Friendship Village Senior Services’ Update and Response to COVID-19 as of Monday, May 18th, 2020
Dear Friends, Residents and Families of Friendship Village:
A bit wet over the weekend at Friendship Villages on this Monday, May 18th, 2020.
We welcome Carmen Fronczak as the interim Executive Director on our Chesterfield campus!
In Chesterfield, there are no Residents in independent living or assisted living who are COVID-19-positive. There are two Residents still in treatment in the hospital and two Residents who are due to graduate from the COVID Care Center, within the skilled nursing facility, very soon. The staff and Residents are looking forward to getting back to zero in the coming days, Good Lord willing.
At Sunset Hills, there are no Residents in independent living or assisted living who are COVID-19-positive. There are two Residents in the skilled nursing facility who have tested positive for COVID-19 (including one whose roommate has now tested negative, we thank God). There are three other Residents being tested as a precaution and awaiting test results. We pray that they come back negative. Whatever the case, Sunset Hills’ skilled nursing facility has prepared its own COVID Care Center, similar to the unit that has been successful in Chesterfield, where COVID-19-positive Residents can be housed and treated together by a specifically-trained expert team focused on recovery to health.
Now that the State of Missouri and St. Louis County have essentially ended “Stay-at-Home” orders, there are many questions about our continued “No Visitor” policy.
Friendship Villages still maintains a “No Visitor” policy on each campus. As a senior living community, our guidelines come to us from the federal government and the CDC and from our own preventive measure policies. All of the practices that have been in place for the past several weeks are still in effect.
Or policies on In-Unit meal delivery and other services remain in effect, as well. We are evaluating a potential return to dining room dining but maintaining appropriate no-contact rules and social distancing means that it would be logistically difficult to return to the dining rooms at this time. We appreciate everyone’s continued understanding of these precautions.
Please pray with us for God’s intervention in preventing Residents and other staff from contracting the virus.
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.
Although the State of Missouri and St. Louis County has lifted stay at home orders, Friendship Village must still adhere to our protocols and the guidance provided by the CDC and the Departments of Health as prescribed for senior living communities. We will maintain our measures and vigilance, as we are currently, until a time when we feel there will be an opportunity to safely begin relaxing some of our measures, but that time is not now. Our No-Visitor Policy remains in effect until further notice. We appreciate your continued understanding and cooperation.
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.