Protecting the health and safety of the residents who call our facilities home, as well as the teammates who serve them is NDVA's top priority. Our COVID-19 Task Force is closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation and following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidelines. As this is a rapidly changing situation, we are continuing to evaluate the safeguards we have in place at the four state veterans' homes and will modify them as needed. This page is for residents' families and NDVA teammates to see what steps we taking and find relevant information related to COVID-19.
Steps We're Taking to Protect Our Members
We are following all guidance issued by the CDC as well as Nebraska DHHS' Long-Term Care Facilities Guidance.
- Created COVID-19 task force that is monitoring the situation, coordinating efforts throughout our facilities, securing PPE, disseminating information, and more.
- Limited entry into the buildings to staff members and medical professionals only and established mandatory checkpoint for COVID-19 screening and temperature reading upon entry of all four veterans’ homes.
- Limited access to the facility grounds to ensure residents can safely spend time outside of the facility.
- Required all NDVA teammates to wear masks when in resident areas or working directly with residents.
- Implemented daily screenings of residents for signs, symptoms, and temperature.
- Postponed all non-essential resident travel out of the facilities.
- Distributed additional training to all NDVA teammates on COVID-19 and infection control.
- Implemented Virtual Visitor system at all four facilities to help keep residents and their families connected while entry is limited.
- Implemented new dietary guidelines that modify or discontinue communal dining.
- Paused admission and assessments at all four facilities.
Please know that the teammates in our facilities are doing everything they can to prevent the spread of coronavirus by following infection control practices, handwashing, masking, and gowning while doing daily care. The best way you can help our team keep residents at our facilities safe from the coronavirus is to honor the limited visitation policy and utilize the Virtual Visitor system we've put in place.
Family Member Communications
Below are copies of the correspondence we have sent to families for your reference.
The letter you received would have been specific to the veterans' home where your family member resides, with contact info and additional information specific to that home.
03-04-2020: Letter to Families Regarding COVID-19- 03-11-2020: Facilities Limiting Entry, Establishing Virtual Visitor System
- 04-01-2020: Limited Visitation Extended to Veterans Home Campus
Teammate Communications
A Message from Director Hilgert on Heroes Helping Heroes
Press Releases
- 03-11-2020: NDVA Launching ‘Virtual Visits’ to Keep Veterans’ Home Members and Families Connected
- 04-11-2020: Central Nebraska Veterans’ Home Member Tests Positive for COVID-19
- 04-15-2020: Western Nebraska Veterans’ Home Teammate Tests Positive for COVID-19
- 04-16-2020: Further Testing at Central Nebraska Veterans’ Home Reveals Two Teammates, No Additional Members with COVID-19
- 05-13-2020: Eastern Nebraska Veterans’ Home Teammate Tests Positive for COVID-19
Virtual Visitor System
Access to our veterans' home campuses is currently limited to NDVA staff and medical professionals only. To ensure family members are able to remain in communication with their loved ones, we have implemented a Virtual Visitor system. To set up a virtual visit, please contact the Virtual Visitor liaison at the facility where your loved one lives. They can schedule an appointment and help you set up Skype on your computer, tablet, or phone. We also have this How to Use Skype Guide available.
| Central Nebraska Veterans' Home | Nancy Klimek | 308-865-3421 |
| Eastern Nebraska Veterans' Home | Sarah Ryan | 402-591-4862 |
| Norfolk Veterans' Home | Kari Calvillo | 402-370-3115 |
| Western Nebraska Veterans' Home | Kilee Oliverius | 308-632-0321 |
Coping with Stress During COVID-19
In addition to the infection control precautions we're taking at our facilities, we're working to reduce anxiety among our residents. To that end, we have put together member education on Coping with Stress During COVID-19.
