TO: Residents and Staff
FROM: David Swartley, President/CEO
DATE: March 20, 2020
RE: Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Update #4
I am writing to bring everyone up to date on the most recent developments regarding COVID-19. I could probably write several updates per day; I am attempting to keep it to one per week!
This past Saturday, we decided to close our Children’s Corner on Monday, March 16. Our original schedule was to close on Friday, March 27, permanently. On Monday afternoon, Governor Wolf announced the closing of “all non-essential services” for a minimum of two weeks. Our dining services are essential; however, there are some changes to our service in the Owl’s Nest. Until further notice, we are suspending Breakfast and Coffee Service. The following modifications to lunch and dinner service will begin on Tuesday, March 17. Our full menu will be available for Lunch and Dinner ONLY for Take-Out service by Curbside Delivery or Pick-Up. Hours of operation will be Monday through Saturday from 11:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. To place an order, call the Owl’s Nest at 717-626-3559. There will be NO service on Sunday. Residents with mobility or health challenges can arrange for door to door delivery by working with a member of the Dining Team or Jennifer.
There will be a “carry-out” service for Garden Court Residents in the Garden Court Dining room from Monday through Friday. You may call the dining services number to place your order at 717-625-7616. Meals can be delivered if you have ambulatory issues.
This past week we also closed the Smart Fit Studio. In conjunction with this, the Lititz Rec Center also is closed.
Each day we have a team that meets to discuss the questions that come up in the previous twenty-four hours. Many of these questions have to do with employee questions. We have several employees self-quarantined due to travel or exposure to high-risk situations. Fortunately, it appears that testing is finally arriving in a meaningful fashion. We believe that we will see a spike in Lancaster County over the next week. This spike is expected, particularly with better testing in place.
The Governor has halted construction activity this morning. Several residences are completed, and the residents need to move in (no turning back). However, we will not be completing any additional homes until the ban on construction is lifted. For those few move-ins to occur, we will be taking temperatures and screening our new move-ins as they occur. The screening will include taking the temperature of the movers. The key ingredient in beating this virus is social distancing. For introverts, this may be a time of peace. For extroverts, it will be exceedingly uncomfortable.
I want to reiterate the items from last week’s communication:
- All visitors are restricted from Skilled Nursing, Assisted Living, and Personal Care.
- Personnel will be required to have their temperature taken to enter the building.
- All residential residents who are returning from travel outside the immediate area need to “report in” with Jennifer Shutt as to their destination and answer a questionnaire.
- We have canceled group meetings and activities at both campuses; however, Vespers will still be broadcast.
- Residents in Skilled Nursing, Personal Care, and Assisted Living are restricted to their immediate areas. They may not use the café or any other public gathering place.
- We have closed the Outpatient Therapy Center in the Baer Center for Assisted Living.
- There will be no Beauty Shop services for Residential Living residents.
- We have restricted Residential Living fobs to the main entrance lobby doors (access at the Founders Campus); Garden Court residents will continue to have access to the entrances specific to their area.
- Garden Court Residents are prohibited using the Baer Center for Assisted Living as a passageway.
The following tips may be helpful.
- Stay hydrated.
- Cover coughs or sneezes with your elbow. Do NOT use your hands!
- Please keep your hands away from your face (this has proven to be my most challenging change of behavior).
- Frequently wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
- Clean surfaces frequently, including countertops, light switches, cell phones, remotes, and other often touched items. Our housekeeping staff is currently completing additional disinfection rounds.
- If you are sick, stay home until you are feeling better.
- Turn off the news for a few hours and listen to Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. Creedence Clearwater Revival is not as relaxing as classical music!
- Remember that time in your life when you craved for more free time and less responsibility. That time is now.
- If you are able, walk outside and enjoy the warmer weather. Then, walk some more!
The current situation is troubling. However, at some point, this will be history. The markets will eventually recover, as well. The better we adhere to the advice of the CDC, the more quickly we move through this crisis. We all appreciate your help in accomplishing this task!
If you have further questions, please email Dr. Lynn Swisher, NHA, Vice President of Health Services, lynns@moravianmanor.org or Donna Gerofsky, RN, ICP, donnag@moravianmanor.org.