” Quasnitschka said. “I think staff here have a tremendous amount of pride for working hard against the virus. ... To lose [residents] to COVID, or to lose them at all, impacts them.”

A Thanksgiving warning

When he spoke about the Evergreen Woods outbreak, Pascucilla urged residents not to hold large gatherings for Thanksgiving.

“You have to understand we’re in the middle of a pandemic,” he said, “We need people to follow the COVID-19 safety recommendations with social gatherings. ... Large gatherings lead to clusters and outbreaks,” he said.

According to the health director, who also advised people to wear face coverings and to practice social distancing, Connecticut’s current infection rates make it “more important than ever” to avoid large gatherings.

“And quite frankly, we need … the help and support of our residents, our community. We can’t do it alone,” he said in regard to slowing the spread of the virus.

While Quasnitschka understands the urge people may have to gather with loved ones, he encouraged them to follow advice from health officials.

“I think as compelled as people are to want to see family and friends, the smart thing to do is listen to the experts,” he said. “Keep it to your in-house family.”