Dear Walker Methodist Health Center residents and families,

The coronavirus is a fast moving, and deeply troubling virus, and the Health Center is not immune from its spread. Despite the restrictions and screening processes in place, I am sad to inform you that the virus has spread to several residents on one unit of our community. All residents in that unit and their families have all been notified. The residents remain in their private rooms, isolated from others.

Please be assured that we continue to take all the steps we can to protect residents and employees. Every day, we closely monitor all of our residents, and we monitor our team members before they are allowed into the building. We follow the guidance of the Center for Disease Control and the Department of Health. We don our personal protective equipment and we wash our hands. We restrict the movement of residents as much as possible.

Now with the cases identified within one unit, we have implemented additional isolation precautions, such as decreasing moving within the facility, identified specific care staff to work only with these residents.

We know that this is difficult news to hear, it is hard for us to believe, too. We love and care for our residents like family. Your loved one’s care team is doing everything possible to keep them safe. And for those who are battling with this disease, we are providing comfort and companionship to help them through this.

I hope that you will keep all of our residents and teammates in your thoughts. They need encouragement and support as they fight against this unseen force.

Sincerely,

Merilee Johnson
Administrator, Walker Methodist Health Center