Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Preparedness Updates
Ohio Living is responding to the evolving recommendations for COVID-19 from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), Ohio Department of Health (ODH), and Governor DeWine’s administration. Please be assured, Ohio Living is aggressively implementing measures to protect the health of our residents, patients and staff. Check back for updates.
Take a moment to read this eye-opening op-ed penned by our CEO Laurence C. Gumina on the difficulty aging services organizations are having obtaining personal protective equipment (PPE) for their front-line caregivers.
MEDIA STATEMENTS
Ohio Living Breckenridge Village Media Statement 3-25-2020
Ohio Living Dorothy Love Media Statement 3-25-2020
SEPTEMBER 2, 2020
Infection Control Oversight: 16 Surveys, 0 Deficiencies – Thanks to You!!
In the fight against COVID-19, skilled nursing facilities across the country are undergoing rigorous Focused Infection Control Surveys administered by each state’s Department of Health. These surveys measure compliance with the most recent infection control guidance from both the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Your work has earned extraordinary results! We’re proud to share that, to-date, Ohio Living’s 11 skilled nursing facilities have had 16 total surveys and zero citations or deficiencies. Each location has had at least one survey; Ohio Living Breckenridge Village has had three, and Ohio Living Mount Pleasant, Quaker Heights and Rockynol have had two surveys each. Because of you, Ohio Living has received high praise from ODH on our response and handling of the pandemic.
Ohio Living took aggressive action early, implementing several infection control measures prior to government mandates. Today, we continue to find and apply protective measures that go above and beyond CDC guidelines – but it’s you who make them work.
These exceptional survey results are only possible because of you and your devoted care and meticulous attention to procedure. No matter your role in Ohio Living, we know that each and every one of you is doing your utmost to keep residents and patients safe.
Thank you for working together with us toward this important goal.
MARCH 20, 2020
In the last several days Ohio Living team members, residents and patients have seamlessly settled into new routines and procedures. Visit your community’s Facebook page to see photos of residents having fun in small groups and sharing messages to their families. Below is a rundown of the latest developments:
- Ohio Living is conducting a Social Media Challenge, “Make Happy Go Viral,” with the #OhioLovesElders tag. We are urging people statewide to find creative ways to bring moments of happiness to elders anywhere in Ohio who can’t have visitors. Please spread the word and encourage others to participate.
- All Ohio Living community employees are deemed essential workers during this crisis. Some roles may change, as we redeploy team members to help where they’re needed most.
- Ohio Living is hiring! If you or someone you know have lost a job due to recent business closures, our communities can use your help. We have openings in culinary, housekeeping, maintenance, nursing and more. Visit our Careers page at the tab above to find a position near you.
- Due to the Governor’s executive order, all beauty/barber shops in our communities are closed until further notice.
- Ohio Living communities continue to take admissions for assisted living, short-term rehab and skilled nursing care. Although tours are not available, staff are happy to share photos and video of the resident areas.
- Ohio Living Home Health & Hospice continues to take admissions. Call us at 855.579.4967 if we can help you.
- Rigorous cleaning and disinfection within our communities continue to take place throughout the day. Vendor deliveries are also disinfected upon arrival.
Ohio Living is here for you and your family. Thank you for the support you’ve shown our team members during this time.
MARCH 17, 2020
At the request of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Ohio Department of Health (ODH), and the administration of Governor DeWine, Ohio Living is taking numerous additional steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
We understand these measures will be difficult for residents and families, and we’re doing everything we can to make the best out of these situations. We’re here for each of you as we navigate these new procedures while helping ensure your peace of mind. You can help us by supporting and following the new procedures until the situation is over.
Visitation
Visitation is now prohibited in most independent living apartment areas, and remains prohibited in skilled nursing, short-term rehab, assisted living. For residents in assisted living whose families fill their medication dispensers, staff will now complete this task at no additional charge. Where available, Ohio Living home health nurses will be available to fill medication dispensers for residents of independent living buildings, also at no charge. See your housing manager for details.
Drop-Offs of Goods
If you have essential items that must be dropped off for residents, please bring them in a clean plastic bag to the door to the building. When you arrive, call to ensure a staff member is available to help you, and we will deliver the items to the resident.
You may continue to send cards, letters, newspapers, and drawings from children, and we encourage you to do so. It’s important for you to have a continued means of connection with your loved ones.
Dining Procedures
We are closing all dining rooms and restaurants on our campuses. Culinary and nutritional services will continue serving residents in the following manner:
Independent Living: Meals are made available for “grab and go” service, or for delivery to the resident’s apartment upon request. Housing managers may help villa and ranch residents to set up meal delivery apps on their smart phones (Grubhub, Door Dash, Uber Eats, etc.).
Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing: Meals continue to be served.
Personal Distancing
Ohio Living is following procedures to maintain the recommended personal distancing of six feet. All residents are being kept a minimum of six feet apart at all times.
Thank you for your continued support during this time.
MARCH 13, 2020
Late this afternoon during a press conference at the White House, CMS Administrator Seema Verma announced that CMS is restricting visitor access to nursing homes. This means that each of our 12 campuses are closed to visitors to skilled nursing, short-term rehab, and assisted living. Exceptions may be made for end-of-life situations. We appreciate that this is an extremely difficult situation for you and your loved ones, and we care about each of you. Please keep in regular contact with your loved ones through phone calls, letters, cards, and messaging apps. If your loved one doesn’t have a tablet or phone, please call us to schedule a virtual visit and we will bring the technology to them.
We recognize how difficult this will be for residents and their loved ones. Yet we agree that limiting residents to potential exposure is a crucial element of containment. While this is a significant change to our operating practices, we are dedicated to prioritizing and protecting the health of our residents, patients, and staff members. Thank you for your partnership in protecting the health and safety of our most medically-vulnerable residents and patients.
MARCH 12, 2020
Virtual Visits are Here
All Ohio Living communities are encouraging virtual visits from family and friends. We have purchased iPads and are prepared to take requests for virtual visits using Face Time and Skype.
Suspended Visitation
Three Ohio Living communities continue to have suspended visitation: Ohio Living Breckenridge Village (Willoughby), Ohio Living Lake Vista (Cortland), and Ohio Living Rockynol (Akron). CMS has recommended that campus communities in or adjacent to counties with a confirmed case of COVID-19 suspend resident visitation. We believe in the value of personal visits and connection for each of our residents, and we encourage you to take advantage of the virtual visits described above, or simply call your friend or loved one. They need to hear from you!
Click Here to Download the Ohio Living Breckenridge Village Resident/Family update
Click Here to Download the Ohio Living Rockynol Resident/Family update
Click Here to Download the Ohio Living Lake Vista Resident/Family update
Latest Guidelines
All other Ohio Living communities are following these latest guidelines:
- One visitor per resident per day in skilled nursing, short-term rehab, and assisted living.
- All visitors, including healthcare partners and contractors, are required to be screened for temperature and symptoms, sign in and out, and wash their hands prior to entering a restricted residential area. Visitors will be turned away if they have symptoms of respiratory illness.
- All staff members will receive temperature and symptom checks upon entering the building, on all shifts. Staff will be sent home if they have symptoms of respiratory illness.
- Daily temperatures will be recorded for skilled nursing, short-term rehab and assisted living residents as part of the facility infection surveillance.
- All on-campus group events are canceled until further notice.
- All resident group outings to off-campus social events are canceled until further notice.
MARCH 11, 2020
CMS has recommended that campus communities in or adjacent to counties with a confirmed case of COVID-19 so suspend visitation. Two communities, are in counties adjacent to Cuyahoga County, where there are three confirmed cases of COVID-19.
- Visitation is temporarily suspended at Ohio Living Breckenridge Village (Willoughby) and Ohio Living Rockynol (Akron) per CMS recommendations, with exceptions for end-of-life or other special circumstance.
Click Here to Download the Ohio Living Breckenridge Village Resident/Family update
Click Here to Download the Ohio Living Rockynol Resident/Family update
CMS is advising all assisted living and skilled nursing communities nationally to limit and/or discourage visitation in an effort to protect the health and well-being of those who we serve.
In addition to last week’s precautionary measures and guidelines for visitors to our assisted living, skilled nursing, and short-term rehab areas, we have implemented the following proactive measures:
- A single entrance will be used for entry into skilled nursing, short-term rehab and assisted living.
- Visiting hours will be limited to the availability of staff for screening.
- Visitors must:
- Be screened using the COVID-19 screening tool.
- Have their temperature taken
- Sign in and out.
- Be offered a mask if there is not a shortage.
- Wash hands or use facility provided hand sanitizer prior to entering the nursing or assisted living areas where residents live.
- Visitors will be turned away if they have symptoms including:
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Malaise and fatigue
- Sore throat
- Visitors will be asked to:
- Remain 6 feet from the patient/resident at all times.
- Limit the visit to 15 minutes.
MARCH 4, 2020
Ohio Living has been planning and preparing for a potential spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) for several weeks. We are adhering to the recommendations for COVID-19 from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), and Ohio Department of Health (ODH).
Ohio Living is continuing to proactively protect our residents, patients and staff through added diligence regarding infection control and symptom monitoring:
- Limiting visitor traffic to our skilled nursing units, rehab centers, and assisted living, to protect our most medically-vulnerable residents and patients. We are asking visitors to limit visitation to 15 minutes while remaining the CDC recommended six feet away from the resident or patient. We are also asking visitors with symptoms to postpone their visits.
- Increasing education of all staff on droplet precautions and infection control.
- Increasing cleaning and sanitation frequency of common surfaces.
- Keeping tissues and hand sanitizer available.
- Educating all staff on symptoms of COVID-19.
- Monitoring staff, residents and patients for symptoms.
- Pre-admission screening for COVID-19.
Please postpone your visit to our campus if:
- You have or recently had a fever or cough
- Within the past 14 days have traveled abroad
- Within the past 14 days have come into contact with a person diagnosed with Influenza or the Coronavirus
Click here to download the Ohio Living Statement
Additional policies and precautions may be initiated as we move forward. We continue to work closely with our partnering pharmacy providers, suppliers, hospitals, physicians’ practices, local health departments, state and local associations, Ohio Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.