Live Update to Residents – April 27, 2020
The following updates were shared during the live briefing on TV970.
John Burns
There are more than 928,000 cases across United States and more than 52,000 deaths.
As of this morning, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) reports:
- 80,180 people have been tested for COVID-19. More than 11,000 have been tested since Friday, April 24
- Total positive COVID-19 cases are 13,535, an increase of 1,940 since Friday
- Approximately 15% of those tested have been positive
- 2,066 have been hospitalized
- 458 total deaths
- 1,843 have recovered
Across Virginia, there have been 113 outbreaks of COVID-19 in long-term care facilities, including 15 new outbreaks since Friday, April 24. The outbreaks account for more than 1,300 cases and 106 deaths. Of the 113 long-term care facilities, 12 are in Henrico County, 5 in Chesterfield County, 3 in Hanover County and 2 in the City of Richmond.
Westminster Canterbury’s Incident Command Team is working to build our capacity COVID-19 testing. We need to be able to test anyone who returns to us from the hospital. We want to test quickly so we can get people out of quarantine and mitigate the risk of spreading illness within the campus. With the help of LabCorp, our lab partner, we are making strides to build capacity. We will continue to update you as we have more details.
Will Blackwell
Thank you for your cooperation and understanding of our current quarantine practices. We ask for your continued patience. What we are doing is working, and we need to continue doing it to keep the virus from entering our campus.
As a reminder, grocery delivery services are available for residents in any area of residency.
On Friday, April 24, 2020, CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) released a memo addressing frequently asked questions. We will be sharing a few of these questions and answers over the next few days.
Why are visitors restricted from entering nursing homes?
A: CMS understands that nursing home residents derive incredible value from regular visits from families and friends. However, CMS, in consultation with infectious disease experts at the CDC with on-the-ground experience, have concluded that, due to the age and health status of most nursing home residents, these individuals are at an extremely high risk for serious illness, hospitalization and death if infected. Therefore, it is critical for nursing homes to restrict visitation and the entry of non-essential individuals.
On March 13, 2020, CMS released a memorandum informing all nursing homes nationwide on guidance to restrict visitation of all visitors and non-essential health care personnel, except for certain compassionate care situations, such as end-of life.
Communal Dining: Are all residents forced to eat in their room?
A: Residents are not forced to eat in their rooms. Residents may still eat in dining rooms; however, nursing homes should adhere to social distancing, such as being seated at separate tables at least six feet apart. Social distancing should be practiced at all times, not just while dining. Eating in dining areas with appropriate social distancing only applies to residents without signs or symptoms of a respiratory infection, and without a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19. Facilities should refer to CDC guidelines for managing residents with signs or symptoms of a respiratory illness.
Residents in the Mary Morton Parsons Health Center have been dining in their rooms. Soon, Parsons Health Center staff will plan for residents to begin eating in the dining rooms by using staggered dining times. It is beneficial for our residents to socialize. We will assess seating capacity and ensure residents are sitting one to a table, at least six feet apart.
Kendra Spencer – Parsons Health Center Recreation
The three Recreation Therapists in the Parsons Health Center have been very busy helping the residents stay connected to their loved ones through the use of FaceTime, Skype and Zoom. Since March 16, we have made 80-100 family connections a week, totaling 480-600 connections over the last 6 weeks. These calls are the top priority at this time.
In addition, we have played hallway games such as Pool Noodle, Balloon Hockey and Bingo and have participated in sing-alongs. We have live-streamed exercise classes once or twice weekly. Our harpist and other entertainers live-stream sessions so our residents still experience some of our regular programming.
Our residents have enjoyed fresh and hot Krispy Kreme donuts as well as lunch in their hallways, sitting right at their doorways so socialization is encouraged. There was a fun hallway dance party. Daily, we continue to assess the needs of the residents and prioritize what we will accomplish each day. Residents who benefit from activities in their rooms are provided items such as games (crosswords, Sudoku, checkers, dominoes) and art supplies (watercolors, paintbrushes).
On warmer days we are taking some of the residents to our porches or to the courtyard near the Chesapeake East dining room while maintaining appropriate social distancing.
We are helping our residents celebrate their birthdays with festively decorated rooms, balloons, cakes or cupcakes and staff singing Happy Birthday!
We are assisting our residents in obtaining absentee ballots.
Taryn Young – Wellness
This is the final week of the CV-19 Cardiovascular Challenge. Today’s move is the ever-popular Sit-to-Stand.
Today’s breathing exercise is called the four-count breath. It works well to calm the mind, lower blood pressure and focus our energy. It is very useful for being present to the task at hand, including rest.
This week’s self-care tip is to stretch before you get out of bed. In the morning, our bodies are stiff from inactivity. A little bit of gentle stretching will help awaken the body and mind. When possible, try these three stretches to prepare your body for the day’s events:
- Push away from center
- Flex/Point/Circle wrists and ankles
- Knees bent – drop them side to side
Go with love.
Lynn McClintock – Pastoral Care
Evening Prayer will begin next week, Monday, May 4, at 6:30 p.m., rather than this week. The new Prayer Booklet will be available this week.
John 14:27
Peace is what I leave with you; it is my own peace that I give you. I do not give it as the world does. Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid.
The Journey by Mary Oliver
One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
their bad advice —
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
“Mend my life!”
each voice cried.
But you didn’t stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
But little by little,
as you left their voice behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
determined to save
the only life that you could save.
Prayer
Lord, I need your help. I am feeling the strain of stress. My body is agitated by worry and fear. I confess to you my inability to handle It alone.
I surrender my mind to you; take charge of my thoughts. Think your thoughts through me so that I might respond to my circumstances with peace and patience. I don’t want to have a divided mind fragmented from Your control.
Forgive my angers routed in petulant self-will. Make me a channel, a riverbed, of Your love to others suffering as much stress as I. Help me act on the inspiration You give me rather than stifling Your guidance.
I dedicate my tongue to You so that it will become an Instrument of healing. Make me a communicator of love and encouragement as I cheer others on to do their best.
Help me to know and do Your will. I commit my schedule to You. Slow me down before I break down. Set me free of the tyranny of acquisitiveness and security in things. I thank you in advance for giving me strength to conquer stress. Amen. —From the book Quiet Moments With God by Lloyd John Ogilvie