This Flu Season Nursing Home Administrators Ask Sick Relatives To Avoid Visits
By: Brendaliss Gonzalez
Updated: January 14, 2013
When it comes to hand washing, this place has never taken it more seriously.
It's especially important for Margaret Lewis.
Just ask her how many times she washes her hands a day.
"More than I have fingers and toes," she said.
Her skin has even cracked because of all the soap shes been using.
But, she'll take cuts over catching the flu.
"Because I would expose many patients out here at mesa springs and thats not my cup of tea to do," she said.
Wanda Ruppelt couldn't agree more.
"The flu is much more serious because it can progress," she said.
She's been trying to get everyone to wash their hands and use antibacterial soap as much as possible.
She's the head nurse at mesa springs senior living village and she's not t taking this year's flu epidemic lightly.
"We've had some residents that have been sick but not like the staff have been," she said.
Senior citizens are even more susceptible to catching the flu.
"It's easier for them to pick things up," said Ruppelt.
So anyone with even a stuffy nose is asked to not visit the center until they're sure they're not contagious.
Staff are no exception, even if it means being short handed.
"It's just everybody working for everybody," said Ruppelt.
Lewis knows its been a tough flu season..
"I think it is more rampant this year than it has been than any time that I have seen in my lifetime," she said.
So she'll continue with the one method of prevention that's worked best because shes not letting any germs stand in her way.
Both staff and residents at mesa springs received a flu vaccine back in Sept.
Administrators there believe that their early vaccination has helped lower the number of residents who have caught the flu.
It's especially important for Margaret Lewis.
Just ask her how many times she washes her hands a day.
"More than I have fingers and toes," she said.
Her skin has even cracked because of all the soap shes been using.
But, she'll take cuts over catching the flu.
"Because I would expose many patients out here at mesa springs and thats not my cup of tea to do," she said.
Wanda Ruppelt couldn't agree more.
"The flu is much more serious because it can progress," she said.
She's been trying to get everyone to wash their hands and use antibacterial soap as much as possible.
She's the head nurse at mesa springs senior living village and she's not t taking this year's flu epidemic lightly.
"We've had some residents that have been sick but not like the staff have been," she said.
Senior citizens are even more susceptible to catching the flu.
"It's easier for them to pick things up," said Ruppelt.
So anyone with even a stuffy nose is asked to not visit the center until they're sure they're not contagious.
Staff are no exception, even if it means being short handed.
"It's just everybody working for everybody," said Ruppelt.
Lewis knows its been a tough flu season..
"I think it is more rampant this year than it has been than any time that I have seen in my lifetime," she said.
So she'll continue with the one method of prevention that's worked best because shes not letting any germs stand in her way.
Both staff and residents at mesa springs received a flu vaccine back in Sept.
Administrators there believe that their early vaccination has helped lower the number of residents who have caught the flu.
