A sign outside of Elm Terrace in Lansdale Borough.
A nursing home in Lansdale Borough is locking things down and suspending in-house visitation as their medical personnel attempt to get a hold of a recent coronavirus outbreak.
In an email sent to family members, Elm Terrace Gardens President and CEO Timothy Murphy stated that there are currently 43 positive cases at the facility, along with another five resident cases that are currently at the hospital.
“It is with a heavy heart that I inform you that seven of our residents from Skilled Nursing have passed away due to complications from the coronavirus,” said Murphy. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to their families during this difficult time.”
Murphy said the facility currently has two zones in Skilled Nursing — a yellow zone on the first floor for residents who have been exposed but tested negative, and a red zone on the second floor for residents who have tested positive —and they are currently testing all employees and residents in three related departments every Friday.
“All employees are wearing KN95 masks, face shields and gowns when providing care to residents,” said Murphy. “Residents are given masks and [are] continuously encouraged to wear them.”
Other precautions currently being undertaken include Skilled Nursing personnel entering and exiting the facility through a separate entrance than the rest of the staff. Additionally, independent living residents are being asked to minimize outings to only necessary appointments.
According to Erin Trout, the director of sales and marketing for Elm Terrace, members of the National Guard arrived at the long-term care facility on Nov. 30 to assess their needs and provide assistance. Two days later, roughly 20 members of the National Guard were on scene, assisting the facility with their various needs and allowing them to catch up during the ongoing surge.
“[We] called them, and they answered the call right away,” said Trout. “They have been very valuable in helping us get caught up on things, helping to move residents, cleaning, etc.”
Trout said the soldiers departed the facility during the afternoon of Dec. 8, adding that their assistance was in-demand across other communities and hospitals in the region.
“Elm Terrace Gardens would like to thank the National Guard for all of its service and assistance through this pandemic,” said Trout. “What a great group of people. We honestly can’t thank them enough.”
Though Murphy’s email mentions National Guard assistance, it’s unclear if he was referring to the previous period or if they have returned to further assist.
Putting the COVID-19 Surge in Context
Since the beginning of the autumn surge of new coronavirus cases, both Pennsylvania and Montgomery County have consistently set daily records for new cases and hospitalizations, with deaths — considered a lagging indicator of increased spread — following suit, though not at the same exponential rates.
None of the seven municipalities comprising the North Penn area have been hit harder than Lansdale Borough, where cases over the last 30 days far surpass the cumulative total of cases from the beginning of the pandemic through Nov. 10.
The breakdown, based off data supplied by the county on Dec. 9, is as follows:
The data shows that for most North Penn municipalities, what took eight months to accumulate is being met — or in the case of Lansdale, surpassed — in only one month. The outlier is the rate of deaths among residents, however those numbers are now climbing at the state and county levels, with Montgomery County reporting double-digit deaths on Wednesday — the first time since June 9.
Officials have also cited the concerning trend of increasing hospitalizations across the commonwealth, with many Montgomery County facilities being at or near capacity in regards to available ICU beds.
Locally, Abington Lansdale Hospital is at 81% capacity for their adult inpatient beds, of which 25% are currently occupied by COVID-19 patients. Data shows that the hospital is averaging 25 COVID-19 patients per week.
See also:
Elm Terrace Reports 17 Cases, 2 Deaths As Facility Deals With Coronavirus
Local Nurse Who Lived In Tent To Protect Family Tests Positive For Coronavirus
Coronavirus Update: County Reports 239 New Cases, 14 Additional Deaths On Wednesday
Panico’s Continues Public Fight Against COVID-19 Restrictions, Remains Defiant Of LCB Orders
Out of Work, Out of Options: A Lansdale Dog-Groomer's Tale
