‘Where’s the breakdown?’ Cluster of new COVID cases reported at Federal Way nursing facility

FEDERAL WAY, Wash. — As a tiny but tough woman in her 80s, Snow Crabb has a name that would seem to match her incredible resilience.

“She has nine lives,” said Crabb’s daughter, Kathy Wills. “Everything that has been thrown at her, she just bounces back.”

Wills said her mom survived a liver transplant, congestive heart failure, kidney problems and more, but when she broke her hip in October, Crabb’s family needed a place where she could get short-term senior care. They were impressed by the Avalon Care Center in Federal Way as a facility for a short-term stay.

“They were doing everything right,” Wills said. “They’re using PPE, they were practice social distancing, following the CDC guidelines,” Wills said they felt extra confidence when the staff told them that for better safety, staff members are tested for novel coronavirus twice a week and that there are no outside visitors permitted.

“So that’s awesome,” Wills said. “We can’t go, nobody else can go, so my mom’s safe.”

On Monday, Crabb’s family was told she had tested positive for COVID-19 and she had symptoms, the very same day she received the vaccine. “I’m just like thinking I haven’t’ seen her since October,” Wills said. “I’m never going to see my mother again.”

Wills said the Avalon Care Center sent emails saying nine of its residents had tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, Jan. 26. Ten staff members at the facility have also recently tested positive, and a total of 34 residents have tested positive since Dec. 22.

“How did this happen?” Wills asked. “Where’s the breakdown? What do you have in place when your employees come to work?”

The center’s email to Crabb’s family and information on its website indicate infections have been a nagging issue. Since March 2020, 95 patients have contracted COVID-19, and 52 have recovered, according to Avalon’s email to Crabb’s family, which also stated 51 staff members have tested positive since March, and 45 have recovered.

KIRO 7 News’ phone calls and emails to Avalon’s corporate headquarters in Utah were not returned Wednesday night. The Avalon Care Center told Kathy that its staff members are tested twice a week, and they take every recommended precaution, leaving Snow’s family with even more questions.

“How did this get into your facility?” She asked. “If you were doing all the right things, if people are wearing gloves, wearing PPE correctly, how did nine patients contract this?”

According to The COVID Tracking Project, nursing home deaths from COVID-19 comprise a staggering 39% of all deaths in the U.S. related to the disease since the pandemic began.

Cox Media Group