Community Update for Week of 1/30/2023

February 3, 2023

Update to residents on 1/31/2023

Coffee Hour with Barbara Thomas

This week (not next week) on Friday, Feb 3 at 9:30 am in the Fox & Fell. Also available on KOTV and via Zoom. The Zoom link is https://kendal-org.zoom.us/j/89810554824; Meeting ID: 898 1055 4824. Please join us!

Hospitalized Influenza Cases Trending Down Statewide

Source-Ohio Dept of Health https://odh.ohio.gov/know-our-programs/seasonal-influenza/ohio-flu-activity. State numbers are trending downward but influenza in Lorain County is still of concern. Lorain County currently has 125 hospitalized patients with influenza, representing 39.69 per 100,000 population compared to 71.94 per 100,000 statewide. But our county numbers are up from 109 hospitalized and 34.83 per 100,000 last week. Please continue to practice influenza and COVID safe precautions when out in public, including social distancing, masking when in crowded areas and frequent handwashing/sanitizing.  We have only had one reported case of influenza on campus this flu season, and no current cases.  Please report any influenza or COVID related symptoms to the Health and Wellness Clinic at 440-775-9819.  

Recent instances of COVID positive Kendal residents and staff have been related to traveling, so please be especially mindful when traveling by airplane and in public spaces.

CMS and Ohio Department of Health Change Testing Criteria

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Ohio Department of Health have changed COVID testing requirements for staff and residents in the Stephens Care Center. As we evaluate the COVID and influenza prevalence in our local community and our campus, we hope to being to lessen the frequency of required testing, while keeping a focus on symptom and outbreak testing. More information will be forth coming.

Dining Update

Greg Zehe, Director of Hospitality Services & Assoc. Administrator

Menus are now Posted on Viibrant

Friendly Reminder:  as shared last week, to simplify the volume of menus that we publish and maintain, we have discontinued the menu information that was posted in the old KORA calendar program and now publish the menus on the new KORA Viibrant webpage at https://kaores.org/dining/. Please look there and you’ll easily find them! Hard copies of Menus will still be available on the Heiser bulletin board area.

Guestroom Information

We are starting to see more guestroom usage and so this is a good time to share more information for you to consider as you contemplate recommending our guestrooms to your guests.

• All our guest rooms are for NON-SMOKING guests only.
• Three of the rooms have 2 full size beds, the exception is room 270 which has an antique 3/4 bed. (The mattress is not an antique!)
• Additional pillows and blankets are in the closet of each room.
• Each room is supplied with a full set of towels with additional towels under the sink.
• These are guestrooms and not hotel rooms, so your visitors should know they will need to bring their own toiletries as these are not provided.  Small bar soap is included.
• Room 170 has a handicapped accessible restroom.
• All rooms have a Keurig K cup coffee machine- cups and selected coffee provided but only room 171- is supplied with a mini fridge. This was provided during the pandemic to accommodate resident couples who needed to quarantine. We are not intending to add mini-fridge to the other rooms.
• Rooms are checked daily while occupied – towels replaced, bed is made, trash removal, supplies restocked.
• No pets are permitted in the guestrooms at any time.
• Signage is in each room about prohibiting smoking or pets.

Other Annoucements

Button Bush Bridge closed for tree work

Starting yesterday (Monday), Bartlett Tree Experts is working in the woods on both sides of Button Bush Bridge. Hazardous trees will be felled or pruned, as needed. The work should be completed within two or three days. While tree work is being done, approximately between 8:30am-3:00pm, Button Bush Bridge will be closed for safety. Pathways will be blocked, and signage will be posted redirecting to the Apartments and new emergency fire access lane sidewalk. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Rachel Duncan at 440-775-9073 or rduncan@kao.kendal.org.   

Fireplace update

The Fireplaces in the Heiser Lounge and Langston were both serviced and cleaned on January 13. During this visit the technician found that both fireplaces needed new pilot-light assemblies.  These parts have been ordered – but we don’t yet have an expected delivery timeline. Facility Services has had issues keeping the Heiser Lounge pilot lit. For safety reasons, we’ve had to shut off the gas to this fireplace until repairs can be made. We will update the community when repairs have been made and this issue is resolved.  – Ryan Stalzkowski, Assistant Director of Facility Services

Fitness Center Update

There will be some minor changes in the Fitness Center schedules starting February 13.

• The biggest change is that the SCC Chair class will be moving to the Fitness/Relaxion room. This class is entirely seated and will now welcome Independent Living residents, too.
• Sara Millman will be teaching a water aerobics class Sunday through Thursday from 8:30-9:15am. Come give it a try!
• If you have other interests in the pool, and want a little assistance getting started, progressing, or trying something new, come to the pool on Tuesdays between 9:30 and 10:30am and Donna can assist you with your program, help you start one, give you feedback about your swimming technique, or help you learn to swim.
• Claire is in the Equipment room on Monday from 3:00-4:30pm, and on Wednesday from 9:00-10:00am. She can offer a fitness assessment, help you with a fitness program, assist in the use of equipment, or help you with a fitness goal.

There is a wonderful selection of classes to attend. Please see the schedules and come give something new a try! When choreographing classes, we are focusing on strength, cardiac health, balance, coordination, posture, and flexibility, among other things. We work hard to make things innovative, challenging and fun, so that you don’t have to! Come meet some new people, make some new friends, and maybe find a work out partner. There are class schedules, pool schedules, and class descriptions posted on the door of the fitness/relaxation room.

Candoo Technology update

Candoo Tech recently issued the following press release regarding their partnership with Kendal at Oberlin:  NEW YORK, NY — January 31, 2023 – Candoo Tech is pleased to partner with Kendal at Oberlin, a vibrant life plan community in northeast Ohio, to bring their residents high quality tech support and training to help them use their technology to stay healthier, more engaged and connected. Candoo Tech will be providing residents with a combination of one-on-one remote tech support and lessons, group lessons and a library of on-demand how to guides and videos on a variety of topics to learn how to use their smart phones, tablets and computers better.

“The Kendal family of communities has always been an innovative leader in bringing the latest technology and services to their residents. Now, their residents can learn how to take advantage of all the great technology they have to offer and get help when they need it.” Says Liz Hamburg, Founder and CEO of Candoo Tech.

“We’re very excited to pilot Candoo here in Oberlin! It represents a significant solution offering residents timely technical assistance and reducing barriers and frustration for all levels of users,” said Barbara W. Thomas, Chief Executive Officer of Kendal at Oberlin.

If you have an appointment with someone in Administration

Friendly reminder that whether you have an appointment or are just dropping by to see someone in Administration, please check in at the Front Desk and the Receptionist will be happy to alert the staff member that you are here – rather than you heading directly to their door. There are many appointments and meetings every day in Admin and we’re trying to be respectful of those. Thank you. -Dale Preston, Office Manager

Necklace found in parking lot

Silver, dream-catcher style necklace was found on the pathway to the employee parking lot on Jan. 27. Is it yours? Stop by the front desk to claim it.

Welcome new OPL library directory

The community is invited to welcome David Fausnaugh, the new director of the Oberlin Public Library, during an Open House on Wednesday, February 1 from 3 to 6 p.m. in the Community Room at the public library. Before joining the Oberlin library, David was library director of the Pickaway County Library in Circleville, Ohio. Light refreshments will be served.

February is Black History Month

Tomorrow, Wednesday, February 1 is our next Racial Equity Forum.  Farah Emeka, Oberlin School Board member (and Prosecutor for the City of Oberlin), will present Achieving Racial Equity in Education at 7:15pm in Heiser. 

Black History Month Artwork at FAVA

Artwork created by Oberlin High School students depicting historical figures will be featured in a gallery exhibition at FAVA. Some of the featured high school artists are children of Kendal staff. Opening Reception & Awards Ceremony is Saturday, February 4, 1 pm – 3pm at FAVA Gallery (39 South Main Street.) Select works will also be featured in a public art display of light post banners on South Main Street in Downtown Oberlin throughout the month of February.

Meet the Mice Who Make the Forest

Scientists are unearthing a quiet truth about the woods: Where trees grow, or don’t, depends in part on the quirky decisions of small mammals. Read the article here. (Shared by Phyllis Gorfain)

Girl Scout Cookies

Friendly reminder that Girl Scout Cookies are available through Esme, a member of Oberlin Girl Scout Troop #50439. You can buy cookies for yourself, or you can purchase cookies for donation to Oberlin Community Services’ food bank. The deadline to order by phone is Feb 5. Call Girl Scout Esme at 440.787.5802 to place your order by phone. Or, you can order online up until March 26 using a credit card at https://DigitalCookie.GirlScouts.org/scout/esme725899 

COVID News/ Statistics

Governor Mike DeWine’s regular COVID Press Conferences: https://ohiochannel.org

The White House plans to end COVID emergency declarations in May

From NPR  The White House is planning to end the COVID-19 national emergency and public health emergency on May 11. The declarations have been extended multiple times since enacted by the Trump administration in 2020.  Ending the emergency declaration could have implications for funding for tests and vaccines as well as impact other pandemic-related policies. Congress has already begun pushing back on efforts to extend programs that had been tied to the pandemic.

The plan from the White House came in a statement opposing two House bills that would end the emergency declarations sooner. “An abrupt end to the emergency declarations would create wide-ranging chaos and uncertainty throughout the health care system — for states, for hospitals and doctors’ offices, and, most importantly, for tens of millions of Americans,” the statement says, calling the bills a “grave disservice to the American people.”

Read more:  https://www.npr.org/2023/01/30/1152702709/covid-emergency-declarations-end-white-house

Hidden Viruses: How Pandemics Really Begin-How does this deadly virus spill from bats to humans? 

From NPR  https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2023/01/31/1148681236/trying-to-crack-the-nipah-code-how-does-this-deadly-virus-spill-from-bats-to-hum