Date:9/20/2021
To:NYS and Federal Governmental and Regulatory Leadership
From:Joseph Murabito on behalf of my entire organization
Subj:Vaccine Mandate and the psychology of people
For more than a year and a half we have been fighting COVID-19 as well as our regulatory leadership.
Healthcare workers everywhere have been in the crossfire of heated political debate and conflict in addition to managing
one of the most significant pandemics in recent history.
We are tired. We’ve been quarantined. We’ve been restricted. We’ve been surveyed and fined for sending reports in 1
minute late. We’ve lost friends, associates and family members.
We’ve had cotton swabs stuffed up our noses weekly and in some cases daily for months. We’ve worn protective
equipment to keep ourselves and our residents and patients safe.
We’ve worked long hours month after month. Our family and social lives have been disrupted and intruded upon.
As a profession we largely believe in this vaccine and its positive effects on public health.
Many of us however are scared and hesitant. We have grown suspect of our leadership due to the scandals, conflicts, and
polarization we see and feel everyday all around us.
We need time. We need a different approach. We need to trust again.
The execution of the current vaccine mandate is heavy handed and represents the final and most intrusive regulatory
action to date. In addition to all the external intrusions we’ve endured as well as the testing which has caused us minimal
but frequent internal intrusions, we are all being forced to take something inside our bodies....which is the ultimate
intrusion. Vaccines are not new to the world....but the context of the COVID pandemic and all its moving parts and
politics, makes this vaccine mandate very different in the eyes of many.
It may be this ultimate intrusion is the key to our collective public health. As the author if this memorandum, I can say I
am a supporter of the vaccine. I am vaccinated. My family is vaccinated. However, I am also a supporter of people. We
must support our people’s perspectives and nurture them, especially on the heels of such adversity. We must find a
better and more supportive way to manage this public health effort. Do not place this burden further on our health care
workers. Allow a testing and PPE option for a period of time to allow for our workforce to strengthen and the collective
trust to build.
We are here to care for others and we need our health care workers in full force to accomplish our work. We need better
regulatory and legislative support.
Date:9/20/2021
To:All staff members, leadership and partners
From:Joseph Murabito, President and Managing Member
Subj:Vaccination Mandate and our team and family
As most of you may feel, I too feel frustrated with current nature and position of our regulatory and governmental
leadership in regards to the myopic finality of the current vaccine mandate. I am frustrated in the execution of this
mandate as many people are.
My job, however, as is all of ours, is to provide time and efforts in providing care and service to other people. As I’ve
stated many times over the years, we healthcare workers are not working in this profession on accident. We are
responding to an instrisic calling to serve those people who need us.
We have been challenged greatly in the last 18-24 months. Our challenges began with COVID. We rose to this challenge
and continue working diligently with success to keep our residents safe.
In this last several months our challenges have come from other places as well. It’s safe to say that many people feel
hesitant when it comes to their views on governmental and regulatory leadership. It is not my purpose to provide any
excuses in this area. I do believe there are great efforts being made with the intention of public well being and safety.
At the same time, I also believe that the source of this current vaccine mandate is the same source that has created
hesitation and suspicion. I also believe the execution of this mandate is highly political at this point. Conflict has
resulted and we as healthcare providers seem to be caught in the middle. We must persevere. Our work is too
important.
Despite the political realities at hand, I do believe in this vaccine and its effectiveness in improving population health. IN
addition to individual decisions we must all make, there is a bigger picture at hand.
As a healthcare worker and a valued member of this organization, your time and service to our residents, their families
and your team is absolutely necessary. Every single person who works within this organization at each individual site is
essential and necessary to assure the well-being of others. We need you. For those of you who’ve received the vaccine I
thank you. For those of you who’ve not yet decided to receive the vaccine, I am asking you to think hard and reconsider
your position. Please reach out to company leadership for more information. My cell is 845-750-4566.
At this time our organization will honor both religious and medical exemptions as formally requested and
provided. Please be sure to get this information to your supervisor or Administrator as quickly as possible this
week. Please note, however, that the law regarding religious exemptions remains uncertain as the issue is the subject of
pending litigation. We will provide you with any updated information when it is available to us.
Let’s pull together here again. Let’s stay together and continue our great effort to assure our residents have the care
and services they need.
My most sincere thanks to you all for your work over the last year as we’ve struggled and succeeded with COVID. I am
optimistic we are approaching a much better place. Thank you for your consideration of my message and for your
continued service to our residents.
3/16/2021
Dear Friends and Family members of The Garden’s by Morning star Residents,
We are pleased to announce that visitation is now open by appointment only. The following guidelines must be followed for the safety of our residents.
Prior to visiting, the person(s) who wish to visit must call the facility to schedule their appointment at (315)343-0880.
- All visitors must be 18 years of age or older or accompanied by an adult over the age of 18.
- All Visitors will be screened for signs and symptoms of Covid-19 prior to resident access. Any
visitor that cannot pass the screening will not be allowed to visit.
- All visitors must sign in.
- A must wear a mask at all times. The mask must cover their nose and mouth. If a visitor does
not have a mask, one will be provided for them.
- All visitors must sanitize their hands upon entry to our building.
- All visitors must remain at least 6 feet away from all staff and residents, including the resident
they are visiting.
- Visitation will only be allowed in the designated area. The visitor(s) and resident must sit in
designated seats that are at least 6 feet apart.
We thank you for your understanding and helping us keep our residents safe.
Sincerely,
Jessica Proper, LNHA
Administrator
The Gardens by Morningstar
2/23/2021
Dear Friends and Family members of The Garden’s by Morning star Residents,
At this time visitation is still suspended due to Covid-19. We are working diligently on a plan to be able
to open our facility back up to visitors. Once the facility is open for visitors, the following guidelines
must be followed for the safety of our residents:
Prior to visiting, the person (s) who wish to visit must call the facility to schedule their visit. Visiting
hours will be limited to Monday through Friday 8am until 4pm.
- All visitors must be 18 years of age or older or accompanied by an adult over the age of 18.
- All Visitors will be screened for signs and symptoms of Covid-19 prior to resident access. Any
visitor that cannot pass the screening will not be allowed to visit.
- All visitors must sign in.
- A must wear a mask at all times. The mask must cover their nose and mouth. If a visitor does
not have a mask, one will be provided for them.
- All visitors must sanitize their hands upon entry to our building.
- All visitors must remain at least 6 feet away from all staff and residents, including the resident
they are visiting.
- Visitation will only be allowed in the designated area. The visitor(s) and resident must sit in
designated seats that are at least 6 feet apart.
We thank you for your understanding and helping us keep our residents safe.
Sincerely,
Jessica Proper, LNHA
Administrator
The Gardens by Morningstar
11/26/2020
To Elemental Group Owners, Leadership, Residents and Staff,
I am sending along a letter sent to us from the Principal at CBA where my children attend school. The message is wonderful. Ana Maria sent this to me yesterday and I think it is important to pass along. It is very well written and provides valuable insight into the objective truth we all face today. We must control our perspectives given circumstances and recognize life around us as a collective learning and growth opportunity in both the short term and long term.
Gratitude is what Thanksgiving and the holiday season are about. Stated below we must illuminate our blessings to dim our struggles. As we all wrestle with our own challenges these days, our focus on looking through the lens of optimism and hope will allow us all to prevail through the struggle and be better for it later.
This is my gratefulness letter to all of you – the people I work with and my family and friends. We are together in this effort and we’ve all grown as a result. To be grateful is not to be without pain and struggle; something also well said in the letter below. The pain and struggle we experience today is about bringing hope, success and relief to others during these challenging times. As I’ve communicated many times, we are not working in healthcare by accident. Our collective balance is being challenged. This is our struggle and we are all working to succeed together.
I am grateful for all the good people around me working to succeed and make life better for those around them. This is what we do.
I am grateful for you all and what all we do together,
Joe
Dear CBA family,
On behalf of all of us at CBA, happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
The following message is my Thanksgiving reflection to our CBA students regarding perspective and gratefulness.
A few years ago, there was a boom in house hunting and home improvement shows that emerged on television. While there were numerous shows, they all offered a similar format: a couple or family is searching for a new home; based upon the estimated sale of their current home, the host of the show presents intriguing options for a new home; this is juxtaposed with potential renovations that would entice the homeowner to remain in their current home; the homeowner weighs the options and decides between a “new” home or their current, renovated home. Often intertwined within the show is some form of a contest or disastrous unforeseen renovation complication or an unrealistic perception by the family regarding the grandiose nature of their potential new home.
Upon the conclusion of the show, and as the credits run across the screen, there is frequently one last interview with the family. Typically, the reflections are offered six months after “the decision.” Through the synthesis of many episodes of several shows, two prevailing trends of human nature emerge.
After six months in their new home, and with an added familiarity that only time spent living in a house provides, some families focus on the things that are wrong:
"How did we not know that the backyard would be too small for our children to play?"
"The kitchen does not provide enough room for us to eat as a family."
"The noise on the street makes it difficult to sleep."
Alternatively, given the same time in their new home, other families focus on gratitude for the hidden blessings that they did not notice at first:
"We did not realize how amazing it would be to live at the end of the street?"
"The front porch provides a great place to engage as a family while our children play."
"The closets fit much more than we anticipated."
None of the facts around the selection and purchase of the house changed - however the perspective on the facts varies greatly. More emphatically, the facts do not change, however the lens by which we view these facts can change.
This Thanksgiving, what can we learn from this glimpse into human nature that these television shows provide?
We are now more than 8 months into a pandemic that has impacted our city, our country, and the entire world. Certainly, it’s easy to recognize the challenges, disappointments, sadness, and despair that accompany this time period. The pandemic has created economic hardship and asked all of us to do more in our personal and professional lives. Some of us have seen loved ones get sick or perhaps even transition to the next stage of life.
The celebration of Thanksgiving was never meant to ignore the hardship, but rather to give us a reason to refocus ourselves on our many blessings. Gratitude does not eliminate pain. Gratitude is a choice to not give hardships the power over our happiness or faith. During his lifetime, De La Salle was faced with exceptional hardships. He was sued multiple times, suffered through his own poor health, endured many Brothers leaving the Institute, and witnessed his mission being reduced to very few Brothers and a scattering of schools remaining open. In the midst of these challenges, De La Salle reflected, “Thank God for the grace he has given you in your work.”
This Thanksgiving, here are two ways through which we can express our gratitude:
1. Write a gratefulness letter. Write a letter or email to someone in your life for whom you are grateful. In addition to the impact on others, psychological research shows that gratefulness letters refocus the writer on the blessings in their lives - improving mental health. It is truly in giving that we receive!
2. Keep a journal to recognize and note the small and large blessings of your daily life. Extend Thanksgiving beyond just this day by keeping a journal throughout this pandemic. Focus on positive words and eliminating negative thoughts from your writing. Research has shown that journaling and removing negative words improves overall happiness.
My personal gratefulness letter is to you. Please let me express my gratitude to our CBA students and families. Our students, their perseverance, care for each other, and enthusiasm for life are a blessing! From the students who created a technology support program to help their classmates and teachers deal with the challenges of new technologies, to those who have used their artistic talents to create Christmas cards for this Christmas season - our students bring joy to all of my days.
I am grateful for our alumni, 13 of whom volunteered to assist as substitute teachers while they are home studying an education-related field or are on winter recess. And to the many alumni who contributed to our recent capital campaign. Without your support, we would not be able to help our families during their economic hardship nor would we have had the facilities to make an exceptional education even more so.
My gratitude overflows for our faculty and staff members, all of whom have risen to the challenge of supporting the academic, emotional, and spiritual development of our students throughout this pandemic. Our coaches sacrificed family time to move all practices and games to the evening. Our teachers became “1st year teachers” overnight - having to redesign every lesson for in-person, hybrid, and fully remote learning. Our staff restructured work flow and pivoted nearly our entire school operations.
In all of our lives, personal and professional, the COVID-19 pandemic has created significant challenges. This Thanksgiving, may we learn from examples of the “house searching” television shows that there will always be things we wish were different. Let us choose the lens of gratitude which illuminates our blessings and dims our struggles. Thanksgiving is but one day, but the spirit of Thanksgiving is life-changing. Choosing gratitude will help us keep the spirit of Thanksgiving alive throughout the year.
May God bless each one of you. Happy Thanksgiving!
Mr. Matthew Keough
President, Christian Brothers Academy
November 19, 2020
To: Staff, Residents and Families
From: Joe Murabito, President and Managing Member
Subj: AMENDED>>>COVID 19 and OUR WORK TOGETHER TO STAY SAFE
Everyone, we have been working through this COVID challenge for many months now. We are all experiencing unprecedented cases and stress. I sit here writing this to you all from quarantine with my kids at a separate address from my wife who tested positive and is working through the process. If all goes well we will complete back to back quarantine on 11/25....23 days in total due to exposure dates for us. COVID has affected all of us. I pray that a vaccine is near release that will help us realize some semblance of normalcy. We must persist, be positive and continue forward.
Looking forward, given our current experiences, I implore everyone to sit tight and follow state and federal guidelines through the holidays more intently than ever. Holidays are tough for everyone in the best of circumstances. Normal holiday stress is highly exacerbated with the resulting effects of COVID in our lives. It will pass and we will get on with our lives.
I am asking for your continued diligence and help to keep yourselves safe by wearing your PPE, washing hands, keep socially distanced. This is difficult normally and more difficult during the holidays. No matter, we must stick to our plans and follow the guidelines from our leadership.
Specifically for the upcoming holidays, starting with Thanksgiving, I am asking for everyone’s support and cooperation in assuring our residents’ safety. It is my priority and objective that our residents stay with us at our facilities and not congregate with family and friends during the holidays this year.....I know it sounds ridiculous almost....but it is the way to minimize transmission until vaccination and treatment can help assure better outcomes as we manage this condition. Home visits and visits with friends at this time exponentially increase the risk of transmission and negative outcomes. I ask for your cooperation here please.
Staff we will be following all state and federal guidelines for your continued testing and ask that you recommit to your role in the community as a healthcare worker and minimize your travel and contacts. Wear your PPE please, wash hands....especially outside of work. PLEASE MINIMIZE YOUR SOCIAL CONTACTS....WE NEED YOU HELP TO CARE FOR OUR RESIDENTS. WEAR MASKS. WASH HANDS. EAT TURKEY WITH YOUR IMMEDIATE FAMILY AT HOME PLEASE. YOU’VE BEEN DOING GREAT....PLEASE PERSIST AND LETS GET THROUGH THIS.
Residents, our facilities are the best and most controlled environments to wait for a soon to be released vaccine. Please stay at the facility during Thanksgiving and possibly Christmas given current statistics and cases in the community. In the event you decide to leave the facility please know we will be implementing the following steps to assure our overall population remains as safe as possible:
1. Residents who leave the facility for 2 hours or less will continue to have temps/vitals taken and attestations upon return to the facility.
2. Residents who are out of the facility for more than 2 hours may be tested and temperatures/vitals taken each shift. Residents will quarantine for up to 14 days as determined by our clinical and medical team based on the nature and duration of the out of house trip.
3. BOTTOM LINE IS DO NOT LEAVE THE FACILITY FOR NON-MEDICALLY NECESSARY REASONS NOW - PLEASE. WHILE WE CAN ONLY EDUCATE AND DISCOURAGE, A RESIDENT LEAVING THE FACILITY FOR A NON-MEDICALLY NECESSARY REASON AT THIS TIME IS DOING SO AGAINST MEDICAL ADVICE GIVEN CURRENT COVID STATISTICS IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
Despite all frustration with this process, we must continue to support one another and consider how our actions may affect others. There is a much bigger picture at hand. Our timely success over this challenge depends greatly on a collective and consistent approach to managing this issue. Nothing new....just much more important right now given all circumstances.
I want to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to everyone. So many people have been supportive, positive and objective during these months. We will succeed ultimately and I believe that our actions now – together and in concert – will ultimately define our most timely return to a more comfortable and quality way of life.
I am hopeful this amended letter is more clear and everyone in our circles continues to be diligent until we are relieved from this burden we all share.
Sincerely and with my respect and appreciation,
June 21, 2020
To: residents, families, visitors and local community
SUBJ: PUBLIC COMMUNICATION
To all our Family and Friends of the Gardens By Morningstar. You may or may not have heard the news of a small fire.
We want you to know that all are safe. No injuries - Our team and the residents worked together and followed our emergency procedures.
The local Oswego Fire and Emergency crew was fast and efficient. We will keep you informed but we are happy to report no issues at this time. All are doing well.
Thank you for your support.
June 12, 2020
To: residents, families, visitors and local community
SUBJ: PUBLIC COMMUNICATION
As we head approach the middle of June we continue with the same restriction level as
directed by NYSDOH. With shared challenge and frustration we continue doing everything in
our power to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 to our most vulnerable population. To date
with everyone’s cooperation and diligence, we have experienced a total of six COVID cases in a
single facility in Rochester, with two staff positive cases. We remain proud of, and optimistic
with, our efforts. With 450 beds and well over 500 employees, I can’t express my appreciation
enough to all the healthcare workers who take this seriously every day. Our staff does an
excellent job and we are so proud of them. We are thankful and committed to ongoing success
here.
I want to again publically thank all of our leadership and staff for their focus and efforts so far.
They have been great. We know that we must continue with our diligent work. As the world
determines how it must begin to start our economic and social engines again I must stress that
our operations will conduct themselves in a most conservative way. We were the first
organizations to implement restrictions. We will be the last organizations to lift restrictions.
There is no better option. If we can prevent transmission and subsequent suffering related to
this condition then we will do so..
THROUGH THE 30th OF JUNE 2020 our organizations (all four locations), in an effort to be as
conservative and proactive as possible will continue restricting ALL visitation to our facilities.
We are only allowing residents to make critical healthcare appointments as directed by our
Medical Directors and NYSDOH. Despite our optimism we know we are not out of the woods
yet.
HOWEVER, please be assured that our management team is planning how we can begin
structuring some controlled and managed visitation. We’ve begin increased socialization
among our residents within our facilities and are trying to use our green spaces more effectively
as the weather allows. We all look forward to taking more steps toward better and normal
social interactions all around.
While it is impossible to guarantee that COVID-19 will not present itself within our facilities, we
work diligently and are committed to protecting people. Your continued support with our
decisions is important and very much appreciated. Please continue with your own efforts to
minimize and hopefully eliminate transmission by following all the governmental guidelines and
directives....it is worth the effort to protect our most vulnerable.
We take great pride in our work and continue to be honored with the privilege of caring for you
and/or your loved one.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORT. WE WILL RE-EVALUATE THIS
CURRENT POSITION AT THE END OF MAY AND LOOK FORWARD TO SOME LIGHTER
RESTRICTIONS AND MORE NORMAL INTERACTIONS IN THE DAYS AHEAD.
May 15, 2020
To: residents, families, visitors and local community
SUBJ: PUBLIC COMMUNICATION
The challenges with COVID management continue as we reach mid-May 2020. Our facilities
continue with significant restrictions and exercise all the measures of caution and prevention
we can to avoid the virus. With shared challenge and frustration we continue doing everything
in our power to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 to our most vulnerable population. To
date with everyone’s cooperation and diligence, we have experienced a total of six COVID cases
in a single facility in Rochester, with two staff positive cases. We remain proud of, and
optimistic with, our efforts. With 450 beds and well over 500 employees, I can’t express my
appreciation enough to all the healthcare workers who take this seriously every day. Our staff
does an excellent job and we are so proud of them. We are thankful and committed to ongoing
success here.
I want to again publically thank all of our leadership and staff for their focus and efforts so far.
They have been great. We know that we must continue with our diligent work. As the world
determines how it must begin to start our economic and social engines again I must stress that
our operations will conduct themselves in a most conservative way. We were the first
organizations to implement restrictions. We will be the last organizations to lift restrictions.
There is no better option. If we can prevent transmission and subsequent suffering related to
this condition then we will do so.
THROUGH THE 31 st OF MAYour organizations (all four locations), in an effort to be as
conservative and proactive as possible will continue restricting ALL visitation to our facilities.
We continue cancelling all non-critical medical appointments. We continue cancelling traveling
entertainment. We don’t like it either but as society begins to loosen its restrictions we need to
refocus our efforts and watch things closely possibly into the end of May. Despite our optimism
we know we are not out of the woods yet.
HOWEVER, please be assured that our management team has begun discussions and planning
for how we can begin structuring some controlled and managed visitation. We’ve also
discussed how and when we can begin some normal type interactions between residents
through activities and managed social interaction. We know we need to take steps forward and
expect some better information for everyone by months end. We are frustrated with the
situation along with everyone else but know that small subtle steps forward will allow us to
proceed safely and avoid unnecessary negative outcomes.
While it is impossible to guarantee that COVID-19 will not present itself within our facilities, we
work diligently and are committed to protecting people. Your continued support with our
decisions is important and very much appreciated. Please continue with your own efforts to
minimize and hopefully eliminate transmission by following all the governmental guidelines and
directives....it is worth the effort to protect our most vulnerable.
Lastly, I believe it is important to mention some key points specific to our organization’s efforts
to comply with recent state mandates for COVID-19 testing. As you may know recent directives
require all adult care facilities to test all personnel twice weekly. We strongly agree that testing
leads to better knowledge and awareness allowing us to provide optimal care. While we
support the intent of recent testing mandates and believe we have common goals with our
governmental leaders, the resource and supply chain statewide prohibits total compliance as
mandated, at least at the present time. At the same time, we are working diligently together to
accomplish the goals as laid out by our government. Our testing success has increased notably
in all areas and we push forward. We are optimistic support for our work will increase and
improve.
We take great pride in our work and continue to be honored with the privilege of caring for you
and/or your loved one.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORT. WE WILL RE-EVALUATE THIS
CURRENT POSITION AT THE END OF MAY AND LOOK FORWARD TO SOME LIGHTER
RESTRICTIONS AND MORE NORMAL INTERACTIONS IN THE DAYS AHEAD.
April 29, 2020
To: residents, families, visitors and local community
SUBJ: PUBLIC COMMUNICATION
We are completing our second month of very active efforts to care for, preserve and protect our residents. Our facilities implemented significant restrictions and direction to all who come in contact with our residents for the purpose of doing everything in our power to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 to our most vulnerable population. To date with everyone’s cooperation and diligence, we have experienced only five COVID cases in a single facility in Rochester, with one staff positive case. The team in Rochester has worked very hard to contain this issue and provide the best care....they are doing an excellent job and we are all proud of them. In our other three facilities we continue with no cases in residents or staff. We are thankful and committed to ongoing success here.
I want to again publically thank all of our leadership and staff for their focus and efforts so far. They have been great. We know that we must continue with our diligent work. As the world determines how it must begin to start our economic and social engines again I must stress that our operations will conduct themselves in a most conservative way. We were the first organizations to implement restrictions. We will be the last organizations to lift restrictions. There is no better option. If we can prevent transmission and subsequent suffering related to this condition then we will do so.
THROUGH THE 15th OF MAY our organizations (all four locations), in an effort to be as conservative and proactive as possible will continue restricting ALL visitation to our facilities. We continue cancelling all non-critical medical appointments. We continue cancelling traveling entertainment. We don’t like it either but as society begins to loosen its restrictions we need to refocus our efforts and watch things closely possibly into the end of May. Despite our optimism we know we are not out of the woods yet.
While it is impossible to guarantee that COVID-19 will not present itself within our facilities, we work diligently and are committed to protecting people.
Your continued support with our decisions is important and very much appreciated.
Please continue with your own efforts to minimize and hopefully eliminate transmission by following all the governmental guidelines and directives....it is worth the effort to protect our most vulnerable.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORT. WE WILL RE-EVALUATE THIS DECISION MID-MAY AS THINGS UNFOLD.
April 27th, 2020
Our staff and leadership continue their diligent efforts and work to manage all aspects of the current COVID-19 pandemic. We appreciate your continued support through this challenging time. We are dedicated to our work, our residents and our families as you know. We are available for questions and recognize the concerns people may have. With that said we ask for your continued patience and understanding as we continue to navigate all aspects of this topic.
The following is a link for information and resources on COVID: https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/home
You may also contact directly the NYSDOH via email: icp@health.ny.gov OR covidadultcareinfo@health.ny.gov OR covidnursinghomeinfo@health.ny.gov
We understand and feel the stress of this matter and want to assure everyone that our complete focus and efforts are being directed toward managing this issue.
Thank you again for your support and understanding.
April 14, 2020
A Letter from our President:
To: residents, families, visitors and local community
SUBJ: PUBLIC COMMUNICATION
One month ago our facilities implemented significant restrictions and direction to all who come in contact with our residents for the purpose of doing everything in our power to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 to our most vulnerable population. Due to everyone’s cooperation and diligence we have not experienced cases of this condition among our staff or residents. We are thankful and committed to ongoing success here.
We want to publically thank all of our leadership and staff for their focus and efforts so far. They have been great. We know that we must remain diligent in our efforts for the next 2-4 weeks. As the world determines how it must begin to start our economic and social engines again I must stress that our operations will conduct themselves in a most conservative way. We were among the first organizations to implement restrictions. We will be the last organizations to lift restrictions. There is no better option. If we can prevent transmission and subsequent suffering related to this condition then we will do so.
THROUGH THE END OF APRIL our organization (all four locations), in an effort to be as conservative and proactive as possible will continue restricting ALL visitations to our facilities. We continue cancelling all non-critical medical appointments. We continue cancelling traveling entertainment. We don’t like it either but as society begins to loosen its restrictions we need to refocus our efforts and watch things closely for the rest of the month and possibly into early May. Despite our optimism we know we are not out of the woods yet. We thank our residents, staff, and our community for the creativity and openness to finding new and innovative ways to stay connected. We personally thank everyone for the cards, the notes, the social media updates and the praise to our essential front line employees in all departments. Keep them coming – they are appreciated!!
We have not experienced influenza or COVID-19 outbreaks or cases so far. We want to keep it that way and protect our residents as best as we can. While it is impossible to guarantee that COVID-19 will not present itself within our facilities, we work diligently and are committed to protecting people.
Your continued support with our decisions is important and very much appreciated. Please continue with your own efforts to minimize and hopefully eliminate transmission by following all the governmental guidelines and directives.... it is worth the effort to protect our most vulnerable.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORT. WE WILL RE-EVALUATE THIS DECISION at the end of APRIL AS THINGS UNFOLD. ON BEHALF OF OWNERS AND LEADERSHIP – RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED