A Message From Your Executive Director
As we continue our battle against COVID-19, six more staff members received their first dose of vaccine last week. Our numbers are growing! Our hiring efforts continue as well. Today we had 4 new staff, 2 nurses and 2 QLS’s, begin their orientation with Tricia, our Business Office Manager. Please welcome the new faces when you see them.
On Friday we will say good-bye to Danielle Yoder, Director of Health Services. Danielle has been an integral part of our successful fight against COVID-19 over the past year. She is returning to hospice work and we wish her the very best. I’m happy to report that I made an offer to a new Director of Health Services on Friday. Stay tuned for more information!
Thank you for your continued support, enjoy the sunny weather, and we will see you soon!
Nikki
Community Connection
Last week at The Village residents stayed busy with daily fitness sessions, daily movies, scenic drives, and live music with Jes & Jakob, our artists in residence! On Wednesday local artist Gaal Crow joined us in Abbott Studio for our first in a series of painting classes. Many residents attended and were eager to participate. Even those who were hesitant to join in on the class found their creative side thanks to Gaal. We are so thrilled to be welcoming her back over the next few months. On Friday, our Coffee & Conversation social featured Lindsey, a senior nursing student from Norwich University, Danielle Yoder and other nursing staff. Lindsey led a presentation on Infection Control and Diabetic care which was informative for both residents and staff.
This week residents can look forward to continued daily fitness sessions, daily movies, scenic drives, and shopping trips! On Monday, April 26th at 2:00 there will be live music in Miller Stage by the Occasional Jug Band. On Thursday evening at 5:30 we will have our weekly Summoning Summer Cookout in Windsor Dining Room.
NOTE: As always, Skype calls are available to keep everyone connected. To schedule, please sign up at https://teamup.com/kszegtj8g4jco615xw and reach out to Sam with any questions.
Community Connection – Vaccines
Our pharmacy has paused the distribution of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. As we work to vaccinate new staff we hope to be able to get Pfizer or Moderna without interruption.
We understand that you may have questions about this process as well as the vaccines themselves, for that reason we are sharing below the links to the CDC and Johnson & Johnson websites to help answer some of your inquiries.
Memory Care Minute
By Gretchen Cole, Director of Memory Care
Hello everyone,
Every year in May, The Administration for Community Living leads the United States with a celebration of Older Americans Month. The theme this year is “Communities of Strength.”
As we have all endured a global pandemic and continue to make progress and learn together, our older adults lead the way. Their life stories, contributions to their communities, and love of their families are inspiring to us all. Take time to reach out and thank an older adult in your life or community in the month of May!
Our residents in memory care will be working on some community projects throughout the year. We are celebrating Older Americans Month with the creation of Birthday Bags that will be distributed via the LISTEN Community Center in Lebanon, NH. Our residents will be creating something fun to help someone in need, that is intergenerational, and we will deliver them to the food pantry. Each bag contains the following:
- Birthday Gift Bag
- Tissue Paper
- New Card
- Cake Mix (Sugar Free and Gluten Free options)
- Frosting
- Candles
- Party Favor
The Village, fulfilling our residents’ sense of purpose and promoting a high quality of life!
Please do not hesitate to reach out to me if you have questions about memory care, memory impairment, and the program that is evolving.
Have a great week everyone,
Gretchen
Family and Caregiver Support Group
Memory Care Director, Gretchen Cole will be offering a family and caregiver support group in the Month of May for The Village. If you are a family or caregiver of someone with Dementia and would like to join the group, please email me at colegretchen@thevillageatwrj.com. I am excited to be a part of this community and taking small steps towards wellness for our residents and their families. We are in this together!
Team Member Spotlight
Leslie Graham – LPN
Last week at our monthly all-staff meetings we named Leslie Graham our employee of the month. Day in and day out Leslie demonstrates a true example of person-centered care and customer service. Leslie takes the time to get to know our residents and understand their individual needs. She is always ready with a smile and is never short of energy. She has been a real mainstay at The Village and we are grateful for her dedication to our residents. Congratulations, Leslie!
Tips For These Times
Tea & Twain — Travels with Mark Twain
Little Yellow House Studio of Andover presents “Tea & Twain,” a virtual one-man show “Travels with Mark Twain” starring Broadway and TV actor Ron Crawford, via Zoom at 7 p.m. Saturdays, April 24 and May 1, and at 4 p.m. Sundays, April 25 and May 2. Viewers are invited to a virtual tea party starting 30 minutes before each performance. Admission is “pay what you can” ($15 per viewer recommended); for Zoom link or information, go online to littleyellowhousestudio.com/events/
Talk Time
Join Nikki every Wednesday at 10:00 am via Zoom for COVID and community updates and have an opportunity to ask questions.
This Week’s Menu
This Week’s Activities
COVID-19 In Our Community
We are committed to keeping you informed of how COVID-19 is impacting The Village at White River Junction. We continue our robust commitment to following the guidelines from both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local health authorities by:
- Based on our current Phase and the positivity rate in our county, visitors will be allowed beginning 2/26/21
- All visits must be scheduled ahead of time. We need to record the time you enter the community and the time you leave.
- Limit of 2 visitors per resident at a time, up to 4 visitors per day
- We will gather name and contact info for contact tracing for every visit.
- Visits may occur between 9am and 7pm.
- Core principles of COVID-19 infection prevention will be enforced. These include:
- Screening before each visit
- Hand hygiene
- Mask use for all visitors and staff
- Physical distancing when possible
- Visits can occur in the resident’s apartment or outside.
- Requiring all staff to wear surgical or procedural masks and adhere to screening processes
- Maintaining the frequency and rigor of cleaning and sanitizing all surfaces
- Reviewing our emergency preparedness and response program
- Asking residents and employees to adhere to the State of Vermont travel restrictions
- Coordinating best practices across our large partner network
- Group activities are held following social-distancing guidelines
Helpful Links
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html
- www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/index.html
LCS COVID-19 website
Local health department website
From the Governor
