Published July 24, 2020
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE—Nursing homes have taken a devastating hit in the COVID-19 pandemic, but one facility here in Melrose has pulled off a near-miracle.
The Residence at Melrose Station on Essex Street has bucked all trends and recorded no COVID-19 cases from March until present. This during a time in which 40% of all COVID deaths have been reported to stem from nursing homes and assisted livings. The Wall Street Journal estimates the death count in these facilities topping over 50,000 nationwide.
The Residence at Melrose Station has 72 residents, including a memory care unit that houses their most vulnerable population.
It’s an agonizing time for families of loved ones in long term care facilities. And the figures have been bleak. In Massachusetts, almost 100 long-term-care facilities have recorded at least 20 COVID-19 deaths among residents (source: mass.gov) amounting to about 1 in 5 centers. There have been just over 8,000 deaths in Massachusetts reported as of last week, and 5,258 are attributed to nursing and long term facilities. That’s nearly 62 percent.
So, it’s rather remarkable that The Residence of Melrose Station recorded no COVID-19 cases and kept all their residents safe. This assisted living is part of LCB Senior Living, who has 25 communities across New England and 2,000 residents. This company had a herculean task keeping everyone safe. But it has been a job well done. Here in Melrose, taking critical early steps saved the lives of many Melrose residents, who enjoy independent living on Essex Street.
Ted Doyle, Vice President of Marketing and Communications at LCB, credits a quick jump on the virus for making a difference. The Melrose building implemented lockdown promptly beginning around March 5, when restrictive measures began, including the suspension of all visitors, the restriction of deliveries and the ceasing of communal activity and dining. The front door was locked, the staff was subject to constant temperature checks and masks were quickly used and became a must.
“Training was key,” Doyle says. “We credit the commitment of our staff members who were constantly cleaning and social distancing. It’s hard to stay constantly on top of it. But they did a wonderful job.”
The Residence at Melrose Station kept mail isolated for 48 hours, used face shields and gowns, removed all exterior packaging of deliveries, sanitized outside objects, restricted any organic material (like homemade food) from entering the building, used electrostatic disinfecting and consulted epidemiologists about the best way to minimize risk.
“At first, I think the families were a little surprised by our measures. Maybe we looked too tough out of the gate,” says Doyle. “In April, when it became clear the tragic toll the virus was taking on Massachusetts nursing homes, the phone calls came in. The outpouring from families was huge. There was so much gratitude. We’re grateful for their patience too.”
Testing was key. With testing not readily available in March, The Residence chose to consider everything infectious as a precaution. In April, Governor Charlie Baker ordered the National Guard to conduct testing in all nursing homes, assisted living centers and long term care facilities. The National Guard arrived in Melrose in April and The Residence of Melrose Station aced it.
“In many ways, we combatted it the way we fight the regular flu,” says Doyle. “We use the same principals. Sometimes there’s no stopping the arrival of a virus. Managing it is key.”
Right now, residents can enjoy social distance porch visits with family members and a more modified dining experience with the population socializing now but consideration for space limitations. Life is slowly coming back to a new normal but with a continued hyper-vigilance.
One thing is for sure, as we prepare to enter the fall, the folks at The Residence at Melrose Station are definitely in good hands.