Live Update to Residents – June 12, 2020
The following updates were shared during the live briefing on TV970.
Debra Jacobsen
As of this morning, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) reports:
• 448,172 people have been tested for COVID-19.
• Positive cases total 53,211.
• Total hospitalizations are 5,445.
• 1,534 deaths associated with COVID-19.
Absentee Ballot Applications
Absentee Ballot Applications for the Dual Primary Election on Tuesday, June 23 are due on Tuesday, June 16. In our district, this is just a Republican Primary, so please be sure you select that on the application. The applications are available at the Tower Information Center and the Courtyard Business Center. After you have mailed in your application, you should receive your Republican Ballot within 2-3 days. If you have any questions, please contact Resident Services at ext. 6082.
Massage Services
Massage Services will resume the week of June 15 by appointment only. We will be in a new temporary location, Tower apartment 116, and will be following increased safety and cleaning measures. Our Massage Therapist, Carolyn Shearin, has been reaching out to some of her regular clients, but if you are interested in an appointment please call ext. 6794 and leave a message. She will be in touch with you. Please be patient as we work through new procedures to make this a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone. Some of you have asked why we moved this service. In order to achieve social distancing in rehab and in the waiting areas, we decided to move massage to this temporary location. We realize this location is not as centralized; therefore, we encourage residents to contact the Tower Desk by dialing “0” and requesting a ride to the Tower Entrance if the distance is too far to walk.
Check-In Phone Calls
Independent Living residents have been receiving weekly phone calls from a team of our staff who have been dedicated to checking in on you through these past few months. They have loved getting to know you! As we continue to restart programs throughout the campus and many of you are venturing off campus during the day, they will begin calling every other week. Please let us know if you have any questions or needs we can address in the meantime.
Arts Studio and Woodworking Shop
As Sarah Abernathie mentioned yesterday, we are excited about the Arts Studio and Woodworking Shop extending its hours. Beginning on June 15, these areas will be open Monday thru Thursday from 9a.m.-4p.m. and will be monitored by Sarah.
Changes to Deliveries from Family and Friends at Azalea
Earlier this week, Whitney Woodruff mentioned to you the changes to deliveries at Azalea. A memo was distributed yesterday to residents that detailed the upcoming changes. Notices will be handed out to the families and friends who are dropping off items at Azalea this afternoon and again on Monday. As a reminder, changes will take place on Wednesday, June 17. Until then, we ask that your family and friends please continue dropping off items at Azalea. Beginning June 17, drop offs will occur at the Tower Entrance for the Tower, Garden and The Glebe residents and at the Center Entrance for Courtyard and Homes on the Green residents. Independent Living residents receiving drop offs are asked to be available at the entrance to collect your items from your friend or family member. This also allows for a quick hello. We ask that you please wear your mask and social distance yourselves from one another. Items for Assisted Living and Parsons Health Center residents will be received by staff at the Center Entrance and delivered to the appropriate area.
All Ukrops and Libbie Market items will be dropped off at the Center Entrance for pickup shortly after 1p.m. Please call Resident Services at ext. 6082 if you have questions or did not receive the memo.
Visitation
Yesterday, John mentioned that beginning on June 23 we will be hosting scheduled family visits for Independent Living residents. We are very excited to share that news with you and we know you are excited, too! In an effort to ensure the utmost safety of our residents and visitors, we are still in the planning stages of this new process and will be sharing all of the details with you next Tuesday, June 16. At that time, we will let you know the process for making these appointments. Thank you for your patience.
Fun Friday Packets
In effort to reduce the amount of door-to-door deliveries, Fun Friday packets will be available at the Center and Tower Desks for you to pick up if you wish. Homes on the Green and The Glebe residents will still receive the packets to their homes.
Nature Trail Closure
The Nature Trail will be closed in certain areas beginning today for about a week while we do some repairs to the fencing. We ask that you avoid the Nature Trail for now, and we will update you when it reopens.
Barbara Martin
Infection Control
The best way to prevent COVID-19 is by washing your hands, not touching your face and keeping surfaces clean and disinfected. It is extremely important to wash your hands often because the virus can live for a period of time on items that you come in contact with on a daily basis. Timeframe examples of how long the virus can live on surfaces include: plastic surfaces (e.g., milk containers, detergent bottles, subway/bus seats, backpacks, elevator buttons) for 2 to 3 days; stainless steel surfaces (e.g., refrigerators, pots/pans, sinks, some water bottles) for 2 to 3 days; cardboard surfaces (e.g., shipping boxes) for 24 hours; glass surfaces (e.g., drinking glasses, measuring cups, mirrors, windows) for up to 5 days; ceramic surfaces (e.g., dishes, pottery, mugs) for 5 days; paper surfaces (e.g., mail, newspaper) for anywhere from a few minutes to up to 5 days depending on the strain of coronavirus.
How to Wash Your Hands
- Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap and apply soap.
- Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers and under your nails.
- Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
- Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
- Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.
You can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available. Sanitizers can quickly reduce the number of germs on your hands in many situations; however, sanitizers do not get rid of all types of germs, they may not be as effective when hands are visibly dirty or greasy and might not remove harmful chemicals from hands like pesticides and heavy metals.
How to Use Hand Sanitizer
- Apply the gel product to the palm of one hand (read the label to learn the correct amount).
- Rub your hands together.
- Rub the gel over all the surfaces of your hands and fingers until your hands are dry. This should take around 20 seconds.
Beverlee Arnold
Thank you to the departments that have supported CVS Pharmacy since March 16, especially the Clinic, Sales & Admissions and Engineering departments. We are also extremely appreciative of the residents’ patience during this time.
CVS Reopening
some CVS Pharmacy will reopen on Monday, June 15 at 9 a.m. with restrictions and will operate under an abundance caution. It will remain open during its normal hours of 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, closing 12:30pm-1pm for lunch, as before. The following are requirements of CVS:
• Everyone must wear a mask in the pharmacy
• Due to space limitations and in order to maintain social distancing, only one customer will be allowed in the pharmacy at a time
• Do not enter the pharmacy – please wait in the chairs in the hallway until your turn and stay on the other side of the pink lines
• No cash accepted at this time
We suggest that refills be called in ahead of time to minimize time in the pharmacy. OTC-only deliveries will still be offered on Tuesday and Thursday, up to 20 deliveries per day with 2-days notice. Prescription pick up in the Clinic will still be available if absolutely necessary.
There are 10 phone lines that come into the pharmacy, which can cause some delays in your calls being answered. We ask that you be patient, and we will answer your call as soon as we are able. Please note that there may be modifications required as circumstances evolve. If you have any questions, please call ext. 6245 or 266-3282.
Jason Pace
Pantry Service Ends June 19
Pantry Service will end on Friday, June 19. Courtyard and Homes on the Green residents will receive their last deliveries on Tuesday, June 16. Tower, Garden and The Glebe residents will receive their last deliveries on Friday, June 19.
Wine Delivery Service Continues
Wine Delivery Service will continue at this time. Residents may place their order by calling ext. 1510. Deliveries will be made once a week on Fridays.
Promenade Dining Begins June 22
On Monday, June 22, the Promenade Dining Room will reopen for breakfast and lunch only. Reservations are required and parties are limited to two people per table. Call ext. 6030 and leave your name, phone number, the name of your dining partner and your requested time. No walk-ins. Reservation seating times are:
•Breakfast, Monday-Sunday: 7 a.m., 7:30 a.m., 8 a.m., 8:30 a.m.
•Lunch, Monday-Saturday: 11 a.m., 11:30 a.m., noon, 12:30 p.m.
•Sunday Midday Meal: 11 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:15 p.m., 12:45 p.m., 1:30 p.m
Meal Delivery
Meal delivery will continue. Beginning June 22, the price for breakfast will be $6 and lunch will be $7 for both dine-in and room service meals.
This is our first step in reengaging dining. We will share more information on next steps the week of June 29.
Logan Augustine – Pastoral Care
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not let them be afraid.
As God promises us peace and calls us to be peacemakers, let us hear this prayer from the Week of Prayer for World Peace in 1978:
“We pray for the power to be gentle; the strength to be forgiving; the patience to be understanding; and the endurance to accept the consequences to holding to what we believe to be right.
May we put our trust in the power of good to overcome evil and the power of love to overcome hatred. We pray for the vision to see and the faith to believe in a world emancipated from violence, a new world where fear shall no longer lead us to commit injustice, nor selfishness make them bring suffering to others.
Help us to devote our whole life and thought and energy to the task of making peace, praying always for the inspiration and the power to fulfill the destiny for which we were created.” Amen.