KRUSE VILLAGE REPORTS ADDITIONAL COVID-19 CASES, CONFIRMS FOUR RESIDENT DEATHS

  

Kruse Village in Brenham continues to report additional cases of COVID-19, and has announced the death of several healthcare center residents.

In a release Tuesday afternoon, Kruse Village Executive Director Coy Fontenot said that despite the efforts of staff and resiliency of residents, there have been four residents that have died since the virus presented itself at the nursing home.  The facility cannot conclusively say the deaths were solely due to the virus, as they may have been related to other underlying health conditions.

As of Tuesday, 29 residents—including the four who have died—and 18 staff members have been diagnosed with COVID-19.

Fontenot said Kruse Village is “fully committed to stopping the spread of this virus”. He said the facility continues to meet guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), in addition to keeping close contact with its medical director and other local health providers.  He said the facility is also partnered with the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) and Washington County’s Office of Emergency Management.

According to Fontenot, the facility has “strict infection control measures in place to stop the spread of COVID-19”, including screening and testing residents and staff, restricting non-essential visitors, cancelling group activities and disallowing congregate dining.  All residents and staff are permitted to self-monitor for symptoms and inform clinical staff in the event they show symptoms.

Fontenot said a designated wing has been established within the facility and is equipped to serve residents who have confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19.  Residents are quarantined in their rooms while designated staff are appointed to focus on their care and recovery.  The residents remain in quarantine until they are cleared by medical professionals.

Fontenot noted that many healthcare facilities like Kruse Village are seeing a rise in cases due to increased test availability, and regular, ongoing testing allows the nursing home to now identify asymptomatic positive cases.  He said staff have been diligent in their efforts to see that those who test positive have “every resource available to support their recovery”.

Full press release from Kruse Village below:

Kruse Village’s top priority is providing dignified, safe senior care. While this pandemic is not an easy time for any senior community— because we care for those among the most-at risk for COVID-19— our staff remains dedicated to serving our residents and their families with the best in person-centered care.

Despite the resolve of our staff and resiliency of our residents, we are mourning the deaths of four healthcare center residents since the virus first presented itself at Kruse Village. However, based on the information available, we are unable to conclusively say that the deaths were solely due to COVID-19, and may have been related to other underlying health conditions. We extend our deepest sympathies to their loved ones and continue being a resource for them throughout their time of grief. In addition to those lost to this unrelenting virus, we are saddened that 29 residents and 18 staff members have been diagnosed with COVID-19.

“We are fully committed to stopping the spread of this virus at Kruse Village. We continue to meet guidelines from the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and maintain close communication with our medical director and other local health providers. We are also grateful for our partnership with the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) and Washington County’s Office of Emergency Management,” said Executive Director Coy Fontenot.

We have strict infection control measures in place to stop the spread of COVID-19 within our community, including: screening residents and staff for symptoms and testing as appropriate, restricting non-essential visitors, cancelling group activities and ceasing congregate dining. All residents and staff are empowered to also self-monitor for symptoms and inform clinical staff in the event symptoms are exhibited.

Many health care facilities, like Kruse Village, are experiencing a rise in cases due to increased test availability. Regular, ongoing testing enables Kruse Village to now identify asymptomatic, positive cases. Our team has been diligent in their efforts to see that individuals who test positive have every resource available to support their recovery.

A designated wing has been established within Kruse Village and is fully equipped to serve our residents who have confirmed or suspected COVID-19. These residents are quarantined in their rooms while designated staff are appointed to focus on their care and recovery. The residents remain in quarantine until cleared by medical professionals.

Fontenot adds, “We are truly blessed to have such a dedicated team and to have received so much support from our residents and their families. We have all come together to fight this virus. For that, I am proud to be a part of the Kruse Village family.”

While Kruse Village strives for transparency in everything we do, please know we are bound by federal guidelines under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) as well as employment policies, which protect the privacy of our residents and team members.