Live Update to Residents-August 27, 2020
Live updates to residents on our in-house TV970 keep us informed and connected on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3 p.m. Today’s update featured Debra Jacobsen, Administrator Resident Services; Will Blackwell, Vice President Health Services; Gayle Hunter Haglund, Vice President Resource Development; Lynn McClintock, Director Pastoral Care; and The Rev. Canon Bob Hetherington, resident.
The following updates were shared during the live briefing on TV970.
Debra Jacobsen
Summer Nights Series
Residents have enjoyed a series of outdoor summer concerts. We hope you enjoyed a beautiful evening last night in the Campbell Garden. A big thank you to Jessica Corbitt, Zach Townsend, Chris Rubis and Eric Price for their work on the Summer Nights Series.
Visitation, Travel, Grocery, Dining Guidelines
After many requests from residents, we created a one-page document that was placed in Independent Living boxes yesterday that addresses Visitation, Travel, Grocery and Dining guidelines. We hope you find this helpful. Thank you to Anita Adkins for putting together this much-needed document. The details of these programs are also in The Tales today.
Independent Living Visitation
Family members must arrive between 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Thursday-Sunday, and go through the proper screening process. Guests are permitted only until 8 p.m.
Promenade Updates
Beginning Tuesday, September 8, there will be carryout available for lunch and dinner by call-ahead ordering only. You may still have lunch and dinner delivered for a fee of $1.50. You may also begin making reservations for parties of four for lunch or dinner.
Grocery Changes
As of Tuesday, September 8, residents can sign up to go to the grocery store Monday through Friday with a limit of eight residents per trip. You may continue to use other grocery options such as deliveries from family and friends on Fridays from 1-3 p.m. Staff will be available to help with deliveries at that time at the Tower and Center Entrances. You may have groceries delivered to you at other times if you are able to accept the delivery in person. You may also use Ukrop’s and Libbie Market deliveries or have your family members bring items to you when they come to visit. Please contact Jessica Goldberg at ext. 5107 if you have questions.
Travel Guidelines
When traveling off campus overnight, if you travel by plane, train or bus, you must be tested for COVID-19 when you return. Please review the details in today’s Tales.
Absentee Ballots for November Presidential Election
The November Presidential Election is quickly approaching. At this point, we are planning to hold the election on campus as we typically do. Things can change quickly, so we encourage you to fill out a Vote by Mail Application to request an absentee ballot. Vote by Mail Applications are available at the Tower and Center Desks, through the Resident Services Office, or through the Social Worker in your area. After you have filled out your application, please send the completed application to either the Henrico Voter Registration Office or the Richmond City Voter Registration Office depending on where you typically vote. The application is due by mail by Friday, October 23. If you received an absentee ballot in the mail and would prefer to vote on campus the day of the election, you will just need to bring the unopened absentee ballot with you to the polls and you will be able to cast your vote in person. If you have individual questions, please reach out to the Voter Registration and Elections Office in the appropriate area.
Wellness
Wellness will offer additional programming in September. There will be more opportunities for the Balance and Strength classes and a Friday class. Appointments in the Fitness and Aquatic Centers will continue. Information will be in the next issue of The Tales and on TV970 within a few days.
Will Blackwell
Update on Employees Cases
All but two of the employees who have tested positive for COVID-19 have tested negative twice and returned to work. Two housekeeping employees continue to recover in quarantine off campus.
Since June 1, we have tested employees for COVID-19 around 1,880 times. This does not include the tests performed during the Point Prevalence Survey.
Avalon
Avalon residents have been under quarantine due to exposure to an employee who later tested positive for COVID-19. We expect that this quarantine will end on Saturday, August 29.
Mary Morton Parsons Health Center
Due to exposure to an employee who tested positive for COVID-19, portions of Parsons Health Center remain under quarantine. Parsons Health Center First Floor quarantine ends Tuesday, September 1. Parsons Health Center Second Floor West quarantine ends Thursday, September 3. As a reminder, Parsons Health Center remains closed to visitors.
Three residents are being cared for in the COVID-19 positive unit until they recover and receive two negative test results. All three are asymptomatic for COVID-19 and have received their first negative test result. They have been tested again, and we hope they will be able to return to their home in Parsons Health Center soon.
Fourth Infection Control Survey
On August 26, we had our fourth Infection Control Survey by the Department of Health licensure and certification. Each week we report the number of residents tested and employees tested along with active cases of COVID-19 in the healthcare center.
One surveyor was onsite and toured the facility including the COVID-19 positive unit, observing infection control procedures. The surveyor watched the nursing staff perform hand hygiene and donning and doffing of personal protective equipment. The surveyor interviewed nursing staff and housekeeping.
Two other surveyors were offsite reviewing our COVID-19 policies and infection control policies. At the end of the day, the survey team said we were doing a great job keeping the residents safe and cited no deficiencies.
You will receive a memo tomorrow with the latest details on our testing and cases.
Gayle Haglund
Foundation Updates
Former resident Ken Wright was a very generous philanthropist in the Richmond region. He was working on a special gift for Westminster Canterbury Foundation, but he died suddenly before he could finalize his plan. After many months, his estate was able to complete his wishes. In honor of Ken Wright’s generous gift of $500,000 to our Foundation, the Courtyard Garden is being named for him. This was his desire! Near the Canterbury Room and Kathleen’s, you will find a new bronze plaque. Thank you to Ken Wright for his generous intent and his assistant, Audrey Pape, for making sure this intention became a reality!
Thank you to everyone who has already given to the Foundation to support the Spiritual Center. We are nearing 100 gifts. There is still a big need, so we are grateful for your response. If you are interested in a tour of the Spiritual Center, you may call Gayle Haglund at ext. 6702.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts about the Fellowship Program. Your comments have inspired the Foundation team. Though the comment form is no longer in The Tales, please know that we always welcome your comments. These help us to tell the story of what a difference Fellowship makes to everyone – those who give, those who receive and all of us who have the joy of living and working together!
Lynn McClintock
A Sermon for Every Sunday will air on Sunday, August 30, at 4 p.m. on TV 970. The program will feature Rev. Carla Pratt Keyes talking about “Beach Balls and Burning Bushes.” In Exodus 3:1-15, God tells Moses to get going in order to help the Israelite people escape Egypt and Pharaoh’s oppression. Carla Pratt Keyes, pastor of Ginter Park Presbyterian Church, in Richmond, Virginia, says, “God’s grand intentions become specific human responsibilities, human vocation. It is we who must do as God said.” However, despite God’s call, Moses had a choice and we do too. “What will we do?” asks Keyes.
Bob Hetherington
Please watch the video to hear the Thoughtful Thursday segment.