Community Update for week of 3/27/2023

April 27, 2023

Update to residents on 3/28/2023

COVID Tests

• Home Test Kits:  Free COVID Home Tests still remain available through the Federal Government and can be ordered at https://www.covid.gov/tests. We expect that this free support will end after May 11, so now is the time to order. Home tests kits are readily available at most local drug stores and discount stores.
• Review the Expiration Dates on your Home Test Kits:  The FDA has extended the expiration dates on many COVID Home Test Kits.  Before discarding your “expired” test kit, visit this FDA website, and see if the expiration date has been extended.   https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-covid-19-and-medical-devices/home-otc-covid-19-diagnostic-tests#list
• If you have trouble Reading Home Test Results
  • If you have trouble reading your COVID test, please call the Health and Wellness Clinic at 440-775-9819 (Monday-Friday), explain you have a visual impairment and that you would like the staff to assist you with a COVID test. If you have a COVID home test, please take it with you. The test results need to be read at the time of the test, so do not perform the test until you come to the Health and Wellness Clinic. If you do not have a home test kit, we will provide one for you.
  • On weekends, please call the RN Nurse Manager at 440-775-9800, explain you have a visual impairment and that you would like the staff to assist you with a COVID test.  Please follow the instructions the RN Nurse Manager provides for her assistance.
• If you are enrolled in Medicare Part B or on a Medicare Advantage plan, then every 30 days are eligible to go to our local CVS pharmacy and pick up 8 home tests at no cost — until May 11, when the official emergency ends.

Rotary Annual Pancake Breakfast This Sunday

Don’t miss an opportunity to support the development of a New Safety Town for Oberlin Children. The location is the new Oberlin Elementary School next to the high school. Tickets may be purchased at the door.

Kendal at Oberlin’s First Employee, Marcia Heckert

It is with great sadness we share that Marcia Heckert, our first hire at Kendal, passed away this past week at her home in Medina. Marcia loyally served Kendal for 19+ years and opened the first Kendal office in the bank building in downtown Oberlin. After retiring from her Executive Assistant position, she worked part-time for several more years assisting Marketing with calls. Marcia was the person who creatively made the Try-It schedule for prospective residents and met just about anyone who came to Kendal. Eventually that job moved to JoDee Palmer as part of her job in Marketing & Sales. Marcia’s obituary is posted on the Administration bulletin board. RIP Marcia.

28 Years of Service for Jean Nickles

Today is a special occasion for Jean Nickles as she works her last day at Kendal, and looking forward to the next chapter starting retirement. She said she has many things waiting for her, particularly home projects and enjoying her grandchildren. She commented “I have to work” will no longer be her too frequent response.

We wish Jean, an Oberlinian, much happiness ahead.

Kendal at Oberlin is now recognized as a “Tree Campus Healthcare”

I’m happy to announce that Kendal at Oberlin is now recognized as a “Tree Campus Health-care” organization! This program is designed after Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree City USA program and recognizes Kendal at Oberlin as having a “mission-aligned impact on community wellness through tree education, investment, and community engagement.” Only 34 other inpatient healthcare communities in 17 states can claim the same honor. This is our first year earning this distinction and I hope we can continue to deserve it annually. To learn more about the program, check out https://www.arborday.org/programs/tree-campus-healthcare/. Our staff and residents have done so much over the years to support and advance our arboretum and campus, and I look forward to seeing what else we can accomplish! – Rachel Duncan Horticulturist, Arboretum Curator. PS: the Cleveland Clinic is also so designated.

Special Rates for Kendal Visitors at the Hotel at Oberlin (for 2023)

The Hotel at Oberlin offers a special rate for Kendal visitors. If you book by phone (440-775-7001), just mention that you would like the Kendal rate or provide the following codes when booking online:

Rate Code: KENDAL    Booking Code: KENDAL  Special Rate is: $110 per night Sunday to Thursday. $155 per night Friday and Saturday

Notes:

• This rate is subject to blackout dates which, typically, are special event dates for Oberlin College.
• The rate is for lodging only – meals are not included.
• The Hotel at Oberlin DOES allow pets. There is an additional charge for pets.

Dining Update

Greg Zehe, Director of Hospitality Services & Assoc. Administrator

Green Compostable Bag

We are aware of the size change in the green compostable bags. This is not a permanent change. The last time we ordered bags, the smaller version was not available, so we ordered the next size up. We hope to find the smaller version available when we place our next order.

Easter Buffet

Please join us for an Easter Buffet in the Fox and Fell Dining Room. Reservations are required. Please arrive promptly so we may best serve everyone. 

Seating times will be in 15-minute intervals. The Easter meal is open for limited guest seating. Each residence (Cottage/Apartment) may have no more than 5 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.

Holiday guest meal prices will be $24.95 + tax for adults, $19.95 + tax for children 6-12, no charge for children under 5. Please respond promptly to guarantee your desired time. If your requested time is not available, we will notify you.  All reservations are due by Tuesday April 4th at NOON. The Reservation link is:

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

Carry-out orders will be served from the Fox & Fell Dining Room. 

Take-out hours for meals will be from 11:00am-11:45pm.

The Fox & Fell and Langston will both be closed for supper service.

Please contact Lisa Wilken at 440-775-9801 or LWilken@kao.kendal.org with any questions. 

Other Announcements

Fitness Update

Just a reminder that there will be an open house in the Fitness Center area this Saturday, April 1 from 11 to 3. There will be refreshments, class demo’s, wellness worksheets, and PRIZES!! Staff can earn up to 10 Health Advocate points! Hope to see you there!

Pool closed May 1 through May 5

The equipment room will be open and some classes will be held. More information to come.

About those large, dead trees in Buttonbush Bog

The tree work recently done on Buttonbush Bridge focused on hazardous trees that might impact the bridge or anyone on it. Since the cottonwoods in question were not a danger, they were left standing. Minimal removals or pruning were done to leave the area are natural as possible. Most deadfall was left in place to provide habitat and nutrient recycling, just as would happen in a forest. Only non-native buckthorn growing along the bridge was physically removed from the woods.

The two large, dead cottonwood trees are on the south side of the pond, posing no threat or danger to residents or cars. When they do fall, they won’t fall into the road or the covered bridge. Leaving dead trees, called “snags”, is a wonderful way to provide habitat, shelter, and food for all sorts of wildlife – owls, hawks, bats, chipmunks, squirrels, and more. When trees fall to the ground, they provide shelter for other animals like salamanders and insects, while fungi help the wood decay, recycling nutrients back into the forest ecosystem. 

Fleas and Ticks Season

Even if you are not a pet owner, we all need to be careful about fleas and ticks. Last year we had cat owners whose cats never left the cottage/apartment but still got fleas! That’s because fleas can come into your ‘house’ on your shoes. Last year people who did not own a pet found ticks on their bodies. Ticks have already been seen by veterinarians this year.  So, we all need to be aware of these pests. Proper clothing should be worn when traversing Wild Flower Hill, etc. Socks should be pulled up over the long pant legs to keep the ‘critters’ from catching a ride home. Use of insect repellent is highly recommended. (Shared by Kathy Caldwell) 

Voting Reminders for May 2nd Primary 

• April 3, 2023 is the deadline for voter registration for the May 2 primary. 
• April 4, 2023 Early in Person Voting begins at Lorain County Board of Elections (LCBOE). Valid Photo ID Required. 
• April 15, 2023, On or before – Send Absentee Ballot Request Application to LCBOE 
• April 24, 2023 On or before – Send by mail Absentee Ballot – Absentee ballots, can be returned in person at Lorain County Board of Elections by or before close of polls on election day, May 2. 2023.
• May 2, 2023 In Person Voting at Kendal at Oberlin. Valid Photo ID Required.  
• Contact Ann Francis if you have questions or concerns!  

COVID News/ Statistics

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

FDA Approval of Second COVID Booster May Be Near, Report Says

(Shared by Don Parker)  The FDA might be preparing to OK a second round of COVID-19 booster shots that target the original virus as well as the Omicron variant to protect people over 65 and others who are particularly vulnerable. That’s the message from The Wall Street Journal… The boosters would need to be approved by the CDC for wide distribution. Only 16% of Americans have received the bivalent booster. Still, some people who are elderly or in other high-risk populations want another booster shot. Canada and the United Kingdom plan to offer spring boosters to people at highest risk of severe COVID-19 illness. Sources: The Wall Street Journal: “FDA May Authorize Additional Covid-19 Booster Shots”

Possible C. difficile–colon cancer connection

(Shared by Judy Appleton) Researchers are homing in on a new connection between colon cancer and Clostridioides difficile. C. diff. is a bacterium that infects the large intestine, causing difficult GI symptoms like frequent diarrhea. C. diff. is a widespread infection among patients who have been hospitalized, estimated at almost a half-million cases per year. It’s extremely contagious. “People who are over 65, have weakened immune systems, live in nursing homes, or work in health care settings are most at risk for C. diff.,” New findings could help researchers understand why so many people under the age of 50 are now being diagnosed with colon cancer… Read the article here.