Live Update Summary – May 20, 2020
Daily Live updates to residents on our in-house TV970 have become a popular way for us to stay in touch while social distancing! Today’s update featured John Burns, President and CEO; Gayle Haglund, Vice President Resource Development; Scott Jonte, Director Dining; Patti Pickering, Fitness Specialist; and Vanessa Perry, Pastoral Care Administrator.
The following updates were shared during the live briefing on TV970.
John Burns
As of this morning, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) reports:
- 210,965 people have been tested for COVID-19.
- Total positive cases are 32,908, an increase of 763 from yesterday.
- Percent positive of those who have been tested is 14.5%.
- In total, 3,979 people have been hospitalized to date. 1,536 are currently in the hospital.
- There have been 1,074 deaths associated with COVID-19, an increase of 33.
Today is Day 14 since our staff member in Pavilion Assisted Living tested positive for COVID-19. We tested all 19 residents and 38 staff in that area two weeks ago. At that time, everyone tested negative. Today we are retesting the same residents and staff to confirm that no one was infected.
Today we learned that a member of our Housekeeping team was tested because of having a family member in their household test positive. We believe the risks are low because the staff member has not been cleaning resident spaces and has been very diligent about wearing a mask. The staff member was tested today and will be off until we get the result. It is currently taking about 4 days to get test results. We will notify you when we have more information.
Tomorrow, our Management Team will be hosting a conference call meeting with the Strategic Planning Committee of the Corporate Board. We will be discussing with our Board and Resident leadership the business implications of the coronavirus pandemic.
Tomorrow’s briefing will be focused on sharing our next steps toward a limited reopening. Please make every effort to watch at 3 p.m.
We will take a slow, deliberate approach to reopening and continue to practice from an abundance of caution. Due to Westminster Canterbury’s status as a vulnerable population, our actions will trail the state-wide Governor’s plan. We need to expect and be prepared that we will have more cases of COVID-19. We need to be ready, both as staff and as residents, that we may need to shut things back down again quickly.
Additionally, we will be tracking the data for Henrico and Richmond, not the statewide data, to determine our next steps.
Gayle Haglund
Our Communications team is offering many new options to keep our residents, staff and families well-informed, entertained, fit and growing spiritually. In addition, there are many more resources available to you on Touchtown Community Apps. We need your input! In order to serve you best, we want to find out what you’re watching or reading. There is a Communication Survey available to you in two ways. You can find it on Touchtown Community Apps – look under The Tales section; the survey is at the top of the list. It is already active and ready for you to use. Also, the survey is printed in The Tales this week. If you choose to complete the printed version, please fill it out and place it in one of the boxes at the Tower or Center Desks, the Avalon Lobby or the Parsons Health Center First Floor. The survey will be open for two weeks. We encourage you to complete it on Touchtown Community Apps because the program will calculate the responses, saving some time. We greatly value your feedback!
Thank you for your concern for our staff and for your many contributions to the Foundation’s WEAVE Program. Since the pandemic’s start, 214 people have contributed a total of $60,040 toward WEAVE. Of the 214 donors, 127 are staff and 69 are residents. Also, some trustees and even a few people from our wait list have given to WEAVE. Many of you have also given to our Fellowship Program, helping us keep our promise that no residents will ever be asked to leave due to financial reasons that are no fault of their own. This is an amazingly generous community in so many ways!
Scott Jonte
We are revamping our Promenade Menu to include some additional offerings.These include an entrée salad that is available for lunch or dinner. The entrée salad includes soup and dessert only and is the same price for lunch or dinner ($8.00).
At dinner, we have added a baked potato or baked sweet potato. This offering changes every other day so please review the daily menus. Baked chicken and mashed potatoes are available daily for lunch and dinner. A bottled coke may be substituted for the beverage for an additional $1.50. Please review the back page of the menu, as there have been some changes that are important to know.
The wine selections, which were on the back page of the Promenade menu, have been relocated to the Pantry menu. Please contact Scott at ext. 6356 with any questions.
Patti Pickering – Wellness
Patti demonstrated a simple flexibility movement to help alleviate general stiffness and discomfort through the hips and low back. This exercise helps restore range of motion by moving and stimulating the lumbar fascia. Fascia is a connective tissue that surrounds and attaches to all structures in our bodies. It plays an important role in the support and functioning of our middle and lower back.
Watch the video for a demonstration of this stretching exercise.
Vanessa Perry – Pastoral Care
A Worship Service will take place tomorrow, Thursday, May 21, at 10:30 a.m. on TV970. Rev. Dr. Lynn McClintock will preach. Please join us tomorrow for our weekly “Thoughtful Thursday” at the 3:00 p.m. Live Update led by one of our resident clergy.
Psalm 143:5
“I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done.”
Prayer
A Bodhisattva Prayer For Humanity, as performed daily by the Dalai Lama:
May I be a guard for those who need protection,
A boat, a raft, a bridge for those who wish to cross the flood.
May I be a lamp in the darkness,
A resting place for the weary,
A healing medicine for all who are sick
A vase of plenty, a tree of miracles.
And for the boundless multitudes of living beings
May I bring sustenance and awakening,
Enduring like the earth and sky
Until all beings are freed from sorrow
And all are awakened.
– Shantideva