Live Update to Residents-September 1, 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 John Burns, President and CEO; Scott Jonté, Director of Dining; and David Curtis, Chaplain.
The following updates were shared during the live briefing on TV970.
John Burns
COVID-19 Updates
One of our employees who was out with COVID-19 has recovered, tested negative twice and returned to work. Only one employee remains offsite recovering. On Friday, two residents from our COVID-19 positive unit received their second negative test result and were able to return to Parsons Health Center. Only one resident remains in our COVID-19 positive unit.
Last week, we tested 148 Parsons Health Center employees. All tests came back negative. We tested 131 residents, and all came back negative except the resident in the COVID-19 positive unit. Parsons Health Center First Floor came out of quarantine today. Assuming all goes well, Parsons Health Center Second Floor West will come out of quarantine on Wednesday. Visitors still are not permitted in Parsons.
When Independent Living residents return from travel by plane, train or bus or have been in the hospital overnight, they must be tested and quarantine until they receive a negative result.
Next Normal
It has been exciting to see the new ways we are able to offer programs and services. We will be offering transportation to grocery stores, offering outdoor and livestreamed concerts and bringing instructors back to the Arts Studio and Woodworking Shop. Keep reading The Tales, watching TV970 and 971 and checking Touchtown for the latest updates.
We continue to figure out what the “next normal” looks like for Westminster Canterbury Richmond. John Burns recently participated in a project organized by the International Council of Active Aging COVID-19 Senior Living Task Force that resulted in the report “Creating a path towards the next normal in senior living.” Read more about it here.
On Thursday, we will share details on changes to deliveries.
Flu Vaccines
Many residents have been asking questions about when we will offer the flu vaccine. The Clinic will be offering flu shots on site in October through our partnership with IVNA. Specific dates and times will be announced soon. There are more details in this week’s Tales.
The CDC does recommend that you should get a flu vaccine before flu viruses begin spreading in your community, since it takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection against flu. CDC Recommends that people get a flu vaccine by the end of October. However, getting vaccinated early (for example, in July or August) is likely to be associated with reduced protection later in the season.
Thank you for all you are doing to stay safe and healthy. It is important that we continue to follow the same guidelines. Wear your mask correctly, covering your nose. Stay six feet away from others wherever you go. Wash your hands and use hand sanitizer. Stay home if you do not feel well.
Scott Jonté
Dining Updates
Current Dining offerings are going well. Because our community is staying safe and healthy, we are excited to offer some changes and expansion to Dining beginning after Labor Day. Details are in The Tales.
Beginning Tuesday, September 8, reservations for parties of four for lunch or dinner in the Promenade will be available. Reservations are for residents only. When you make a reservation for a party of four, please let the host know who is in your party. This will help prevent duplicate reservations. We will not accept standing reservations for parties of four. The reservation window opens on Sunday at 2 p.m. for the following week. Reservations are made on a first-come, first-served basis, and any reservations made before 2 p.m. on Sunday will not be honored.
Because we are offering tableside service as opposed to a served buffet, it will take a few extra minutes for servers to greet you and take your order. Thank you for your patience.
Due to social distancing guidelines, we have eliminated some tables within the Promenade. Because of this, residents may not always be seated at their preferred favorite table. While we try to accommodate all requests, this may not always be possible, especially without a reservation.
David Curtis
Please join us for Worship on TV970 on Thursday, September 3, at 10:30 a.m. Rev. Deacon David Curtis will be preaching, Rev. Dr. Lynn McClintock will assist and Nancy Bain will play the piano.
Psalm 133
How very good and pleasant it is
when kindred live together in unity!
It is like the precious oil on the head,
running down upon the beard,
on the beard of Aaron,
running down over the collar of his robes.
It is like the dew of Hermon,
which falls on the mountains of Zion.
For there the LORD ordained his blessing,
life for evermore.
Prayer (attributed to St. Francis of Assisi)
Lord, make us instruments of your peace.
Where there is hatred, may we sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.