Friendship Village Senior Services’ Update and Response to COVID-19 as of Thursday, May 7th, 2020
Dear Friends, Residents and Families of Friendship Village:
This is what Spring is all about on this beautiful morning at Friendship Villages on this Thursday, May 7th, 2020. We are praying that everyone will be able to frolic about, unimpeded, in the days to come. But not yet…
One week has passed since the single COVID-19-positive independent living resident was last on the Chesterfield campus. As of this time, no other independent living Residents have reported, nor have our Care Navigators detected, symptoms among any other independent living Residents. This is a tremendously positive sign at this point, but there is still a good chance the virus could pop-up so there are still several days to go before we can consider reducing the terms of the voluntary self-quarantine. The Residents and staff deserve a “Keep up the good work!” pat on the back (virtual pat on the back, of course) from all of us and a huge prayer that it continues.
During the quarantine, daily morale calls are being made to all of the Chesterfield independent living residents by leaders and Resident volunteers. To be honest, we initially expected to be met with despair and misery. Instead, we are being met with funny quarantine stories and silly jokes and maybe an occasional request for a different kind of salad with dinner. One very nice woman lamented that she wanted to get her hair washed in our, now closed, salon until she was reminded that, in quarantine, no one will see her hair, at which point she exclaimed, “oh. That’s right! Forget it!” It is exciting to witness the high spirits and resilience of our Residents, even under these restrictions. A tough group, they are.
There has been very little change in status within the Chesterfield skilled nursing facility since yesterday except that the team was excited to welcome one hospitalized Resident back home into the COVID Care Center. Currently, there are 7 Residents remaining for treatment in the hospital. None currently on ventilators, from what we are told. 6 Residents are being nursed back to health in the COVID Care Center. One may graduate in the next day or so, and that would increase the number of “recovered” graduates from 7 to 8. Yesterday, one Resident tested positive and one tested negative. We are still not moving down the curve but it seems that the curve has been flattened, praise God. The number of Residents who have passed who had experienced some connection to COVID-19 remains at 6, though, as we understand, COVID may not have been the primary condition or cause. And there are 7 Residents who had previously had a symptom common to COVID-19 but have tested negative. The care teams are doing everything they can to graduate their patients successfully and to get to zero. They can’t wait for the downward slope. By the way, it is Nurses’ Week and Nursing Home Week. Your appreciation for what they do in there is noted and appreciated.
The Sunset Hills campus, as of this day, has had no positive tests for COVID-19 and we thank God for this. We pray that this continues but we also know how challenging it is to protect an island in a rising sea of coronavirus. The staff and residents continue to work very hard to hold it back.
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 has begun lifting some stay at home orders, St. Louis County has not, and neither is Friendship Village. We plan to 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:
It is National Nurses’ Week and National Nursing Home Week!
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.