The Harbor House took two of its six family rooms and converted them into isolation and recovery rooms. This is the first time the Harbor House has created isolation rooms. The staff made the decision after two residents came down with the flu.

"We didn't want to kick them out or anything so we thought, how can we house these people without getting the other residents sick," said Harbor House director Jim Chapman.

The two isolation rooms are separated by sex, and each room can hold up to four people. In order to be transferred to an isolation room, a resident must have flu symptoms. Residents with other illnesses will still remain in their normal rooms. There are strict rules for people in the isolation rooms. Flu residents have to wear a mask and gloves whenever they leave the room. They also must get their meals and medication at least thirty minutes before the other residents arrive. If they are too sick, the staff will bring food and medication to their rooms. After residents are healthy again, staff have to clean the rooms from head to toe with multiple disinfecting products.

One resident is both grateful and proud of how Harbor House has handled the H1N1 crisis.

"I think the staff here has done a fantastic job," said resident Jeff Bell. "These people aren't just doing there jobs. They really care, and that definitely lessens my worries about the flu."

The isolation rooms have been a success so far. There has been no H1N1 or normal flu outbreak at Harbor House since the isolation and recovery rooms opened. Chapman says the staff is prepared to change the format of the Harbor House if the H1N1 situation does reappear.