Independent Living Community (ILU)
On this eve of our holidays, I would like to share a true story with you in hopes that it will spark enough concern that you will work harder at keeping yourself and others safe during this season.
After being home bound and restricted for nine months, my friend decided to venture out a little more than she had been doing. She went to various grocery stores, had her hair done at her favorite salon and even decided to get a pedicure because it had been so long. As she began going out more, she became more comfortable and relaxed about being around other people, to the point that she did not wash her hands as often and did not stay the safe 6 feet from others. After several weeks, feeling better about life, she started having a headache which led to a sinus infection. She called her doctor and here commended that she get tested for COVID-19. She felt that this was not necessary, but who argues with their doctor? Her test result was positive, she had COVID-19. The hardest part was telling her family and friends, because she felt so much guilt for exposing them to the virus. It really made her sad that this all happened at the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Through contact tracing by the Health department it was discovered that three of her friends had a small holiday party so then six more people were exposed. Two of those six had work done in their home, so then there were two more with possible exposure. It turned into twelve families that had to be quarantined, monitor their symptoms and check their temperature every day for fourteen days. We are aware of three people contactingCOVID-19 as a result of contact with my friend, but it was probably more. She will always remember the one friend she lost to COVID-19.
As of today, Chesterfield County’s positivity rate posted on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) website has increased to 16.2%. Due to this increase and our COVID-19 status, we are canceling some activities as recommended by the Health Department. Please see the updated ILU Protocols for specific updates for fitness classes and activities.
Yesterday, we were informed that two ILU residents tested positive for COVID-19. Together with our Infection Control Preventionist, we completed our contact tracing. Currently, there are six ILU residents on quarantine for 14 days due to exposure and six employees, who had minimal exposure. All have been asked to monitor their health for symptoms and do temperature checks several times a day. One of our two residents who previously tested positive, is still fighting the virus and is hospitalized. The other resident continues to be isolated at home and recovering. Please keep our all of these individuals in your thoughts and prayers.
We will continue to require for all approved medically necessary visitors and caregivers to provide us with a negative COVID-19 test result once a week before they are allowed to come to the ILU community until further notice.
Our vaccination program is still scheduled tentatively for The Haven residents and for all Brandermill Woods employees. The first round of vaccines is scheduled for January 14, 2021 and the second round on February 4,2021. We are still waiting on the plan for the residents at the Assisted Living Community and Memory Care. We continue to advocate for the vaccines to extend to our ILU community residents during the Phase 1 vaccination program. We will continue to keep you updated.
The safety of our residents and employees have been and remain out top priority. We are confident that the worldwide, extraordinary scientific achievement of theseCOVID-19 vaccines will finally enable us to enjoy life with our loved ones again. We look forward to doing our par tin this effort by getting the COVID-19 vaccine and hope you all will join us.
Happy Holidays and wishing everyone the best 2021!
