Table of Contents
- General Information
- Vaccine Information
- Visitors
- Contacting Residents
- Medical Check of Residents
- Testing
- Nursing
- Barber and Salon Services
- Admissions
- Activities
- Dining
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Healthcare Worker Appreciation
- Donations
- Media Information
- Update History
Edgar P. Benjamin Healthcare Center (EPBHC) is firmly committed to helping protect the health and safety of our residents–your family member, your friend, or your community member.
We are closely monitoring the changing situations related to COVID-19 and influenza and are complying with public health guidance.
Here is additional information regarding policies and procedures to help provide the best care at the EPBHC. Please help us by reading and following these policies and procedures. These policies and procedures are not exhaustive nor detailed and may change at any time.
GENERAL INFORMATION
This facility will follow any orders and guidelines provided through local, state, and federal partners regarding the pandemic of the COVID-19, including those published by the Commissioner of Public Health, Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
VACCINE INFORMATION
Edgar P. Benjamin Healthcare Center will be following the latest vaccination requirements for employee, staff, and contractors.
The 2023-2024 annual vaccinations are available for our residents. If you are a healthcare proxy for any of our residents and would like to consent for these annual vaccinations, please reach out to our director of nursing.
See media coverage of the vaccine distribution for the initial COVID-19 vaccines.
VISITORS
* Please call to inquire about visits with a specific resident. *
We welcome visits with our residents. Changes to the guidelines may happen at any point to comply with federal, state, local, facility, and medical guidance.
If you are unable to visit in-person your family member or friend, you may see more information in the next section “Contacting Residents (Family Member/Friend).”
CONTACTING RESIDENTS (FAMILY MEMBER/FRIEND)
We encourage you to continue to call our residents. Telephone calls may be made directly to resident rooms or to the unit resident phones. A list of cordless unit phones are below:
- 1 East Residents: 617-566-1385
- 1 West Residents: 617-566-1402
- 2 East Residents: 617-566-1405
- 2 West Residents: 617-566-1429
*You may need to contact the receptionist or social services for your family member’s or friend’s current room assignment.
Arrangements may be made with our Activities Department to schedule a video conference call using Zoom. Fifteen-minute video conference calls are scheduled throughout the day using donated tablets. This type of call will not only allow you to speak with your family member or friend, but you will be able to see him or her. You will need to download and install Zoom on your phone, tablet, or computer from your device’s app store or directly from http://zoom.us. (A video camera is not necessary, but it will be helpful for your family member or friend to see you.) Unfortunately, we cannot provide technical support to use Zoom. However, there are numerous video tutorials available on how to download, install, and use Zoom on http://zoom.us or http://youtube.com.
We kindly ask that nursing stations not be called to speak with a resident. This request will allow our amazing nursing staff to focus on providing the necessary care to our residents.
MEDICAL CHECK OF RESIDENTS
We understand your concern for our residents. In order to provide the best care for your family member or friend, we ask that you do not call the nursing stations for updates on the medical condition of our residents. If the medical condition of your family member changes, we will contact the listed health care proxy or emergency contact. If you would like to receive information on a resident, please contact the social worker’s office.
TESTING
EPBHC follows the guidance and recommendations from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Healthcare Safety Network (NSHN) and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) regarding testing and screening of residents and staff.
Residents are continuously checked for symptoms and related symptoms of COVID-19.
NURSING
We appreciate the diligent and hard work of our nursing staff. They are working tirelessly to ensure that our residents are well taken care of.
BARBER AND SALON SERVICES
We have made adjustments to ensure our residents are looking their best.
ADMISSIONS
EPBHC is providing on-going care for our community and is taking admissions. Please call and speak with or leave a voicemail message for our admissions director to get more information about our facility and our nursing.
ACTIVITIES
Group activities are being scheduled in our dining rooms to provide the most space available. Our Activities Department is assisting to make sure that our residents are in contact with family members and friends. We can arrange for Zoom video conferencing calls. Due to high demand, video conference calls are scheduled throughout the day using donated tablets from the Massachusetts Attorney General Office, Massachusetts Senior Care Association, and Walmart.
For information on in-person visitations, please see the visitors section
DINING
Our dining halls are open. The residents are enjoying meals in our first and second floor dining areas. In addition, meal service is still provided and served to resident’s room.
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)
Face masks are available to all residents, staff, healthcare workers, and visitors.
HEALTHCARE WORKER APPRECIATION
All of the EPBHC staff are essential workers. They are front line workers in caring for our residents during this pandemic. Our staff forms the backbone of the standard of EPBHC care provided to your family member or friend.
We appreciate our staff’s commitment and dedication during this pandemic. If you would like to show your appreciation or express words of gratitude to our staff, please contact the Human Resources Department.
DONATIONS
As a non-profit, donations are always appreciated. If you would like to make a donation, please click on the donate button below.
MEDIA INFORMATION
Members of the Media are encouraged to contact the EPBHC Administrator, Mr. Tony Francis, for information.
See media coverage of the vaccine distribution at EPBHC.
UPDATE HISTORY
February 8, 2021: Moved Update History (Announcements; Updates)
For a list of major updates.