COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions for Residential Living

Moravian Manor Communities continues to monitor developments regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19). As we have stated previously, this is a fluid situation, with new information coming daily. We continue to adapt to the guidance and requirements provided to us. At this time, there is one known cases of COVID-19 present at Moravian Manor Communities, a staff person. We have been very fortunate – and very cautious and deliberate in our measures to keep our residents safe and healthy. And, you have been very vigilant in adhering to all guidelines and restrictions. As we move into the Green Phase, our intent to proceed cautiously and safely will continue. Some restrictions will ease, while others will remain in place. Now more than ever, we ask that everyone continue to be vigilant with infection control practices to help stop the spread and protect each other. When spending time with family and friends, please ask them to wear masks, to distance, and to wash hands, as well. Many of us had hoped that, like the seasonal flu, the number of cases would go down as the temperatures went up. This does not appear to be how this virus operates. The truth is, we don’t know. What does seem to be the reality is that COVID-19 is not going away anytime soon, so we must learn how to live among it – while protecting ourselves and others from it. 

Transition to the Green Phase will take place on Monday, June 29, 2020 

Should I keep a journal of all contacts going forward? 

YES! ALL RESIDENTS should be mindful of and record all visits, indoor and outdoor. It is basically a record of who you were in contact with – and wear you may have travelled to. 

What should I do if I think I may have been exposed to or contracted the Coronavirus? 

CALL YOUR PRIMARY PHYSICIAN IMMEDIATELY then notify Jennifer Shutt at 717-625-6106. 

What areas of Moravian Manor Communities’ campuses will remain closed? 

The following common space areas WILL REMAIN closed to all residents. This includes: 

  • Steinman Hall 
  • Zinzendorf Room 
  • Saal 
  • Library 
  • Gallery Café 
  • Baer Center Outpatient Rehabilitation and Exercise Room 
  • Hair Salons 

What areas of Moravian Manor Communities’ campuses will open? 

The following common space areas WILL OPEN to all residents. While visiting these areas, all must remain socially distanced and wear a mask. Residents may NOT play card games in these areas Residential Living COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions 

until further notice. ALL resident driven gatherings in these areas must be reserved through Jennifer Shutt. Spontaneous gathering without reservations are not permitted. To arrange a gathering in an open area, please contact Jennifer Shutt at 717-625-6106 or Marcie Berhaupt at 717-625-6000. Open areas available for reservation includes: 

  • The Gathering Place 
  • The Corner Pocket 
  • The Hall of Fame 
  • The Fireside Lounge 
  • The Roof Top Terrace 
  • Smart Fit Studio 
  • Bocce Ball Court & Shuffle Board Court 

How do reservations for the Smart Fit Studio work? 

Reservations are necessary to use the Smart Fit Studio. The studio will be restricted to two persons at a time. Reservations are available in one hour increments. All are responsible for sanitization prior to and after use of any equipment. Additional equipment has been purchased. This equipment includes Bosu Balls, Stretch Bands, and Yoga Mats. 

Is the Garden Court Dining Room open for dining? 

At this time, inside dining will be available for Garden Court Residents only. You must make a reservation and have the opportunity to select from a 4:30 p.m. or 5:30 p.m. seating. When making a reservation, indicate time and names of all residents in your party. There is a maximum of four at each table. Please be prompt for your reservation and courteous of time for reservations that follow yours. Masks must be worn when entering the dining room and remain on until after your order has been placed. Your mask must be worn to and from the restroom and when exiting the dining room. No Mask – No Service. A partition will be placed after the restrooms. You may NOT travel further than the partition. 

In addition, it is important to note you will only have the option of ordering from the “Specials Menu.” Until further notice, the Ala Carte Menu will not be available. 

A Hostess will assist you to your seat, control congestion, and monitor social distancing. The following protocols will be in place: 

  • Garden Court Dining Room will be restricted to a maximum of 30 diners at each seating. 
  • Disposable paper menus will be utilized. 
  • Salt and Pepper Shakers will not be on the table, but served in individual packets. Fresh pepper is available on request, however pepper grinders will be used by Dining Staff. 
  • All condiments will be served upon request. 
  • Bread will be served upon request. 
  • Tables will not be cleared until the conclusion of your meal, for safety and sanitary reasons. 

In addition, all residents may utilize the Garden Court Dining Room evening takeout meal service Monday through Friday. To place your order, call 717-625-7616 by 3:00 p.m. and note the time you will pick-up your meal. Garden Court Residents can pick-up takeout meals at the Garden Court Dining Room Lobby. All others may pick-up at the Veranda entrance to the restaurant. 

When will Garden Court Dining Room be open for all residents? 

Plans are to open Garden Court Dining Room to all residents on July 13. Details will follow. Until that time, we invite all residents to take advantage of take out service from Garden Court Dining Room, or enjoy dining at the Owl’s Nest Restaurant. 

Is the Owl’s Nest Restaurant open for dining? 

At this time, inside and outside dining will be available at the Owl’s Nest for Lunch and Dinner, Monday through Saturday. You must make a reservation to dine in the evening and have the opportunity to select from a 4:00 p.m., 5:30 p.m., or 7:00 p.m. seating. It is NOT necessary to make a reservation for Lunch. When making a reservation, indicate time and names of all residents in your party. There is a maximum of four at each table. Please be prompt for your reservation and courteous of time for reservations that follow yours. Masks must be worn when entering the dining room and remain on until after your order has been placed. Your mask must be worn to and from the restroom and when exiting the dining room. No Mask – No Service. 

In addition, Breakfast will be available for inside or outside dining on Wednesday and Thursday, Until July 6, at which time it will be available Monday through Saturday. It is NOT necessary to make a reservation for Breakfast. 

A Hostess will assist you to your seat, control congestion, and monitor social distancing. The following protocols will be in place: 

  • Inside dining at the Owl’s Nest will be restricted to a maximum of 30 diners at a time. 
  • Disposable paper menus will be utilized. 
  • Alcohol sales will be available, however there is NO seating at the bar. 
  • Salt and Pepper Shakers will not be on the table, but served in individual packets. Fresh pepper is available on request, however pepper grinders will be used by Dining Staff. 
  • All condiments will be served upon request. 
  • Tables will not be cleared until the conclusion of your meal, for safety and sanitary reasons. 

In addition, all residents may utilize the Owl’s Nest Restaurant for lunch or evening take out meal service Monday through Saturday. To place your order, call the Owl’s Nest at 717-626-3559 any Residential Living COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions 

time after 11:00 a.m. and note the time you will pick-up your meal. Pick-up will be curb side, at the W. 6th Street entrance to the restaurant. Breakfast take out is available on Wednesday and Thursday. On July 6, breakfast take-out will be available Monday through Saturday. 

Will take out service continue? 

YES! All Moravian Manor Communities’ residents may utilize the Café for take-out lunch service, throughout the entire week. All meals must be ordered before 11:00 a.m., and available for pick up AT THE VERANDA ENTRANCE TO GARDEN COURT between 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Please call the Gallery Café at 717-625-6886 to place your order. 

In addition, all Moravian Manor Communities’ Residential Living residents may utilize the Garden Court Dining Room for take-out evening meal service Monday through Friday. All meals must be 

ordered before 3:00 p.m. Garden Court Residents may pick up AT THE GARDEN COURT DINING LOBBY between 4:00 and 5:00 p.m. All other residents may pick-up AT THE VERANDA ENTRANCE TO GARDEN COURT between 5:00 and 5:45 p.m. Please call the Garden Court Dining Room at 717-625-7616 to place your order. 

As well, all residents may utilize the Owl’s Nest Restaurant for lunch or evening take out meal service Monday through Saturday. To place your order, call the Owl’s Nest at 717-626-3559 any time after 11:00 a.m. and note the time you will pick-up your meal. Pick-up will be curb side, at the W. 6th Street entrance to the restaurant. Breakfast take out is available on Wednesday and Thursday. On July 6, breakfast take-out will be available Monday through Saturday. 

Is delivery service available for meals? 

No, we will be discontinuing delivery service at this time. 

Are residents who live in Garden Court Apartments, Manor Greene Apartments, Moravian Avenue Cottages, Hendricks Place Townhomes, Warwick Woodlands Carriage Homes, and Woods Apartments able to receive visitors? 

Yes. As long as you and your visitor are healthy it is permissible to have visitors. However, to help slow the spread of COVID-19, you should wear a mask, practice ‘social distancing’, maintaining a distance of 6 feet from other people. This reduces the chance of contact with those knowingly or unknowingly carrying the infection. And, practice good hand hygiene. Please remember, even though visitation is permitted, this does not negate the practice of social distancing, wearing a mask and good hand hygiene. In addition, we ask that you use good judgement and engage visitation with family and friends who are in good health condition. Please do not offer “shared” plates (for example, cheese trays, bowls of chips, pretzels, etc.) If serving food, all guests should receive a Residential Living COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions 

“plated” meal. Avoid serving items that guest’s share, even with a utensil to serve (tongs, spoons, etc.). It is important to be mindful that until a vaccine is developed and widely disseminated, COVID-19 will continue to be a risk to the residents of Moravian Manor Communities. 

Your personal risk depends on your age and health, the prevalence of the virus in your area and the precautions you take during any of these activities. 

If we are able to receive visitors, does this include outside housekeeping services? 

Yes. Outside housekeeping services may resume on July 29. All outside housekeepers must check in either at the Receptionist Desk at 300 W. Lemon St., or the Concierge Desk in the Woods Apartment Building at 600 W. Sixth St. PRIOR to EACH service visit. They will be asked to complete a COVID-19 screening questionnaire and have their temperature taken. ALL OUTSIDE HOUSEKEEPERS MUST WEAR A MASK AT ALL TIMES! In addition, if you remain in your home during the service, you are required to wear a mask. Following the service, your outside housekeeper must return to the location where their pre-screening occurred to have an exit temperature. Anyone who violates these procedures will not be allowed to return. 

If I have an underlying chronic medical condition that puts me at a greater risk of contracting the Coronavirus, what provisions should I use when receiving visits and visiting others? 

Residents with an underlying chronic medical condition should refrain from hosting visitors and from visiting others. 

When will large group activities resume? 

All organized large group programs will continue using ZOOM until further notice. Small group gatherings inside and outside for up to 10 in attendance can be planned through Jennifer. This includes and is not limited to “Pins and Needles,” Bible Studies, Woodworking and Pool Groups. To discuss and arrange a small group gathering and to reserve a location, please contact Jennifer Shutt at 717-625-6106. Attendance restrictions will be communicated and must be followed. In addition, all participants must be socially distanced, wear masks, and practice good hand hygiene throughout the entire activity. Until further notice, playing cards or bridge is not permitted. 

Please contact Jennifer with any questions or concerns. She will direct you to the appropriate person for an accurate response, if she is not certain. 

Resident Spotlight Meet Jim & Donna

Resident Spotlight Meet Jim & Donna

Before making their final decision and selecting the Moravian Manor Communities’ Warwick Woodlands Campus, Jim and Donna Wetzel visited five communities. Four selection criteria were high on their list of priorities. And Moravian Manor Communities met all four, and much more.

First and foremost, the Wetzels were looking for a community where they could comfortably age in place with a continuum of care. Moravian Manor Communities’ residential living homes and Life Plan offerings strongly appealed to Jim and Donna. The community’s supportive living neighborhoods accommodate the changing needs of residents as they age in place. Moravian Manor Communities also achieved another one of their objectives. The Wetzels wanted to provide peace of mind to their son and daughter. Jim explained, “We did not want to worry our children as we aged; so, it was important for us to establish ourselves in a senior community like Moravian Manor Communities.” Donna added, “Living in the community is like paying it forward – a gift to our children.” Jim and Donna also desired an ideal senior community within a larger community like the town of Lititz that offered a stimulating and active lifestyle featuring many community events, activities, amenities, and services. And, in the words of Jim, “We wanted a senior community with a very good financial record. We could check that box too with Moravian Manor Communities.” It should be noted that Jim’s professional career had been in the field of finance.

Read the full interview, which appears in the May/June issue of Chester County Life.

David Swartley COVID Update #20

FROM: David Swartley, President/CEO 
DATE: June 26, 2020 
RE: Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Update #20

As I have shared in previous updates, we conduct regular employee and resident COVID-19 testing in our care areas. This week, an employee in our Herrnhut area tested positive for COVID-19. The employee is asymptomatic and self-quarantined at home. At the time of this writing, our resident test results are pending.

Current testing is in addition to the mandated universal testing. The Pennsylvania Department of Health mandates universal testing for care facilities; this testing must be completed by July 24.

The topic of the day is that Lancaster County enters the Green Phase as of today. The primary purpose of this email will be to outline how this affects our services.

First and foremost, The Pennsylvania Department of Health mandates an additional 28-day restriction on visitation in skilled nursing. Our COVID-19 Task Force is already working on the procedures for visitation once we are past the 28-day moratorium. Currently, scheduled window visits are occurring in Personal Care, Assisted Living, and Skilled Nursing. These visits take place in a centrally located and controlled areas.

As we go “Green,” I believe we must remain diligent in providing a safe environment for residents and staff. I am not suggesting our county should not go “green.” I am suggesting that as things open up, we adhere to the “best practices” we have continually heard about and promoted over the past four months.

Below is a summary of the changes that will occur in Residential Living:

Dining:

Garden Court Dining Room: Service for only Garden Court Residents will resume on Monday, June 29. Reservations are required. Two seating’s will occur at 4:30 and 5:30. In two weeks, we will revisit opening the Garden Court Dining Room to the broader campus.

Owls Nest: Inside seating will begin on June 29. Reservations are required. Three seating’s will occur at 4:00, 5:30, and 7:00; there is no bar seating and 50% capacity. The Owls Nest is also open for lunch; no reservations needed.

Café: Will continue to operate as we are currently.

Salon: Services will resume for Assisted Living, Personal Care, and Skilled Nursing residents. No services will be provided to residential living residents as these areas remain restricted.

Pool/Bocce: These areas will open to our residents on Monday, June 29. Social distancing and masks will be required. Please follow disinfecting directions at each of the sites.

Library: Will remain closed. Book carts have been well received and will continue in various areas.

Outside Housekeeping: We will open this with appropriate screening in place. If you are interested in resuming this service, call or email Marcie Berhaupt for further instructions.

Signage: On the Founder’s Campus, we will replace our red “Stay At Home” signs with “Campus Closed” signs. The Pennsylvania Department of Health visitation restriction continues through the Green Phase.

SmartFit Studio: This area will open on June 29. Please make reservations for your time slot through Jennifer Shutt. Strict limitations on the number of residents using the fitness room at the same time will be enforced. Please follow disinfection directions.

Founders Campus: The main lobby at the Founders Campus is not open to residents. Please stay out of this area.

This week I read an article reviewing the pandemic published by the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). After the report, they offer the following simple reminder.

The Five C’s of COVID-19 Prevention:

  • Control the spread of disease by wearing masks in indoor locations or when unable to distance 6 feet.
  • Clean your hands and environment, early and often.
  • Company starts with small groups of friends and family before expanding slowly.
  • Consider how you can easily reduce risk by small changes to your plans.
  • Contain yourself at home when you or a family member is sick.
Top 5 Reasons Lititz, Lancaster County, Really is the Coolest, Best Place to Retire!

Top 5 Reasons Lititz, Lancaster County, Really is the Coolest, Best Place to Retire!

Everyone likes to boast that they have the best place to live. Undoubtably, they can even come up with a list of reasons why. However, we know that Lititz, PA is special, and that life at Moravian Manor Communities is beyond compare. And here’s why…

National & Local Recognition Says It All!

Lancaster, PA makes the 2020 Top 10 list yet again for retirement locales, according to U.S. News & World Report’s Best Places to Retire in the United States. Of note, Lancaster was Pennsylvania’s only area to make the Top 10, and it’s been in the top 10 places to retire for three years running. This poll takes into consideration how well retirement expectations are met, with measures including home affordability, desirability, health care and overall resident happiness.

Lititz also is recognized on Niche.com as the 9th Best Suburb to Live in Lancaster Area, and in the top 10% of2020 Best Places to Retire in the Lancaster Area.

Notwithstanding, Lititz also has received high acclaim as a Budget Travel “Coolest Small Town in America and as a Distinctive Destination by the National Trust of Historic Preservation.

Highly Walkable Town! 

Speaking of being recognized for its superior ability to support retirement lifestyles, Lititz, PA received a high Walk Score, speaking to its infrastructure as being pedestrian-friendly. For being a small, historic suburban borough, Lititz places just six points behind the likes of downtown Philadelphia! Read our recent blog “Why Walkability is Important When Choosing a Senior Living Location,” which highlights the main advantages of walkability.

Easier on the Piggy Bank!

The cost of living in Lancaster County is cheaper than the US average. In addition to lower median home prices, PA’s sales tax rings in the state within the lower end of the mid-Atlantic and Northeast region. PA is also one of 10 states that do not tax clothing, so you can take advantage of shopping the Lancaster County outlets.

Pennsylvania’s retirement-friendly tax structure also provides savings for retirees…social security, retirement accounts, and pensions for individuals 60+ are exempt from state tax. In addition, you can also keep more of your hard-earned money in your wallet in PA as the state is one of only a few that does not charge sales tax on prescription or nonprescription medications, clothing or food.

Location, Location, Location!

That old adage is true. Location is everything. Lititz is ideally situated just a short drive from major cities such as Philadelphia and Baltimore, regional cities of Lancaster, Reading and Lebanon, and other smaller historic towns like Hershey, Gettysburg and the Poconos. With these destinations so accessible, Lititz provides the perfect home base for day-trips, weekend excursions, or extended (travel by car, air or railway) to enjoy the arts, professional sports, national parks, and more.

Local Culture & Attractions! 

While traveling and exploring can be fun, sometimes it’s nice to stay home and enjoy local activities. Life in Lititz is anything but boring. In fact, events are the heartbeat of Lititz! As a Lititz resident, you’ll get to experience scads of events from antique shows, farmers markets, concerts, outdoor movies in the park, car shows, the longest running Fourth of July extravaganza, chocolate walks, Second Fridays, and more. Check out the event calendar! And while there’s always something to do in Lititz, you can also enjoy the simpler pace of life that comes with being in Lancaster County.

Downtown Lititz is not only rich in history and culture, it also features a walkable downtown bursting with whimsical shops, fantastic eateries, brew pubs, tea houses and much, much more. Take a peek for more on our amazing town of Lititz!

If you like being close to it all, Moravian Manor Communities in Lititz should be on the top of your list!

David Swartley COVID Update #19

FROM: David Swartley, President/CEO 
DATE: June 23, 2020 
RE: Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Update #19

I am providing an interim update due to some developments that have occurred this week in our health center. As I have shared in previous updates, we are conducting regular employee and resident testing in our care areas.

This week, an employee in our Herrnhut area tested positive for COVID-19. The employee is asymptomatic and self-quarantined at home. We are testing all residents in Herrnhut South and Herrnhut Personal Care, areas where the employee worked. At this point, no residents are exhibiting any symptoms of COVID-19. This testing is in addition to the mandated universal testing that will occur before July 24. The Pennsylvania Department of Health mandates universal testing for care facilities; this testing must be completed by July 24.

I suspect as our testing increases, this will become a more frequent occurrence. Frequent testing is a proactive measure to track the virus in our facility and community.

Wear your masks when out and about. Wash your hands frequently. Please don’t get careless. As Lancaster County enters the “Green Phase,” let’s do our part in making sure that we minimize the chances of a resurgence and continue to keep the residents and staff of Moravian Manor Communities safe.

I will share further verbal updates on our resident ZOOM call on Thursday morning.