Obsessed with Safety: How Two Nursing Homes in Danbury are Preventing COVID-19

Nursing homes around the country have received plenty of negative attention for their handling of the coronavirus. Some, however, have done an excellent job keeping their residents healthy and safe. Two facilities in Danbury, both managed by the family that founded them, deserve some positive attention.

Filosa, and its sister facility Hancock Hall, have had the lowest rate of Covid-19 among all skilled nursing homes in hard-hit Fairfield County. How have they managed to succeed when others have fallen short?

Jennifer Malone-Seixas, whose grandmother founded Filosa and who manages both facilities with her brother, Michael Malone, has been carefully monitoring federal and state public health advisories from the pandemic’s onset. Almost immediately, they established a Covid-19 response team, which includes two certified Infection Preventionists and all department directors.

Says Malone-Seixas, “From the minute we heard about the coronavirus, we decided that if there’s anything we can do to protect our residents and staff, we’ll do it. Period.”

Filosa and Hancock Hall quickly put dozens of protocols and interventions in place, some even sooner and more stringent than required. They included rigorously screening all staff upon entry to the facilities; excluding all non-clinical staff members from clinical areas; limiting visitors except those permitted per State and CDC guidelines; and limiting appointments outside the facilities to those that are essential.

What’s more, Filosa and Hancock Hall closed their doors to visitors and non-essential staff days before the Governor ordered the closure, believing this was essential to control the virus early on.

Says Malone-Seixas, “Our approach to fighting Covid-19 has been inspired by the same loving, compassionate, empathetic concern for our residents that my grandparents had for their residents decades ago. Whether people are with us short-term, long-term or any length of time in between, we focus on meeting their individual needs and treat them like family.”

At a time when many families are understandably reluctant to place loved ones in nursing homes, it’s good to know about two in Connecticut that are fighting the good fight against Covid-19 – and winning.

Both nursing homes have received highly coveted 5-Star Medicare Ratings. Filosa, which specializes in short-term rehabilitation, long-term care and palliative care, opened its doors in 1947 and is widely considered the best nursing home in Danbury. The staff collaborates with the family and doctors of each resident to make sure they receive all the care required. Hancock Hall specializes in offering short-term rehabilitation, long-term care and respite care, and was established in 1984. Considered by many to be the best rehabilitation center in Danbury, Hancock Hall offers a full continuum of care to meet the needs of patients. Both Filosa and Hancock Hall keep the emotional and practical needs of the entire family in mind and provide a nurturing culture and level of service unique among nursing homes.

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Submitted by Danbury, CT

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