FOLLOWUP: Providence Mount St. Vincent reopening to visitors Thursday

| Health | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

One week ago, we reported that Providence Mount St. Vincent was temporarily not allowing visitors, so it could be “vigilant” in keeping its vulnerable residents safe from this year’s particularly nasty flu. Today, The Mount notified families and others that it will be open to visitors again starting tomorrow. Spokesperson Susan Clark shared a copy of the announcement sent by administrator Charlene Boyd:

We are delighted to report that The Mount will be open to visitors, effective Thursday, Jan. 25th — tomorrow! Thank you so much for your patience during this challenging time.

However, we continue to ask for your support and cooperation as we get back to normal operations. You may visit if you are well. You must wash or sanitize your hands upon entering and leaving The Mount. Sanitized hands are some of our best defenses for preventing flu.

You may not enter The Mount if you are ill. No fever, cough, sore throat, diarrhea, or vomiting in the last 48 hours prior to visiting The Mount.

We will be resuming house-wide activities gradually over the next few days.

Again, we thank your for your cooperation and patience, and we look forward to seeing you soon.

The Mount is an assisted-living and skilled-nursing-care facility and also home to an intergenerational preschool, which has continued operating but had suspended visits between the kids and seniors while flu concern was peaking.

mom2boys January 24, 2018 (4:24 pm)

While I applaud their reasons…its a residents right to have access to visitors 24/7 365 days a year flu or not.

Westseattleite January 24, 2018 (6:16 pm)

Really mom2boys? Is this a necessary post? Would you let your “2 boys” go visit an active influenza patient’s room just so that patient could have their rights satisfied? So grateful to the Mount employees and management who protect our elderly, disabled, children and community. Thankful for WSB for keeping us updated.

BeWell January 24, 2018 (10:21 pm)

My mom lives at the Mount. I understand why they tried to keep visitors and volunteers out. Yes, it is difficult for the residents and their family. The flu was a huge epidemic there with the elder residents and the children in the daycare. It even spread to the employees. I’m sure that’s where I got it too. I happened to be visiting the last 2 days they allowed visitors at the beginning of Jan. On both of those days, at least 3 or more residents were taken to the hospital. I know at least a few were due the flu because I know their families and heard the details. The nurses were being requested to so many apartments on the overhead speakers to help the residents, they were literally running in the hallway trying to keep up. Not sure why the spokespeople for the Mount tried to minimize the severity of situation. Mom2boys, There are always going to be people that think the rules do not apply to them. Or they think “I’m not that sick” or “my child only has a runny nose, I can’t stay home from work. That’s how it starts and it spreads like wildfire in a community of people with health problems. Here is a link to how sever this year flu is for children and what to watch for. http://www.king5.com/article/news/health/pediatric-flu-concerns-why-is-the-flu-killing-kids/511215428?c=m  While this can be inconvenient for you and others, it can be deadly to the residents.

Kathleen January 25, 2018 (11:24 am)

Mom2Boys: How would you feel if your mother or father was there and was frail and old— and someone with the flu comes in to visit their relative, perhaps sitting in the common area- without any regard for the immune compromised and sick patients around them? How selfish. Think of others please, especially the sick and vulnerable. We need more of this in our world.

mom2boys January 25, 2018 (4:34 pm)

I work in skilled care and have worked in long term care over 20 years so I am more then familiar with how flu outbreak is managed .

In King County right now there are just as many cases as RSV as Flu. No one is reporting out the “RSV” epidemic because there is no shot and no money to be made. RSV is just as deadly.

People should not visit if they are sick, of coarse.

My only point was legally residents have the right to visitors.

There is another skilled nursing home in the area that “bans” kids from visiting every flu season, so for several months, as a preventive measure. Again, breaking residents rights.

Again, right or wrong all I was pointing out is legally the mount does not get to trump resident rights. Our Seniors need someone to stand up for their rights, so much has been taken from them as their health declines.

The Mount or any other facility can legally post a sign saying we have active flu and suggest you visit at another time for the health and well being our or population but they cannot all out ban visits.

In addition the King County Health dept WANTS skilled facilities to keep admitting patients even flu positive ones to care. Droplet precautions, 3 feet and a curtain between patients, good hand washing and prophylactic tamiflu is what the health dept recommends to control an outbreak of flu in a facility.

Sorry, comment time is over.