Friendship Village Senior Services’ Update and Response to COVID-19 as of Friday, December 4th, 2020
Dear Friends, Residents and Families of Friendship Village:
The Holiday Season is upon us at Friendship Villages on this Friday, December 4th, 2020.
There has been significant improvement in the COVID-19 status at our Villages over the past several days, with many residents “graduating” from quarantine.
Friendship Village Chesterfield
- Currently, still no residents in Skilled Nursing or Assisted Living are positive for COVID-19 at this time and we are very grateful for this news.
- There are two residents in Independent Living who are confirmed positive for COVID-19 and are under quarantine and we pray for a successful recovery. Five additional residents are under quarantine due to potential exposure to COVID-19 in various places, but none have tested positive at this time.
- Chesterfield remains under a “No Visitor” policy for at least one more week.
- NOTE: There will be a Drive-Through Christmas Parade on the Chesterfield campus at 11 am Saturday, December 12th. Everyone will be excited to see record participation. Please click here or contact the campus for information.
Friendship Village Sunset Hills
- In Assisted Living, seven residents remain in quarantine, down from a peak of 19 residents last week who appeared during routine testing. Most of the remaining quarantined residents will graduate over the next week. Two residents are currently being treated in higher levels of care.
- In Independent Living, the number of residents affected by COVID-19 either as confirmed positive or through exposure, has dropped significantly. With the progress anticipated over the coming weekend, we are optimistic that on Monday, December 7th, there will be no confirmed positive residents physically present in Independent Living units. Five will still be under quarantine for exposure risk, and four will remain under treatment in higher levels of care. For this reason, the voluntary self-quarantine request has been lifted and residents in Independent Living are free to roam the campus once again, of course, maintaining all of the COVID prevention protocols. We are excited to be able to open small group fitness classes, the swimming pool and other activities to get residents out and about to stretch their legs.
- The Skilled Nursing Facility has come off of its peak number of COVID-positive residents with many more graduating from quarantine over the coming weekend and moving into Monday with seven remaining under quarantine and three in the hospital. We do know, however, that while residents are coming off of the COVID list, many are frail and continue to be in great need and the care teams are doing everything possible to nurse them back to health, COVID or no COVID. 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.
- Sunset Hills remains under a “No Visitor” policy for at least one more week.
- NOTE: There is much buzz about the December 12th “Drive-by Christmas Parade.” The parade begins at 1:30 pm, but cars will begin lining up well before that. We are excited to see what happens! Please click here or contact the campus if further information is needed.
Many employees have been affected by COVID-19, as has the rest of the general population in and around St. Louis County. We have been blessed to have seen a reduction from the peak number of affected employees over the past week and that most employees are back at work, caring for residents as they do so well.
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.
- Seniors over the age of 65 are included in Phase 1C, to be administered as the necessary quantity of vaccine becomes available.
- A national pharmacy provider has been designated to provide the Phase 1A vaccinations and they have made initial contact with our Skilled Nursing Facilities.
- The exact timeline for vaccination is not yet determined.
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.