March 27, 2020
Message from CEO Bruce Jones

Dear Vicar’s Landing Member,

We are now three weeks into our new procedures related to the COVID-19 coronavirus. I appreciate your adherence to the procedures and the cheerful way you are approaching our current circumstance. I know many of us are itching to get back to our old routines, to be able to have lunch in the Blue Heron Café, to play Bridge or spend time in the fitness center but please recognize that the better we are about social isolation, the better off we will be. I have numerous colleagues across the country who have active cases of the virus on their campuses. These are high-end, lovely communities like ours that are now on complete lock-down and quarantine. Unfortunately, multiple residents have died at one of these communities. I am hopeful our efforts will continue to be successful so that our outcome is excellent.

The reason we are isolating is that this virus spreads so easily and does not necessarily manifest quickly or severely in many cases. We need to remain ever vigilant to be sure we keep the virus at bay. This means to stay on campus as much as possible, please don’t invite others to come visit, and wash hands frequently.

During this time, we are continuing to work to be sure we have the supplies we may need, staying informed about any changes in the virus or guidance form the government, and keeping the campus as clean and sanitized as we can. I know this is hard on many of you, but please recognize that it is just as hard for our staff. They have the same anxieties about catching this virus and we all fear being the person that brings it to Vicar’s Landing or home to our own families. The staff, though, have approached all the changes with grace and professionalism because they care so much about your health and safety. Please consider this when a request takes a little longer or when a staff member doesn’t have the time to stop and talk.

Janice and Josh are also working hard on creative diversions. You will see regular messages from Janice outlining interesting things to find online or giving suggestions of ways to pass the time. I know many have stopped us and mentioned how they appreciated having exercise classes on the in-house channel! Josh is working on some fun video projects that we will put out to you very soon.

Again, I thank you for your patience as we work through this unprecedented time together. We are doing the right thing by continuing to isolate and keep a social distance from others. Following this protocol will protect you, your friends and loved ones, our staff, and the health care professionals on the front lines of this pandemic.

Best regards,
Bruce Jones

March 17, 2020
Message from CEO Bruce Jones

Dear Vicar’s Landing Member,

I want to thank you all for your patience and support as we work through the ever-changing procedures related to our attempts to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 coronavirus. As most of you know by now, the steps the government is taking, and that we are following, are an attempt to slow the spread of the virus to not overload our health care system. The way we can help is to stay out of the general population, stay away from large groups, and stay away from people who may have compromised health.

I also want to stress that we shouldn’t panic as new restrictions come out. They are meant to help with public safety since this virus is novel to humans, so no one has antibodies to fight it. It is focused on a person’s lungs, which is why we are to keep a “social distance” of six feet. Any potential droplets fall to the ground within that distance. However, the virus can live on surfaces for some period, which is why it is vitally important to wash your hands frequently and not touch your face. Per the Centers for Disease Control, if soap and water are not readily available, use hand sanitizer to protect yourself. There are some great resources on the CDC website.

Since it’s best to stay away from people, I want to reiterate that we strongly recommend visitors not be invited to the campus. Remember that some people can carry the virus with few if any symptoms and those people can spread germs very quickly. This is about protecting yourself and your neighbors. For that same reason, I strongly recommend that you stay on campus unless it is vitally important for you to go somewhere. To that end, you should make sure you have enough medication and medical supplies you may need. If you would like to stay on campus but need groceries or supplies that cannot be ordered on Amazon, perhaps a fellow member can shop for a group of members to limit outside exposure. You may also call the Vicar’s Landing Home Health Agency to hire a staff member to shop on your behalf. A member asked me why the back of the Stratford building was blocked off. The answer is because of COVID-19. We have a single point of access for the Windsor Health Center and the Stratford in order to limit the number of people in and to be sure they are appropriately screened per the Florida Emergency Order. The walkway between the two buildings is blocked to prevent unscreened people from coming into those spaces. In addition, the deck is blocked off so that the members living in the Stratford can have an outside space to enjoy while in this quarantine period. I appreciate your understanding of this inconvenience.

If you have any questions related to COVID-19 or our procedures, please be in touch with me. We will get through this together and, God willing, we will prevent the virus from getting on our campus.

Best regards,
Bruce Jones

March 17, 2020
IMPORTANT CONTACTS

Centers for Disease Control

Florida Department of Health

Emergency Management Executive Order relating to Nursing Homes and Assisted Living

March 14, 2020
Health Center & Stratford Visitation Policy Update

As of 10:30am CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) updated their guidance for limiting the transmission of COVID-19 for all facilities (Health Center and Stratford) nationwide, it states:

Facilities should RESTRICT VISITATION of ALL visitors and non-essential health care personnel, except for certain compassionate care situations, such as an end-of-life situation. In those cases, visitors will be limited to a specific room only.

For individuals that enter in compassionate situations (e.g., end-of-life care), facilities should require visitors to perform hand hygiene and use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), such as facemasks.

Decisions about visitation during an end of life situation should be made on a case by case basis, which should include careful screening of the visitor for fever or respiratory symptoms. Those with symptoms of a respiratory infection (fever, cough, shortness of breath, or sore throat) should not be permitted to enter the facility AT ANY TIME (even in end-of-life situations).

Those visitors that are permitted, must wear a facemask while in the building and restrict their visit to the resident’s room. They should also be reminded to frequently perform hand hygiene.

Additional Guidance:
• Cancel communal dining and all group activities, such as internal and external group activities.

• Implement active screening of residents and staff for fever and respiratory symptoms.

• Remind residents to practice social distancing and perform frequent hand hygiene.

• Screen all staff at the beginning of their shift for fever and respiratory symptoms. Actively take their temperature and document absence of shortness of breath, new or change in cough, and sore throat. If they are ill, have them put on a facemask and self-isolate at home.

• For individuals allowed in the facility (e.g., in end-of-life situations), provide instruction, before visitors enter the facility and residents’ rooms, provide instruction on hand hygiene, limiting surfaces touched, and use of PPE according to current facility policy while in the resident’s room. Individuals with fevers, other symptoms of COVID-19, or unable to demonstrate proper use of infection control techniques should be restricted from entry.

Advise visitors, and any individuals who entered the facility (e.g., hospice staff), to monitor for signs and symptoms of respiratory infection for at least 14 days after exiting the facility. If symptoms occur, advise them to self-isolate at home, contact their healthcare provider, and immediately notify the facility of the date they were in the facility, the individuals they were in contact with, and the locations within the facility they visited. Facilities should immediately screen the individuals of reported contact, and take all necessary actions based on findings.

Again I want to stress that this is a Federal Mandate and we have no flexibility on exemptions, these new visitation restrictions will be strictly enforced. While I understand that this will be a hardship for some, please know that it is only being done to protect the resident’s in the health center, Stratford and you. I very much appreciate your cooperation and understanding in what is a difficult time for everyone.

Kendall Bryan
Director of Health Services