Live Update to Residents-May 29, 2020
Daily Live updates to residents on our in-house TV970 keep us informed and connected. Today’s update featured John Burns, President and CEO; Sherry Grady, Vice President Facilities Management; Pat Kawana, President of Residents Association; Beth Travis, Director of Rehab, Genesis Rehab Services; Anita Adkins, Development Officer-Strategic Gifts and Special Projects; and David Curtis, Chaplain.
The following updates were shared during the live briefing on TV970.
John Burns
As of today, the data about COVID-19 in Virginia includes:
- 296,321 people have been tested for COVID-19. Positive cases total 42,533, with 1,132 new cases since yesterday.
- The positivity rate in Virginia is 13.4% (trending down), Henrico is 15.5% (trending up for the past 10 days) and Richmond is 25.2% (trending up consistently in the past month).
- In total, 4,529 people have been hospitalized to date. 1,524 are currently in the hospital, with 373 in ICU and 193 requiring ventilator support.
- There have been 1,358 deaths associated with COVID-19, an increase of 20 from yesterday.
- 5,648 people have recovered, an increase of 176 from yesterday.
A couple weeks ago, we shared that four dining staff, who are all part of the same family, had tested positive for COVID-19 and been quarantined. We are very happy to share that all four of them have now tested negative twice and either have returned to work or are scheduled to return in the next few days. Also, the Pavilion employee who had tested positive has now tested negative twice and has returned to work. Finally, last week, I had told you about a Housekeeping staff member who had tested positive. Today we learned that her condition has declined and she has now been hospitalized. Please keep her and her family in your prayers.
Today we will be finalizing the baseline resident testing of all Parsons Health Center residents. We should be able to share the results for the whole of Parsons Health Center on Monday.
Sherry Grady
Puritan Cleaners
Effective June 2, Puritan Cleaners will restart their door-to-door services on campus here at Westminster Canterbury. Dry cleaning services will continue to be scheduled on Tuesdays and Fridays. If you are using Puritan, you must ensure that Puritan has your cell number on file. You will receive a text on Monday and Thursday evening that Puritan will pick up the next day. If you will have dry cleaning for pick up, respond by texting YES. If you do not reply, they will not check your door. If you need to speak to someone, call 441-5028 for Puritan’s driver or 729-3715 for the Home Delivery office. You must respond to the text or call Puritan to request pick-up. Your dry cleaning bag must be outside your door by 9 a.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays. If you are not currently using Puritan but would like to switch, please pick up a brochure located at one of the lobby desks.
Handcraft Cleaners
Effective June 2, Handcraft will restart their door-to-door services on campus. Dry cleaning services will continue to be picked up on Tuesdays and Fridays. Moving forward, you must notify Handcraft prior to 8:30 a.m. on the Tuesday or Friday that you want your items picked up. To do this call, text or email Pam Anderson at 804-201-7817 or pamanderson@handcraftservices.com. If no answer, please leave a message with your name and indicate that you are a resident of Westminster Canterbury. Please be sure to set your belongings outside your front door by 8:30 a.m.
Details will be in The Tales next week.
Pat Kawana, President of the Residents Association
Pat shared these remarks.
Good afternoon! I am pleased to be talking with you today.John has been keeping us informed daily about Westminster Canterbury’s “Restarting and Reengaging” phases for opening our community to the larger neighborhood community. Today I want to let you know that our Westminster Canterbury Residents Association is also “Restarting and Reengaging!” The year of 2020 has had a slow start.
On February 11, we held the Annual Association meeting, and new Executive Committee members were elected. We had our first Residents Board meeting on March 10. At that Board Meeting, John Burns, President and CEO, announced the formation of Westminster Canterbury’s COVID-19 Task Force, to plan and execute procedures critically necessary for the protection of all residents from this extremely viral illness. Little did we know that on March 16, we would have our first COVID-19 case! This required all residents to be quarantined. We know the rest of the story!
The new Resident Executive Committee includes me as President; Bob Clewell, First Vice President; Jan Orgain, Second Vice President; Nancy Scoggins, Chair of Floor Representatives; Joan Murphy, Member-at-Large; Bob Coles, Immediate Past President; Patricia Plaisted, Secretary; and Bessie Taliaferro, Assistant Secretary.
The Residents Association is like a bridge between the residents and the Administration. The purpose of the Association is to assist the residents in all the ways that will help make Westminster Canterbury a home in the truest sense of the word.
Our Association activities during this confinement have focused in several ways to be helpful and supportive to all residents in these restrictions and isolation. Though we could not meet as a group, we continued to listen individually to our fellow residents’ concerns and suggestions and report these to Administration. We often helped to interpret the guidelines as they were announced.
Many residents wanted so much to be helpful. Nancy Scoggins and her Floor Representatives were able to assist Administration by personally delivering memos, weekly Tales, menus and recreation “spirit- lifters” to residents on their floors. This was a way our Floor Reps could continue connecting with each resident. Celebrating and finding ways of appreciating our dedicated employees has been the most fun for residents in all these days of confinement!
We could not have managed without the excellent leadership and expertise of John Burns and the COVID-19 Task Force. We are so fortunate to be residents of Westminster Canterbury Richmond. No other retirement community with 900 residents has had only two cases of coronavirus, and those residents have recovered and returned to their apartments. We are nationally recognized for the planning and execution of safety practices to prevent further cases of COVID-19. It is an honor to know that John Burns was appointed to Governor Northam’s State COVID-19 Long-Term Care Task Force. Westminster Canterbury has been a role model for our National and State Association for Retirement and Healthcare communities.
We are grateful to Debra Jacobsen, Administrator Residential Living, and our Residents Association “go-to person,” for assistance. We are also grateful to the Executive leadership, all managers and employees. The Live Updates, all communications and all essential services that are too numerous to mention – all of these have been provided by our cheerful and compassionate employees.
On behalf of all residents, we have supported the safety measures that were and continue to be implemented. We also look forward to each new phase of getting us closer to being able to leave campus. When that happens, it will be everyone’s individual responsibility to keep ourselves safe. We know we will continue wearing masks and keeping social distancing here at Westminster Canterbury. When we are out in the community, we are on our own. I believe we all agree, don’t bring coronavirus back home with you!
Beth Travis
Rehab Update
On Monday, June 1, the Rehab department will return to offering services to Independent and Assisted Living residents in the therapy gym. As it has been in the past, therapy services are by appointment only and are provided under the order of a physician. Physicians can fax therapy orders directly to the Rehab department at (804) 264-6261. The amount of appointments scheduled per hour will be limited to allow appropriate management of the number of people in the gym at one time. All residents receiving therapy services in Parsons Health Center will continue receiving therapy within the healthcare area. Our therapy gym will not be open for after-hours use. When coming to therapy for your appointment, please wait in the area outside of the gym door. Chairs will be available for you to wait until the therapist comes to get you for your session. There will be a screening process for each individual and masks will be required.
Fun Friday
Tunes on Tuesdays
Beginning Tuesday, June 2, at 11 a.m., we will begin a Tunes on Tuesdays series featuring VCU Jazz performers on the Ellipse or in the Courtyard Garden. Performances will take place each Tuesday in June with rain dates scheduled for Wednesday. Chairs will be placed outside or residents can bring their own personal chair or blanket with them to enjoy the tunes. Resident can also enjoy the performance from their apartments or balconies. Please remain socially distant. The student performers will be screened in the same way all employees and contractors are screened prior to performing. The performers will limit their time in the buildings and will walk outside to get to the performance spaces.
Anita Adkins, Development Officer-Strategic Gifts and Special Projects, performed Grieg’s Notturno, Op. 54 No. 4 on piano.
David Curtis – Pastoral Care
This Sunday, at 4 p.m., “A Sermon for Every Sunday” will feature Rev. Judy Kincaid, winner of the 2020 Pentecost Preaching Contest and pastor of Little Elk Creek Lutheran Church in Menomonie, Wisconsin.
Psalm 121
I lift up my eyes to the hills—
from
where will my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
who
made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved;
he
who keeps you will not slumber.
He who keeps Israel
will
neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper;
the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor
the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all evil;
he
will keep your life.
The Lord will keep
your
going out and your coming in
from
this time on and forevermore.
“Haskkiveinu,” Jewish prayer of protection
Grant, O God, that we lie down in peace, and raise us up, our Guardian, to life renewed. Spread over us the shelter of your peace. Guide us with your good counsel; for your name’s sake be our help. Shield and shelter us beneath the shadow of your wings. Defend us against enemies, illness, war, famine and sorrow. Distance us from wrongdoing. For you, God, watch over us and deliver us. For you, God, are gracious and merciful. Guard our going and coming, to life and to peace, evermore.