Community Update for week of 12/12/2022

December 13, 2022

Update to residents on 12/13/2022

Precaution Dictates: Masks Required in Public Areas

Friends, with the increase in positivity rate of COVID in Lorain County and the increasing prevalence of Influenza and RSV, Kendal is again requiring all individuals to wear a mask/face covering in all public areas of Kendal effective Wednesday 12/14. Not happy news, but necessary for the health and safety of our community.

Jameson House remains under protective isolation with limited visitation and Personal Protective Equipment required upon entry. We have only one resident remaining in isolation in Jameson House at this time. When we get the results of COVID PCR Testing completed yesterday, Monday, December 12, we will decide if we can resume normal visiting and activities in Jameson House.

Stephens Care Center (SCC) visiting – with masks required – is resumed. Visitors are no longer restricted to one resident visit per day. We thank everyone who exercised such care during the past few weeks; this was a great assistance in reducing the spread of COVID through the SCC.

For residents of the SCC (except Jameson House), we have resumed communal dining and group activities according to the schedule below.

Communal Dining for Stephens Care Center Residents (except Jameson House residents):

• Langston and Fox & Fell: communal dining resumed on Thursday, December 8.

• Country Kitchen: reopened for Breakfast, Monday, December 12.
• Friends Corner: reopened for Lunch, Monday, December 12.
• Friends Corner: reopen for Dinner starting Monday, December 19.
• Note the Friends Corner will remain closed for Breakfast at this time.
• Residents who don’t go to Country Kitchen for Breakfast will receive a room tray.

Group Activities for Stephens Care Center Residents (except Jameson House residents):

• Group Activities in the SCC resumed on Thursday, December 8.
• SCC residents are now able to participate in Independent Living Activities or Meetings in person.

Coffee Hour

This Friday, Dec. 16 at 9:30 AM in the Fox & Fell and via Zoom. Join Zoom Meeting https://kendal-org.zoom.us/j/86771752325  Meeting ID: 867 7175 2325

Heiser Lounge Fireplace Update

Facility Services has had some issues with lighting the fireplace in the Heiser Lounge. Our staff have investigated and made some adjustments to keep it lit over the past week. Our service contractor has been unresponsive, and we have not been happy with their service currently. We have found another service company and have an appointment with them in January. We will make every effort to keep the fireplace lit during the holidays. Thank you for your patience. -Ryan Stalzkowski, FMP

Calling all artists interested in social justice!  

Oberlin College is running a new course and is looking for partners. Michele Tarsitano-Amato is gathering a list of 5-10 residents who are artists interested in art-making for the public around social justice issues. If you are interested in working with students next semester around this topic, please contact her at mtars@kao.kendal.org. More info about the course and time commitment will be coming soon. There will be a limit on the number of residents who can participate, so save your spot by sending Michele an email soon if you are interested.

Growing the Family Tree

Our horticulturist, Rachel Duncan, asked us to share her personal, exciting family news: she and her husband are expecting an addition to their family tree! Archer’s little brother is due late May, 2023! 

New Method in Mail Room

A big thank you to Karen Wright and Michelle Vincent for their excellent ideas about how to improve our Mail Room and package handling! We’re still fine tuning the process, but it is already much more efficient and safer, too.

Dining Update

Greg Zehe, Director of Hospitality Services & Assoc. Administrator

Christmas Meal Service

Sunday December 25, 2022. Please join us for a Christmas Buffet in the Fox and Fell Dining room! Reservations are required. Seating times will be in 15-minute intervals. Please arrive promptly so we may best serve everyone. 

Please choose 11:30, 11:45 12:00, 12:15, 12:30, 12:45, 1:00, 1:15, 1:30, 1:45

The Christmas meal is open for limited guest seating (50). Each residence (Cottage/Apartment) may have no more than 4 outside guests. All guests must be vaccinated. Invited guests will be charged under your account as guests; these charges cannot be applied to your meal plan.

• Please respond promptly to guarantee your desired time. If your requested time is not available, we will notify you. 
• Carry-out orders will be served from the Langston Dining Room.
• Take-out hours for meals will be from 11:15am-12:30pm.
• Note that both the Fox & Fell and Langston will be closed for evening dinner service. 

Please complete the online form if you will be dining in for the holiday meal by Monday, December 19th, 2022. Use this link:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0B4FADAB2AA1FB6-group1

Questions? Contact Lisa Wilken at 440-775-9801 or LWilken@kao.kendal.org  

COVID News/ Statistics:

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

COVID-19 Isn’t a Pandemic of the Unvaccinated Anymore

NYT op-ed by David Wallace-Wells (shared by Grover Zinn.) The pandemic affects older people more than younger people. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/07/opinion/environment/covid-19-pandemic-elderly-deaths.html

How well do face masks protect against COVID-19?

Here is what the Mayo Clinic has to say. (Shared by Stella Rosenfeld)  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/coronavirus-mask/art-20485449

Opinion: With COVID, flu and RSV circulating, it’s time to return to mask mandates

(also shared by Stella Rosenfeld)  https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-11-opinion-covid-flu-rsv-circulating.html