Friendship Village Senior Services’ Update and Response to COVID-19 as of Friday, August 28, 2020
Dear Friends, Residents and Families of Friendship Village:
Maybe a little cool weather coming in this weekend to end a great week at Friendship Villages on this Friday, August 28th, 2020.
For those of you following these reports, thank you. It is important for us to keep you informed of our COVID-19 situation at the Villages and we appreciate your continued interest.
This is another brief report today, as we have been blessed with only a few changes since last week, and some good news for our skilled nursing and assisted living families and residents – at the bottom of this update.
First, as of today, there are still no Residents, at any level of care (Independent Living, Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing), in either Chesterfield or Sunset Hills, who are confirmed positive for COVID-19. As is typical, we occasionally have a resident come back from a hospital stay and, as is protocol, must quarantine for 14 days and we do observe them until we know they are clear. We have a couple of those observations and are keeping close watch, currently, but no confirmed cases. We continue to thank our Good Lord Jesus Christ for His intervention and protection of our Residents.
Second, we seem to always find it necessary to watch a few employees who may have been exposed to others who were COVID-positive, sometimes even their own family members. As of today, only one employee is confirmed positive, and twelve others are self-quarantining at home as a precaution due to living with family members who may be positive or were in contact with others who have learned that they tested positive for COVID-19.
As a reminder summary of our Visitor and Activity protocols:
Visitation: Independent Living Residents may have visitors on campus and in their apartments in accordance with current public health guidance.
- All visitors are screened upon entry into the building. Please note on your campus which doors visitors must enter in order to be screened according to public health guidance.
- All visitors MUST wear a mask if over 2 years of age, practice social distancing (6 feet) and perform hand hygiene.
- Visitors are not permitted in the dining rooms.
- Group gatherings are not permitted at the present time.
Friendship Village Sponsored Activities are planned in accordance with current public health guidance.
- Activities must assure at least 6 feet social distancing between residents, residents MUST wear masks when participating in activities and frequent hand hygiene is encouraged.
- Whenever possible, single use items are provided to each person by the activities staff or, if reusable items are used, they are disinfected by activities staff after activity and prior to use by another.
- Number of persons able to participate in the activity shall be determined by the size of the room.
- Bus trips will continue to be provided with social distancing and resident wearing a mask.
We will continue to monitor St. Louis County guidance and talk with our local public health resources and adjust protocols as required.
Some good news! It appears that our facilities are being cleared by the Departments of Health to conduct family outdoor visits once again. Further information will be forthcoming directly from our skilled nursing and assisted living administrations. We are very excited to have received this news as of this morning and we are quite sure that everyone involved will also be excited. We know that meaningful family connections are so important for the welfare of our residents, and for their families, and so this is very welcome news.
We appreciate everyone’s ongoing understanding of the situation. Our foremost concern is for the safety of our Residents and our employees. We thank you for your cooperation.
We are not alone. God is with us. Together, we’ve got this!