CORONAVIRUS UPDATES

• Visitor Responsibilities
  • Visitors must agree to have their temperatures taken, complete a health
    screening and use hand sanitizer upon arrival.
  •  Temperatures of all visitors will be taken upon arrival, and the results are non-negotiable. If a visitor has a temperature of 100.1 or greater, they will be asked to leave and reschedule their visit.
  • Masks (facial coverings) must be worn by everyone at the visit over the age of two at all times. Visitors will need to provide their own face masks. We will provide face masks for our residents.
  • Families, friends, and other visitors need to agree to no physical contact during the visit. All visitors must also remain 6 feet from the resident(s) they are visiting.
• Communication – We ask that you coordinate and communicate visit times directly with your loved one. For those whose loved one(s) is living on memory support households at MPL (Kirby, Morris, Luther), we ask that you partner with the team to determine communication timing with the resident.
• Changing the day/time of your visit or canceling – Please make any necessary changes to your sign up no less than 24 hours in advance.
• The number of visitors – Due to social distancing requirements, the physical location of the visits can accommodate up to seven people. The State of Ohio is requiring a staff member to be present; therefore, there can be a maximum of five visitors at any outdoor visits. If the visit includes a resident couple, there would only be four visitors permitted, to keep to the seven people that can fit in the allotted area.
  • Please note – If your loved one lives in a memory support household at MPL, a staff member will be accompanying them throughout the visit (in addition to the staff escort). Therefore, there can only be a maximum of  three visitors.
• Pets – Unfortunately, there are specific regulations about animals within our communities. During the pilot, we are unable to do all the regulatory requirements for new pets, which includes vet records, temperament checks, etc. For these reasons, only approved visiting pets (prior to COVID-19) will be allowed.
• Restrooms – You will not have access inside of the building during a visit at any time. We encourage you to use the restroom in advance of your visit.
• Children – In accordance with CDC guidelines, children ages two and older must wear a mask / facial covering for the duration of the visit.
• Food and Drink – Eating and drinking are not permitted at any time during visits.
• Exchanging of items – The staff escort will be able to transfer items that you would like to give to your loved one.

• Communication – We ask that you coordinate and communicate visit times directly with your loved one. For those with loved ones living on memory support households at MPL (Kirby, Morris, Luther), we ask that you partner with the team to determine communication timing with the resident.
• The number of visitors – Due to social distancing requirements, the physical location of the visits can accommodate up to seven people. The State of Ohio is requiring a staff member to be present; therefore, there can be a maximum of three visitors at any outdoor visits. If the visit includes a resident couple, there would only be two visitors permitted, to keep to the seven people that can fit in the allotted area.
  • Please note – If your loved one lives in a memory support household at MPL, a staff member will be accompanying them throughout the visit (in addition to the staff escort). Therefore, there can only be a maximum of four visitors or three visitors if it is a resident couple.
• Restrooms – You will not have access inside of the building during a visit at any time. We encourage you to use the restroom in advance of your visit.
• Changing the day/time of your visit or canceling – Please make any necessary changes to your sign up no less than 24 hours in advance. The sign-up links can be found below for your convenience. In order to ensure a staff member is present, any unreserved times will be removed from the sign up 24 hours in advance as well.
• Temperatures – Temperatures of all visitors will be taken upon arrival, and the results are non-negotiable. If a visitor has a temperature of 100.1 or greater, they will be asked to leave and reschedule their visit.
• Pets – Unfortunately, there are specific regulations about animals within our communities. During the pilot, we are unable to do all the regulatory requirements for new pets, which includes vet records, temperament checks, etc. For these reasons, only approved visiting pets (prior to COVID-19) will be allowed.
• Children – In accordance with CDC guidelines, children ages two and older must wear a mask / facial covering for the duration of the visit.
• Future visits – SignUp Genius links will be updated by or before Wednesday, June 17th, with additional visits throughout the coming weeks. We will also be adding a limited number of evening and weekend visits.

• In accordance with the Governor’s guidelines, visits will be structured settings that are designed to encourage social distancing and will be monitored by staff to address any misuse of wearing of masks (facial coverings) or lack of cooperation with social distancing.
• Visitors must agree to have their temperatures taken, complete a health screening, and use hand sanitizer upon arrival.
• Visitors and residents must be symptom-free and not quarantined.
• Masks (facial coverings) must be worn during each visit at all times. Visitors must bring their own face masks. We will provide face masks for our residents.
• Families, friends, and other visitors need to agree to no physical contact during
  the visit.

• The number of gatherings in each of our communities is based on the space available to maintain social distancing, including the individual and any staff needed to assist.
• In accordance with the Governor’s guidelines, visits will be structured settings that are designed to encourage social distancing and will be monitored by staff to address any misuse of wearing of masks (facial coverings) or lack of cooperation with social distancing.
• Visitors must agree to have their temperatures taken, complete a health screening, and wash their hands or use hand sanitizer upon arrival.
• Masks (facial coverings) must be worn during each visit at all times. Visitors will need to provide their face masks. We will provide face masks for our residents.
• Families, friends, and other visitors need to agree to no physical contact during the visit.
  Visitors and residents must be symptom-free and not quarantined.

May 28th, 2020

Dear Residents and Families,

Recently, I shared with you that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) has issued revised guidelines. Since that time, we have been reviewing the guidelines and evaluating any changes that we will make at ERS communities. We have also been in constant communication with our member association, Leading Age Ohio since they have a direct line of communication with the Ohio Department of Health (ODH). Based on our review, I would like to share some changes in our guidelines.

Life Enrichment and Exercise Programs:

We will be enhancing our programs offered to residents over the next several weeks. We will be holding in-person exercise classes in small groups. Additionally, we will be adding life enrichment programs in small group settings. We have increased our capacity to nine residents plus a staff member, for a total of ten people at group events. Some events may be outdoors to increase safety. The room size will still limit the number of people. To that end, we will be opening our event centers next week to provide a larger space for up to nine residents with a staff member. Activities and programs for our memory care residents will remain on their households for safety reasons.

To be successful in making these changes, we need your help. We have to insist that residents do the following:

• Wear masks at all times when you are outside your apartment, including the small group events noted above. Wearing a mask protects you and everyone in the community. If you are enjoying a cocktail in a public space, we ask you to use a straw or wear masks when not drinking.

• Residents’ temperatures will be checked before gatherings.

• Observe social distancing of 6-feet or more (even when wearing masks) and proper hygiene and handwashing.

Unfortunately, we are not able to open our wellness centers and pools at this time. We have boldly advocated for guidelines to safely open these areas with the state because, like you, we believe in the therapeutic benefit of the programming. However, at this time, because of our licensure, we are not able to open these areas.

We are working with the ODH to determine how we can structure outdoor visits with families while continuing to uphold the state guidelines. ODH will issue guidance next week, and we are hoping to announce changes soon.

Lastly, we have worked within the guidelines to create a safe way for new DH and MPL (non-memory care) residents to join our campuses. A small number of future residents had move-in dates in April and May that we stopped. A few of these people sold their homes during this pandemic and have nowhere to live. To protect you and the community you live in, we have created some very strict guidelines:

• No apartment modifications will be made at this time. New residents must agree to the state of the apartment and delay modifications until after the essential visitor/worker order is lifted.

• Each new resident will need to have a negative COVID-19 test within three days of move-in.

• The move-in will be monitored by an assigned staff member who ensures that the movers do not interact with any residents and other staff. Only the freight elevator will be used during moves.

• We will use only ERS approved movers who comply with temperature checks and other safety protocols such as masks, hygiene, etc.

New residents will be quarantined for 14 days after their move date and monitored for symptoms. Additionally, they will be informed of all our guidelines in advance and confirm that they will comply.

We have a small number of move-ins that will occur in June. We will let you know in advance of the moves. It will be interesting to see what lessons our pandemic will teach us in welcoming new residents into our family.

Please let me know if you have any questions. Sincerely,

Laura R. P. Lamb
President & CEO