UPDATED: 6 Residents Have Died at Ashland Facility; 11 Tested Positive This Weekend

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ASHLAND – Six residents at the Waterview Lodge Rehabilitation & Healthcare facility have died due to COVID-19, the owner Indira Desai informed family members today, April 25.

“This has been a trying week for residents and staff members and we thank you for your continued support. Despite a deficiency-free infection control survey from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid –CMS (see below), another presumptive positive resident was sent to the hospital last week and later confirmed positive for Covid-19. Six residents have passed as a result of the virus. Please note that all of these residents had pre-existing respiratory issues. All of us at Waterview Lodge are devastated by this loss and our hearts go out to their families,” wrote the owner to family members this afternoon, April 25.

On Wednesday, the National Guard was testing at Waterview Lodge Rehabilitation & Healthcare facility on Wednesday, according to Town Manager Michael Herbert.

Herbert said the Town was informed most of the residents were tested, although a couple refused testing.

The Commonwealth is reporting between 10-30 residents at the 103-bed facility at 250 West Union Street in Ashland are positive for the coronavirus.

UPDATE: Herbert said the Town was informed that 8 residents tested positive on Friday and three more tested positive on Saturday.

According to Ashland, the owner and 9 staffers have also tested positive for the Coronavirus.

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” Our efforts to contain the virus are steadfast and ongoing. We continue to immediately isolate suspected and confirmed cases and have created a cohort of residents in this manner. In addition, we limit the movement of residents and staff within the health care center to reduce potential infection throughout. Our cleaning team performs regular environmental disinfection throughout the building and optimum ventilation is maintained,’ wrote the owner to families today.

SOURCE reported on April 14 that three residents from the Waterview Lodge Rehabilitation & Healthcare facility had died from COVID-19 or complications from the coronavirus.

On April 10, SOURCE reported five Waterview Lodge residents were transported by Ashland firefighters to Framingham Union Hospital. All five of those residents who were transported tested positive for COVID-19

In 2016, Desai, president and CEO of Laxmi Corporation and Resident Care Rehabilitation & Nursing Care opened the 103-bed Waterview Lodge Rehabilitation & Healthcare facility on Route 135 in Ashland on the Hopkinton line.

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“In addition, like other nursing homes in the state, Waterview Lodge has enlisted the help of the Massachusetts National Guard to test all of our residents for the virus. Bringing this capability directly to the residents helps facilities identify positive COVID-19 patients, which allows them to apply increased safety procedures to help slow and stop the spread. National Guard Teams will be led by a doctor or advanced medical practitioner. They will include a field medic and administrative, logistical and behavioral health specialists. All Guard members who will be in close contact with residents will have the proper personal protective equipment, including a face mask, appropriate eye protection, gloves and gown,” said the owner to family members.

The 52,000 square foot healthcare facility on the Ashland-Hopkinton line provides individuals with orthopedic, stroke, cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation services in private and semi-private rooms

The 4-story facility also provides long-term care unit for residents who are no longer able to manage on their own.

As of April 23, the Town of Ashland was reporting 92 positive coronavirus cases.

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AARP Massachusetts sent a letter to the Massachusetts Governor this month seeking the names of senior facilities with confirmed COVID-19 cases made public.

“We urge Massachusetts’ Department of Public Health to release publicly the names of nursing facilities with confirmed COVID-19 cases,” wrote AARP Massachusetts on behalf of its 775,000 AARP members in Massachusetts.

“Contrary to concerns that such disclosures would violate a patient’s health privacy, we do not believe HIPAA precludes a state health agency from releasing the names of facilities because a facility is not a covered entity as defined by federal law. We believe transparency and notice to the public is critical for public health,” wrote AARP Massachusetts.

Earlier this week, the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed a bill that would requires that senior, rehab, and long-term facilities send data on COVID-19 positive cases and on mortalities to public health officials during this public health emergency.

The bill now goes to the Massachusetts Senate.