Community Update for week of 3/13/2023

December 5, 2023

Update to residents on 3/14/2023

Current COVID Outbreak Waning

Friends, we are in the midst of an outbreak, but our COVID-positive numbers are currently trending downward. As of today, we have 12 people in COVID Isolation:  4 (1 as of tomorrow) in Independent Living, 4 in the Stephens Care Center and 4 Staff Members. Other trending numbers are below:

Number of Cases over the past 4 weeks:

We must continue to be vigilant and careful. The Lorain County COVID Positivity Rate is currently 10.6%, the same as last week.

Paxlovid Prescribed When Appropriate

(by Stacy Terrell) This past week, a resident approached me about a rumor that Kendal was prohibiting the use of Paxlovid, a Pfizer medication for the early treatment of COVID. I assured this resident that there was no truth to this rumor, and that our medical providers have prescribed this medication when they have assessed that it was appropriate. We have some residents in the Stephens Care Center who are currently receiving this medication, and in Independent Living as well. The decision to prescribe Paxlovid is up to the professional opinion of the medical provider. Paxlovid is not warranted in all cases, and it is true that it is an exception when needed. Kendal has never prohibited the use of Paxlovid but there are many warnings when it should not be used (example, for those with severe kidney disease.) Here is an article that may be helpful in understanding why a physician is the best resource to make that decision for their patients.  Who Should Take Paxlovid? Why It’s Not for Everyone

Coffee Hour- Monday, March 20 at 9:30 a.m. in the LANGSTON (New Location)

You can also join via Zoom: https://kendal-org.zoom.us/j/85408204157  Meeting ID: 854 0820 4157. We are trying a relocation back to the Langston, like pre-COVID. It will give some relief to the dining team in being ready for the lunch hour.

Afternoon Exchange on Wednesday

Due to scheduling challenges in March, we have both a Coffee Hour and Afternoon Exchange in the same week. This has never happened before, but the alternative was to cancel one of them. Take your pick or enjoy both! This will always be viewable on KOTV.

Snack N Chat with Chrystn Petsas, CNP

Monday, March 20 from 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM in the Green Room. Come enjoy a snack and find out all you wanted to know about the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit, what it is, what it entails, who can perform them and what it is not. You will also learn the difference between the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit and a physical exam, including when and how Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans allow them. Seats are limited so please call the Health & Wellness Clinic at 775-9819 if you would like to reserve a spot. Thank you! -Laurie Dupee, Director of Health and Wellness; & Chrystn Petsas, CNP.

Diversity Equity Inclusion & Belonging (DEIB): Keep Learning!

Residents and staff are encouraged to participate in the YWCA Greater Cleveland’s Racial Justice Challenge, from April 17 – May 15. ABOUT THE CHALLENGE: The YWCA Racial Justice Challenge returns for its 5th year this spring! Previously, it was known as the Stand Against Racism and as the 21-Day Racial Equity and Social Justice Challenge. This year, join this virtual learning community from April 17 – May 15 in a series of challenges designed to discover how racial justice and social injustice impact our communities; connect with one another; and identify ways to dismantle racism and other forms of discrimination. 

By accepting this challenge, you will be presented learning options (Monday-Friday) that include a selection of short videos, readings or news links in the YWCA’s portal. This is an excellent opportunity to learn about systemic racism by way of many different topics, allowing us to take action to advance justice. Register using this link:https://www.ywcaofcleveland.org/eliminate-racism/ywcaracialjusticechallenge/

Other Announcements

Applause, Applause: Our Jane Nord

We’ve had many people drop us a note about Jane Nord receiving The Cleveland Orchestra’s 2023 Distinguished Service Award recognizing Jane and Eric’s lifetime support of the Orchestra’s Education and Community Outreach Programs. You can read the complete article by following this link.

Candoo Technology – upcoming “Welcome Webinar” sessions

Information about Candoo Tech will be in resident mailboxes later this week. Meanwhile, FYI, there will be meetings in person and on Zoom on these dates:

• Thursday, March 16 has been cancelled.
• Tuesday, March 21 at 3:00-5:00 PM.
• Tuesday, March 28 at 10:00 AM to 12 Noon

Supporting Friends Training

(from Elizabeth Hole) Now that the Stephens Care Center has reopened for visits, would you like ways to visit your friends there? On Tuesday, March 21, from 1:30-2:30 pm in the Training Room, there will be a training for all residents on ways to meaningfully engage with our SCC friends. Offered by Social Services in conjunction with Supporting Friends, Cyndi Moran and Kim Peters will present different ways to visit our SCC peers. For instance, they’ll suggest ways to introduce yourself and begin the conversation as you start your visit. They’ll also mention ways to scan the room so that you can find topics of interest to the resident. There will be time for questions, and then an opportunity to pair with a Supporting Friend who can mentor you on your first visit. Questions? Contact Carol Bojanowski and Elizabeth Hole.

Focus Groups for Residents Currently on the “0-10 Meal Plan” Option

On April 4-5 Christian Ramsey, Director for Operations at The Kendal Corporation will be on campus conducting focus groups as part of our effort to improve our dining program. We’ve learned a lot through the collection of ratings and comments from the Comment Cards and We Care Connect Surveys. This effort will augment what we have learned and continue our efforts for continuous improvement. If you receive an invitation to sit in on a focus group, we hope you’ll consider participating.

Interest Meeting for Shaw Summer Festival Trip

Interested in great theatre at the Shaw Summer Festival? A group trip is being offered by the Association for Continuing Education (ACE) through Case Western Reserve University, which will take place August 15-16. However, the deadline to sign up for it is March 31. So… we’d like to have an informal meeting of anyone who may be interested. Drop by on Tuesday, March 21, at 7 PM in the Heiser Lounge to learn more about it! Here is a snapshot:

• The Shaw Festival is famous, and for good reason!
• Niagara-on-the-Lake is in Ontario, Canada, about 4 hours from Oberlin.
• Trip will be Tuesday, Aug 15 to Wednesday, Aug 16, 2023
• This two day package includes deluxe coach travel from Cleveland and one night in the first class hotel Queens Landing, two theater productions and two meals plus a chance for an optional third theatre performance.
• The plays are The Playboy Of The Western World and Gypsy
• Cost:  approx. $500-$520 per person, for double occupancy.

This Interest Meeting will be hosted by Anne Martin and others who’ve taken this trip previously. We look forward to sharing all about it.

Would You Like to Buy a Baseball-style Hat with “Kendal at Oberlin” on it? 

We’re taking orders for them! The hats will be forest green with embroidered white Kendal logo. $10 each; billed to your Kendal Account or for staff a payroll deduction. Sign up by the open mailboxes.

Reminder about Important Voting Changes

See last week’s News Update for all the details, but again: Voter ID requirements are changing in Ohio. There will be a Primary Election on May 2. Kendal will be a voting place. There is only one issue on the ballot for May 2: it concerns funding for the Murray Ridge Center (https://www.murrayridgecenter.org/)

THINGS TO DO

• Check to make sure your voter registration is up to date. Check at CBOE https://www.voteloraincountyohio.gov/
• Register or update your voter registration NOW. Forms are at the front desk in Heiser or download at LCBOE https://www.voteloraincountyohio.gov/
• If you plan to Vote In Person at Kendal on May 2, or Vote Early at the Lorain County Board of Elections starting April 4, you must have a current valid photo ID.
• Acceptable photo IDs are:
  • Ohio Driver’s License, State of Ohio ID Card, Interim ID form issued by the Ohio BMV
  • US Passport or US Passport Card
  • U.S. Military ID Card with name and photo, Ohio National Guard Photo ID Card, U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs ID Card
• If you plan to Vote Absentee, fill out an Absentee Request Registration form NOW. You do not need a photo ID to vote absentee. Forms are at the front desk in Heiser or download at LCBOE https://www.voteloraincountyohio.gov/
• Please contact Ann Francis if you have questions or concerns about Independent Living resident voting and particularly photo ID.

Note for SCC Residents only: SCC residents can vote on April 18. The SCC resident request forms to vote on April 18 will be distributed to all SCC residents and must be returned to Michele Tarsitano-Amato before March 27. On SCC voting day, residents will be working directly with the Lorain County Board of Elections (LCBOE) to assure ID authorization. Please contact Michele Tarsitano-Amato if you have questions or concerns for SCC resident voting.

COVID NEWS / STATISTICS

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

Covid experts today

Eating out, masking less, even booking cruises: (From the Washington Post) For some, life is back to normal. Others are still cautious. Many have had covid. All are vaccinated. Just like us, they disinfected groceries, left their mail outside for 24 hours, canceled family gatherings, stopped eating out. But today, for the medical experts at the forefront of dealing with the coronavirus that causes covid-19, everyday life has become more normal. All have been vaccinated and boosted, and many have had covid too, a combination that seems to provide more durable protection. While the pandemic isn’t gone, their risk calculations these days look different. Read the article: https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2023/03/12/doctors-covid-new-normal

COVID and Brain Health

Medscape reports on a new study, to be presented at the American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting in April, where researchers were able to demonstrate both anatomical and functional changes in the brains of people after COVID-19 infection.  Even mild cases showed these changes, and the greatest changes occurred when people reported having anxiety and depression after the infection.

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989268?ecd=wnl_dne6_230307_MSCPEDIT&uac=325325HK&impID=5222991 (Shared by Don Parker)