Community Update for Week of 2/13/2023

February 14, 2023

Update to residents on 2/14/2023

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

Good News: NO recent Covid cases at Kendal at Oberlin

We’re happy to report that there have been no new Covid cases at Kendal at Oberlin in the last two weeks. Still, per CDC recommendations, masks remain required for all staff and visitors in the Stephens Care Center – as well as for those just passing through the Stephens Care Center. The AccuShield check-in process remains in place and is still required. Please continue to be conscientious about reporting any signs, symptoms, or potential exposures to COVD – the virus is still out there. Monitoring, handwashing, and all of the precautions we know so well are essential good habits to keep.

Putting the FUN in fitness!! 

Thursday, February 16 – Health talk in the Auditorium at 7:15pm. What’s not to love about exercise? The endorphin highs? The calories burned? The feeling that your lungs are seizing up, your legs are falling off and you are melting into a pile of sweat? Believe it or not, you can learn to have fun doing exercise. Besides being the best way to make your every-now-and-then workouts into a legitimate routine, people who enjoy their workouts reap more of exercise’s mental benefits, including lower stress levels and a decreased risk of depression. Come talk with Jill Tvaroha about how to put the FUN back in your fitness program.

Afternoon Exchange

NEXT WEEK on Wednesday, February 22. (More details in next week’s News Update.)

Dining Update

Greg Zehe, Director of Hospitality Services & Assoc. Administrator

Changes to our nightly carryout hours!

The peak of dinner service has shifted from 5:30p to 6:00p, and to ensure we have staff to serve you, we need to modify our carryout service times slightly to this new daily schedule: 4:45p – 5:30p and 6:30p – 7:00p.

Change to our weekend lunch hours!

Starting this week, we will open for lunch at 11:30a every day including Saturday and Sunday.

Discussed in Dining Matters

“Why do we take orders at the door at lunch on some days but not all?” We serve an average of 120 guests at lunch, and it is difficult to do this quickly with only a few staff members. We have found if we take the orders at the door on these “challenging” days, we are able to achieve better results for you!

Housekeeping/Laundry Update

Crystal Hall, Environmental Operations Manager

Housekeeping/Laundry Appreciation: So many times, I am stopped by satisfied residents with pleasant feedback on a particular staff member in the department, and often I share those good words with the staff member but occasionally forget while I am around on my travels. This is always wonderful to hear and is uplifting! Some may not know that — located by the housekeeping office — we have a “brag board,” so I do encourage you to send your delightful appreciation note through email, or some even take the time to send a card. Don’t forget to mention the name(s) of the staff member(s) you are bragging about so we can post it on the board for everyone to see. Don’t forget about the PM housekeepers who are not always seen in action late in the evening but do so much to keep our community center clean. Laundry is also another behind-the-scenes part of our team, and we all value their great work, too.

Other Announcements

Diversity in classical music

This coming Sunday, February 19, at 4:00 the Live Music in Heiser Auditorium concert will feature Oberlin voice student Travis Guillory singing music written by classically trained American Black composers H.T. Burleigh, William Grant Still, John Wesley Work III and Florence Price. The program is cosponsored by the Denyce Graves Foundation’s “Shared Voices” project to present the music of neglected Black composers and is part of Kendal’s effort to promote diversity and inclusion. The latest (Winter) edition of the Oberlin Alumni Magazine gives more background on the “Shared Voices” program of the Denyce Graves Foundation (photo below.) – Shared by Larry Mirel 

“Race Forward” Speaker Series Against Racism

Dear DEIB circle of supporters: on Thursday, Feb. 23, the Race Forward Speaker Series presented by the Lorain County Racial Equity Center begins. Details are below. Note that registration is required.

The Race Forward Speaker Series is one of the programs the Lorain County Racial Equity Center is offering to help our community honor its pledge to end anti-black racism. Not sure what your role is? None of us are, but we’re better together. So, join us! Leading our discussion is Dr. John C. Dorhauer, General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ. His personal theology is he believes that God is love and God is just. Dr. Dorhauer is a national thought leader on racial and social justice. Registration is required; contact jennifersmith@elyriaywca.org to register.

Kendal bus is scheduled to leave from Heiser front door at 12:15pm. Sign up by mailboxes.

The Early Learning Center is looking for donations of headphones or personal CD/tape players

These will be used for the children at rest time so children can listen to audio books on their cot. If you have any items to donate, please drop them off to our classroom or put them in Jeni Hoover’s administrative mailbox.  Thank you! Jeni Hoover, Director of Kendal Early Learning Center.

COVID News/ Statistics

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

NY Times article

looking at seniors’ problems with the current Covid environment including a little on the ethics of protecting others from infection. (Shared by Dennis Cook & also by Phylis Gorfain) Read the article here.