Westminster Canterbury Richmond Video Update to Residents-April 13, 2020-3 p.m.
Westminster Canterbury Richmond is keeping our residents up-to-date on the latest news related to our COVID-19 response. Hear from our 3 p.m. live update to residents from John Burns, President and CEO; Glendon Kemp, Manager of Security; Sherry Grady, Vice President Facilities Management; Taryn Young, Fitness Specialist; and Lynn McClintock, Director Pastoral Care.
The following updates were shared during the live briefing on TV970.
John Burns
As of this morning, the Virginia Department of Health reports:
• 41,401 people have been tested for COVID-19
• Total positive COVID-19 cases in Virginia are 5,747
• 903 have been hospitalized
• 149 total deaths
• 397 cases in Henrico County. 167 cases in the city of Richmond.
Modeling forecasts that the peak of COVID-19 in Virginia could be around April 27.
Two residents and four employees have tested positive for COVID-19. Our second resident returned from the hospital to Parsons Health Center. All employees who were in contact with our second resident have received negative test results. It is possible that our second resident and first housekeeping employee could potentially be linked, but we have not identified a connection between the two.
A third employee, who works in Security, tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday. He had mild illness including symptoms of chest congestion and fever. The Virginia Department of Health believes he was exposed to the illness at a personal medical appointment. This employee has not been at work since Tuesday, April 7. He had minimal contact with residents, maintained strong social distancing and wore his mask consistently. He is doing better, recovering and getting lots of rest.
A fourth employee from Dining tested positive for COVID-19 after caring for her mother who was ill. She had no resident interaction. We are monitoring employees who may have been in contact with her. She is at home and feeling better.
Masks
Residents are not required to wear a mask. All staff are required to wear masks. If you would like a mask, call Resident Services at ext. 6082. We don’t have one for every Independent Living resident at this time, but if you would like one, we will get one to you as soon as we have them available.
Glendon Kemp
Over the weekend, residents were breaking the rules we have put in place to protect our campus. Please remember not to congregate with people from off campus or attempt to hand off groceries over the gates and fences around campus. There are repercussions if you bend and break the rules including being mandated to quarantine for 14 days. Thank you to residents who are sacrificing and following the rules to ensure everyone stays healthy.
Sherry Grady
Dry Cleaning Service
Puritan Cleaners will resume services on campus. Puritan will come to the loading dock on Tuesdays and Fridays to pick up and deliver your dry cleaning. If you are already signed up with Puritan, Housekeeping will pick up your bags of dry cleaning on Tuesdays and Fridays by 11 a.m. You must request the service by calling Naomi Hines at ext. 6295. Bags will not be picked up unless you request it.
At this time, we are limiting the number of vendors accessing the campus. If you use another dry cleaner, consider switching to Puritan Cleaners until the quarantine has been lifted. Brochures on how to sign up with Puritan will be available at the Tower and Center Lobby desks.
Garden Plant Orders
Orders for garden plants are due by noon tomorrow, Tuesday, April 14. Because you are pre-paying for these plants, if an item is not available, a substitution will be made. We cannot refund or change the amount of your payment. If you have questions, call Sherry at ext. 5110.
Trees
Bartlett will be onsite this week to address immediate tree concerns such as clearing trees that have fallen during our recent weather events.
Taryn Young – Wellness
Stress Relief/Self-Care Tip of the Week
Thank you for the positive response to the exercise videos on TV970 and Touchtown Community Apps. Continue your participation in the CV-19 Cardiovascular Challenge, doing the moves and walking whenever possible. Today’s challenge move is the glute squeeze and hold. Watch the video for a demonstration.
This week’s self-care tip is to listen to or make music.
• Listening to music reduces stress, improves sleep, elevates your mood, motivates movement and is essential to your overall health and wellbeing.
• Playing or learning to play an instrument strengthens brain function and builds mental muscle.
• Resident Ann Archer shares this advice: “Music is a great way for us to move from THINKING and into FEELING. So, listen to or play the music that makes you feel something.”
• Share your favorite music of the day with someone you care about – a neighbor, friend, or family member. Begin a discussion of the music to which you are each drawn.
• Watch the video for a breathing exercise demonstration.
Lynn McClintock – Pastoral Care
“Also highly contagious is: kindness, patience, love, enthusiasm, and a positive attitude. Don’t wait to catch it from others. Be the carrier!”
Psalm 118:14-24
14 The LORD is my strength and my might;
he has become my salvation.
15 There are glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous:
“The right hand of the LORD does valiantly;
16 the right hand of the LORD is exalted;
the right hand of the LORD does valiantly.”
17 I shall not die, but I shall live,
and recount the deeds of the LORD.
18 The LORD has punished me severely,
but he did not give me over to death.
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness,
that I may enter through them
and give thanks to the LORD.
20 This is the gate of the LORD;
the righteous shall enter through it.
21 I thank you that you have answered me
and have become my salvation.
22 The stone that the builders rejected
has become the chief cornerstone.
23 This is the LORD’s doing;
it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day that the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Prayer
Gracious God,
We thank you this afternoon, Lord, for bringing us through the storm of this morning and we pray for all who were impacted by strong winds and tornadoes that came with this storm. Especially now when support systems are more isolated, and people and resources are disconnected, we pray that the victims of this storm can feel the support of their communities, and all of our prayers as they begin to rebuild.
On this day after Easter, we are especially aware of how you bring new life out of death. You call us to walk on the road with you, to show the world that your message of love and compassion is the way out of despair and dead ends. In your mercy and infinite love, and because of your resurrection, you have made it possible for us to live our lives—not according to the ways of the world, but with different values, with world-shattering values—of love, compassion, wholeness and peace. In our times—with all our concerns about how the brokenness of the world seems to be bearing down on us—give us the strength to boldly claim the power of new life. Give us the strength to stay out of the tomb—to not go there even when we feel afraid and overwhelmed. Keep our feet steady, our hearts enlivened, our spirits continually renewed, as we see beyond the troubles of this world. Remind us that you are right where you said you would be—with us—now, and forever.
Amen.