The new head of the McLean County Nursing Home says he plans to focus on customer and employee satisfaction to heal the financial woes at the county-run home.
Emily Bollinger / WGLT
Nursing home operators say once the coronavirus is in a community, it s nearly impossible to keep it out of their facilities.
As the COVID-19 death toll rises at long-term care facilities across McLean County and the country, some observers say many nursing homes aren t equipped to handle an infectious outbreak.
In late December, the Sugar Creek Alzheimer s Special Care Center in Normal was in the throes of a major COVID outbreak.
On Dec. 20, administrator Crystal Biddle sent a letter to all Sugar Creek families, informing them a majority of residents and some staff had tested positive for the coronavirus. The letter outlined the severity of the outbreak, and what staff are doing to care for residents. That includes frequent COVID testing, close monitoring and keeping residents hydrated.
Staff / WGLT
The head of the McLean County Nursing Home says the state and the media are reporting incorrect COVID-19 data related to the facility in north Normal.
Nursing home administrator Terri Edens said not all of those deaths were caused by the coronavirus.
Administrator Terri Edens told County Board members at a health committee meeting the McLean County Nursing Home has had only six COVID deaths.
Credit Eric Stock / WGLT
“According to our infection control, we’ve had six COVID deaths and eight were other. They had other comorbidities that cause… heart trouble or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease),” Edens said during a McLean County Board Health Committee meeting on Monday.