David Swartley COVID Update #8

Apr 17, 2020 | COVID Update

TO: Residents and Staff 
FROM: David Swartley, President/CEO 
DATE: April 17, 2020 
RE: Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Update #8 

Greetings! As I write update #8, I find it hard to believe that we have been “at this” for almost two months. In some ways, it feels like a week; in other ways, more like a year. 

A special thanks to all of you for complying with all the guidance over the Easter and Passover holidays. I found being physically separated from our family and friends to be very hard. However, the weekend at Moravian Manor Communities was quiet, and there were no issues of significance. 

As I shared in our Resident Association meeting (via ZOOM) this week, our dietary staff prepared 230 take-out dinners this past Sunday. Kudos to our team, and also to all of you, for staying home and ordering take-out meals. Also, our shopping duties have increased astronomically. I apologize for anyone who was expecting food over the weekend and had to wait a few days. At this point, we are stating that upon ordering your groceries, please expect delivery within 72 hours. Please do not wait until the last minute to order food; it is a service in high demand. And please, no tipping of our staff is permitted. Our local stores are backed up for about two weeks with their home delivery. 

During our Thursday Resident Association meeting, I was asked about maintenance service. They will address the following issues: 

• Heating/Cooling issues 
• Water temp/pressure issues 
• Plumbing issues that hinder use 
• Appliance issues hindering use 
• Items such as grab bars or non-skid strips if it is needed for the residents’ safety 
• Refrigerator filter changes- some models will not dispense water or ice if the filter is due for a change and we want to be sure residents have drinking water 
• TV/Phone/Internet issues 

If you have specific questions, please email or call Jackie Brendle. Some situations will not fit neatly into a list! 

At the time of this writing, we remain a COVID-19 free facility. We are grateful for this; our infection control team led by Donna Gerofsky is doing an incredible job. There are daily risks with residents and staff that need to come and go from our facility. We remain vigilant with our temperature testing of all employees two times/day. Our COVID-19 Task Force is currently meeting three times/week to review any changes from the Center for Disease Control or the Pennsylvania Department of Health. 

The question most often asked of me is, “what next?” I fully expect Pennsylvania to follow New York State’s lead in extending the “Stay at Home” order until May 15. At that point, there should be enough “smoothing” in the virus to begin reopening businesses gradually. It is not yet clear what this would mean for our care areas. The Department of Health will guide us through that process. 

I offer a weekly word of encouragement to our staff as well. The challenge I laid out to our team members I share below (abbreviated): 

Earlier this week, I was meeting with Chaplain Rich. He asked me a thought-provoking question, “What are we learning from all of this?”

The question can be directed at Moravian Manor Communities as a whole, or to each one of us individually. I would ask that we all ask that question of ourselves during this crazy time in history. 

I read an interesting article by David Baum this week entitled, “Circles of Care.” In his article, he asked four questions: 

a.   What can I do to transform myself? 
b.   What can I do to transform my essential relationships? 
c.    What can I do to transform my work and a sense of purpose? 
d.   What can I do to transform the larger world of which I am a part? 

I have found myself “dancing in my shoes” with the lack of activity outside of work. After many years of complaining that I never have enough downtime, this discomfort seems ironic. 

The French mathematician, Pascal, stated, “All humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone.” Great food for thought. 

With the comments above in mind, I offer a challenge to you (and to myself), “in what area can I grow during this interesting time?”

John Wesley said, “Do all the good you can. For as long as you can. As best as you can. For as many people as you can.”

You are all living that quote. Please keep up the good work; at the same time, take care of yourself and chose one area that you can grow in during this time. 

Thank you! You are all special people. 

The challenge above is one for each one of us to consider. Thank you for your ongoing support of each other and our staff. It means a lot and is necessary. It is a sign of a very healthy community. 

I am very appreciative of the Resident Association initiative to raise money for our front-line staff. Thank you for recognizing their efforts! 

Have a great weekend. Stay strong, hang in there, and keep walking!!

David Swartley COVID Update #6

Apr 3, 2020 | COVID Update

TO: Residents and Staff 
FROM: David Swartley, President/CEO 
DATE: April 3, 2020 
RE: Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Update #6 

Happy April! I am writing once again to bring everyone up-to-date on the most recent developments regarding COVID-19. This past week, as expected, the COVID-19 cases in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, have climbed significantly. Also, there are more and more retirement communities with a positive test for COVID-19. At the time of this writing, Moravian Manor Communities does not have any identified cases at this time. We tested some residents and staff for COVID-19; thus, far, all results have been negative. While we rejoice the reality of today, I realize that our news could change by the time you receive this memo! 

In the spirit of continuously planning, our COVID-19 team continues to meet regularly and fine-tune our plans. My update today will be relatively brief. Below I outline some of the significant updates. 

• We implemented Residential Living residents receiving a daily call as part of a “check-in” system this week. Thanks to all of you who are assisting with this critical effort. 

• All staff is wearing masks when they are in the building (unless they are alone in an office). 

• We have also moved our Information Technology Services (IT) to emergency-based services for our residents. We do not want any more staff/resident contact than necessary. 

• We have taped “six-foot” markers in the café. During lunchtime hours, there was inadequate social distancing while waiting in line to pick up food. No dining is permitted in the café. 

• We are “spreading out” our employees in the break room to one per table. We have added tables in the Zinzendorf Room for additional seating for our employee breaks and lunches. 

• We will reopen Health Center South (currently unoccupied) for any Skilled Nursing, Assisted Living, or Personal Care resident who would test positive for COVID-19. The Pennsylvania Department of Health is encouraging residents who test positive to be isolated to one area if possible. We have the unintended good fortune of having that area vacant at present and plan to use this to our advantage! If a resident in Residential Living tested positive for COVID-19, they would self-isolate in their home unless more medical care is warranted. 

I hope you can live the balance between being cautious while enjoying life. Most people tend to focus on negative statistics. Keep in mind that ninety percent of COVID-19 tests come back as negative. Most who test positive recover thoroughly! 

Dealing with Coronavirus is a stressful time. This week I read online an individual saying, “in normal times I am a guy who would talk to my house plants. Now I am playing board games with them!” 

I was reading a devotional this week written by a not-for-profit leader during the Great Recession (in 2008). Remember, we thought that would never end either, and it did! The author of the devotional quoted Psalm 89: 1-2. 

“I will sing of your steadfast love, O Lord, forever; 
With my mouth, I proclaim your faithfulness to all generations. 
I declare your steadfast love is established forever, 
Your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens.” 

Regardless of your beliefs, I hope you can hold on to the word “steadfast” in these verses. God is steadfast and will see us through these times. 

Thank you for your support and endurance during this difficult time. Remember to keep walking and moving if you can do so. I have also attached a short tip sheet from Hospice and Community Care on how to deal with stress. While it is intended for caregivers, it applies to all of us. 

Each time you hear from me, we are one week closer to the end of this! Stay strong!

David Swartley COVID Update #4

Mar 20, 2020 | COVID Update

TO: Residents and Staff
FROM: David Swartley, President/CEO
DATE: March 20, 2020
RE: Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Update #4

I am writing to bring everyone up to date on the most recent developments regarding COVID-19. I could probably write several updates per day; I am attempting to keep it to one per week!

This past Saturday, we decided to close our Children’s Corner on Monday, March 16. Our original schedule was to close on Friday, March 27, permanently. On Monday afternoon, Governor Wolf announced the closing of “all non-essential services” for a minimum of two weeks. Our dining services are essential; however, there are some changes to our service in the Owl’s Nest. Until further notice, we are suspending Breakfast and Coffee Service. The following modifications to lunch and dinner service will begin on Tuesday, March 17. Our full menu will be available for Lunch and Dinner ONLY for Take-Out service by Curbside Delivery or Pick-Up. Hours of operation will be Monday through Saturday from 11:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. To place an order, call the Owl’s Nest at 717-626-3559. There will be NO service on Sunday. Residents with mobility or health challenges can arrange for door to door delivery by working with a member of the Dining Team or Jennifer.

There will be a “carry-out” service for Garden Court Residents in the Garden Court Dining room from Monday through Friday. You may call the dining services number to place your order at 717-625-7616. Meals can be delivered if you have ambulatory issues.

This past week we also closed the Smart Fit Studio. In conjunction with this, the Lititz Rec Center also is closed.

Each day we have a team that meets to discuss the questions that come up in the previous twenty-four hours. Many of these questions have to do with employee questions. We have several employees self-quarantined due to travel or exposure to high-risk situations. Fortunately, it appears that testing is finally arriving in a meaningful fashion. We believe that we will see a spike in Lancaster County over the next week. This spike is expected, particularly with better testing in place.

The Governor has halted construction activity this morning. Several residences are completed, and the residents need to move in (no turning back). However, we will not be completing any additional homes until the ban on construction is lifted. For those few move-ins to occur, we will be taking temperatures and screening our new move-ins as they occur. The screening will include taking the temperature of the movers. The key ingredient in beating this virus is social distancing. For introverts, this may be a time of peace. For extroverts, it will be exceedingly uncomfortable.

I want to reiterate the items from last week’s communication:

• All visitors are restricted from Skilled Nursing, Assisted Living, and Personal Care.
• Personnel will be required to have their temperature taken to enter the building.
• All residential residents who are returning from travel outside the immediate area need to “report in” with Jennifer Shutt as to their destination and answer a questionnaire.
• We have canceled group meetings and activities at both campuses; however, Vespers will still be broadcast.
• Residents in Skilled Nursing, Personal Care, and Assisted Living are restricted to their immediate areas. They may not use the café or any other public gathering place.
• We have closed the Outpatient Therapy Center in the Baer Center for Assisted Living.
• There will be no Beauty Shop services for Residential Living residents.
• We have restricted Residential Living fobs to the main entrance lobby doors (access at the Founders Campus); Garden Court residents will continue to have access to the entrances specific to their area.
• Garden Court Residents are prohibited using the Baer Center for Assisted Living as a passageway.

The following tips may be helpful.

• Stay hydrated.
• Cover coughs or sneezes with your elbow. Do NOT use your hands!
• Please keep your hands away from your face (this has proven to be my most challenging change of behavior).
• Frequently wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
• Clean surfaces frequently, including countertops, light switches, cell phones, remotes, and other often touched items. Our housekeeping staff is currently completing additional disinfection rounds.
• If you are sick, stay home until you are feeling better.
• Turn off the news for a few hours and listen to Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. Creedence Clearwater Revival is not as relaxing as classical music!
• Remember that time in your life when you craved for more free time and less responsibility. That time is now.
• If you are able, walk outside and enjoy the warmer weather. Then, walk some more!

The current situation is troubling. However, at some point, this will be history. The markets will eventually recover, as well. The better we adhere to the advice of the CDC, the more quickly we move through this crisis. We all appreciate your help in accomplishing this task!

If you have further questions, please email Dr. Lynn Swisher, NHA, Vice President of Health Services, lynns@moravianmanor.org or Donna Gerofsky, RN, ICP, donnag@moravianmanor.org.