SRG's Response to COVID-19
03-13-2020

At SRG, the health and wellness of our residents and staff members is our top priority. As we continue to actively monitor the rapidly evolving situation with COVID-19 (novel coronavirus), we would like to address additional precautionary actions we are taking to help prevent the spread of this illness.   

These are unprecedented times and we all need to remain extremely vigilant in our efforts to help protect our residents and lessen the spread of viruses, whether influenza or COVID-19.  Our preventative measures are informed by guidance from the CDC and WHO as well as government and public health departments.  Some highlights of the additional precautionary actions we are taking include:

• We are asking all non-essential visits to be postponed. For those visits that are essential─immediate family or friends who are essential for individual’s emotional well-being and care─we are asking visitors to call in advance so that they may be briefed on the screening protocol.
• All visitors (including private duty attendants) must use the Accushield® digital registration process, complete the specific travel and health screening questions such as; “do you have any symptoms of illness or flu, including fever, difficulty breathing or cough?” and have their temperature read.  (Those visitors answering affirmative to any of the questions or showing a fever of 100.4 or greater will be asked to postpone their visit.)
• All visitors should practice precautionary measures such as use of sanitizers, hand washing and social distancing. 
• Visits should occur in resident’s room, not common areas and be between 8:00 am and 8:00 pm, whenever possible. (End of life situations present special exemptions and should be addressed with the executive director.)
• All outside groups and organizations utilizing the community’s facilities for meeting or gatherings have been asked to reschedule their events and/ or meetings.  

We have also limited prospective resident interactions utilizing FaceTime, Skype and virtual tours, limited tours to the prospective resident and a family member or representative for those needing senior living services, based on their need and move-in timeframe. Any prospective residents would follow the same stringent screening methods as other visitors and would have an assessment upon moving in. While we seek to be responsive to the needs of seniors in the community at large, our priority is the health and wellness of our residents. 

All employees will also be required to complete health and travel screening procedures including a temperature check before they walk through the community.

For residents, we are also implementing the following precautionary measures:

• We have suspended all large group activities and outings to large or group settings. 
• We are emphasizing the use of virtual opportunities such as FaceTime or Skype to stay connected with loved ones. Please see your Zest Director about possible training. In addition, we are encouraging social distancing as a regular practice.
• All residents leaving the community grounds will need to be screened using the Accushield system as well as have their temperature read upon return to the community. Returning residents will follow the same protocols as visitors to the community.
• We are actively monitoring the temperatures of our residents in assisted living and memory care daily and asking residents in independent living to self-assess each day and report any symptoms immediately to the reception desk and their primary care provider.  
• We are continuing to increase the frequency with which we clean and sanitize throughout the community with staff dedicated to the process and are shifting to disposable products where appropriate.
• We have temporarily suspended self-serve coffee/water stations, bistros, buffets and salad bars. Disposable paper menus are being used along with many single-use items. 
• All tray service, delivery and to go charges are complimentary and we are recommending residents dine in their residences.

This is an evolving situation to which we are proactively seeking ways to help our residents stay healthy. We also know this is a group effort and we will continue to provide updates in this rapidly changing environment.  

Thank you again for your support in keeping our residents healthy.