LI Retirement Home No Longer Giving Updates On Coronavirus Cases

GREENPORT, NY — Peconic Landing, the retirement community in Greenport that has reported nine deaths and a number of coronavirus cases among residents and staff members, will no longer be providing the community with updates on whether additional members or staff have died, been confirmed positive, or recovered, representatives of the facility said Wednesday.

Patch asked Peconic Landing Wednesday if there had been any additional deaths, new cases, or resolved cases.

A response came from Dean Goldman of Goldman & Associates Public Relations, a Virginia-based firm; Goldman said he is a spokesperson for Peconic Landing: “Protecting health and safety is absolutely our top priority. We continue to carry out the extensive protocols and care practices designed in collaboration with our board-certified physician medical director to safeguard our community. Peconic Landing is our members’ home and out of respect for the personal privacy of everyone here, we are not providing details on individuals’ health status. We are entirely committed to the wellbeing and safety of our community.”

One person who has family at Peconic Landing and asked not to be identified for privacy reasons said they have gotten updates and that there have been no new positive coronavirus cases, but that could not be confirmed.

After a per diem employee tested positive at Peconic Landing, the facility's staff, including Peconic Landing's president and CEO Robert J. Syron, reached out on March 11 to explain what precautions were being taken — and outline next steps.

From that date, Peconic Landing was giving daily updates on its website about the number of patients who had died and what areas of the facility members diagnosed with coronavirus lived in. Some families reached out with concerns and said across the board testing of all residents and staffers should ensue.

The last update about specific coronavirus cases was given on April 5, when it was reported that the ninth member of Peconic Landing had died.

On Wednesday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo reported a total of 752 new deaths related to coronavirus in 24 hours statewide; of that number, 707 died in hospitals and 45 in nursing homes. The names of the facilities were not revealed.

Cuomo said that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had developed new guidelines for reporting fatalities and updated numbers would be given regarding how many patients who died had been intubated. Nursing homes and senior facilities would be contacted, he said, to garner additional information on how many had died there.

Also, Cuomo said, there may be other deaths that have not yet been counted because they did not die in a hospital or nursing home, but at home.

According to a report in the Long Island Press Monday, new data indicates that Long Island accounts for a fifth of the more than 1,000 nursing home patients who have died of coronavirus in New York State. The New York State Department of Health said that of 1,064 coronavirus deaths in nursing homes across New York, 21 percent, or 231 deaths, were on Long Island, with 116 in Suffolk County and 115 in Nassau County, the post added.

Although there was no information given on specific coronavirus patients, Peconic Landing did update its website Wednesday with other information on how the facility is faring in the face of coronavirus. It was the first post to the public since April 7.

In the post, Peconic Landing officials thanked members, team members, families and the greater community for their extraordinary support and cooperation "as the region and nation continue to confront the COVID-19 pandemic. Protecting everyone here is our highest priority and we are absolutely committed to this mission. Our COVID-19 practices have been developed in close collaboration with Peconic Landing’s Medical Director Dr. Nathanael Desire and Stony Brook University Hospital in accordance with the guidelines provided by the New York State Department of Health and the CDC. Dr. Desire is board-certified in internal medicine and specializes in primary care and geriatric consultation."

Peconic Landing then listed its "extensive safety protocols," including keeping the campus closed to nonessential staff and visitors; self-isolation of independent members in their cottages, patio homes and apartments; monitoring members for symptoms; screening team members twice daily; utilizing personal protective equipment; and maintaining a six-foot distance from members and employees, including during deliveries of groceries, meals, and other items.

Peconic Landing's case management team, led by Dr. Desire and the facility's nurse practitioner, carefully monitors any members displaying any sign of illness daily and visits members for medical evaluations, donning PPE as needed, the site said.

In the health center, team members don gloves, masks, and any other PPE necessary while providing patient care; team members are screened prior to and at the end of each shift, Peconic Landing said. Team members are assigned to specific areas and healthcare employees are not being shared between levels of care, the site said. In addition, Peconic Landing's case management team continues to be available to provide support to our members in independent living.

"We also continue to offer bereavement and other counseling for members," Peconic Landing said.

Peconic Landing said it continues to communicate with members via multiple platforms and provide daily updates through an in-house TV channel, where cultural, educational, physical and spiritual programming is also offered.

Some members are sharing expertise and talents by virtually contributing to the enriching content.

"We are encouraging members to stay in frequent touch with their families, friends and neighbors through video chats and other means of communication. While our members know they can contact our team members at any time with questions or needs, we are also keeping in touch with them on an ongoing basis for conversation and friendship," the site said.

Donations of PPE supplies are still needed, including face masks, gowns, non-latex gloves, disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizer, and other related supplies. To donate, contact Diane Radigan, director of member services, at dradigan@peconiclanding.org.

To send well wishes to members and team members, email wellwishes@peconiclanding.org.

“Our region, nation and globe are being challenged in a way that was unfathomable just a short while ago. During this time, the unwavering dedication and compassion of our team members and the strength of spirit of our members both awe and inspire us. They are the beacon lighting the way for our campus and the greater community. We express our very deepest appreciation to them and to all who know and care about Peconic Landing,” said Syron.