Community update for week of 11/28/2022

November 29, 2022

Update to residents on 11/29/2022

Important COVID Concerns at Tonight’s Concert in Finney Chapel

Friends, we’ve had a special request from the Dean of the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music who is very understandably concerned about the possible spread of COVID at tonight’s special concert. The concert is a rehearsal for the UN performance of the Oberlin Orchestra, Choir, and Musical Union. For the safety of both the audience and the musicians, it is imperative that anyone who thinks he/she might have COVID (or any virus) must not attend this concert.

Oberlin Conservatory regrets that, per the agreement with the United Nations, they are not permitted to livestream tonight’s performance. However, a delayed broadcast (recording) of the concert will be available soon. It is tentatively scheduled for Wed, Dec 7. Kendal will try to arrange a featured showing in the Heiser Auditorium – assuming the current wave of COVID infections dies down soon. Thank you for protecting each other and our cherished musicians.

Stephens Care Center Update on COVID

We have had 6 residents in the Stephens Care Center (SCC) who have tested positive for COVID over the past 6 days, plus 3 residents in Independent Living. Two of these residents are now beyond isolation (one in the SCC and one in Independent Living). Thankfully, at this time, each case has been mild; we are grateful for the vaccine. The source of this outbreak appears to have been a visitor with mild symptoms.

As a reminder, please stay home if you feel ill or have any symptom of any virus or COVID.  Please do not discount any sinus drainage, cough, or other symptom as simply allergies or a mild cold.  PLEASE DO NOT VISIT THE SCC WITH ANY OF THESE SYMPTOMS:

If you have any of the above symptoms, please test yourself with a home COVID test or call the Health and Wellness Clinic, Monday-Friday during business hours at 440-775-9819 or the Stephens Care Center at 440-775-9800 at other times for guidance.  We can assist with COVID testing as needed and provide guidance for you. If you test positive with a home test, please inform us at the above phone numbers.

As a precaution we have implemented the following mitigation measures to keep COVID from spreading further in the SCC:

• Entire Stephens Care Center:
  • Communal Dining in the Friends Corner, the Country Kitchen and SCC residents eating in the Langston and Fox and Fell is paused until all PCR COVID Test Results are received from yesterday’s COVID testing cadence.  We will reevaluate based on the results of this testing.
  • Group Activities in the SCC are paused and will resume as explained above.   SCC residents are not to participate in Independent Living Activities or Meetings in person until this pause is concluded.
  • Visiting in the Stephens Care Center (not in Jameson House):  Visitors to the SCC are warned of the potential risk of COVID contagion in the Stephens Care Center at this time. Visitors are instructed to limit their visitation to only one Stephens Care Center resident (or couple if in a shared room) and not go room-to-room visiting residents. Visitors are to remain masked during their entire time in the Stephens Care Center, even when in the room with a resident. When the visit is concluded, visitors are to leave the Stephens Care Center immediately and not return until the next day.
  • Pass Through of Independent Living Residents may continue to pass through the SCC. Please use the Kiosk when entering the SCC and remain masked the entire time of your passing through.
• For Jameson House, one additional mitigation measure:
  • Visiting in Jameson House:  We are restricting visitors in the Jameson House to family and resident-designated representatives. All visitors to Jameson House will be required to wear additional Personal Protective Equipment, including a gown, gloves, and face shield. After visiting in Jameson House, visitors will need to leave the Stephens Care Center immediately and not return until the next day.

We will continue to evaluate and lift these extra mitigation precautions once we know the current outbreak is subsiding. Thank you everyone for your cooperation.

What to Expect if you are in COVID Isolation in Independent Living:

COVID Isolation Protocol for Independent Living Residents

1. Resident must remain in isolation in their home for 5 days (longer if still having severe productive cough or fever).  Day 0 begins with the day the resident tests positive.
2. Kendal will notify Dining and Hospitality Services for potential meal delivery and Housekeeping for pausing in services.
3. Resident should contact Lisa Wilken/Stephanie Sutton in Dining Services at 440-775-5801 each day while in quarantine to make their meal choices for meal delivery.
4. If resident resides in home with another person resident should quarantine in a separate room in the house as best as possible and wear a mask when around other person in the home.
5. Resident should self-monitor symptoms of COVID, especially fevers of 100.1 or greater and/or if symptoms get worse and report to the Health & Wellness Clinic by calling 775-9819 during business hours or the RN Nurse Manager at 440-775-9800 at other times.
6. Resident should contact Crystal Hall, Hospitality Services if linens will be needed during quarantine.  Linens will be dropped off outside of resident front door.
7. Resident is NOT to leave their home during isolation period.
8. Resident will be contacted by one of the clinical team members (Kim Leek, Beth Stewart, Laurie Dupee, Chrystn Petsas or Robyn Becher) during isolation period to be sure resident is improving and/or in need of anything.  Resident will be called on last day of isolation for a check in and post isolation protocol.
9. Post isolation period resident is to remain in the “lay low” period of an additional 5 days which means picking up mail and meals while masked, but not gathering or eating with others.
10. Resident must wear mask in all public spaces for 10 days beyond the isolation period to ensure the safety of all.

NON-COVID NEWS

Correction Notice Re Miscellaneous Service Charges For 2023

The 2023 financial packets distributed yesterday mistakenly contained the “Miscellaneous Service Charges” for 2022 – instead of for 2023. The correct version, “Miscellaneous Service Charges 2023” (which takes effect January 1, 2023) will be distributed.

Contributions to KORA’s Staff Holiday Appreciation Appeal

Final day to make a donation is tomorrow, Wednesday November 30. Please place checks in the box at Reception. Checks should be made out to “Kendal at Oberlin” with memo line “Staff Holiday Appeal.” Thank you for showing your appreciation to our hard-working staff since we do not give tips. (Shared by Mary Behm.)

The Kendal Corporation Settles into New Home at University of Delaware

The Kendal Corporation has moved its offices to a new location on the campus of the University of Delaware. The team is enjoying the new headquarters which is designed to provide the amenities needed to support their hybrid workforce model, enabling even more creativity and versatility in staffing and overall operations. Sean Kelly, President and CEO, shares, “This modern space will foster new avenues for innovation, growth and impact initially for those associated with Kendal and beyond. We are already building bonds with our new neighbors, allowing us to believe in what is possible through connection and a common purpose.” Read more: https://kendal.sharepoint.com/meetingground/Lists/Posts/Post.aspx?ID=399

Shop at AmazonSmile to support Kendal at Oberlin

Thank you to those who have reported they have added Kendal onto their Amazon Smile Account. Remember, by shopping at Amazon Smile you can support Kendal at Oberlin at the same time. Amazon Smile has the same products and prices as Amazon with an added bonus: a portion of eligible purchases will be donated back to Kendal. You have to designate Kendal at Oberlin as the charity you wish to support. Try it! www.smile.amazon.com. We will do a demo of the sign up at our next Exchange. We ran out of time at November’s meeting.

States begin Final Push for Compliance as Driver License ID Deadline Nears

(shared by Randy Wagner.) Beginning May 3, the only driver’s licenses or state-issued ID that will be accepted for boarding commercial flights will be those that meet the federal Real ID requirements. That date — barring another extension — would mark the end of a 14-year delay but could prompt confusion among noncompliant air travelers, who would be turned away from boarding domestic aircraft.”  Read the article in the Washington Post:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2022/11/23/real-id-may-deadline-flights/

COVID NEWS / STATISTICS:

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

Covid becomes plague of elderly

The Washington Post, shared by Randy Wagner.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/11/28/covid-who–is-dying/