Friendship Village Senior Services’ Update and Response to COVID-19 as of Friday, November 13th, 2020
UPDATE and VISITOR POLICY
Dear Friends, Residents and Families of Friendship Village:
As with our local county and state and, in fact, the entire country, the prevalence of COVID-19 is on the rise, including at Friendship Villages.
Friendship Village in Chesterfield appears to be holding its own against the coronavirus at this time as there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 on campus in any level of care, and we are thankful that this is the case. There are several Independent Living residents under precautionary quarantine due to what was possible exposure to a known positive but, at the moment, there appears to have been no transmission to others. There are currently two employees under quarantine at home due to possible exposure.
Friendship Village in Sunset Hills has not been so fortunate. In Assisted Living, the single positive resident from last week is doing okay and is in recovery under quarantine. In the Skilled Nursing Facility, there are currently 3 confirmed positive residents and several others pending test results, and we pray for a clear outcome. All are doing okay. An internal COVID Care Center has been established, similarly to one that was implemented several months ago, so that special care can be provided to COVID residents in a controlled environment. Independent Living residents are having a spate of positive test results that have caused those residents and anyone who has been exposed to them to quarantine in place. All appear to be doing well and we are cautiously optimistic that all will recover in good fashion. There are a number of employees from across the campus who have tested positive (as is the case in the general surrounding population) who are quarantined at home and we pray for their rapid recovery and return to serving our residents.
We have learned that more than a few Sunset Hills Independent Living residents contracted COVID-19 from contact with visitors who came onto the campus. We also know that a couple contracted the virus, potentially, from visits to others off campus. To stem the tide of COVID-19 on campus, a new visitor policy has been enacted:
FRIENDSHIP VILLAGE VISITOR POLICY
As of November 13, 2020
In an effort to combat the swell of COVID-19 currently occurring in the surrounding communities and at Friendship Villages, and in support of new and upcoming St. Louis County restrictions, the following measures are effective immediately:
- At Chesterfield, no changes to the current visitor policy at this time. Visitors are still permitted as they have for the past several weeks with the added request that residents discourage outside visitors and also carefully consider non-essential trips off campus and, if necessary, that they work hard to maintain the protocols in place to prevent contracting or spreading COVID-19.
- At Sunset Hills, no visitors are permitted on campus for Independent Living residents for the next two weeks, tentatively ending on November 27th.
- All entrants to the campus will be met by courteous security personnel.
- No visitors to Independent Living residents will be permitted to enter.
- Those wishing to drop-off packages for Independent Living and Care Center residents will be permitted to do so at a central location.
- Those wishing to drop-off packages for Assisted Living and Memory Care will be screened and permitted to proceed to that facility to do so.
- Essential workers and caregivers will be permitted to enter the building through the Clubhouse entrance. Contract and personal caregivers must be on an approved list through the Care Navigator. If not on the list, security personnel will be able to assist in making contact.
- Residents are strongly encouraged to remain on campus and to only leave campus for essential trips for medical appointments or critical supplies. This includes visits to families for Thanksgiving. Such visits are not prohibited, but strongly discouraged in the interest of minimizing exposure to COVID-19 and bringing it back to the Village.
- The Village can assist in acquiring essential supplies. Please contact the Concierge.
- Residents are not confined to their living units. Non-quarantined residents are free to roam the campus, as usual, and we encourage getting out to get some fresh air and some exercise but to do so in a cautious manner.
- Special treats are being developed to make things a little more interesting and pleasant during this period of time and as we head into the holidays and we encourage everyone to partake as these are made available. Our chefs are already beginning to come up with some ideas.
We understand the concern, discomfort, and anxiety this situation may cause our residents and their families. This is a situation that none of us would like to have disrupt our lives. We will continue to do all we can to keep our residents safe and yet comfortable and well-cared-for. We appreciate your understanding while we work to tamp down COVID-19 once again.
Please pray with us as we continue our fight to protect our residents and staff. It’s a fight worthy of the best we can give.
The Lord is with us.