Community Update for Week of 7/25/2022

February 3, 2023

Update to residents on 7/26/2022

Afternoon Exchange on ZOOM and KOTV ONLY- with Guest Host, Stacy Terrell

Wednesday, July 27, at 4 PM we will not meet in person in the auditorium but instead use ZOOM and KOTV. Here is the Zoom link: https://kendal-org.zoom.us/j/86578041875  Meeting ID: 865 7804 1875.

Our topics will cover: New resident introductions; a spotlight on CARF Plans (Accessibility, Cultural Competency & Diversity); a Grounds Update with Rachel Duncan; and steps taken for Kendal to be a polling location again (next week, on August 2).

With the jump in COVID positivity rates in Lorain County (now 20%), and a small increase (thus far) in cases here at Kendal, we are adjusting our monthly meeting until we can further assess these cases and the impact on residents and staff. This kind of meeting modification is temporary, and it mitigates a large group of people (even in masks) gathering. There is no intention at this time to restrict other practices (i.e., in-person dining).

When You are Not Feeling Well

When you are not feeling well, it is always a good idea to “Lay Low” so that you do not infect others with any illness, including COVID. The symptoms of COVID are cold and allergy like, so they are very easy to dismiss. If you are experiencing a cough, sore throat, runny nose, low grade fever, fatigue, headaches and/or muscle pains, we ask you to “lay low.” Use your home test kit to see if you test positive for COVID and notify the Health and Wellness Clinic during clinic hours or the RN Nurse Manager during evenings and weekends.  

Current Lay Low Protocols

Living with COVID precautions for well over 2 years, each of us have learned to discern the risks we have taken and when a “lay low” period would be in the best interest of our neighbors and friends at Kendal.   We have learned to rely on each other in protecting our community from an outbreak.  When we make the decision to or are asked to “Lay Low.” it means that you can come to the Heiser Community Center to get your mail and pick-up a meal but will not join in communal dining or gatherings. 

• Anytime You are Not Feeling Well – Always a good idea to “lay low”, use your COVID home test kit and notify the Health and Wellness Clinic or RN Nurse Manager anytime you are not feeling well. (See above).
• A Known Exposure – If you are aware that you have been exposed to someone that has tested positive for COVID, we do ask that you “lay low” for 4 days.    
• A Potential Exposure – If you have recently attended a high-risk event such as an indoor wedding reception, you might consider “laying low” for 4 days to ensure you have not been infected with the COVID virus.  We trust residents to make their own good judgement with “Laying Low.” 
• Travelers –For travelers, it is important that you discern your level of risk.  We ask that you pay particular attention to signs and symptoms of COVID.  If your potential exposure was small, a “Lay Low” is not necessary, just be mindful of any COVID symptoms, if any present, even if very mild, begin a “Lay Low” immediately and notify the Kendal Health and Wellness Clinic during regular clinic hours or the RN Nurse Manager during evenings and weekends. If your potential exposure was high, then do plan to “Lay Low” for 4 days to ensure you have not been infected. International Travel can pose a higher risk, the CDC recommends a “Lay Low” period of 5 days with self-monitoring.

Don’t forget your mask this pandemic summer

(The Washington Post) President Biden tested positive for the coronavirus — and so have millions more. A full-on coronavirus wave is sweeping across the United States and much of the world driven by the BA.5 subvariant, which hardly existed in April. This does not call for panic …but it is a reminder to be cautious, especially indoors with crowds. Your face mask is your friend, and your booster is your life jacket. It is that kind of summer.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that models show the BA.5 subvariant and its cousin, BA.4 — both more transmissible and better at immune escape than the earlier omicron variants — now comprise about 90 percent of the cases in the United States. Their explosive growth in the past 2½ months — from zero to prevalence — is testament to the power of mutations that make them more adept at entering human cells and escaping antibodies. It’s still not clear whether the new subvariants will cause more severe disease, but infections are undeniably on the rise. The seven-day U.S. average of daily new cases reported to the CDC is now 125,827, or five times higher than what it was in March. So many home rapid tests are being done these days, the real total is estimated to be  seven times more. Using the CDC’s measure of community risk — based largely on hospitalization admissions and intensive care unit beds — 61 percent of the U.S. population lives in counties that are now at high levels, nearly double that of two weeks earlier. There is a lot of virus circulating.

… It’s human nature to wish for better times. But the pandemic reality is still with us. The best and safest kind of normal is to be vigilant about the reality of virus levels and use the available tools to mitigate them.

Read more:  https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/07/22/covid-summer-booster-mask-ventilation/

Additional Home Test Kits for COVD Are Available – Order Yours!

Every home address is eligible for a set of eight home tests for COVID; these are antigen test kits, courtesy of the US Government. Be sure to order yours for your own personal use: https://www.covid.gov/tests

We Care Connect Surveys

We thank you for your responsiveness to the We Care Connect satisfaction surveys. You can anticipate getting a survey request on your anniversary date of move-in, and 6 months after that. New residents get a slightly different survey at 2 weeks, 45 days, 6 months and 1 year. This allows us to address any concerns promptly, soon after move-in. Some have responded they didn’t know they were getting a survey but sharing the plan here is the only type of notice we give. We are doing well with a 91% overall responsive rate. The category of a Welcome Call and Quality Survey is for new residents only. Residents are most responsive to the email survey request (80%), followed by a text request (13%) and least, a phone survey (7%). Some of the phone surveys have been necessary because there is no email or the email never reached the resident.  We’ll be sharing more results in future bulletins and at Afternoon Exchanges.

Swimming Pool Update – Problem Solved! Pool will re-open on Wednesday

We started the week with fantastic news about the pool. A new business partner, American Leak Detector has identified an unfamiliar hydrostatic plug that was causing leakage. The two-man crew inspected and treated all the plugs and drains in the pool and performed a pressure test, all while under water.

This was by far the best-case scenario for us! Many times, such repairs call for digging up the pool for repairs. This team was able to use a two-part epoxy waterproof mixture without even having to drain the pool. The epoxy must “set” undisturbed for two days before use. The pool will reopen on Wednesday. Thank you everyone for your patience while we identified the best source for solving this leakage.

Heiser Auditorium being used for Voting

The Auditorium will be closed to all other activities next week on Monday, August 1 (after morning exercise) and all day Tuesday, August 2 (for voting.)

Local Farm Produce comes to Kendal

Executive Chef Scott Stonestreet has arranged for produce from a local farmer to come to Kendal beginning this Friday, July 29, and continuing for the next five Fridays. It will be set up on the front entrance walk from 11am – 1:30pm. Fresh produce can be purchased with cash only; and be sure to bring your own bag, too! Questions? – contact Priscilla Steinberg.

Please Don’t Feed the Trolls (or other Wildlife)

We’ve received a report that someone has (with best intentions, no doubt) been leaving flatbread, rye bread, and at least one oval piece of white bread at the edge of the marsh by the Troll Bridge. Please don’t do this. Trolls and other wildlife are healthiest when they find their own meals naturally.

Animal Trapping Reminder

Lately, Facility Services has been getting a lot of requests to trap animals such as racoons and opossums for eating the birdseed from resident bird feeders. While the grounds department here at Kendal does trap animals that find their way into a cottage or other structure, we do not trap animals eating birdseed. We have a very naturalized environment here at Kendal which makes it a perfect place for wildlife. Bird feeders are a fantastic way to bring in our feathered friends, but they also present a free meal to our furry friends as well.  We must respect all the wildlife in our area. Thank you for your understanding and if you have any questions please contact Dan Baker, Grounds Manager. 

Trash Rooms

Please be attentive to keep the door of all trash rooms closed. Otherwise it will invite lots of unwanted flies, bees, and rodents. (Hmm… there seems to be a theme going on here!)

Dining Update

Greg Zehe, Director of Hospitality Services & Assoc. Administrator

Saturday Lunch is Moving to the Fox & Fell

After a couple of trial weeks, we will be moving Saturday lunch service back to the Fox & Fell starting this Saturday, July 30. The lunch serving hours on Saturday will remain the same as they are on Sunday, 11:15am to 1:30pm.

This change is a necessary adjustment to the low utilization of the Langston at Saturday lunch and will help us to reduce labor costs, eliminate waste, and focus our limited staff on preparing for our busy Saturday dinner and Sunday brunch. 

Other Announcements

Fourth of July Video

In case you weren’t able to access it online – or just want another way to enjoy it – there is now a DVD version of the Fourth of July event at Kendal that is in the Library. Thank you Joyce Benjamin for making this possible.

Beware of Email Phishing!

Did you receive a suspicious message from a known Kendal resident or frequent correspondent asking you for a favor?  Best response: Don’t open the message and simply delete it from your mailbox.  But what if you clicked it open to read it? – Don’t respond to it, quickly delete it, close your email, and disconnect from your wi-fi. Another suggestion for safeguarding your email is to change your password. Do you use the same password for multiple sites? This is a bad habit that could lead to identity theft and malware being attached to your programs. Did you receive a message that your PayPal or Amazon account is in trouble with an invoice attached? More phishing!!!  Follow the recommendations above and stay alert to scammers eager to get into your cyberspace. –Toni Merleno, Risk Manager

Volunteers for “Storm Day Emergency Coverage for Children”

(submitted by Donna Baznik): Prior to Covid, we had a volunteer program to provide Storm Day Emergency Coverage for the children of Kendal staff between the ages of 5-13 so that their parents could still come to work.  Older children may volunteer to help. We want to see if there is interest among residents to reinstate the program for children who are masked and have been vaccinated against the COVID virus. Volunteers must also wear masks while participating.

Please email Donna Baznik if you are interested in becoming a part of such a team. If we do have enough interest, we would provide coverage in minimum one-hour blocks from 8-4 pm on days when schools are canceled due to weather conditions. Children would wear masks when they are with us and would have a lunch break with their parents at 11:30 am. 

Parents would send favorite games, books, snow gear (if winter) and individual snacks. Activities can vary by age of children. Kendal will provide a box of games, crayons, blocks, etc. as well as a TV to show DVDs. Since we can no longer be based in the Game Room of Stephens Care Center, we would use the Education Center or an available meeting room.

Please let us know of your interest and any concerns about restarting this highly valued program. Thank you.

CVS Health looking for participants in a Cognitive Study

(shared by the Dementia Education Group): CVS Health is looking for participants in a Cognitive Study called TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 3.

Did you know that changes in the brain may occur 10-20 years before any symptoms of Alzheimer’s appear? A clinical trial is studying whether an investigational medicine may stop or slow down memory and thinking problems related to Alzheimer’s disease. To see if you or a loved one are eligible to participate, take this “PRE-QUALIFY” questionnaire or call 844-826-2858. Note: you may receive compensation for your time and travel. The study does not require health insurance to participate. Eli Lilly and Company sponsor the study.

Covid Statics/ Announcements

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