Live Update to Residents-February 2, 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; Debra Jacobsen, Administrator Residential Living; Melissa Markey, Manager Wellness; and David Curtis, Chaplain. The next Live Update will be Thursday, February 4.
The following updates were shared.
John Burns
COVID-19 Update
On Friday, a resident of Mary Morton Parsons Health Center Third Floor tested positive for COVID-19. Yesterday, a resident who was being cared for in the COVID-19 positive unit recovered and returned to their apartment. One resident is being cared for in the COVID-19 unit. Parsons Health Center Third Floor will remain in quarantine through Wednesday, February 10. Four employees who tested positive for COVID-19 continue to recover at home in quarantine.
The positivity rate for Henrico continues to drop, which is great news! As of yesterday, it is 10.6%. Currently, we test all Parsons Health Center employees twice weekly and all Parsons residents weekly. If the rate drops below 10%, we will be able to begin testing employees only once weekly.
Vaccination Updates
This week, Independent Living residents and some employees are receiving their first COVID-19 vaccine doses during our clinic with CVS Health on Wednesday and Thursday, February 3-4. Second doses for this group will be on Wednesday and Thursday, February 24-25. You must get your first dose this week. There will be no first doses given at the February 24-25 vaccination clinic.
Assisted Living residents and employees who received their first dose on Monday and Tuesday, January 25-26, will receive their second dose on Monday and Tuesday, February 15-16.
Thank you to Independent Living residents who returned their consent forms so quickly. Our Resident Services team has been working diligently to track who has been vaccinated and who will take part in this week’s vaccination clinic.
Follow the Core Principles of COVID-19 Infection Prevention
Please remember to continue to follow the principles that have kept us healthy so far. The following are guidelines related to COVID-19 vaccination that were previously shared in our COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions.
Do I still need to follow precautions after I take the vaccine?
Because we have limited information on how well the vaccine works in the general population; how much it may reduce disease, severity or transmission; and how long protection lasts, vaccinated persons should continue to follow all current guidance to protect themselves and others. This includes:
• Wearing a mask
• Staying at least six feet away from others
• Avoiding crowds
• Washing hands often
• Following CDC travel guidance
• Following quarantine guidance after an exposure to someone with COVID-19
• Continue following any workplace guidance
Even though you have received your vaccine, most of the people around you and outside our community have not. We know the vaccine prevents disease in the vaccinated person, but it still may be possible to transmit the disease to others, until the vaccine is in widespread use.
Should I quarantine if I have COVID-19 symptoms after getting the vaccine?
Yes, you should follow quarantine guidance from your physician and Westminster Canterbury if you develop COVID-19 symptoms. It usually takes the body a few weeks to develop immunity after receiving a vaccine. If you do experience COVID-19 symptoms after vaccination, contact your physician or the Clinic.
Should I quarantine if I am exposed to COVID-19 between doses?
Yes, you should. Please follow quarantine protocols as directed by your physician and Westminster Canterbury.
For more information on the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, a fact sheet is available in the COVID-19 Resources on Touchtown or by clicking here.
Debra Jacobsen
Vaccination Process
Independent Living vaccination begins on Wednesday and Thursday, February 3-4! The vaccination clinic will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. All areas and floors of Independent Living are assigned a day and approximate time for their vaccination. This information will be in resident boxes by end of day today.
Please be patient and aware that the timing of the vaccinations will depend on residents being on time and on CVS being able to administer each vaccine. We are doing everything we can to avoid wait times, but it is possible there will be some delays. All paperwork for residents has been completed and will be available to the residents on vaccination day.
The vaccination process will be the following:
• Please dress appropriately with your arm available for the vaccine.
• When you arrive at your scheduled time, go straight to the Sara Belle November Theater.
• Westminster Canterbury staff will give you the needed paperwork.
• Take a seat in the Sara Belle November Theater until your name is called.
• Go to the CVS table for registration.
• Proceed to the Cochrane Commons where you will receive your vaccine.
• After receiving your shot, please wait 15 minutes until our staff excuse you.
The schedule is set with all areas and floors of Independent Living divided over the two days. The exact times will be noted on the information in resident boxes.
Wednesday, February 3
• Courtyard Third, Fourth and Fifth Floors and Homes on the Green
• Tower Fifth, Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Floors
Thursday, February 4
• Courtyard First and Second Floors
• Garden and Glebe
• Tower First, Second, Third and Fourth Floors
If you have a previous engagement and cannot come at the time set aside for your floor, you may come at a different time. If possible, we ask you to come at your scheduled time to help manage the number of people in the area and to maintain social distancing.
Outside Vaccination Appointments
If you are an Independent Living resident, and you are vaccinated outside of Westminster Canterbury, please notify the Clinic so that your medical record can be updated. The Clinic will need a copy of your vaccine documentation. If you need transportation to an outside vaccine appointment, you may call our transportation department at ext. 6263 to schedule an appointment. If you are vaccinated outside of Westminster Canterbury, please return the blank vaccination consent form to the Tower or Center Desks.
Fireside Series
Due to the vaccination clinics, we rescheduled our Fireside Concert with Charles Arthur to Monday, February 22, at 3 p.m., on TV970. We will not host a Fireside Concert this week.
Melissa Markey
American Heart Month
February is Heart Health Month! The Wellness Team has put together information and activities for you to take steps to improve your heart health. Resources can be found at the Jim Marable Fitness Center, Business and Information Centers and on digital signage. A Heart Health Challenge incorporates the four pillars of heart health: exercise, diet and nutrition, stress reduction and better sleep. We have provided activities in each of those four pillars to complete during the month. Please turn in your completed forms at the end of the month to be included in our prize drawing.
Friday, February 5, is National Wear Red Day. We encourage all staff and residents to make a statement, raise awareness and wear your red clothes! If you don’t have any red, heart health awareness stickers will be available in the Business and Information Centers on Thursday for you to wear.
Join us this month in making strides to improve our heart health.
Wellness Updates
Please remember the Fitness and Aquatic Centers are open by appointment only. Please call to make your appointment. We offer new and exciting classes on TV970 daily at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. as well as a live Zoom class three times per week. If you are interested in any of those programs or have any questions, please call ext. 6669. A member of the Wellness Team will return your call.
David Curtis
Black History Month
The national theme of Black History month this year is, “The Black Family: Representation, Identity and Diversity.”
Check out the 2021 Black History Month Film Series, which began today on TV970. The first film, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?, will air again on Thursday, February 4, at 1 p.m. on TV970. The schedule and listing of the films can be found in the January 28 issue of The Tales and on the Touchtown app.
The February 11 and 25 issues of The Tales will include the life stories and accomplishments of several Black Virginians.
The cornerstone of our annual celebration is the Lettie Madison Symposium, named in honor a former resident, educator and social worker. She began a series of lectures to observe Black History Month at Westminster Canterbury. We plan to hold the Lettie Mattie Symposium later this year when we are able to gather safely.
Please join us for worship on Thursday, February 4, at 10:30 a.m. on TV970. Rev. Deacon Logan Augustine will preach. Sally Maynard will provide the music. This will be a communion service. Residents who would like to participate are invited to have a cracker and juice available. We will also offer spiritual communion as part of this service.
February Prayer Booklets are available. The Prayer Booklets are created monthly, and each edition provides a weekly rhythm of prayer. They also contain Thursday worship bulletins and this month’s Ash Wednesday bulletin. If you would like one, please contact Vanessa Perry at ext. 1502 or David Curtis at ext. 5179.
Isaiah 40: 3-5
A voice cries out:
‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain.
Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
and all people shall see it together,
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.’
“A Prayer for Receiving the COVID Vaccine” (written by Rabbi Rachel Levy)
I have been praying for this day and now it is here!
With great excitement, a touch of trepidation
and with deep gratitude
I give thanks for all the scientists who toiled day and night
so that I might receive this tiny vaccination
that will protect me and all souls around this world.
With the pandemic still raging
I am blessed to do my part to defeat it.
Let this be the beginning of a new day,
a new time of hope, of joy, of freedom
And most of all, of health.
I thank you, God for blessing me with life
For sustaining my life
And for enabling me to reach this awe-filled moment.
Amen