Friendship Village Senior Services’ Update and Response to COVID-19 as of Monday, December 14th, 2020
Dear Friends, Residents and Families of Friendship Village:
Christmas continues to draw near at Friendship Villages on this Monday, December 14th, 2020.
The Drive-Through Christmas Parades were spectacular at both Villages this past Saturday. Many, many cars, participants, residents lining sidewalks and perched on balconies. It was a great reason to brave the chilly weather and watch friends and relatives drive by, honking and waving.
Friendship Village Chesterfield
- COVID-19 has appeared once again in Skilled Nursing with four positive residents and in Assisted Living with three positive residents. Immediate actions have been taken to reduce the threat of spread and the Care Center has reestablished the internal COVID Care Center to treat and nurse those residents back to health and help them get through this situation. Help us pray for the isolation of the virus and the rapid and successful recovery of these residents and for the strength of the staff.
- While there are no positive cases of COVID in Independent Living, two residents remain in quarantine under observation due to previous exposure risk.
- Chesterfield remains under a “No Visitor” policy. Plans are being made to relax this policy and permit visitors under controlled conditions around Christmas Day. Stay tuned for details.
- Small group activities have resumed.
Friendship Village Sunset Hills
- In Assisted Living, one positive resident will be in house at the end of the day while four are currently in the hospital and two are in the Care Center being cared-for as COVID-positive patients. We pray for strong recovery for all, and for the continuous selfless service our caregivers are providing. It is a difficult situation for everyone involved.
- There are six COVID-positive residents in the Skilled Nursing Facility with two coming off COVID status tomorrow and the others in about a week. Pray with us for their successful recovery.
- There remain no Independent Living residents on campus with confirmed COVID-19. One resident remains in the hospital under treatment and we pray for their recovery. Two residents are currently under routine quarantine due to potential off-campus exposure.
- Sunset Hills remains under a “No Visitor” policy. Plans are being made to relax this policy and permit visitors under controlled conditions around Christmas Day. Stay tuned for details.
- Small group activities have resumed.
Although the numbers have improved, there are still several employees at home who are either COVID-positive or because they have been exposed to others who are COVID-positive, and we pray for their health and safe return.
Upcoming COVID-19 Vaccination Plans
- Both Villages are included in the State COVID-19 Vaccination Plan.
- Of the several “phases” in the plan, Skilled Nursing and Assisted Living residents and employees are first in line in Phase 1A.
- We believe that the vaccination our campuses will receive will be the one produced by Moderna as it requires less stringent temperature requirements.
- We anticipate that the first vaccination on campus is slated to occur on December 21st (subject to change). Consent forms will soon be distributed to the appropriate persons.
- Seniors over the age of 65 (our Independent Living population) are included in Phase 1C, to be administered as the necessary quantity of vaccine becomes available but not anticipated until well into 2021.
- A national pharmacy provider has been designated to provide the Phase 1A vaccinations and they have made initial contact with our Skilled Nursing Facilities. At this time, we believe that Walgreens will be our distributor.
Our thanks go out to all who have shown such wonderful support and said prayers for our residents and staff. Please continue to pray with us as we fight this fight.