Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Additional Precautions Needed to Keep Residents Safe

As we learn more about COVID-19 and the impact it has on older adults, we are taking a proactive approach to keeping our community safe. New precautions include self-isolation for residents, canceling all activities and group dining and restrictions on visitors and any residents who leave our building. Read more about what we are doing to keep residents safe and how you can help.

Our community is taking additional precautions to keep our residents safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Effective immediately, the following measures will take effect in our community:

  • We are requesting all residents self-isolate in their private apartments.
  • Only employees, emergency medical staff and essential individuals will be permitted to enter.
  • All exterior doors, including the main entrance, will be locked at all times. The main entrance will be staffed during the day. There is a push button in the vestibule for use after hours to which on-site community staff will respond.
  • Group activities and communal dining have been canceled. All meals will be served via room service to apartments.
  • Residents who leave the community and return will be expected to self-isolated in their apartment for 14 days as a precaution.

These measures will be in place until further notice.

“Our whole world has been impacted,” said Rod Burkett, CEO Gardant Management Solutions, our management company. “It’s natural to feel the extremes of human emotions during challenging times, but there’s usually relief around the corner. You may feel at times helpless, lost or even isolated, but nothing is permanent. God bless our residents, our families and our entire staff of heroic caregivers.”

At this time, more than 7,000 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed, and the disease has caused more than 100 deaths in this country. The concern is that the virus spreads quickly, and certain groups, including older adults and people with underlying health issues, are particularly vulnerable.

Several cases have now been reported at nursing homes and other community-living environments, and we have decided to take every precaution to safeguard against the virus and protect our residents.

They “are our most vulnerable population, and we are doing everything we can to protect them,” Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said in a statement. “We may see cases in other long-term care facilities, which is why it is so important that we all do our part to reduce possible exposure in the community to those who go in and out of these facilities as they provide care to residents.”

As we learn more about the virus and the impact that it’s having in the United States, we are doing everything we can to be proactive and closely follow recommendations from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), WHO (World Health Organization), state regulatory agencies and local health departments.

In addition to proper handwashing and avoiding spreading germs, one of the most important things we can all do is practice social distancing. The virus can easily spread through respiratory droplets when a person who has COVID-19 coughs or sneezes. Even for those who are healthy, putting distance between yourself and others could be the difference between life or death. It is extremely important for us to protect seniors, those who are at risk, and the healthcare staff that needs to be at full force to care for the overwhelming number of cases expected to come in the days ahead.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigate unchartered territories. We appreciate your support in keeping the residents and employees of our community safe.

HOW YOU CAN HELP
We encourage family members to take advantage of the video chat options we have available for residents, such as Skype and FaceTime.

 Community at-large members, including children, who have been impacted by school closures, are invited to send cards, handwritten notes or electronic messages to let residents know people are thinking of them during this time. Reach out to our community for more information on how you can get involved.

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Pinterest
Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *