Union City, Tenn.–Fourteen residents and employees at The Etheridge House Assisted Living in Union City have now tested positive for COVID-19.
In a press release issued Tuesday night, Americare updated for the public the status of the facility following recent testing. The testing of all residents and employees was undertaken following two residents and an employee testing positive on May 29.
The test results show that in the assisted living facility nine residents and five employees have tested positive (this includes the original positives). Three additional employee tests are pending. At the Arbors, all residents and staff tested negative for the virus, with two resident tests pending.
According to the press release, Americare has been working in the community to identify appropriate care sites for residents who may require a higher level of care as they recover from the virus. This includes a partnership with Baptist Memorial Hospital to allow for direct admissions when residents experience symptoms of the virus best treated at the acute care level. This allows residents to by-pass the emergency room. At this time, six of the nine positive residents are being cared for at Baptist.
Once stabilized and no longer requiring hospitalization, The Etheridge House has arranged for those symptomatic residents to be admitted to Baptist Memorial Hospital’s skilled nursing unit in Huntingdon, TN or at Hillview Nursing Center in Dresden, TN.
Residents who qualify for these skilled nursing services can remain there until they can return to the assisted living level of care. Any resident who does not qualify for skilled nursing services will be returned to The Etheridge House’s Special Care Unit that was established with the first positive case on May 30. Three residents are currently being cared for in the special care unit. This unit has a separate care team 24/7, separate equipment and supplies.
The in-room quarantines and other protective processes that were established throughout The Etheridge House facilities after the first positive test remain in effect.
All local and state health departments are being kept apprised and all residents, employees and resident family members have been informed and will be kept up to date.
For more information on how Americare facilities are addressing the coronavirus pandemic please visit our website at https://www.americareusa.net/coronavirus