For the first time in seven weeks, I can proudly say that Brandermill Woods has no COVID 19 cases in any of our facilities. Our streak of no new cases stands at 37 days which is encouraging. Yet, as the state re-opens and people get out more and more, it will be important for everyone to remain diligent in following the proper safety protocols to protect everyone in our facility. We encourage all of our residents to speak with their loved ones about the need to follow Health Department safety guidelines in order to protect everyone around them including our residents here at Brandermill Woods.
Accepting new admissions in The Haven this week has added to our excitement. Our Assisted Living residents feel so much better now that they can get their hair done in our Beauty Salon. We all can relate to that feeling!
The outdoor visits at the Independent Living Community have been a success thus far. It has been so uplifting to hear some of the comments from our residents who have had a chance to visit with loved ones for the first time in months. Betsy Phillips stopped by to see her mom Betty Snider and said, “It’s a great first step and the face to face interaction is important for mental health.” We agree with Betsy and would encourage everyone to take advantage of these opportunities. The family door visits at the Haven, Assisted Living and Memory Care Communities have been a success as well. We want to remind our residents and families of the Health Care Communities that outdoor visits are still not allowed based on the CMS guidelines. If you are interested in scheduling a visit, please call extension #178 for the Health Care Community and #302 for the Independent Living Community.
Our re-opening efforts at our Independent Living Community are continuing. Please see our ILU Protocol Update dated 6/18/20 on the website www.brandermillwoods.com/news. Starting Sunday, June 21st, we will resume normal operations at our Fitness Center with some slight modifications. Reservations will no longer be necessary to utilize the Fitness Center; however, we will ask that you clean the equipment you use afterwards. We are also offering some fitness classes in the Meeting Room and aquatics classes in the pool with limited participation in order to abide by social distancing.
Lastly, I would like to bring everyone’s attention to a new campaign by LeadingAge called Act for Older Adults. This national initiative is calling on the Federal Government to provide much needed support to nursing homes and assisted living facilities to gain access to the necessary protective equipment and other resources to save lives. To learn more about the effort, you can click on their campaign video here or visit https://www.leadingage.org/act. Older American’s deserve to receive the highest quality care possible during this pandemic and our elected leaders need to hear your voices.
Please join me in congratulating all Brandermill Woods employees for their heroic efforts, we would not be where we are today without our amazing Team! A special recognition to all our CNAs, yesterday kicked off CNA Week. We are grateful for their commitment ensuring everything possible is done to safely care for our residents.
Thank you for all your support and remaining steadfast in following safety guidelines to protect your family, our residents and our employees.
