Dear Friends, Family, and Members of Our Community,
The last few months have brought many changes to our individual lives and how we operate as a community. We’ve experienced a myriad of emotions as news stories have been released regarding those affected by COVID-19, and we hope and pray all of you are staying safe and healthy during this challenging time. While some are still feeling uncertain about the future – especially with regards to long-term care – we are striving to be more prepared than ever as we continue on our path forward as a premier senior living community. Our commitment to our residents, their family members and loved ones, and to our amazing team members has never wavered. We feel privileged to care for our beloved seniors and will continue to work diligently to ensure they receive the highest quality care in a safe and comfortable environment.
Before we address some of the new precautionary changes and answer some frequently asked questions, we want to express our deepest gratitude towards everyone in our community. Our resident families have been incredibly supportive and understanding during this time of change and new challenges. We are so grateful for the countless phone calls, donations, and acts of service we have received. Additionally, we are extremely proud of our team, who have worked tirelessly to take extra precautions, work longer hours, and face this global pandemic head-on. This has been no easy task and has required a level of diligence and commitment that is truly heroic. These heroes have been the key factor in keeping our residents and families safe and we are forever grateful for their service.
Moving forward, American Care Concepts communities will continue to monitor and implement the appropriate CDC guidelines for infection control and prevention. We are also taking extra steps to ensure the community is cleaned and sanitized and that appropriate measures are taken to limit visitors and ensure proper social distancing at all times. Additionally, our staff of nurses and caregivers will continue to use PPE and implement any additional policies or procedures that can help keep our residents safe.
We encourage anyone who has questions or concerns to please reach out to us directly. In the meantime, our team will continue to provide updates as necessary. We are all in this fight together and know that victory will require a team effort.
At this time, we’d like to address some of the questions our team has received over the last few weeks. Some of these questions have come from current resident families, and others have come from families deciding what is best for their loved one who may need long-term care during a very unique time like this. We hope these questions and answers will be helpful for many others in the same or similar situation.
Questions & Answers
Q: Are Assisted Living Communities Safe Right Now?
A: We believe that the communities managed by American Care Concepts are one of the safest places for seniors. We are fortunate that the size and setting of our communities provide a place where our team can effectively manage infection control. There have been many stories in the news about the unfortunate circumstances in nursing homes and other facilities. We have monitored those stories closely and understand the concern that these stories present. However, for those who need the oversight and care provided by nurses and caregivers, senior living communities remain an excellent option for seniors. Every family has specific needs for their loved ones and those needs help guide the decision.
Q: How can families connect with their loved ones during this time?
A: Our staff is proactively facilitating opportunities for families to connect through technology such as FaceTime, Skype, Zoom and other conferencing platforms. We encourage families to call the front desk to arrange a time to connect with their loved ones. We also encourage families and friends to email, write letters, and send messages of support and love as often as possible.
Q: What are community move-in policies during the COVID-19 outbreak?
A: Even during a pandemic, there are residents who require the support and structure of an assisted living or memory care community. Even still, it is paramount for our community to take every precaution necessary to ensure that our current residents remain safe. Our team will handle any potential move-ins on a case-by-case basis. New residents who are accepted will be required to quarantine for the first 14 days of their stay and be tested and cleared from Covid-19. During this time, each new resident will receive the physical and emotional support to feel welcomed and reassured during their transition.
Q: How do I receive updates on my loved one.
A: We want our resident families to feel informed during this time. While they may not be able to visit in person, we still will make every effort to ensure they remain up-to-date with any current information regarding their loved one, the community, or otherwise. We encourage anyone with questions or concerns to call our front desk and our team will be happy to answer questions. Additionally, our staff is proactively reaching out via telephone, email, and Facebook to provide updates to our families.
Q: What is your screening process for onsite staff and providers?
A: Our onsite team consists of essential personnel only and our doors are closed to the public. Any necessary staff or providers are required to have their temperature checked and recorded daily, complete a symptom and exposure questionnaire, wash their hands prior to and during their shift, and wear proper PPE during all personal care interactions.
Q: How are activities being managed during this time?
A: Activities continue to be a highlight for many of our residents and help keep morale high. We’ve customized daily and weekly activities to adhere to social distancing guidelines and postponed any large group gatherings where social distancing is difficult or not possible. We have also eliminated all 3rd party providers who may typically assist with daily activities. We look forward to the day when our normal activities schedule can resume.
Q: Are you allowing community tours?
A: Community tours have changed to a digital format during this time. If anyone is interested in seeing our communities, our team is happy to set up a video conference call and take you on a virtual tour. We can still answer questions, discuss the specifics and individual needs of potential residents, and provide support and assistance to families and loved ones the same as always – just not in-person.
Our Path Forward
We hope this information will provide some guidance and comfort as we continue to navigate through this challenging time together. Our path forward is clear – our team will remain focused on providing the best care to each of our amazing residents and doing all we can to keep them safe. We will continue to be proactive, following and implementing recommendations by the CDC, federal, state and local regulatory authorities. We will stay positive, knowing that we have incredible nurses, caregivers, and staff to attend to our loved ones. And lastly, we will remain hopeful and pray that all of our family, friends, and community will remain safe.
Thank you for your support, we are grateful for each one of you.
Sincerely,
Casey Balmforth (COO) – American Care Concepts
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