June 15, 2021
To all Seneca View Residents and Families:
We are pleased to inform you that there have been no new cases of COVID-19 amongst our resident
and staff populations in several months. Seneca View remains off full isolation precautions on all
nursing units and staff continue the wearing of surgical masks, plus eye protection while providing
resident care. Weekly COVID testing is still in place; however, fully vaccinated staff are no longer
required to maintain routine twice weekly testing. Small group resident activities and socially distant
dining routines have been restarted, along with restricted visitation, and we have welcomed the return
of our beautician. We continue to look forward to the further easing of restrictions.
Recently, the NYS Department of Health further expanded the guidelines surrounding nursing home
visitation to help counter the effects of COVID-19 resident isolation and national staffing shortages. This
revised guidance provides opportunities for increased presence under new personal and
compassionate caregiver guidelines in addition to general restricted visitation and end-of-life programs.
Our nursing team has been reaching out to residents and families to establish personal and
compassionate caregiver role designees, as appropriate. Two per resident have been added as a
starting point while more can be added later. Personal caregivers can provide bedside assistance with
nutrition, hydration and light personal care, while compassionate caregivers are able to be present
when the resident needs more support than can be provided under the general restricted visitation
visits. A person can perform both roles but only two caregivers/visitors can be present at a time.
Social distancing rules still apply within the facility and our space is limited so please continue to call to
arrange any visits. We have been reaching out to families with known concerns, and we ask that you
please contact our nursing units if you would like to be added to these lists. More information will be
provided at that time.
We continue to see positive indications that the worst of this pandemic may be behind us but we still
have a way to go to keep everyone safe. Some residents and staff at Seneca View are not medically
eligible for the vaccine. We must honor their safety as we continue to bring our families back together.
Please continue to monitor our SCHUYLERHOSPITAL.ORG website, and feel free to contact us if you
have any questions. You can also reach our State Ombudsman, Trish Chevallard, at (607)274-5492, if
you need.
Warmest Regards,
Patrick Ryan, Administrator
