Visit this webpage daily for the latest information Berkshire Nursing and Rehabilitation Center has to share with our families and friends about COVID-19

Coronavirus (COVID-19) poses a serious threat to older adults and those with underlying health conditions.  This is why the federal and state governments are restricting visitors to nursing home communities.  Exceptions may be made for end-of-life visits on a case-by-case basis.  We understand this is difficult, but the safety and wellbeing of your loved one is our top priority. 

The Recreation Department has been working diligently to maintain lines of communication with your loved ones through phone and video chat. To schedule a video chat with your loved one please email the Director of Recreation, Joan Erdmann at jerdmann@BerkshireRehab.com or reach her at extension 3316.

We have mobilized our Family Call Program where social work and activities staff regularly call our families with updates about their loved ones. As always, if you have any questions concerns or inquiries for the Social Work Department, please contact the Director of Social Services, Stacey Ann Morgan, at smorgan@berkshirerehab.com or extension 3309, or Jennifer Paulicelli at jpaulicelli@berkshirerehab.com, or extension 3310.

We are doing everything possible to ensure we stop the spread. Our staff and residents continue to follow the following recommended preventative actions within the building until the virus has been eradicated:

• Ongoing hand hygiene with alcohol-based hand sanitizers in locations such as in or near each resident’s room, common areas, etc. 
• Regular and frequent internal monitoring systems of hand hygiene with regular feedback to staff. 
• Visual reminders that hand hygiene helps residents stay healthy. 
• Early identification of viral infections that cause upper respiratory illness (e.g. “colds”, “flu”, or “winter crud”) that lead to steps that prevent viral spread. Preventative measures include: Early contact isolation and droplet protection for individuals with flu-like symptoms before a definitive diagnosis is made. This includes: Keeping ill individuals away from healthy individuals as much as possible. 
• Use of masks on residents with symptoms if they need to leave their rooms, which should be severely restricted. 
• Constant use of personal protective equipment for droplet protection. 
• Use of appropriate cleaning products on surfaces that are cytotoxic for common viral infections and changing these cleaning products when the harder to kill infectious agents are identified and requires special cleaning products. 

We are committed to communicating with family members the status of the virus in the facility. If any resident tests positive for COVID-19, any resident suffers a COVID-19 related death or if three or more residents or staff with new-onset of respiratory symptoms occur within 72 hours, we are committed to update the table below (as per Executive Order 202.18, 42 CFR 483.80 and CDC guidance). Due to patient privacy laws, we are unable to share any further specific information about the confirmed cases or deaths in our facility, but rest assured that we have notified their immediate family members or guardian.