Coronavirus Spreads In LI Retirement Home: 2 New Cases Reported

GREENPORT, NY — The new coronavirus continues to spread across areas where it had not been previously reported at the Peconic Landing retirement community. Peconic Landing was notified of its first positive diagnosis of the COVID-19 disease, as it's officially called, in a member of Independent Living community Sunday afternoon, officials said Monday. The section of Peconic Landing is home to 301 members.

The individual, the spouse of a health center resident who tested positive March 21, is being treated for coronavirus symptoms at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital. The individual lives in the East Apartments, officials said.

So far, four Peconic Landing members have died. Currently, the health center has 14 members who have tested positive for the virus, 11 in stable condition and three who were hospitalized. All three in the hospital were receiving treatment for coronavirus symptoms. Additionally, three workers also tested positive, officials said.

Additional diagnoses are anticipated, Peconic Landing officials said.

On Sunday, news was released that Peconic Landing had received notification of the first positive coronavirus diagnosis in Harbor North for Assisted Living, a care neighborhood previously unaffected by the disease.

Peconic Landing received the notification Sunday afternoon from health officials at Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital after a member transferred Saturday evening had tested positive for the disease, a release said.

In accordance with quarantine and response efforts, all members in Harbor North have been isolated to their individual apartment residences since March 12, with all non-medical visitation suspended for the past 10 days.

"We are closely monitoring all members throughout the health center and continue our employee screenings at the beginning of each and every shift. We also continue to strongly urge our independent members to remain in their homes to prevent exposure from the virus in the greater community," the release said.

Independent members have been self-isolating voluntarily since March 12. Those seniors are aged 62 and over and have been "managing their own health and wellness — some with the support of HomeHealth Services as needed," Peconic Landing said.

Independent Living at Peconic Landing has 301 members residing across 108 single-family cottages and 187 apartments on campus; every Independent Living apartment and cottage at Peconic Landing uses a closed heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, or HVAC, system — meaning air circulating systems are not shared amongst private residences, officials said.

To help independent members that may test positive for COVID-19, Peconic Landing will be
utilizing its case management team to provide individualized care plans similar to care
planning provided in the health center, the release said.

Personalized care will include the support of Peconic Landing's medical director and in-house nurse practitioner, in consultation with the director of nursing, a social worker, case managers, the facility's home care coordinator, as well as representatives from member services. That team will coordinate with each member's family and private physicians to manage signs and symptoms, helping to direct any next steps as necessary; that includes daily contact with the nurse practitioner through phone calls to provide medical advice, who will visit the members as needed wearing the proper PPE, Peconic Landing said.

Members will also receive phone calls each day to check in and provide social connection. Mail, groceries, healthcare supplies, and other needs will be delivered outside of their homes to maintain quarantine protocols, with no contact made will be made within 6 feet without proper PPE to help in containing the spread of the disease.

In addition, all independent members at Peconic Landing have access to a personal emergency response device, a necklace/bracelet that provides them with direct access to the facility's safety and security team 24 hours a day; Peconic Landing also employs emergency medical technicians, with at least one EMT available on premises all the time, officials said.

That team will be available with access to full PPE within five minutes of the activation of any member PER across campus, officials said.

"Much care and planning have gone into preparing for the possible spread of COVID-19 on our
campus, something we hoped would be a worst-case scenario," said Robert J. Syron, president
and CEO. "We want to assure our members and their families that we are here to help you."

To date, positive diagnoses has been reported in The Shores for Skilled Nursing, Harbor South
for Memory Support, Harbor North for Assisted Living, and the East Apartments for Independent Living.

The Bluffs for Short-Term Rehabilitation, the West Apartments for Independent Living and Cottages across campus currently remain unaffected.

Over the weekend, Peconic Landing received a donation of N-95 masks from the East End Group of Yaphank.

"We want to express our gratitude for the support of our community partners and are working closely with Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone to secure the additional supplies needed to best care for our members," Peconic Landing said.

Opportunities for grief and wellness counseling have also been created for members.

The fourth person died Friday of the new coronavirus within Greenport's Peconic Landing retirement community.

"We sadly report the death of a fourth member last evening in connection with COVID-19.
The member was an 89-year-old woman who has been on hospice in The Shores for
Skilled Nursing over the past several months," Peconic Landing said in a release.

"We also received notification from the New York State Department of Health that an additional member who was being hospitalized for a separate medical condition has tested positive for COVID-19. They were admitted to the hospital last week. This member also resided in The Shores for Skilled Nursing," the release said.

After news broke Friday that three people in their 90s at Peconic Landing retirement community had died within 48 hours in connection with the new coronavirus, officials from the facility spoke with Patch to address community concerns.

Syron said he believed there would be more positive cases, and that he thinks at some point the virus would spread to all areas of the facility. "It's just like in the greater community —it's spreading," he said.

The news of the deaths left the North Fork community saddened.

"Pending approval for the release of information out of respect for loved ones, we report the following at this time," officials said in a release Friday: The first three who died included a woman, 96, who lived at The Shores for Skilled Nursing; she died Wednesday and was diagnosed Thursday as having had COVID-19, officials said.

A second woman, 97, who lived at The Shores for Skilled Nursing, died Thursday, the release said, and a man, 96, of Harbor South for Memory Support, died Thursday in the hospital.

All three members had underlying medical conditions, and two were receiving comfort support at the time of diagnosis, officials said.

The first three members were residents of the Health Center, where COVID-19 was first detected on campus March 10 in a per-diem employee who had unknowingly been exposed to the virus, Peconic Landing said.

Peconic Landing's Health Center is home to 86 persons residing in four care neighborhoods: 37 in The Shores for Skilled Nursing, 13 in Harbor South for Memory Support, 24 in Harbor North for Assisted Living, and 12 in The Bluffs for Short-Term Rehabilitation.

When asked if any of the members who had confirmed positive would be moved, Gregory Garrett, Peconic Landing's chief operating officer, said the goal is to maintain the members at home "to the best of our ability and not move them to other hospitals."

No across the board testing

Although some family members of seniors living at Peconic Landing have cried out for across the board testing for all who reside there, Syron said it's not possible. "We don't have the ability. We wish we could. There just aren't enough tests. I have no control over it. If I could write a check to have every person tested, I would have written it."

The New York State Department of Health determines who is tested, he added.

But family members are still concerned: "I wish we could get some communication on who is being tested," said one man, who asked not to be identified to protect the identify of his parents, who live at Peconic Landing. "We still don’t know that and if workers have had contact with infected members. Are they tested? Peconic Landing's answer is that they are following state protocol."

Employees test positive

A per diem employee at Peconic Landing was the first confirmed to have coronavirus, just over a week before the three members died. As of March 12, two additional employees of Peconic Landing also tested positive for coronavirus — bringing the previously reported total to 3.

"This virus was introduced to our community," Syron said.

Since then, he said, six employees have tested positive; the three who were confirmed to have coronavirus most recently are out on mandatory quarantine, he said.

Each time staff members were confirmed as positive, they were put on quarantine, Syron said.

"At one point we had 20 employees out on mandatory quarantine," he said. So far, 3 have been cleared and 17 are still quarantined. Of that number, 14 have been tested and are waiting for results. Other staff members were put out on voluntary quarantine, Syron said.

Peconic Landing has 377 employees and Syron thanked his "remarkable" staff for caring for the members and filling in where needed.

"The silver lining is our staff has really pulled together, caring for our members and for each other," Garrett said. "We truly are a big family."

Peconic Landing members, he said, have expressed concern for the staff.

Syron has been giving in-house television updates for members daily. Memorandums are delivered to them with their meals, he said.

Reflecting on the past days, Syron said there had been missteps. "Where I think we did fall down was with the families. We made a mistake today by missing an email group. We corrected that."

He added that he'd wanted members to hear the news first. The process was for Garrett and Syron to go on the in-house TV, then call the families, then send out an email blast, letting team members know, and then, issuing a media release.

The reason why a release to the public wasn't sent out sooner was that tests had been performed and they wanted to have an accurate assessment of the situation after the results came back, Syron said.

Syron said family members had been told that "several" members had tested positive. "We are transparent; we always have been," Syron said.

Still, he said, with things unfolding rapidly, there were "mistakes. . . Even today, we tripped and fell, with an individual family. This is brand new territory for us and it changes fluidly. In 24 hours we had 9 new cases and 3 deaths," Syron said Friday. "But we will not miscommunicate again."

To that end, he said, increased updates will be sent out and posted on the Peconic Landing website, with a focus on increased communication with families and the public.

"It's personal"

In a close-knit community where Syron walks the halls and greets members warmly by name, where residents share their stories and their lives, the losses cut deep, he said.

"It's personal," Syron said.

Racing to stop the spread, Syron said there have been "tremendous challenges," including the fear that staff would run out of personal protective equipment. But over the past. days, Eastern Long Island Hospital and Peconic Bay Medical Center "all chipped in" to help in a show of true hometown support.

"My board of trustees are working very hard," he said. "We've all got a paddle in our hand to row."

When asked if any members would be moved, as some family members may have suggested, Syron said: "That's a mistake." With more cases of coronavirus spreading across Southold Town and the entire country, the safest place for members is to isolate in place, he said. He added that he understood the concerns expressed by loved ones for their family members. "How can you fault someone who is trying to help?" he asked

Members concerned

Members who reside in the independent living facility, Syron said, are concerned. "How could you not be concerned?" he said.

But, he said, those who tested positive are isolated.

Life, he said, goes on: Isolated members, and those in independent living who are self-isolated, can still enjoy fitness programs on television and other entertainment; staff have also been doing social wellness calls, chatting with members.

"They love hearing familiar voices," Syron said.

In general, he said, the mood among members is one of resilience and concern for one another and staff. "Our members have been through a lot in their lifetimes. Some are 100-plus years old," he said. "There's a real feeling of, 'We're in this together.'"

Laurelle Scarpelli, Peconic Landing director of sales and marketing, added that she has been calling members. "The resounding comment, besides asking us how we are doing, is that they are keeping themselves busy." Independent living members, she said, are focused on doing all the things they've been putting off, including spring cleaning, reading and puzzles.

"As a community we need to come together and do the right thing, be good neighbors — and show the kind of community the North Fork is," Garrett said.

"We are just trying to do the very best we can. And we know we will do a better job with communication," Syron said.

The New York State Department of Health has managed oversight and testing of all people at Peconic Landing, determining who meets the criteria for testing. They will continue to manage testing. The Suffolk County Health Department has assisted with quarantine best practices to help manage the containment of the illness on the campus, Peconic Landing said.

"Circumstances are changing day by day, minute by minute. Our focus remains on the health and well-being of our members. We ask you to provide us with the ability to focus our time on our members and the challenges that lie ahead," Syron said. "We must recognize our team for the dedication they have shown to our members during this challenging time. Our mission has never been more meaningful."

Peconic Landing asked that neighbors and friends do all that they can to support their area seniors
and health care professionals by following the recommendations set forth by the CDC:

• Social distancing and staying home if possible.
• Washing hands for 20 seconds with soap and water.
• Self-isolating if showing any signs or symptoms of COVID-19.
• Seeking medical assistance as necessary.

Visitation to the campus remains suspended until further notice. All non-medical visitation continues to be suspended for the health center.

"We will continue to provide general community updates and assist our members with family connections through Skype calls," Peconic Landing said.

To get more information or to schedule a Skype call with a family member, call the numbers below:
Health Center Members: 631-593-8288
Independent Living Members: 631-593-8210

Efforts have been underway to continue sanitizing the facility, Syron told Patch last week. All residents, he added, are being monitored closely.