The management company of a Vaiden nursing home has brought in supplemental staff to help with a COVID-19 outbreak among the home’s residents and employees this week.
Community Eldercare Services declined to say how many residents and employees of Vaiden Community Living Center have tested positive for the new coronavirus.
The Tupelo-based company, which manages 19 facilities in Mississippi and Tennessee, said Friday that the outbreak began over the weekend, April 25 and 26, and is the first at the Vaiden home.
“We are continuing our enhanced protocols and use of PPE (personal protective equipment). One resident who tested positive was sent to the hospital for other reasons, but no others. All other residents are stable and being well taken care of at this time,” said Rachel Ethridge, a Community Eldercare spokeswoman.
“The administrator, Chris Horne, is still on site and in charge; however additional management is on the scene to assist,” Ethridge said.
Employees who tested positive have been placed on paid leave and are being isolated and retested.
“We fully expect them to return to work in approximately two weeks after two successive negative tests. In the interim, Community Eldercare has sent caregivers from other nearby operated homes for backup and relief to ensure excellent care and coverage,” she said.
The company did not say how many residents the Vaiden home is currently serving.
The home is licensed for 60 beds.
Two representatives of the Mississippi State Department of Health visited the nursing home Thursday, Ethridge said.
They “left after a few hours satisfied that all residents were being properly cared for,” she said.
•Contact Susan Montgomery at 581-7241 or smontgomery@gwcommonwealth.com.
