Live Update to Residents-April 15, 2021
Today’s Live Update on our in-house TV970 covered the latest news at Westminster Canterbury Richmond. It featured John Burns, President and CEO; Gayle Hunter Haglund, Vice President Resource Development; Glendon Kemp, Manager of Security; and Vanessa Perry, Pastoral Care Administrator. The next Live Update will be Thursday, April 22.
The following updates were shared.
John Burns
COVID-19 Update
On Sunday, April 11, Westminster Canterbury Richmond learned that a Certified Nursing Assistant (C.N.A.) in Mary Morton Parsons Health Center Third Floor tested positive for COVID-19. Per guidance from Virginia Department of Health (VDH), visitation is suspended for Parsons Health Center Third Floor South and East. These hallways will remain in quarantine until Saturday, April 24. Compassionate visits will be allowed in these areas. Please contact the Administrator, nurse manager or social worker to set an appointment. All residents in these hallways are fully vaccinated.
On Tuesday, April 13, we learned that a Dining employee in Parsons Health Center also tested positive for COVID-19. Parsons Health Center residents were tested after learning of the positive employee cases, and all results came back negative. We continue to test employees weekly as the positivity rate for Henrico remains above 5%. The employees who tested positive are in quarantine at home and will return to work next week if they are symptom free. Visitation throughout the rest of Parsons Health Center and the rest of the community remains open.
This Friday we are hosting a vaccination clinic in Cochrane Commons where approximately 50 new residents, employees, contractors and volunteers will receive second vaccine doses.
We remain in close contact with VDH when making decisions about how to reopen our campus, how to handle visitation and steps to take when we encounter a positive case of COVID-19 in employees or residents.
Tower Laundry Rooms
Renovation of the remaining Tower Laundry Rooms will begin Monday, April 19. The recently renovated Laundry Rooms will be available for residents’ use during this renovation period. Instructions on how to use the new machines will be provided soon. The work on the remaining floors will take approximately six weeks to complete. We will share updates during the project. Tables for unclaimed items will be set up near the Lounge on each floor on Monday when removal of the Laundry equipment and existing cabinetry begins. Please contact Tom Henning at ext. 6033 with any questions.
Vibrancy! Update and Frequently Asked Questions
We appreciate the feedback and questions we have received in response to the Vibrancy! video shared earlier this month. If residents missed it or want to see it again, they can watch it on TV971 daily at 4 p.m. It features a narrated tour of the coming projects.
Why is it called Vibrancy!?
Westminster Canterbury Richmond has a vision for everyone to live a vibrant life in elderhood and at every age. A vibrant life means living to the absolute fullest. It means thriving in an active setting. It’s our vision to partner with residents to realize the best life possible, offering places, services and programs in a dynamic, caring community. Vibrancy! describes our aspiration and comprises the next changes and enhancements coming to our community.
What does Vibrancy! accomplish?
Once completed, Westminster Canterbury will include a best-in-class Vital Living Center with fitness and aquatic centers, wonderful new dining and social spaces, improved parking with a deck for staff and visitors, improved outdoor recreation and approximately 100 new residences for new people to join our community.
How were the Vibrancy! plans determined?
Since 2016, a strategic planning group including members of the Corporate, Foundation and Residents Boards and Executive Staff studied the organization’s needs. This group discerned the best path forward based on research, financial projections, market studies and proposed architectural plans, balanced by the strategic goals, Mission and Vision of Westminster Canterbury. The planning group was dedicated to assuring that plans would benefit current residents, prepare for the future and ensure that Westminster Canterbury remains the best choice for senior living in Virginia.
Who are our project partners?
Westminster Canterbury’s team includes Executive Staff, our Director Construction Management and other leaders and program staff who work closely with our project partners:
• SFCS, a Roanoke-based architecture firm specializing in continuing care retirement communities
• Gilbane Henderson, construction partners who formed a unique joint venture between Gilbane Construction, a national leader in construction, and Henderson Construction, a Williamsburg-based construction company
• JLL, a Richmond-based project management firm
• Love and Company, senior living marketing firm
• HG Design Studio, a Richmond-based landscape architectural and civil engineering firm
Careers in Aging Week
April 18-24 is Careers in Aging Week. We celebrate and appreciate our staff every day, but this is a special opportunity to highlight our field and the incredible, heroic individuals who work in it. We invite you to celebrate with us and make a special effort to tell an employee you appreciate them in the coming week.
Gayle Hunter Haglund
Foundation Update
Westminster Canterbury Foundation’s W•E•A•V•E (Workforce – Education – Assistance – Volunteerism – Engagement) Program provides many advantages to our beloved workforce. Many residents demonstrate support of our workforce with financial gifts to this program. Approximately 140 employees support the program, and therefore each other, through payroll deduction. Three residents have made very generous gifts to start W•E•A•V•E Endowments – these endowments now total more than $500,000! We are very hopeful that people will continue to support this important effort. Your generous donations provide life-changing scholarships, assist when financial emergencies strike, demonstrate appreciation and allow our teams to make a difference to seniors-in-need through their volunteerism. Thank you to everyone who supports this program!
To our staff, please know that many residents express their love and appreciation for you when they make their gifts. You are truly appreciated.
Overall, giving to Westminster Canterbury Foundation is quite strong, thanks to you! There are many programs made possible by your generosity. The Foundation’s Fellowship Program has reached $908,000 toward our 2021 goal of $1.675 million. Thank you so much for all the ways this wonderful community demonstrates inspiring generosity!
Glendon Kemp
Courtyard and Homes on the Green Project
One of the benefits of living at Westminster Canterbury is that we have a daily wellness check process for residents. We are able to help ensure your safety and wellbeing through a process that maintains your privacy and independence. The Tower, Garden and The Glebe have been using a new system called SARA since January. There same new system will be installed in the Courtyard Apartments and Homes on the Green. A contractor will be working with us to install devices on front doors beginning Tuesday, April 20. Work will begin on the Courtyard Fifth Floor and proceed through the other floors and Homes on the Green. The process should take less than two weeks.
The front door devices serve as the new daily check system. The new process requires that residents open their door once between the hours of 4 a.m. and noon. If you do not, you will receive an automated check-in call from SARA. This check-in call can be programmed to go to your cell phone. If you do not answer, Westminster Canterbury’s Central Station officer will attempt to contact you by phone. If we are unable to contact you this way, we will send a Security team member to your apartment to check on you. This is our best solution to ensure your safety while maintaining your privacy and independence until we find another solution.
Pedestrian Traffic
We love seeing so many enjoying time outside! For your safety, please stay on walking paths and avoid roadways as much as possible.
Scam Alert
Thank you for reporting scam calls to Security. There is a new and particularly malicious scam call. This call will come from a number that mirrors a Westminster Canterbury number and may include a residents’ name on the caller ID. The caller will announce that they are from a well-known company, such as Microsoft or Amazon, and use a bullying tone to request payment for something you have not paid for. Please stay vigilant against these calls. Hang up immediately. Please do not give personal or financial information over the phone. If you are ever in doubt about whether a call is legitimate or a scam, call Glendon Kemp at ext. 6079.
Vanessa Perry
Many residents came to the Sanctuary to hear Rev. Gary Jones lead worship this morning. Many were watching the service streaming live on TV970. We are aware that there were technical difficulties with the sound and the video during the service. Please know that a team of technicians are aware of the issues and are working diligently to get them corrected. Unfortunately, it is not as easy as simply flipping a switch. Please hang in there with us as we work out the sound and video in our new space.
A Sermon for Every Sunday will air on TV970 on Sunday at 4 p.m. Rev. Phillip Martin, pastor of Epiphany Lutheran Church, will preach from Luke 24:36-48.
On Monday, Pastoral Care and Cultural Arts will present the movie Soul as part of our Movie with a Message series. The movie will start at 2 p.m. in the Sara Belle November Theater, lasting one hour and 47 minutes. Tickets will be available at the Center and Tower Desks on Friday at 10 a.m. Please bring your ticket to the theater.
Our next Music in the Sanctuary will be on Tuesday, April 20, at 11 a.m. in the Sanctuary. Resident musician Sally Maynard will play sacred and secular songs. There are a few spaces left, so sign up by calling David Curtis at ext. 5179.
Please consider becoming a part of the small group discussions on race and racial reconciliation. Sessions will start the week of May 3 and last approximately six weeks. For more details and to sign up, please call Vanessa Perry at ext. 1502 by Wednesday, April 28.
As some of our employees observe Ramadan this week, please wish them a blessed Ramadan.
Prayer
“Oh Lord and Sustainer please forgive me and be merciful to me. You are the best amongst those who show mercy.” Amen.