Care center closes to visitors because of flu

The Lake View Care Center closed its doors to visitors due to an outbreak of influenza that started about two weeks ago. It is common practice for senior citizen care facilities to close their doors during illness outbreaks to prevent the spread of the contagion to and from its residents.

“The elderly are vulnerable to influenza and we want to keep it to a minimum,” Lake View Care Center Administrator Brent Smith said. “It’s not a quarantine, we’re just following procedures any nursing home would.”

The closure to guests until the outbreak clears up is at the recommendation of the Flathead Valley Department of Health.

The facility is not under lockdown; the residents are still taken to their appointments in Kalispell.

According to Lake View Care Center’s Regional Quality Assurance Nurse, Peggy Tressel, there have been two confirmed cases of influenza out of their 55 current residents. The center is licensed for up to 83 residents.

“It’s fair to say it was a large number of residents (with symptoms),” Tressel said.

Symptoms have varied in strength and duration.

Other care centers had similar influenza outbreaks this year and each is required to notify the county of a contagion.

This isn’t the first time the center has turned away visitors due to contagious illnesses. The most recent outbreak of influenza at the Lake View Care Center was in January and guests were not allowed during that time either.

Smith estimated that it happens at least once a year depending on the strength of the flu season. Staff members are provided with free flu shots in an effort to keep spread of the disease at bay.

Once the outbreak passes, the Flathead Department of Health recommended the facility wait a couple of days before opening their doors to guests.

As of April 26 ill residents are beginning to recover. Smith said they had hoped to resume allowing visitors last week, but it was more likely to happen during the middle of this week.

Guests to the facility are urged to wash their hands frequently, cover their coughs and avoid visits if feeling sick to prevent future outbreaks of influenza or other illnesses.

Normal visitation hours at the Lake View Care Center are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.