Remaining vigilant
04-24-2020

Dear SRG Senior Living Residents and Family,

As the coronavirus continues to affect each of us in a variety of ways, we are committed to staying connected and providing you updates on our coronavirus response.  We remain vigilant in the extraordinary efforts being taken at our communities to lessen the spread of this virus and ensure the health and well-being of our residents and staff.  And, as this landscape continues to change with new information on leading indicators and symptoms, we continue to evolve with it, making strategic and proactive decisions.

One such action we've taken is the decision to strongly pursue testing resources. It is generally accepted that widespread testing is a key component in our country’s recovery from this evolving threat.  Identifying who may have the virus—thus allowing us to isolate them and quickly trace contacts to lessen the chance of unknowingly exposing others is critically important. Testing and contact tracing is central to our ability to regain some normalcy and start to lessen the restrictive precautionary measures effecting us all.

With that goal front of mind, and in spite of the many scarcities and challenges related to testing and being experienced nationwide, we have worked aggressively to gain access to and acquire COVID-19 testing kits.  Utilizing, and in some cases exceeding the CDC guidelines and working closely with local health departments, we have proactively begun a strategic and targeted testing program combined with personal contact tracing.  And, while the CDC suggests that not everyone should be tested, focused testing is an important element of our ongoing and comprehensive response to help protect the health and well-being of our residents and employees. Although, tests are individual and directly communicated with the health department, we see these kits as additional tools in our arsenal to fight this disease. 

As we continue to follow the evolving guidelines of the CDC and state and federal governments, our rigorous precautionary measures and preventative actions remain in place.  These include:

• Visits are limited to essential visitors only.  (Adults over the age of 18 who are medical providers, hospice care providers, or visitors of residents who are at the end of life.)
• All essential visitors and employees must complete an extensive COVID-19 screening process, which includes specific travel, health and contact questions as well as have their temperature read.
• All essential visitors and employees must wear a mask and practice precautionary measures such as use of sanitizers, hand washing, social distancing, and appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE). 
• All residents receiving care services are having their temperature checked daily and all staff are having their temperatures read at least once per shift.
• All resident outings are strongly discouraged. If a resident should decide to leave the community for a non-essential reason, we are asking self-isolate within their residence for 14 days upon their return to the community.  Please reach out if there is anything we can help facilitate.
• Designated community personnel are monitoring daily protocols and maintaining rigorous oversight of the enhanced disinfection frequency procedures, the extensive screening and monitoring processes, as well as the exacting safeguards put into action.

Even though our onsite restaurants and dining rooms are temporarily closed, we have reimagined our dining experiences to offer residents freshly made, delicious menu choices brought to their door with a smile.  Whether enjoying grilled salmon and lightly sautéed spring vegetables with an herb risotto or a flat iron steak, wedge salad and a baked-to-perfection, stuffed potato, our culinary team is working hard to create memorable meals.  And, those with a sweet tooth need not worry, a confectionary delight is always included.  Our wait staff is continuing to find new ways to engage residents as they deliver their dining choices to their residences while following all precautionary measures.

And, while we continue our preventive actions, we also understand that this is a delicate balance.  A balance between precautions designed to help prevent the spread of this virus and the resulting feelings of separation between families and loved ones. As such, we have designed a myriad of appropriate opportunities for residents to engage and connect while still following the safeguarding measures. Our gifted Zest teams are rising to the occasion by dreaming up new ways for residents to stay connected. Our SRG sentiments program has been wildly popular as we deliver personal messages in differing formats from loved ones to our residents.  Many of our residents have embraced new technology that just a couple of months ago they would not have thought of attempting. This has been a time to try something new.

Ultimately, we are most proud of the way both our employees and families have come together to support the efforts needed to help protect our residents.  We will continue to provide updates as information becomes available.