A Message From Our CEO Concerning the CoronaviruS (COVID-19) and the safety of our communities
During the coronavirus threat we are taking extra measures at Friendship Village to uphold our top priority and key pillar of our communities: The wellness of our residents.
Friendship Village continues to serve our seniors and their families with excellence, as we have for more than 40 years. Now faced with the unique challenges of the COVID-19 outbreak, we are committed to the care of our residents, and with more sensitivity than ever before.
We are taking all necessary steps to ensure our residents’ safety and directly following the guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), St. Louis County Department of Health and Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services (DHSS). In addition, we have on staff our CDC-trained infection preventionist who is a wonderful resource.
As of today, there are no confirmed cases of the virus in our communities.
Health officials recommend that people over the age of 60 with weakened immune systems or health conditions remain at home, away from large groups and public places.
We are strongly discouraging residents from leaving the community, especially to visit high-density crowd gathering locations such as shopping centers, theaters and churches.
As it is imperative that we take measures to mitigate the spread of the virus however possible, we are asking that only essential visitors enter our communities.
All necessary visitors, staff and vendors are to be screened with a temperature check and a health questionnaire. (Questionnaire includes questions regarding any travel in the last 30 days, individual symptoms and any potential exposure to others with symptoms consistent with flu, COVID-19 or any respiratory illness).
For any of our residents that receive special care, we will begin checking temperatures once daily. We are also happy to do temperature checks at any time for any resident upon request.
Further Steps We Are Taking:
Information regarding the transmission of the virus is rapidly changing, and the consequences are potentially severe. As mentioned, we are fortunate to have one of the area’s leading Infectious Disease Specialists on staff, Lynn Meyer, RN, MPH, CIC, and our professional team is working around the clock to meet and exceed government guidelines.
We are urging all family members and friends not to visit their loved ones at this time. If you believe a visit is necessary, upon arrival you will be required to complete the questionnaire mentioned above to determine whether you pose a risk of transmission to our residents.
Below, you will find some of the specific measures in place at each level of care. If you have questions, please call the phone number appropriate to your situation. Friendship Village Chesterfield: (636) 255-8281. Friendship Village Sunset Hills: (314) 730-3902.
Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation:
- All visitors are restricted at this time. Only in cases of end-of-life situations or significant changes in health condition will the Administrator specifically permit a visit from a family member.
- Video visits using FaceTime or Skype are available by calling the appropriate reception desk and scheduling a video-visit time.
- All employees, as well as any specifically-approved visitors as noted above, must scrub-in with hand sanitizer (we provide at all entrances), must answer a set of questions, and will have their temperature checked for fever.
- As always, the staff will notify family members of any changes in condition of your loved one.
Assisted Living and Memory Care:
- All visitors are restricted at this time. Only in cases of end-of-life situations or significant changes in health condition will the Administrator specifically permit a visit from a family member.
- Video visits using FaceTime or Skype are available by calling the appropriate reception desk and scheduling a video-visit time.
- All employees, as well as any specifically-approved visitors as noted above, must scrub-in with hand sanitizer (we provide at all entrances), must answer a set of questions, and will have their temperature checked for fever.
- As always, the staff will notify family members of any changes in the condition of your loved one.
Independent Living:
- Visitors are currently permitted under the following conditions (these conditions are subject to change as COVID-19 conditions change):
- Must scrub-in with hand sanitizer at the entrances.
- Move directly to the reception desk to answer a set of questions regarding possible exposure.
- Resident will be notified of your arrival.
- Visitors are NOT permitted to visit or dine in any of the Village dining rooms.
- Visitors are NOT permitted to attend any resident group gatherings, meetings or events.
- Residents who have traveled outside the country or to any area and had an overnight stay must check-in with the reception desk and be evaluated by a member of our clinical staff.
REGARDING ALL ACTIVITIES:
- We are suspending the use of outside volunteers and entertainers.
- We are temporarily discontinuing group outings and social gatherings.
REGARDING ALL TRANSPORTATION:
- We are limiting community transportation, but we will continue to provide transport to necessary, non-emergency medical appointments, grocery stores and pharmacies two times each week.
- We are asking residents to keep the appropriate social distance.
REGARDING ALL DINING
- We are keeping dining rooms limited to the max number of residents allotted by the CDC.
- We are continuing our dining program with table service for meals but have ceased the use of any self-service stations and buffets.
- We are offering room service to residents.
- We are NOT allowing guests to dine in the dining rooms at this time.
- We are removing all high-touch items from the tables and they will be served as needed to residents (S&P shakers, creamers). Tablecloths are not being used in high-turnover dining rooms. Tables are spaced out in dining rooms to meet the required distance.
All above recommendations are subject to change as the government agency recommendations change. We will continue to provide updates as needed as this situation is changing rapidly.
We also must emphasize that residents and family members should let us know immediately if they feel ill or think they might have been exposed to COVID-19. We have the ability to act quickly to offer intervention, however necessary.
You are not alone. We are here for you. Thank you for your support as we work through this together. Keep washing your hands and keep practicing social distancing in the meantime!
– Terry Walsh, President and CEO, Friendship Village