Friendship Village Senior Services’ Update and Response to COVID-19 as of Friday, April 24, 2020
Dear Friends, Residents and Families of Friendship Village:
It’s a beautiful Spring day at Friendship Villages on this Friday, April, 24, 2020.
Over the past several weeks, you have read that we have implemented many programs related to COVID-19 in our continuing efforts to keep it off of our campuses and to respond aggressively and effectively, if or when it does appear.
There have been many moving parts and Residents and staff both affected and then recovering.
The current status is as follows:
In Sunset Hills: no Residents or staff have tested positive for COVID-19 at any level of care, Independent Living, Assisted Living and the Skilled Nursing facility (Care Center).
In Chesterfield: no Residents or staff have tested positive in Independent Living or Assisted Living.
In the Chesterfield Care Center (and the COVID Care Center):
- 2 Residents are in a local hospital being successfully treated for the virus.
- A total of 6 Residents are currently in the COVID Care Center. At the end of today, there will be a total of 5 Residents in the COVID Care Center. (1 Resident is moving in and 2 Residents are graduating out today)
- 2 other current Residents in the COVID Care Center are recovering well and are anticipated to graduate next week, and we pray for perhaps a 3rd as well.
- By the end of next week, we anticipate a remaining total of 2 Residents in the hospital and 2 recovering in the COVID Care Center, for a total of 4 remaining COVID-positive Residents by the end of next week.
- 3 Residents within the Care Center have already fully recovered, and we will add 2-3 more to that number next week.
- We are sad to report that we have had one elderly Care Center Resident who had significant health issues prior to testing positive for COVID-19 who did pass away as their condition was exacerbated by symptoms of the virus.
- As of today, there are no other Residents in Chesterfield awaiting COVID-19 test results.
- Since the very beginning, we have had a total of 10 employees test positive for the virus. Of these, 3 have recovered and will be returning to work, 2 more will finish their quarantine/recovery this weekend and another 1 will graduate on Monday. This will leave 4 employees remaining in the recovery phase on Monday and we pray for successful graduation.
- All of these conditions continue to be fully reported to all of the appropriate family members and authorities as they happen.
While our teams continue to work hard to provide the very best in care and services at every level of care across our campuses, we also are working very hard to successfully graduate everyone out of their recovery phases and get to zero. That’s our goal. Our teams are making great progress and we continue to strongly pray that our Lord Jesus Christ continues to guide us in that direction.
Our Skilled Nursing facilities and Assisted Living community conduct regular Zoom meetings with families to keep them up-to-date on how their loved-ones are doing, what the staff is doing and how things are going. There is much positive feedback from families on this high-level of communication.
No Visitor Policy Still in Full Effect
As many would expect, all of the security and no-visitor policies remain in full effect at all locations as we continue to combat the coronavirus. We appreciate the cooperation and understanding of all involved, Residents and families alike.
Gift-Giving in Appreciation of our Staff is Open on our FriendshipVillageSTL.com website:
Many family members and Residents have inquired as to how to donate a gift of appreciation for the staff for their service during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our website at FriendshipVillageSTL.com now has an easy-to-use tab to use in making contributions for the staff and we thank all of you for considering a gift. As funds are collected, we will identify the best use of those funds in order to do the most that can be done for our employees. Every gift is appreciated, large and small.
As always, all of us thank you all for your continued prayers as we continually ask our Lord Jesus Christ to enable us to do our best to fend-off the COVID-19 coronavirus and to maintain the safety and protection of our Residents and staff.