GREAT FALLS — Benefis Health Systems has enacted a no visitors policy that will extend to all of its senior services, including the Grandview, Westview, and Eastview facilities.
Benefis sent families and guests of their senior residents a letter explaining their decision.
Part of the letter reads:
“Elderly and those with compromised immune systems are of greatest concern during the spread of this virus, so we must take precautions to keep our most fragile patients safe.”
Senior Services Chief Operating Officer David Krebs explained why senior services closed their doors to the public.
“Benefis Hospital and Benefis Senior Services closed our campus to guests and to family members to be proactive for the health of our seniors,” Krebs said.
The senior services spokesman said while there are no known cases of COVID-19 within senior services or Great Falls, Benefis wants to take precautions against coronavirus.
At the same time, he sympathizes with the loved ones of those in the senior centers.
“We understand you want to visit with your loved ones and know you are looking forward to spending time together,” Krebs said in his letter to guests and families.
Krebs said senior services will help their residents communicate with their loved ones electronically via Facetime or Skype.
Krebs hopes tablets with those capabilities will be available for use as soon as Friday, March 13th.
There is no expiration date on the no visitors policy at this time.
We will continue to update as we learn more, or if this policy does change.
