PORTAGE, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — An assisted living center in Portage is one of the latest places to announce a coronavirus death in their community.
On Saturday, the Director of Bickford Senior Living Janna Ritter posted a message on their Facebook page saying that one of their residents in Mary B’s went to the hospital for pneumonia on March 31st but passed away from COVID-19 on April 3rd.
“Our immediate priority was to quarantine our Mary B’s by closing all access in the hallways between the Assisted Living and Memory Care and set about to make every effort to keep those residents and aides working at that time as safe as possible. All of our residents in Mary B’s have advanced dementia which presents unique challenges in trying to accomplish a full quarantine to their apartments, but we feel we have and are continuing to do the very best we can to keep them separated from one another,” Ritter said in the post.
Now, two of their residents and three staff members have been tested after they reported symptoms. They have all been self-isolating and are awaiting their results.
Ritter adds that they are doing everything they can to keep residents safe and entertained. “Our residents in Assisted Living have all been advised to self – quarantine to their apartments. For those who are cognitively impaired this is presenting challenges as well and we spend a good amount of time trying to keep those individuals engaged and in their apartments. We have some ideas for doing some activities like Bingo through the windows in the courtyard. Hallway trivia and noodle ball. I am working towards hiring activity staff to spend time with them in their apartments and offering one on one activities to keep them engaged.”
At last reported on Sunday, there have been three deaths and 53 positive cases of the coronavirus in Kalamazoo County.
The full post from Bickford can be found here.
