CORONAVIRUS

WVN’s COVID-19 Response

To all residents, families and guests:  Thank you for your understanding and patience in these trying times. We at Westminster Village North are working hard to implement plans and procedures to keep everyone as safe and happy as we can, given the circumstances. 

The staff at Westminster Village has worked together to gather and provide useful information related to the coronavirus (COVID-19).  Here you will find updates, videos and resources to keep you informed, educated and knowledgeable on our response and next steps.

 

COVID-19 Visitation Update

September 30, 2022

 

Finally we are excited that we have some good news to share with all residents and their families. In accordance with the CDC, CMS and the ISDH guidance, we are able to unlock all of the doors on our campus to allow entry into all buildings as of Friday, September 30. Visitors and residents will no longer have to go to the designated doors for entry and complete a screening form. Now, as long as guests are not symptomatic of COVID, have not tested positive for COVID, nor been closely and recently exposed to COVID, they may enter the building and go directly to your home.  Please note:  we will return to the practice of locking the exterior doors at 8:00 pm each evening, and residents will need to put in a code to enter. You may get that code from the receptionist, and for the safety of all, we ask that you not share the code with the general public. 

We will also be able to eliminate masks if Marion County is not in a “red” (or high COVID case) zone. There will be signs posted on every door each Monday that will tell you the status, and provide direction regarding masks. If Marion County were to get to a “red” zone, masks would be required. As of 9/30/22, masks are required as the county transmission rate is currently red. Updates will be made each Monday.

Please click the button below to see the Covid 19 update document.

COVID-19 Vaccination Policy Update

August 09, 2022

 

Staff Policy:
To ensure that all staff are fully vaccinated for COVID-19.  Facility Staff are considered up to date with the COVID-19 vaccination if it has been 2 weeks or more since they completed a primary vaccination series for COVID-19 and completion of all boosters one is eligible for.

Residents Policy:
All residents who have no medical contraindications to the vaccine will be offered the COVID 19 vaccine through our local in-house pharmacy, PCA Pharmacy.  PCA shall provide pertinent information about the significant risks and benefits of vaccines to residents/resident representatives; for example, risk factors that have been identified for specific age groups or individuals with risk factors such as allergies or pregnancy.

Omicron Variant

December 6, 2021

Per CDC.gov: On November 26, 2021, the World Health Organization classified a new COVID-19 variant as a variant of concern and named it Omicron. As of December 4, 2021, Omicron has been identified in the United States and is reported now in more than 20 countries.

CDC has been actively monitoring and preparing for this variant and continues to work diligently with other U.S. and global public health and industry partners to learn more.

The virus that causes COVID-19 is constantly changing, and new variants of the virus are expected to occur. Sometimes new variants emerge and disappear. Other times, new variants persist.

The recent emergence of the Omicron variant further emphasizes the importance of vaccination, boosters, and general prevention strategies needed to protect against COVID-19. Everyone 5 and older should get vaccinated and boosters are recommended for everyone 18 years and older.

Interim COVID-19 Visitation Policy per CMS

November 18, 2021

Policy: Westminster Village North (WVN) will allow visitation of all visitors and non-essential health care personnel and can be conducted through different means based on WVN’s structure and residents’ needs, such as in resident rooms, dedicated visitation spaces, and outdoors. …

Visitation Update

June 08, 2021

Beginning Tuesday, June 8, Westminster will open doors for in-apartment visitation from 8am – 8pm, 7 days per week. Emergency and compassionate care will be available 24 hours per day.

Mom’s Vaccinated: When Can I Visit Her…?

March 18, 2021

It is so great that your mom, dad or other loved ones have received their COVID-19 vaccine. This is an important step toward protecting their health, achieving herd immunity and returning to normal life.

Both CMS and CDC recognize the importance of visiting your relatives as part of staying healthy. You can now visit your loved ones inside when the positivity rate in your nursing home is less than 10%. …

New Marion County Public Health Order

February 12, 2021

Dr. Virginia Caine has updated the Public Health order for Marion County. The new order as it pertains to LTC/AL visitation is now in effect, and was shared during Mayor Hogsett and Dr. Caine’s virtual press conference…

Indoor Visitation Resumes at Westminster Village North

February 8, 2021

As a result of the drop in positivity rate in Marion County, Westminster will immediately begin indoor visitation again in all areas of the community. The following guidelines apply per ISDH regulations:

  • Visitation will take place in monitored setting, not in resident home
  • Visitors must check in at the temperature table at either Door #1 (Tamarack) or Door #11 (Health Center)
  • Visitation is limited to 2 visitors per visit
  • Visits are 45 minutes in length
  • Residents and visitors must social distance – maintaining 6’ with no touching
  • Visitors must wear a mask and goggles
  • The Resident must also wear a mask and goggles

Please contact Jackie Brewer at jbrewer@westminstervillage.com to schedule Independent Living and Assisted Living visits.

Please contact Debbi Johnson at djohnson@westminstervillage.com to schedule visits in our Health Center.

Fireside Chat Highlights

Jan. 27, 2021

On January 27, 2021, LeadingAge’s Janine Finck-Boyle joined experts Dr. Lee Fleisher (CMS), Jean Moody-Williams (CMS), Dr. Janell Routh (CDC), Dr. Ruth Link-Gelles (CDC), Arjun Srinivasan (CDC) and Evan Shulman (CMS) for a Fireside Chat.

Here are excerpts from their discussion:

Coronavirus Vaccine Fact Sheet

Dec. 22, 2020

The Indiana Department of Health has distributed this document which contains info about ‘What you should know’, information about the trials and the approval process as well as important ‘Fast Facts’ to help educate yourself about the COVID-19 vaccine.

Coronavirus Vaccine Information

Dec. 11, 2020

The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine has put out the following document to answer questions about the COVID-19 Vaccine for PALTC Staff, Patients, Residents and Family Members. 

Holiday Letter to Families

Nov. 12, 2020

Dear families,

With the holidays quickly approaching, we know many of you have plans underway and are wondering what the visitation options will look like for your loved one. Because COVID-19 has had a disproportionate impact on our loved ones living in long-term care facilities, the Indiana State Department of Health has issued guidance for holiday outings and we hope to provide some clarity in this letter.

Indiana State Department of Health (Epidemiology Resource Center)

Holiday Guidance for Residents of Long-term Care Facilities and Resident’s Families and Representatives

Nov. 4, 2020

COVID-19 has had a disproportionate impact on the lives of individuals living in long-term care facilities. The pandemic has directly impacted the health of those who have contracted the virus and affected residents indirectly through restrictions to visitation that have decreased valuable time spent with family and friends.

In June, the Indiana Department of Health allowed for outdoor visitation, and in July allowed for the resumption of indoor visitation. Each year, many families take loved ones who live in long-term care facilities to their homes to celebrate the holidays. Unfortunately, this year the fall and winter holiday seasons are coinciding with significant increases in community spread of COVID-19. The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recently reported that an important driver of the recent case increases is small family gatherings. The CDC and the Indiana Department of Health recommend that individuals at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19 should avoid in-person gatherings with individuals with whom they do not live. …

For additional information, visit https://coronavirus.in.gov.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 9, 2020

CONTACT:
media@isdh.in.gov

HEALTH DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES LOCAL COVID-19 TESTING EFFORT

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Department of Health is partnering with local health departments around the state to add nearly 100 community testing sites for COVID-19.

The state Department of Health is providing more than $30 million in funding to increase access to COVID-19 testing for Hoosiers over the next two years. All 94 local health departments in Indiana were invited to apply to the state for the grants to launch testing operations.

Three dozen local testing sites are scheduled to be open by the end of this week, with nearly 60 other locations scheduled to open by Oct. 1. Some counties are partnering with neighboring counties. More than 10 counties, including Lake, Porter, St. Joseph, Marion, Hamilton and Allen, are opening multiple sites.

“Our goal throughout this pandemic has been to increase access to testing, and we developed this option as a way to get creative about offering testing for Hoosiers,” said State Health Commissioner Kris Box, M.D., FACOG. “We want every Hoosier to be able to find testing when they need it so that we can reduce the spread of COVID in our communities, and we are thrilled to be able to support those efforts through our local health departments.”

The local health department sites will provide free testing. Click here for which communities are participating.

Hoosiers also can access no-cost testing without a physician’s note or symptoms at any of the 39 state-sponsored OptumServe sites currently in operation.

To find a testing site, visit www.coronavirus.in.gov and click on the COVID-19 testing information link.

Independent Living Residents — Update on Visitation and Activities.

8/20/20

Effective Monday, August 24th, IL residents and families will be able to visit outside without signing up for outdoor visitation! Residents may visit with their loved ones outside, maintaining social distance and wearing masks, at any time. Residents who live on the first floor may have one other guest on their concrete patio (total of two people), and others may sit on chairs in the grass, properly distanced by 6’. A resident who lives on an upper floor may come to the first floor to visit outside or on a resident’s patio — following the guidelines just mentioned.  Cottagers may come over to meet with their friends in the apartments, but are still not able to access the inside of the buildings. Residents or visitors should not enter a resident’s apartment as inside visitation is not permitted at this time.

There are multiple outdoor locations on our campus where you can visit with your guests. Or, you can bring chairs and create your own space. Outside visitors are not allowed inside the buildings at any time. The tables in the Tamarack courtyard will be set up for dining with two residents allowed per table. Please do not move chairs as they are placed an appropriate distance apartment. Also, please don’t use a rollator or wheelchair to pull up to join a table of two as this won’t meet safe guidelines.

Also beginning on Monday, August 24, IL activities will resume outside! Masks must be worn and we will create activities where residents will be able to stay 6’ apartment. Laurie will plan activities for you to see your  WVN friends in the fresh air.

Of course this will all continue unless we would have a case of covid in Independent Living, so we cannot stress enough how important it is for all of us to follow the national guidelines of wearing a mask to cover your nose and mouth, washing your hands frequently and/or using hand sanitizer and maintaining safe distance. If we would see negligence on any of these guidelines, we may have to revert back. So please, everyone, let’s work together so that we can all enjoy seeing each other again!

Outdoor Visitation Hours

Visits are 45 minutes each and start on the hour.

Assisted Living and Health Center:
Monday, Wednesday and Friday
11:00 am – 4:00 pm
(last visit scheduled from 4 pm until 4:45 pm)

Tuesday and Thursday
11:00 am – 6:00 pm
(last visit schedule from 6:00 pm until 6:45p)

Health Center only:
Saturday: 10 am – 3:00 pm with 1 visit per hour (last visit scheduled from 3:00 pm – 3:45 pm)
No visits schedule for Sunday

Assisted Living only:
Saturday and Sunday:
11:00 am – 3:00 pm with 2 visits per area per hour
(last visit scheduled from 3:00 pm – 3:45 pm)

To register, please email jbrewer@westminstervillage.com

Westminster Village North Website update

4/15/20

Our commitment to providing exceptional care is unwavering as the Covid-19 pandemic continues. How we deliver care may be changing temporarily, but we remain committed to the health of our residents, staff and families.

The President’s Coronavirus Guidelines for America state, “Do not visit nursing homes or retirement or long-term care facilities unless to provide critical care.” And we are under a state-mandated visitor restriction, lifted only for end-of-life situations. We know how hard this is for our residents and their family members and we are doing our best to satisfy the needs of both.  As has been published, self-isolation is the best means to reduce the opportunity for the virus to be spread. Though not ideal for seniors, self-quarantine is what will keep them safest.

In these difficult times, we appreciate everyone’s understanding. For more information on Covid-19, refer to the Centers for Disease Control (www.cdc.com) or the Indiana State Department of Health (in.gov/isdh).

Additional Resources:

Package Hold Notification

While it is still unclear whether the Coronavirus can survive on surfaces – and for what period of time, we have implemented restrictions to err on the side of precaution. Any non-perishable packages delivered for residents in Assisted Living and our Skilled Nursing area will be held for 72 hours before delivery. The exceptions will be perishable items and medications.  We appreciate your understanding.

Answering Common Questions About COVID-19 Vaccines

Reprinted from the CDC. Click the cover art below to view the PDF dated 12/22/2020.

Answering Common Questions About COVID-19 Vaccines - Cover Art

Senior Healthcare Workers are the Forgotten Front Line

Reprinted from McNight’s Long Term Care News. Click the graphic below to view the PDF dated 8/6/2020.

Senior healthcare workers are the forgotten front line.

CDC Updated Guidance on  Isolation and Precautions for Adults with Covid-19

Click the graphic below to view the PDF dated 8/5/2020.

Indiana Back on Track for Long Term Care Facilities

Click the letter below to view the PDF dated 5/6/2020.

Indiana Back on Track for Long Term Care Facilities
 - May 26, 2020

Reopening Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Facilities

By The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine. Click the letter below to view the PDF dated 5/8/2020.

Reopening Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Facilities
 - May 8, 2020

An ongoing response to long-term care facility guidelines

Click the letter below to view a PDF of our COVID-19 Update Letter dated 4/28/2020.

COVID-19 Update Letter - April 28, 2020

Screening Criteria

Click the letter below to view a PDF of our COVID-19 Update Letter dated 4/28/2020.

COVID-19 Update Letter - April 28, 2020

What residents need to know

Click the letter below to view a PDF of our COVID-19 Update Letter dated 4/28/2020.

COVID-19 Update Letter - April 28, 2020

COVID-19 Update:  4/22

Click the letter below to view a PDF of our COVID-19 Update Letter dated 4/22/2020.

COVID-19 Update Letter - April 22, 2020

WVN’s Resident Letter:  4/6

Click the letter below to view a PDF of our Resident Letter dated 4/6/2020.

COVID-19 Letter to Residents - April 6, 2020

Meal & Package Delivery: 4/6

Click the letter below to view a PDF of our Tamarack and Elm Residents Letter dated 4/6/2020.

Meal & Package Delivery Letter to Residents - April 6, 2020

WVN’s Resident Letter:  4/2

Click the letter below to view a PDF of our Resident Letter dated 4/2/2020.

COVID-19 Letter to Residents - April 4, 2020

WVN’s Resident Letter:  3/23

Click the letter below to view a PDF of our Resident Letter dated 3/23/2020.

COVID-19 Letter to Residents - March 23, 2020

WVN’s Resident Letter:  3/19

Click the letter below to view a PDF of our Resident Letter dated 3/19/2020.

COVID-19 Letter to Residents - March 19, 2020

Questions or Concerns?

Please use the below form to submit questions or concerns regarding COVID-19 as they relate to Westminster Village North.