COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Updates

Updated 10/09/2020
To: All Residents, Family Members, and Staff of Episcopal Homes
Subject: Weekly COVID-19 UpdateOver the past week a few more Covid cases have been identified. We have one resident at Episcopal Church Home that tested positive yesterday. She is from May House and has been transferred to our dedicated Covid unit. (All residents and staff from May House were promptly tested. We await results.) In addition, seven staff have Covid at this time. Three work at ECH, two in the food service department at Iris Park Commons, one at The Gardens, and one at Kinder Village. Those staff are at home recovering and will not return to work until fully recovered and no longer contagious. As a result of these eight total cases, mass testing is occurring at Episcopal Church Home, Iris Park Commons, and The Gardens. We will limit the spread as much as possible. Testing is vital. Compared to the last two outbreaks at Episcopal Homes, we are being more successful this time around.

The rate of Covid infections in Minnesota continues to be high, and the infection rate in all surrounding states is even higher than in Minnesota. MN Department of Health officials have traced many increases to schools opening up and large gatherings such as weddings, backyard barbeques, and other family get-togethers. Due to these societal events, which are largely out of our control, it remains vital that each one of us be vigilant with the important things we can control — physical distancing, wearing a mask, frequent hand washing, and self-isolation and getting tested if you experience any symptoms. These practices are very effective at limiting spread. Especially with cold weather just around the corner and more people staying indoors, these practices become increasingly important.

Remember to get a flu shot!

It is easy to know where we stand with Covid-19 at any given time by looking at our “COVID-19 Case Dashboard” on our Episcopal Homes website at www.episcopalhomes.org/covid-19.

We will also continue to update you via our website, as well as through letters, phone calls and email messages. On Mondays and Thursdays, I also do an update on our Episcopal Homes’ Channel 3.1 at 1:45 PM, which is posted to our website and Facebook at the same time.

Please do not hesitate to contact the manager of your community if you have questions or concerns. Or you may contact me directly. We’re in this together.

Warmly,

Marvin Plakut, CEO
mplakut@episcopalhomes.org
651-632-8851

Updated 10/09/2020
To All Iris Park Commons & Katy’s Cottage Staff, Residents, Families, Friends & Representatives:

As of today, we continue to have no confirmed COVID-19 cases of residents and continue to not have any suspected cases. However, we did receive word that two dietary aides that work in our Parkside dining room tested positive.

Any staff that have been in close contact with these staff are also quarantining at this point. We will also be testing all residents and staff today in accordance with the guidance from the MN Department of Health.

As an added precaution, we are temporarily suspending all visiting programs for the next two weeks while we continue testing. We understand that this creates an inconvenience and emotional difficulty for so many of our families and residents. We believe this decision will protect our community and create better outcomes.

I will continue to send updates on any other developments. For more up-to-date information you can continue to receive updates and additional changes through our website at www.episcopalhomes.org/covid-19. Remember that any previous messages or updates can be viewed on our website as well.

If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to reach out.

Thank you for the continued trust in us to care and protect your loved ones.

Sincerely,

Deborah Ashamu,
IPC Director
dashamu@episcopalhomes.org
651-209-8522

Updated 10/08/2020

Updated 9/28/2020

Subject: Weekly COVID-19 Update

We have ZERO (0) cases! That is our status as of today. No Covid-19 cases anywhere at Episcopal Homes. No residents and no staff have it. All have recovered and no new cases have surfaced, even though we did abundant mass testing during this past week at Episcopal Church Home and The Gardens.

This is a moment to recognize. We are really pleased and deeply grateful.

Please remain vigilant with physical distancing, mask wearing and hand washing practices as our risk increases as the weather gets colder and young people return to school. And remember that if you experience any symptoms, self-isolate and get tested.

Remember to get a flu shot!

It is easy to know where we stand with Covid-19 at any given time by looking at our “COVID-19 Case Dashboard” on our Episcopal Homes website at www.episcopalhomes.org/covid-19.

We will also continue to update you via our website, as well as through letters, phone calls and email messages. On Mondays and Thursdays, I also do an update on our Episcopal Homes’ Channel 3.1 at 1:45 PM, which is posted to our website and Facebook at this same time.

Please do not hesitate to contact the manager of your community if you have questions or concerns. Or you may contact me directly.

We’re in this together.

Warmly,

Marvin Plakut, CEO
mplakut@episcopalhomes.org
651-632-8851

Updated 9/24/2020

Updated 8/31/2020

Updated 8/28/2020
To: All Residents, Family Members, and Staff of Episcopal Homes

Subject: Weekly COVID-19 Update

This week continued to challenge us, but we are hopeful that we are turning the corner on this recent surge in cases of Covid-19. We currently have 41 active Covid cases. That is up from 31 cases one week ago. The most recent cases (five of them) were added two days ago. None were added today. We have 23 residents and 18 staff with the virus. Most of the residents are at Episcopal Church Home (ECH) where they are either in our Sister Annette House or our dedicated Covid unit. One is a resident at Carty Heights. The 18 staff are home recovering and will not be scheduled until they are free of the virus.

Because The Gardens continues to remain Covid-free, with ample testing, The Gardens will be loosening some of its visitor restrictions early next week. Be watching for an update from Keanan Franco. At ECH, we must continue our no-visitor policy until numbers substantially improve. Hopefully that day is not too far in the distance.

Mass testing will continue next week in order to do our best to contain the spread.

We continue to stress our infection control techniques and implore everyone to remain diligent with face-masking, social distancing, self-isolation if you feel any symptoms (followed by testing), and frequent hand-washing.

It is easy to know where we stand at any given time by looking at our “Covid-19 Case Dashboard” on our Episcopal Homes website at www.episcopalhomes.org/covid-19.

When we have new COVID cases, we follow protocols for contact tracing, as well as individual and mass testing, where appropriate. We follow all MDH guidelines.
We will continue to update you via our website, as well as through letters, phone calls and email messages. And on Mondays and Thursdays, I do an update on our Episcopal Homes’ Channel 3.1 at 1:45 PM, which is posted to our website and Facebook at this same time.
Please do not hesitate to contact the manager of your community if you have questions or concerns. Or you may contact me directly. We’re in this together.

Sincerely,
Marvin Plakut, CEO
mplakut@episcopalhomes.org
651-632-8851

To all Gardens Elders, Families, and Staff:

We are happy to share that our focused COVID-19 testing this week resulted in no new positive cases. As of today, the Gardens has no positive elders and no positive staff.

As a result of this successful testing, we will resume our Outdoor Visitation and Essential Caregiving programs starting next Tuesday, September 1st.

As a reminder, you can schedule outdoor visits by contacting Karren McRae at 651 272 4956 or kmcrae@episcopalhomes.org. If you are interested in becoming an Essential Caregiver or need to make changes to your existing schedule, please contact Laura Aldrich at 651 272 4957 or laldrich@episcopalhomes.org.

We are going to continue with testing on an ongoing basis and will keep you updated with any new findings. For the most up-to-date information visit our website at www.episcopalhomes.org/covid-19. Remember that any previous messages or updates can be viewed on our website as well.
Please do not hesitate to contact me with additional questions or concerns.

Sincerely,
Keanan Franco, Administrator
kfranco@episcopahomes.org
651 272 – 4963

Updated 8/27/2020

This has been a very sobering week for us. We currently have 31 active Covid cases. That is up from only nine cases one week ago. 17 are residents and 14 are staff. Most of the residents are at Episcopal Church Home (ECH) on the Sister Annette House or the portion of our TCU that is isolated as a Covid unit. One is a resident at Kings Crossing and one a resident at Carty Heights. The 14 staff are home recovering and will not be scheduled until they are free of the virus.

As a result of this surge, both Episcopal Church Home and The Gardens have gone back into “lock-down” status. This means that no visitors are allowed. If an ECH or Gardens resident is on hospice, with prior approval, family may visit. This will be the only exception until we recover from this surge. Iris Park Commons has also tightened its visitor policies temporarily.

Mass testing will continue next week in order to do our best to contain the spread.

We have been diligent with our infection control techniques, and still it spread. With society opening up more, and with people sometimes not following the rules closely, our vulnerability increases. I implore everyone to remain diligent with face-masking, social distancing, self-isolation if you feel any symptoms (followed by testing), and frequent hand-washing.

It is easy to know where we stand at any given time by looking at our “Covid-19 Case Dashboard” on our Episcopal Homes website at www.episcopalhomes.org/covid-19.

When we have new COVID cases, we follow protocols for contact tracing, as well as individual and mass testing, where appropriate. We follow all MDH and CDC guidelines.
We will continue to update you via our website, as well as through letters, phone calls and email messages. And on Mondays and Thursdays, I do an update on our Episcopal Homes’ Channel 3.1 at 1:45 PM, which is posted to our website and Facebook at this same time.
Please do not hesitate to contact the manager of your community if you have questions or concerns. Or you may contact me directly. We’re in this together.

Sincerely,

Marvin Plakut, CEO
mplakut@episcopalhomes.org
651-632-8851

Updated 8/20/2020

At this time as a precaution we will put on hold the essential care giving program until further notice. This means that only care related visits can happen indoors that are approved with IPC management and social visits will be suspended inside. Outdoor visits are still available and compassionate care visits on a case by case basis. We understand that this is difficult and that visits are crucial to the wellbeing of our elders. However, by taking this quick action we hope to prevent exposure to residents and avoid stopping all visits.

We will remain vigilant and monitor the situation to reassess if further changes are needed. Over the next few weeks I expect to give an update about when essential caregiving visits can resume.

Thank you for the continued trust in us to care and protect your loved ones.

Sincerely,

Deborah Ashamu,
IPC Director
dashamu@episcopalhomes.org
651-209-8522

Updated 8/17/2020

Updated 8/15/2020
To Our ECH Families:

Today we received results detecting 8 Episcopal Church Home residents positive for COVID-19. All 8 of these residents reside in our Sister Annette Household. I know this is very discouraging news for our residents, families, and staff. Based on these new results please review the following actions we are taking:

• The Sister Annette Household has been fully isolated as a COVID unit with specifically assigned staff who will only work with these residents.
• We will be testing all ECH staff and residents this week on Tuesday and Wednesday to determine if we have any other spread throughout the building. We generally receive these results back in 48-72 hours.
• Effective immediately we will be canceling all outdoor, essential and compassionate care visits. We will revisit this restriction after we get our whole house test results back. We will consider hospice visits on a case by case basis, but I strongly encourage reconsidering your visits until we have test results back later this week.
• We have removed all staff who directly cared for these positive residents from the schedule pending further testing.
• We plan to do a second round of testing once our first round is complete.
• Our infection control team is working through the weekend ensure all the necessary safety measures are in place for residents and staff. We continue to follow direction from the Minnesota Department of Health in the practices we use.

We will continue to be as vigilant as possible and will source trace our positive residents and staff. In Sister Annette all our residents tested negative on 7/31 and again 8/6 before this last round of testing on 8/13 gave us these 8 positives. This is why we find it necessary to restrict things as tightly as possible until more testing can occur. I will send out additional updates throughout the week as I have them to share.

As always thank you for your understanding and cooperation and we care for your loved ones.

Sincerely,

Melissa Schneider

Melissa Schneider

mschneider@episcopalhomes.org

651-209-8519

Updated 7/31/2020

To: All Residents, Family Members, and Staff of Episcopal Homes

Subject: Weekly COVID-19 Update

We currently have four active Covid-19 cases, one is a resident at Kings Crossing and three are staff. It is easy to know where we stand at any given time by looking at our “Covid-19 Case Dashboard” on our Episcopal Homes website.

Earlier this week 80 residents and staff were tested at The Gardens, floors 4 & 5. All test results have come back and all tested negative.

Also earlier this week, one staff person tested positive who works in the Sister Annette House at Episcopal Church Home. Therefore, today all residents and staff from Sister Annette House are being tested and results will likely come in over the weekend or on Monday.

A week ago, Governor Walz issued a facemask mandate for all of Minnesota in regard to indoor spaces. As you know, we have had that requirement in place at Episcopal Homes since March. Nevertheless, we are glad it is now a requirement throughout the State of Minnesota because indirectly it benefits all of us when virus spread is reduced as a result of this precaution. We all need to do our part, where we work, live, pray, and play. Social distancing and wearing a facemask makes a real difference. Thank you for being vigilant.

We will continue to update you via our website (www.episcopalhomes.org/covid-19) or through letters, phone calls, or email messages. Also, I continue to do a daily live update on our Episcopal Homes Channel 6.1 at 1:30 PM, which is posted to our website and Facebook shortly thereafter.

Please do not hesitate to contact the manager of your community if you have questions or concerns. Or you may contact me directly. We’re in this together.

Sincerely,

Marvin Plakut, CEO
mplakut@episcopalhomes.org
651-632-8851

Updated 7/30/2020

Updated 6/30/2020

To: All Residents, Family Members, and Staff of Episcopal Homes

Subject: Weekly COVID-19 Update

Last week we had six active cases of COVID-19 at Episcopal Homes, two residents and four staff. I am pleased to report that throughout the week we had no deaths from Covid and we had some recoveries. As a result, I am pleased to report that we currently have four active Covid cases, two are residents and two are staff.

Testing took place at The Gardens this past Tuesday and Wednesday. 179 tests were administered and we have received 101 results. One staff person tested positive and all of the remaining 100 test results were negative. (Those are very good and encouraging numbers.) We expect to receive the remaining 78 test results within the next 24 hours. The staff person that tested positive worked at Geneva House. That staff member is presently in quarantine and will not return to work until they have fully recovered and been cleared to return.

All residents and staff at The Gardens will be re-tested this upcoming Tuesday and Wednesday, June 30 & July 1.

Just a reminder that the Minnesota Department of Health is now allowing visits at nursing homes and assisted living facilities under carefully prescribed conditions. Each facility is handling it in unique ways. If you have not yet read instructions from Episcopal Church Home or The Gardens or Iris Park Commons, be sure to do so or reach out to the staff at those communities if you wish to visit someone there.

When you go to our website, you will now notice a “Covid-19 Case Dashboard.” You will find this tool helpful. Since the beginning of Covid we have worked hard to be entirely transparent with everyone. This dashboard is one more tool we are using to this end. Accurate and timely information is vital, especially now. It helps keep all of us informed and safe.

We will continue to update you via our website (www.episcopalhomes.org/covid-19) or through letters, phone calls, or email messages. Also, I continue to do a daily live update on our Episcopal Homes’ Channel 6.1 at 1:30 PM, which is posted to our website and Facebook shortly thereafter.

Please do not hesitate to contact the manager of your community if you have questions or concerns. Or you may contact me directly. We’re in this together.

Sincerely,

Marvin Plakut, CEO
mplakut@episcopalhomes.org
651-632-8851

Updated 6/25/2020

Dear Families and Friends of The Gardens,

We are pleased to inform you that we received guidance from the Minnesota Department of Health on allowing outdoor visits.

The Gardens will start allowing outdoor visitation with your loved ones beginning next week on Monday June 29th. While we are very excited to make this happen, we must also follow the strict guidance given to us by the MN Department of Health. This guidance applies to how we schedule and conduct these visits, so it is very important you understand the protocols and are committed to upholding them prior to scheduling your visit.
The guidance requires us to be available to assist the elder and visitor during all visits. To meet this requirement, all visits must be scheduled ahead of time. No visits will be allowed unless they have been scheduled in advance. Visits can be scheduled in advance by contacting our Life Enrichment Director, Karren McRae, via phone (651) 272 – 4956 or email at Kmcrae@episcopalhomes.org. Also, if you can no longer make a scheduled visit, please notify Karren as soon as possible, as this may open time for a different visitation to be scheduled.

• Please note the following important information for outdoor visitation:
• All visitors will enter via the main Welcome Center entrance, 1860 University Ave W Saint Paul MN 55104
• Visitors will be screened for signs and symptoms of respiratory infection and will have their temperatures taken prior to meeting with the resident
• Visits will occur in the main courtyard by going through the bistro and out to the main courtyard
• The elder will be brought to the courtyard via facility staff. Visitors are only allowed to go directly to the courtyard. Visitors are not permitted to go to any floor of The Gardens unless specifically permitted by facility management
• The courtyard will have tables and chairs that can be used by elders and their families and friends
• Visitors and elders must wear a facemask or facial covering during the entirety of the visit and practice social distancing by remaining at least 6 feet apart
• To continue protecting yourselves and the elders from potential transmission, we ask that you avoid hugs, handshakes, handholding, and/or any other physical contact
• Up to 5 visitors will be allowed per visit
• Visits will be scheduled for 30 minutes in length and cannot run concurrently
• To keep our visitation schedule as open as we can for all potential visitors, we will only schedule one visit per time and visits cannot be scheduled concurrently or on a recurring basis
• Although we hope not to encounter this, visits can be cancelled or rescheduled by facility staff at any time. Possible reasons for this might be due to unsafe weather or a sudden change in health status of our elders or staff
• If weather is non-permitting, visits must be cancelled or rescheduled to a different time. No visits will be permitted indoors
• For more specifics on what to expect, see the Frequently Asked Questions attachment below

Your patience, support, and understanding is highly appreciated as we work to ensure a safe and efficient process for scheduling and conducting visits. The outpouring of trust and support you have given to our team has been vital in keeping us driven to ensuring the safety of our elders and staff. We are committed to making things go as smoothly as possible for you and our elders. We will update you with any new developments as it relates to COVID-19, visitation, or other important topics.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me with questions.

Keanan Franco, Administrator
Kfranco@episcopalhomes.org
(651) 272 – 4963

COVID-19 OUTDOOR VISITATION: FAQ
What kind of visitation is currently being allowed?
Outdoor visitation will be permitted at The Gardens beginning Monday, June 29th. We also continue to allow visits that take place using alternative methods of communication, such as telephone and video communication. No indoor visits are allowed at this time.

Will there be scheduled hours for the outdoor visitation?
Yes, appointments must be booked through the Life Enrichment Department. In general, visits will be allowed weekdays during normal business hours and may be extended into some evenings. We intend to expand our visitation hours and will send additional communication to you when this becomes possible.

Will there ever be a circumstance where an outdoor visit is denied?
Long-term care providers retain the right to deny outdoor visits based on a resident or visitor not complying with infection control guidance or if the resident or visitor is at risk of abuse or harm. Outdoor visits may also be denied due to inclement weather or change in health status of elders or staff.

What can I expect when I arrive for my visit?
You will be screened for symptoms per our screening protocols that are used for all staff and essential heath care personnel and asked to use alcohol-rub sanitizer before your visit. You will be asked to review the restrictions and instructions for the outdoor visit, which include use of facemasks, social distancing and limiting your movement within our setting. You will be asked to sign a form acknowledging the requirements and your agreement to comply with them.

Must I wear a mask for these visits, even though they are outdoors with social distancing?
Yes, a face mask or other facial covering must be worn during the entire visitation unless it is not medically possible.

Is the visitation open for all ages?
Yes. Adults who bring visitors under the age of 12 must maintain control of the underage visitor and must ensure compliance with social distancing and infection control requirements.

Are pets allowed?
Yes. Pets must be under the control of the visitor bringing them in.

Is there any other type of visitation allowed now?
Telephone and video communication will continue as before, although may be more limited due to increase demand in outdoor visits. No indoor visitation is allowed.

Updated 6/24/2020

All Iris Park Commons & Katy’s Cottage Families, Representatives and Friends,

We will continue to follow the visitor restriction guidelines provided by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) for long-term care facilities. At this time we continue to restrict residents going out into the community except for doctor appointments or for medical reasons. We have not received additional guidance on indoor visits and will continue to only allow essential visitors and end-of-life circumstances.

MDH has recently provided long-term care facilities with guidelines for outside visiting. Previously we were only able to allow outside visits to residents that could independently go outside. Under these new guidelines you will be able to now schedule visits outside with residents that require additional staff support to go outside. These visits will be scheduled through Home Care services so that a staff member will be present with the resident while providing privacy for conversations.

The resident will have a face mask on, and we ask that all family members visiting outside are now screened at the IPC front desk and wearing masks prior to the scheduled visit. You will be able to visit outside while maintaining a 6ft distance. Families will be able to start scheduling visits starting Wednesday, June 24th. Please provide Home Care services with notice at least 24 hours before your scheduled date to ensure that staff is available at the scheduled time.

Please if you have any further questions call 651-209-8522.
Deborah Ashamu,
Director, Iris Park Commons

Updated 6/19/2020

Last week we had 17 active cases of COVID-19 at Episcopal Homes, including nine residents and 8 staff members. Since my report on June 12, we had one more death at Episcopal Church Home, for a total of four deaths, due to Covid-19. We are saddened by this reality.

I am very pleased to report that throughout the week we had several residents and staff become Covid-free! They are fully back to normal, the residents back to their regular rooms and the staff back to their scheduled positions. As a result, I am most pleased to report that we currently have six active Covid cases, two are residents and four are staff.

Testing will occur at The Gardens on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week, June 23 & 24. All residents and staff at The Gardens will be tested, even if they were recently tested.

The Minnesota Department of Health just came out with strict guidelines whereby residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities may receive visitors. Be watching for separate written communication from Episcopal Church Home, The Gardens, and Iris Park Commons. These documents will outline specific requirements and guidelines and the timing of this practice change. We are delighted that visiting has become possible once again, as we are well aware of how difficult the isolation has been on everyone.

When you go to our website, you will now notice a “Covid-19 Case Dashboard.” You will find this tool helpful. Since the beginning of Covid we have worked hard to be entirely transparent with everyone. This dashboard is one more tool we are using to this end. Accurate and timely information is vital, especially now. It helps keep all of us informed and safe.

We will continue to update you via our website (www.episcopalhomes.org/covid-19) or through letters, phone calls, or email messages. Also, I continue to do a daily live update on our Episcopal Homes’ Channel 6.1 at 1:30 PM, which is posted to our website and Facebook shortly thereafter.

Today is Juneteenth Day, a day of celebration marking the abolition of slavery in the US. George Floyd’s death rocked the world. The world is still rocking. We all must do our part to rid our society of systemic racism, and at Episcopal Homes we commit to that promise.
Please do not hesitate to contact the manager of your community if you have questions or concerns. Or you may contact me directly. We’re in this together.

Sincerely,
Marvin Plakut, CEO
mplakut@episcopalhomes.org
651-632-8851

Dear Episcopal Church Home Families:

This week we received guidance from the Minnesota Department of Health on two major topics – outdoor visits and beauty shop appointments.

I am excited to share Episcopal Church Home will begin offering options for outdoor visitation with your loved ones beginning next week on Wednesday, June 24^th. This guidance does come with strict guidelines we will need to adhere to which I have detailed for you below. The most stringent guideline is that these visits must be supervised by a member of the Episcopal Church Home Staff. For that reason we will be offering scheduled visiting times which can be reserved through our Life Enhancement Department. We will use the same scheduling software we have used for our virtual visits. You will get a more detailed instruction sheet on how to sign up for an outdoor visit next week from Jessica Demeules, our Life Enhancement Director. We received this guidance the same day it was released to the general public which is why we hope you understand that we need few days to ensure our practices can meet the guidelines before we launch these visits.

Here are the details of our Outdoor Visiting program:

• The visits will take place outside in the ECH meditation garden. Our meditation garden is located off of our University Ave entrance at the entry point between the ECH TCU and Cornelia House.
• The meditation garden will be equipped with benches and umbrellas. This space allows family a private place to visit without having to physically enter our facility.
• Families must book an outdoor visit ahead of time using the availability calendar provided by the ECH Life Enhancement Department.
• Visitors will be screened for signs and symptoms of respiratory infection and will have their temperatures taken prior to meeting with the resident.
• Visitors must wear a facemask or facial covering during the entirety of the visit and practice social distancing by remaining at least 6 feet apart.
• To continue protecting everyone from potential virus transmission, we ask that you avoid hugs, handshakes and other physical contact.
• During your first outdoor visit, we’ll ask you to read a description of the visit requirements, agree to follow those instructions, and accept that there is some COVID-19 risk even in these protected situations.
• For more specifics on what to expect, see the Frequently Asked Questions  below.

In the guidance for beauty shops within long term care facilities the Minnesota Department of Health has stated that beauty shop services should remain suspended until we are able to go 14 days without a positive COVID-19 case for both staff and residents. At this time we do have two residents on our COVID unit so we are not eligible to resume services. We will keep you updated on our case status as we look forward to resuming these services in the hopeful near future. To stay up to date on our active daily COVID-19 case counts you can visit our website which now has active case dashboard.

At this time, indoor visits will continue to be limited to essential health care personnel and compassionate care situations. Our entire team looks forward to seeing you outside and enjoying our well-earned Minnesota summer days. I will continue to keep you up to date on how our COVID-19 protection efforts are going. We are following state and federal guidelines in planning to re-open inside visiting as quickly as we can. For now, we will do everything we can to make your outdoor visits as comfortable as possible.

Thank you again for being partners with us in fighting the COVID-19 virus. Your messages of support, prayers, and patience will not be forgotten. There may be more challenges ahead, and we may need to make adjustments as we roll-out our new Outdoor Visiting program. If you have ideas to make it better, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at 651-209-8519.

Sincerely,

Melissa Schneider

Administrator

mschneider@episcopalhomes.org

COVID-19 OUTDOOR VISITATION: FAQ

What kind of visitation is currently being allowed?

Outdoor visitation will be permitted at ECH beginning Wednesday, June 24^th. Visitation of residents inside our building is still prohibited for now per guidance from the Minnesota Department of Health.  We also continue to allow window visits and visits that take place using alternative methods of communication, such as the telephone and Zoom/Skype/Facetime.

Will there be scheduled hours for the outdoor visitation?

Yes, appointments must be booked through the Life Enhancement Department. Instructions on how to book appointments will be sent our early next week. We do plan to offer appointments 7 days a week.

Will there ever be a circumstance where an outdoor visit is denied?
Long-term care providers retain the right to deny outdoor visits based on a resident or visitor not complying with infection control guidance or if the resident or visitor is at risk of abuse/harm.

What can I expect when I arrive for my visit?

You will be screened for symptoms per our screening protocols that are used for all staff and essential heath care personnel and asked to use alcohol-rub sanitizer before your visit. You will be asked to review the restrictions and instructions for the outdoor visit, which include use of facemasks, social distancing and limiting your movement within our setting. You will be asked to sign a form acknowledging the requirements and your agreement to comply with them.

Must I wear a mask for these visits, even though they are outdoors with social distancing?

Yes, a face mask or other facial covering must be worn during the entire visitation unless it is not medically possible.

Is the visitation open for all ages?

Yes. Visitors under the age of 12 must be in the control of adults who bring them and must also comply with social distancing requirements.

Are pets allowed?

Yes. Pets must be under the control of the visitor bringing them in.

Is there any other type of visitation allowed now?

Yes, window visits and visits through alternative modes of communication are allowed.

Families and Friends of The Gardens:
We are happy to let you know that the Minnesota Department of Health provided guidance to skilled nursing facilities on allowing outdoor visitation. While we are very excited to make this happen, we must also follow the strict guidance given to us by the Minnesota Department of Health. More details about the guidelines will come to you in future messaging. As you may have read in a previous message, The Gardens will be conducting all elder and staff testing for COVID-19 on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week (23rd and 24th).To ensure the safety of our elders, staff, and all of you, we will not be scheduling outdoor visits until we have received all the initial test results. We expect to receive all test results by the end of next week. Pending the outcome of the results, we are hopeful to start scheduling outdoor visits for the following week, June 29th – July 3rd.

One of the guidelines given to us by the MN Department of Health requires a facility staff person to be present to allow for help during the visit. In order to meet this guideline, visits will need to be scheduled ahead of time with our Life Enrichment Director, Karren McRae. You may be aware that Karren has been out of the office since Wednesday 6/17. On Monday when she returns, our team will discuss the best way for you to schedule these visits. I will send a more detailed message to you early next week that will explain exactly how to schedule your visits and the specific guidelines that must be followed in order to do an outside visit.

I know you are all excited and eager to see your loved ones, as are we to make this happen. Be on the look-out for a message from me early next week with more information.

See you soon,
Keanan Franco
Administrator | The Gardens

Updated 6/18/2020

As a result of the Covid case at The Gardens, all residents in Matilda House and all staff that work there were tested and we are still awaiting results.

In conjunction with Governor Walz’ directive to move to “Phase 3” of opening up Minnesota on June 10, we altered a number of our rules governing our Independent Living communities. You should have already received a letter detailing the changes. For those living at Episcopal Church Home, The Gardens, and Iris Park Commons, the stricter rules still apply regarding visitors and other issues. Minnesota Department of Health officials are working on policy changes for Skilled Care and Assisted Living. We expect new directives to surface within a week. Until then, we are required to follow the tight rules currently in place.

We will continue to update you via our website (www.episcopalhomes.org/covid-19) or through letters, phone calls, or email messages. Also, I continue to do a daily live update on our Episcopal Homes’ Channel 6.1 at 1:30 PM, which is posted to our website and Facebook shortly thereafter. (Note the channel change from 6 to 6.1.)

Please do not hesitate to contact the manager of your community if you have questions or concerns. Or you may contact me directly. We’re in this together.

Sincerely,

Marvin Plakut, CEO
mplakut@episcopalhomes.org
651-632-8851

Updated 6/11/2020

To all Gardens Elders, Staff, and Families:

We received confirmation last night that an elder in Matilda House tested positive for COVID-19. This is the first positive case involving an elder that we have had in The Gardens. This letter will help you understand how we are responding to this new development and how we will go about minimizing the spread of the virus going forward.

The elder that tested positive is stable and only has minor symptoms. The symptoms were first noticed on Monday 6/8. Upon the discovery of symptoms, we immediately implemented use of full personal protective equipment and infection control precautions. We then administered a COVID-19 test and received the results late last night. We are hopeful our immediate response will give us the best chance to slow and limit the spread of the virus to other elders and staff.

You may recall an earlier message, dated 4/21, that detailed our plan to transfer any elder that tests positive to the designated COVID-19 Unit in Episcopal Church Home. At this time, we believe this continues to be the best approach to limit the spread of the virus. As a result, the elder is in the process of being transferred to the COVID-19 Unit. Although this seems to be the best approach at this time, it may not continue to be the approach we will take going forward. If this practice changes I will notify you immediately in subsequent messaging.

We will continue to follow the guidance from the MN Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control. Our team will also continue to review our practices to ensure we are doing everything we can to keep our elders and staff safe. The specific actions outlined below are currently underway:

• Immediate testing of all staff and elders on Matilda House, including any additional staff that have had contact with the positive elder
• A more thorough and aggressive cleaning schedule, including an immediate deep clean of Matilda House
• Additional training and education on infection control practices
• Additional communication with all elders in regard to safe practices including social distancing, hand hygiene, and masking
• Ongoing audits and observations of care practices and use of personal protective equipment
• Enhanced active monitoring and screening of staff and elders in Matilda House
• Working closely with our Case Manager from the Minnesota Department of Health and our facility Medical Director for recommendations and advice
• Complete in depth staff risk assessments to identify any risk posed to any other staff that have had prolonged contact with the positive elder

I know that our communication will continue to be deeply important to you as new developments arise. I am committed to keeping you all up-to-date. You can continue to receive updates and additional changes through our website at www.episcopalhomes.org/covid-19 or through subsequent email messages. Remember that any previous messages or updates can be viewed on our website as well.

Please do not hesitate to contact me with additional questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Keanan Franco, Administrator
kfranco@episcopahomes.org
(651) 272 – 4963

Updated 6/09/2020

To: All Residents, Family Members, and Visitors of our Independent Living Communities

Subject: Partial Re-Opening Our Independent Living Communities
Now that the state and nation is partially re-opening in wake of the Coronavirus pandemic, Episcopal Homes is instituting a gradual re-opening of its Independent Living Communities. It is important to understand that some key restrictions, like social distancing, wearing masks, and size limits to group gatherings remain in place, but some restrictions will be lifted as of Wednesday, June 10. That is the same day that Governor Walz is “turning the dial” to Phase 3 of re-opening of Minnesota.

Why are we gradually re-opening now?Leadership at Episcopal Homes has heard many of you express that it is time to gradually lift our all-out lockdown, just as Governor Walz is doing for the rest of Minnesota. We understand residents’ and families’ need to see one other in person. As leaders, we have a duty to do our best to meet those needs while providing measures to keep everyone as safe as possible.

Changes for our gradual re-opening:
1. Only one visitor per resident, per day. Each visitor MUST screen themselves (or be screened by a manager or receptionist) upon entry and submit their temperature and Screening Tool to the building’s Housing Manager or Receptionist.
2. Those who spend the night in the hospital or visiting family do NOT need to quarantine themselves for 14 days in their apartment any longer. However, if you suspect you have COVID-related symptoms, you MUST isolate yourself in your apartment and get tested and self-quarantine until your health care provider confirms that you are Covid-free.

What will stay the same:

1. The Zones separating buildings will remain in place. We have five zones that cannot be crossed, as follows:

• Seabury & Cornelia House
• Episcopal Church Home
• Iris Park Commons
• The Terrace and Midway Pointe
• The Gardens

2. We will continue grocery shopping for those of you who do not have family to assist.

3. We continue to disinfect high-touch surfaces and items as often as possible with a disinfectant that kills the Coronavirus.

4. We continue to follow the latest guidelines from the Minnesota Department of Health and the CDC for Communal Living Buildings and Continuing Care Retirement Communities.

5. The Skilled Nursing Facilities (the Gardens and Episcopal Church Home) and Iris Park Commons continue to be completely locked down, not allowing any visitor that is not essential to the residents’ health and well-being.

We need your cooperation with the following to keep everyone safe:
1. Monitor your health and report any COVID symptoms to your manager (temp over 100F, cough, muscle aches, sore throat, loss of taste/smell, trouble breathing).
2. Wash your hands often.
3. Ensure every visitor takes his or her temperature and completes the COVID-19 screening tool before entering the building. Have him or her sanitize hands with the hand sanitizer provided.
4. Wear your mask whenever you leave your apartment and keep it on, covering both your nose and mouth at all times.
5. Maintain 6 feet between yourself and others at all times.
6. Never congregate in large groups if you cannot maintain 6 feet of distancing.
7. Maintain contact with your assigned “buddy” or “buddies.”
8. Continue to have your family or friends shop for your groceries if they are able to do so.
9. Limit your outings as much as possible, especially to grocery stores and retail outlets like Target and Wal-Mart or Menards. Try to keep as “in-house” as possible.

When you must report to your building Manager:

1. If you have a fever greater than 100 degrees F; dry cough; shortness of breath; headache; sore throat; loss of taste/smell; muscle aches; chills; continued shaking with chills.
2. If you have been in contact with someone who has been diagnosed or is being tested for COVID-19 due to the presence of symptoms.

If you meet either of these conditions, you must notify your Housing Manager.

Seeking your feedback:

This decision has an effect on your health and well-being as well as that of your neighbors. We want your feedback. Please return a response to the survey form placed in your mailbox to your manager ASAP so that we may fine-tune this policy with your input. See your building manager with any questions.

Thank you,

Episcopal Homes Management

Updated 6/05/2020

To: All Residents, Family Members, and Staff of Episcopal Homes

Subject: Weekly COVID-19 Update, and George Floyd ramifications

Yesterday, a funeral was held for George Floyd after his tragic death that continues to shake the world. Now starts the hard work of genuinely changing our laws and practices and behaviors that have discriminated against people of color, thereby afflicting us all. Dr. Martin Luther King said that all races and colors have linked destinies and freedom. Amen. While at Episcopal Homes we hold dear the values of respect and dignity and justice for all, I am going to form a roundtable group to explore areas or ways to which we might be blind. We want to always improve. We are not perfect, and we always strive to be better.

Last week we had 22 confirmed cases of COVID-19 at Episcopal Homes, including ten residents and 12 staff members. (Last week I had incorrectly stated it to be 21 total.)

Testing concluded at Episcopal Church Home (ECH) last week and we are excited to report that we had only six new cases out of 287 tests, which is 2.1%.

Testing began at Iris Park Commons (IPC) this week, on Tuesday and Wednesday. 102 tests were administered and we have already received 100 results. We are delighted to report that all 100 test results are negative. We expect to receive the last two results within a day.

I am also pleased to report that this week one resident has fully recovered and is no longer on quarantine. Therefore, our total active COVID-19 cases at the end of this week is 21, including nine residents and 12 staff members.

The active Covid cases at Episcopal Church Home (ECH) are being served in our dedicated COVID-19 unit. We are not accepting external COVID-19 cases into this unit. Rather, this isolated setting was established to serve current Episcopal Homes’ residents, enabling us to quarantine those with the virus, protect those who are virus free, preserve PPE, and improve care.

We will continue to update you via our website (www.episcopalhomes.org/covid-19) or through letters, phone calls, or email messages. Also, I continue to do a daily live update on our Episcopal Homes’ Channel 6 at 1:30 PM, which is posted to our website and Facebook shortly thereafter.

Please do not hesitate to contact the manager of your community if you have questions or concerns. Or you may contact me directly. We’re in this together.

Sincerely,

Marvin Plakut, CEO
mplakut@episcopalhomes.org
651-632-8851

Updated 6/04/2020

Updated 5/29/2020

To: All Residents, Family Members, and Staff of Episcopal HomesSubject: Status Update Regarding Nearby Demonstrations

The excruciating death of George Floyd has caused social unrest, violence, and looting. Governor Walz, just hours ago, spoke boldly about “decades and generations of pain, of anguish.” The reaction to that pain and anguish has resulted in violence in our neighborhood. Starting at 12 noon yesterday and continuing into the evening and night there was violent activity along University Avenue in St. Paul. According to police, more than 170 St. Paul businesses were looted or damaged overnight. University Avenue remains closed between Hamline and Snelling Avenues. This setting is eight blocks East of our main campus; four blocks west of Carty Heights, our community at Lexington; and a mile from Kings Crossing, our community at Dale Street.

Early yesterday, we added security officers at Carty Heights and Kings Crossing, given their proximity to retail establishments. Early evening, we evacuated our Kings Crossing residents to La Quinta hotel in Woodbury when damage was done to retail shops beneath these apartments. Residents will remain at the hotel until we know it is safe for them to return.

Carty Heights was untouched, though two nearby gas stations were destroyed. And our main campus at University & Fairview was untouched. As you know, our main Episcopal Homes campus does not have retail shops in its immediate vicinity.

With Metro Transit closed for the weekend, staff members who normally use bus and Green Line service should bring Uber/Lyft receipts to Human Resources for reimbursement for any expenses to get to work while public transit is down. Metro Mobility is also available for healthcare workers to receive free transportation to work.

Our top priority is your safety and security and health. We will continue to communicate with city officials, retail partners, our senior leadership team, and all staff to monitor issues affecting our health and safety, and we will respond quickly and keep you updated as things unfold.

Episcopal Homes was founded 126 years ago in response to some members of our society being cast aside to die without dignity or caring. Our values have not changed. Kings Crossing is named in honor of civil rights hero, Dr. Martin Luther King. Carty Heights is similarly named in honor of local civil rights champion, Father Denzel Carty. We strongly support justice and dignity for all, not just for the majority, but for all. Those remain our values.

We’re in this together.

Sincerely,

Marvin Plakut, CEO
mplakut@episcopalhomes.org
651-632-8851

Weekly COVID-19 Update – 5/29/2020

To: All Residents, Family Members, and Staff of Episcopal Homes
Subject: Weekly COVID-19 Update

Last week we had 20 confirmed cases of COVID-19 at Episcopal Homes, including nine residents and 11 staff members. With great sadness, we experienced our first two deaths from COVID-19, residents living at Episcopal Church Home.

This week, four staff members recovered from COVID-19, ending their quarantine.

Testing continued at Episcopal Church Home (ECH) on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week. ECH nursing leadership were able to administer 287 tests and submit them to Mayo Clinic for processing. So far, we have received 236 results. With this increased testing, five more cases were confirmed, bringing our total active COVID-19 cases at the end of this week to 21, including 10 residents and 11 staff members. So far, 231 tests came back with negative results and we await results on 51 tests. Overall, we are very pleased with these results. It tells us that we are doing a number of things right to control the spread of this virus.

The active Covid cases at Episcopal Church Home (ECH) are being served in our dedicated COVID-19 unit. We are not accepting external COVID-19 cases into this unit. Rather, this isolated setting was established to serve current Episcopal Homes’ residents, enabling us to quarantine those with the virus, protect those who are virus free, preserve PPE, and improve care.

We have an abundance of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at this time. We have strong infection control practices and continue to study and follow best practices that emerge from our regulatory and professional organizations. We are doing all we can to prevent spread of this virus.

We will continue to update you via our website (www.episcopalhomes.org/covid-19) or through letters, phone calls, or email messages. Also, I continue to do a daily live update on our Episcopal Homes’ Channel 6 at 1:30 PM, which is posted to our website and Facebook shortly thereafter.

Please do not hesitate to contact the manager of your community if you have questions or concerns. Or you may contact me directly.

We’re in this together.

Sincerely,

Marvin Plakut, CEO

mplakut@episcopalhomes.org

651-632-8851

Updated 5/28/2020

Last week we had 14 confirmed cases of COVID-19 at Episcopal Homes, including eight staff members and six residents. This week, one Seabury resident recovered from COVID-19, ending their quarantine. Also this week, seven more cases were confirmed, bringing our total active COVID-19 cases at the end of this week to 20, including nine residents and 11 staff members.

The active Covid cases at Episcopal Church Home (ECH) are being served in our dedicated COVID-19 unit. We are not accepting external COVID-19 cases into this unit. Rather, this isolated setting was established to serve current Episcopal Homes’ residents, enabling us to quarantine those with the virus, protect those who are virus free, preserve PPE, and improve care.

As many of you know, on Monday COVID-19 tests for residents and employees of Episcopal Church Home were administered by the Minnesota National Guard under the direction of the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). Regretfully, these samples had to be discarded because they were exposed to heat. There was a lack of communication and coordination by the MDH liaison who was new to the job. Next week, COVID-19 testing will be repeated with two improvements. First, ECH nursing leadership will administer tests. Second, tests will be administered orally using kits provided by Mayo Clinic. All ECH employees need to repeat testing on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday between the hours of 10:00 a.m. to noon and between 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Night shift employees will be tested during their shifts. Residents will be tested by their assigned nurses.

Thanks to the support of many community volunteers, we have an abundance of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at this time. We have strong infection control practices and continue to study and follow best practices that emerge from our regulatory and professional organizations. We are doing all we can to prevent spread of this virus.

We will continue to update you via our website (www.episcopalhomes.org/covid-19) or through letters, phone calls, or email messages. Also, I continue to do a daily live update on our Episcopal Homes’ Channel 6 at 1:30 PM, which is posted to our website and Facebook shortly thereafter.

Please do not hesitate to contact the manager of your community if you have questions or concerns. Or you may contact me directly.

We’re in this together.

Sincerely,

Marvin Plakut, CEO
mplakut@episcopalhomes.org
651-632-8851

Updated 5/21/2020

To: All ECH residents and family members

Subject: Testing update

You are aware that all residents and all staff at Episcopal Church Home (ECH) were tested yesterday for COVID-19. We were just informed this morning by Mayo Clinic (the lab that was assigned to all of our test kits) that all the test samples were compromised due to the timing and the way they were transported to Mayo Clinic by the Minnesota Department of Health. All samples had to be discarded because they were incorrectly exposed to excessive heat.

Inez and I and the entire leadership team at ECH cannot tell you how saddened and angered we are that this major mishap occurred, even though it was through no fault of our own. We feel so badly for all that endured this test and are awaiting test results. Some expressed the pain felt with the administering of these tests. We know. We experienced the same discomfort.

We feel your disappointment. We feel your frustration. We, too, are angry that this happened.

At this time we are aggressively working to inform the highest levels of state government our anger and frustration. They need to change their systems promptly so that they never make this major mistake at other facilities. The Manager for the Statewide Healthcare Coordination Center already reached out to us and said: “. . . we failed you and your residents and for that I am deeply apologetic. We have changed our systems and approach and learned from this tragedy, but I am sorry that all I have is our sincere apologies to offer in return for this situation.”

We have not yet concluded how we will proceed with future testing efforts. We will update you just as soon as we know.

In the meantime, we will prioritize whatever tests we are able to conduct on a daily basis to those displaying any of the symptoms or those that may have been exposed in some way.

Our first priority is to keep everyone safe and healthy. We will be back in touch with you as soon as we have updates.

Please reach out to me if you have questions.

Sincerely,

Melissa Schneider, ECH Administrator
mschneider@episcopalhomes.org
651-209-8519

Updated 5/19/2020

Hi, this is Marvin Plakut and today is Saturday, May 16. This message is for all residents living on our Episcopal Homes campus and their family members.

Last night we received the good news that starting this Monday morning, May 18, the Minnesota Department of Health will begin helping us administer mass testing for COVID-19 on our Episcopal Homes campus. This will be very helpful as we fight this virus in order to keep you and our staff as safe as possible. This testing will begin at Episcopal Church Home only. They will test all residents and all staff.

There is a good chance that they will also test all residents and staff at The Gardens and Iris Park Commons, but it will not be on Monday and it has not yet been scheduled. And if they should decide to test any of our independent communities at some point in the future, we will let you know as soon as we find out.

We are working very closely with the Minnesota Department of Health and welcome their expertise, resources and help during this challenging time. We want to let you know that part of their procedure is to implement this major testing effort by using medics from the Minnesota National Guard to assist with administering these tests. Again, we welcome this assistance as it will help us limit the impact of this virus.

Our goal is to do as much as possible to keep you and our staff safe.

Clearly these are challenging times for everyone. Fortunately we have a really good team of staff and you have been understanding of, and cooperative with, our restrictions and requirements. Your continuing cooperation is vital and we are so grateful for it. Thank you.

We are with you. We are in this together, and together I am confident that we are going to prevail.

Updated 5/15/2020

Subject: Weekly COVID-19 Update

Henceforth, please expect a weekly written update from Episcopal Homes regarding the status of COVID-19 across our communities.

Last week we had our first confirmed case of COVID-19 at Episcopal Homes, a staff member who worked in the kitchen at Episcopal Church Home. Three additional cases have been confirmed this week. These include a kitchen staff member and a Certified Nursing Assistant at Episcopal Church Home, and a Seabury resident.

Please know we have been and will continue to take every precaution possible to stop the spread of this virus. Our first priority is to keep everyone – our elders and staff — safe and healthy.

In the first week of March, with your help, Episcopal Homes implemented many proactive and important changes to control infections. We believe these early critical steps helped keep COVID-19 out of our communities for many weeks. We continue to follow our early guidelines and we implement all recommendations from the Minnesota Department of Health, Center for Disease Control & Prevention, and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

You probably saw Governor Walz’ and Jan Malcolm’s (MN Health Department Commissioner) multi-pronged plan for assisting long term care organizations. Their plan will be rolled out over the coming days. The core components of their plan are more and quicker testing of residents and staff, and ensuring that long term care organizations have adequate Personal Protective Equipment and staff, where shortages exist. Currently we have adequate supplies and staffing levels. But should we find the need, it is very good to know we have the resources of the State of Minnesota backing us up.

We will update you regularly via our website – www.episcopalhomes.org/covid-19 or through subsequent letters, phone calls, or email messages. Also, remember that I do a daily live update on our Episcopal Homes’ Channel 6 at 1:30 PM. This update is then posted to our website and Facebook shortly thereafter.

Please do not hesitate to contact the manager of your community if you have questions or concerns. Or you may contact me directly.

You are loved and supported. Never forget that. We’re in this together.

Sincerely,

Marvin Plakut, CEO
mplakut@episcopalhomes.org
651-632-8851

To all Residents of Episcopal Homes’ Independent Living Communities,

As you know, for nearly two months, with your help, Episcopal Homes implemented many proactive and important changes to control COVID-19. We believe these early critical steps helped keep it out of our Episcopal Homes’ communities for many weeks. Thank you.

We now have a case at Seabury. We ask you to continue to follow our same early guidelines, such as those pertaining to social distancing and the wearing of masks, as these implement all recommendations from the Minnesota Department of Health, Center for Disease Control & Prevention, and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Should a case arise in your community, these are the measures you can expect promptly:
1. Upon confirmation of a COVID case, our Infection Control Task Force rapidly completes an assessment of the situation.
2. Quickly thereafter, the resident’s facility manager will communicate with Minnesota Department of Health and other residents in the facility to identify those in close contact with the infected resident to rapidly facilitate further testing and self-quarantining to prevent spread in the facility.
3. If the resident is healthy enough to remain in their apartment and capable of self-quarantine, they will likely remain there.
4. Staff will check in daily to monitor the resident’s health.
5. Any and all assistance the resident needs with meals, medications, laundry, etc. will be coordinated by the manager of their community.
6. Should the resident’s health decline significantly, they will likely be transferred to a local hospital for more intensive care.
7. Once hospitalization is no longer needed, the resident can request to be transferred to our Transitional Care Unit at Episcopal Church Home, where a dedicated and isolated COVID unit has been created.
8. Once they are free of COVID, the resident will return home to their apartment at Episcopal Homes.

Attached is an additional Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document that offers more detail.

Please know we have been and will continue to take every precaution possible to stop the spread of this virus. Our first priority is to keep everyone – our elders and staff — safe and healthy.

Please do not hesitate to contact the manager of your community if you have questions or concerns. Or you may contact me directly.

You are loved and supported. Never forget that. We’re in this together.

Sincerely,

Marvin Plakut, CEO
mplakut@episcopalhomes.org
651-632-8851

May 8, 2020
Independent Living – Episcopal Homes
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: What should I do if I think I’ve been exposed to COVID-19?
A: If you have been exposed to the virus, act quickly. It is important to note that this virus appears to spread prior to your showing symptoms. Help protect your neighbors by staying in your home and self-quarantining. Tell your facility manager if you have been exposed and help develop a plan to support you while in quarantine.

Q: What should I do if I am experiencing symptoms of COVID-19?
A: If you are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19, please stay home to prevent spread of the virus to your neighbors. Symptoms to be mindful of are fever, cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, sore throat, muscle aches, chills, headache, diarrhea and loss of taste or smell. Call your healthcare provider, and let them know of your symptoms and that you live in congregate senior housing as your COVID-19 testing will be prioritized quickly. Alert your facility manager to support you and help prevent spread of the virus.

Q: What should I do if I am quarantined?
A: First, it is vital that you remain in your unit to avoid spreading the virus. Please work with your relatives and/or building manager to make arrangements for food delivery and other necessary items to come to your building or apartment. Staff will be checking in daily with you to help monitor how you are feeling. If you have questions or need additional help, contact your housing manager for assistance.

Q: What is Episcopal Homes doing to minimize the spread of COVID-19?
A: In the first week of March, with your help, Episcopal Homes implemented many proactive and important changes to keep the Coronavirus out of our facilities that are still important today, like social distancing, wearing masks, frequent hand washing, etc. We believe these early critical steps helped keep COVID-19 out of our Episcopal Homes communities for many weeks. We continue to follow our early guidelines and implement all recommendations to prevent and stop spread of the virus from the Minnesota Department of Health, Center for Disease Control & Prevention, and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. With the virus now in our communities, we will focus increasingly on self-quarantining anyone with or exposed to the virus and supporting rapid access to testing for COVID-19.

Q: How can I help stop the spread of the virus?
A: Closely follow infection control practices we have put in place on our campus including frequent hand-washing. Always wear a facemask. Avoid touching face, nose and eyes. Stay within your zone. Remember to remain socially distant (six feet apart) at all times. Avoid touching surfaces in public places and, if you must touch surfaces, use a fresh tissue or sanitize hands before and after making contact with high touch surfaces. These precautionary measures will help you and your neighbors stay healthy.

Q: What happens if I need to be hospitalized due to symptoms of COVID-19?
A: Should your health decline due to COVID-19, you will be transferred to a local hospital for more intensive care. Once hospitalization is no longer needed, you can request that your hospital discharge you, if needed, to our Transitional Care Unit at Episcopal Church Home where a dedicated and isolated COVID unit has been created. Once you are free of COVID-19, you return to your apartment at Episcopal Homes.

Q: Does Episcopal Homes currently have an adequate supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)?
With the help of residents, families and other volunteers, nearly 3,000 source masks have been sewn and donated. These are distributed to residents and staff, and a process has been defined by housekeeping to launder masks per CDC guidelines. For elders who wash their own masks, Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) recommends washing in a HOT cycle and a HOT dryer using regular laundry soap.
We have also benefited from extensive donations of face shields and goggles, as well as purchased these and N95 masks, googles and other PPE continuously since early March.

Q: Where can I go for testing?
A: A list of COVID testing sites can be found on the Minnesota COVID-19 response webpage at https://mn.gov/covid19/for-minnesotans/if-sick/testing-locations/

Q: What can I do to help staff and other residents?
A: Because of COVID-19, our staff are being called upon to care for our community in unprecedented ways and elders remain physically distant from many whom they love. As we remain committed to campus measures to ensure safety for all, Episcopal Homes has a variety of needs during this time. Please visit our Ways You Can Help page at www.episcopalhomes.org/covid-19/ways-you-can-help for more information.

Q: Can my loved one take me out for a walk since I can’t visit them in the building?
A: You can certainly take a walk as long as you and your loved one are symptom free and not self quarantining due to exposure to or because you have COVID. At this time, your collective use of source control masks, appropriate hand washing, sanitizing and social distancing help protect you, your neighbors, our staff – as well as family – from spreading COVID. These precautions are critical recognizing many people in the community have not been tested and can have the virus without having symptoms of illness. Prior to leaving the facility, elders should wash hands and avoid touching high-touch, public surfaces. Family members are not allowed inside our facility.

Q: What can I do to remain socially connected during this time?
A: Our life enrichment, Active Living, Creative Ventures and Spiritual Life staff teams and others have been working to keep our Episcopal Homes’ elders connected during this time. New channels for elders to continue to reach loved ones, remain engaged and promote wellbeing have been developed rapidly since early March. For example, capacity of our in-house television Channel 3 and Channel 6 are being expanded to include new enrichment programming. In addition, many offerings can now be found on our Resident Life portal link at www.episcopalhomes.org/wellbeing. Staff are supporting elders in making FaceTime calls with loved ones. Daily social distancing walks are being held, along with small numbers of elders enjoying movie offerings with social distancing.

As Marvin often encourages in his daily1:30 announcements, reach out to a loved one or friend by phone or letter and remember to contact your housing manager if you need assistance with finding additional resources during this time.

Updated 5/7/2020

Updated 4/30/2020

Federal health guidelines also require that anyone who works in close proximity to an infected employee be quarantined for 14 days. No other employees worked in close proximity to the infected individual. These steps are necessary to stop the virus from spreading.

Please know we have been and will continue to take every precaution possible to stop the spread of this virus. Our first priority is to keep everyone – our elders and staff — safe and healthy.

We will continue to follow guidelines from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention and Minnesota Department of Health. Specifically, we:

• Coordinate with local health officials.
• Clean and disinfect the facility common areas, elevator lobbies and entrances.
• Keep residents, staff and families informed through multiple channels of communication.

As you may know, Episcopal Homes initiated aggressive infection control and screening procedures in early March. We believe this early action helped us minimize exposure to the Coronavirus as effectively as possible. These changes remain in place as part of our response plan. We thank you for helping us continue to follow the critical protections.

Communication is key, and we will continue to update you on any news, emerging issues, or additional changes via our website – www.episcopalhomes.org/covid-19 or through subsequent email messages.

Please do not hesitate to contact me at any time with questions or concerns you may have.

Sincerely,

Marvin Plakut, CEO

Updated 4/28/2020

Updated 4/01/2020

Updated 3/31/2020

Updated 3/24/2020