Flu causes nursing homes to restrict visitors - Jan. 03, 2013
Kathy Bockus/Courier
This sign greets visitors to the Lincourt Manor Nursing Home in St. Stephen.
Kathy Bockus
St. Stephen
Two area nursing homes have closed their doors to visitors because of flu and flu symptoms among residents.
Lincourt Manor in St. Stephen is not allowing any visitors until further notice. Passamaquoddy Lodge in Saint Andrews expects to re-open its doors to the public for visiting in about a week or eight days.
The move is an effort to contain any illness and to reduce the cases of exposure.
At press time, it was visiting as usual at the Charlotte County Hospital.
“There’s a lot of flu symptoms in the (nursing) home,” stated Lincourt Manor administrator Stan Franklin.
“We’ve closed the doors to the public; family too.” Franklin said concessions could be made for family travelling from far way. A visit could be arranged in a room, separate from other nursing home residents.
Franklin said he wasn’t sure how long the restrictions would be in place. “We’ll wait ‘til it runs its course.”
The same measures were taken last year, said Franklin, and the visiting restrictions do make a difference in containing the illnesses.
The appearance of flu symptoms in the nursing home have meant communal dining in the large dining room has been suspended for the time being. Franklin said those with flu symptoms have meal trays delivered to their rooms while those who are healthy are eating in the family room.
A spokesperson for Passamaquoddy Lodge confirmed there were “more than a couple” of cases of influenza in the nursing home.
“If it’s in the building we close it,” she stated, adding the situation would be assessed daily and a decision to reopen the doors to visitors was not expected before the week was up.
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