State authorizing Monroe Manor to begin opening to visitors

PARIS – Monroe Manor Nursing Home officially began the first phase of a three stage several months-long reopening process to visitors July 10th.

Administrator Shari Embree said the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services [DHSS] – the Manor’s governing body – has authorized the Manor to allow residents to see relatives and friends only outside of the building and after the visitors have been screened for fever, masked, hands sanitized and social distancing observed; there can be no touching.

“I know all these requirements sound draconian,” Ms. Embree said, “believe me, our staff and I agree with you; however, this is a noxious and apparently very contagious disease that has swept through nursing homes nation-wide, killing thousands of seniors. We can’t be too cautious and because of our licensing requirements cannot deviate from DHSS mandates.”

Because the Manor does not have enough area at its front door – where visits will occur - nor the staff to accommodate every visitor at their convenience, appointments to visit will be required.

“Anyone wanting to visit, please call 660-327-4125 and set up a time you want to see a resident. Of course, no appointment is needed, if you just want to drop something off at the front door; however, please don’t approach the front door, if residents are outside. Just call and someone will meet you in the parking lot.”

A critical element of DHSS’ Phase I requires every Manor resident and employee be tested for Covid 19 and all 165 people were screened July 20th. If there are no confirmed cases, the Manor can begin Phase II, which consists of limited indoor visits.

“Similar to the outdoor policies, indoor visits will require appointments, screenings, hygienic requirements and social distancing,” Mrs. Embree said. “Those visits will only be allowed in the Manor’s front lobby and in the visitors room at The Cottage. Visitors will not be allowed in any other area of the buildings, including residents’ rooms.”

The Manor can move into Phase III after a minimum of two weeks of being in the second phase.

In Phase III, 10 percent of nursing homes will be selected by DHSS to randomly test 10 percent of the residents for COVID-19 every month. Appointments for visitations can be lifted and visitors allowed to visit inside the building with limited surface touching, face masks, screening, and hand sanitizing.

Beginning Sept. 1st, for the next 10 months, DHSS will monthly select 10-percent of nursing home state-wide, and ordering a similar percent of a home’s residents to undergo a test.

Mrs. Embree said she has not been given guidelines for allowing residents to leave the facility for outings with family and friends, nor has she been authorized to reopen the Manor’s therapy department to outpatients.

“Families and residents are anxious for outings,” the administrator said. “We’ve cooped our residents up for four months, not allowing them to leave the facility unless it was for medical reasons. There are some who yearn for their independence and I look forward to seeing that that happen more sooner than later. Concurrently, locals want to return to our superior therapy facility. I’m hoping DHSS will quickly issue guidelines for those issues. These can’t come fast enough.”

Despite all the good news of allowing visitors, Ms. Embree warns that if Covid is discovered in the facility, or the disease should spike locally, the Manor will return to its shuttered mode.

“Worse case scenario, we’re back to square one, starting the phases over,” Mrs. Embree said. “Let’s all wear masks, social distance, practice sensible hygiene and maybe in the near future we will be rid of this toxic time.”

“Our staff has been exceptional in looking after our residents the last four months, but they can’t take the place of families,” Mrs. Embree said. “The staff – with their own worries about their families – have had to take cumbersome safety precautions to comply with DHSS mandates and I’m so proud of their demeanor, attitudes and willingness to put our residents first. We’re very thankful to the community for the kind words, parades, donations and encouraging phone calls, but please do me a favor, if you see one of our staff members out and about, please stop and thank them for taking care of those that can’t take care of themselves.”