Executive Director: Weekly COVID-19 Update December 23, 2020

Dear Residents, Families and Employees:

I want to open with good news – we tested 117 staff members Monday and all 117 were negative for COVID-19! I am also happy to share with you that the positivity rate in Philadelphia dropped to 13% last week, down from 14.8 the prior week. We still have a long way to go before we can stop testing staff twice a week and residents weekly, but we are heading in the right direction. There is no doubt that the increased restrictions has helped with this reduction in cases, as well as we are several weeks past Thanksgiving.

At this moment, we do not have a clinic date. The Philadelphia Department of Public Health also reported that they have not received enough doses of the vaccine, and that is why the hold-up in our vaccination date. I assure you that I will disseminate information, without delay, as soon as we receive any update.

It has been a very busy week, and it is only Wednesday. Monday and Tuesday many of our families were here to sign consent forms for the health center resident vaccines, as well as many Christmas gifts were dropped off. Santa Claus and two of his elves will be making rounds on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day delivering gifts to all that we received gifts for. Our plans for a holiday village in the courtyard were put on hold thanks to the snow last week. We then re-thought those plans due to snow and ice risks and moved the event indoors this past Monday. It was much different than our holiday dinner normally is for the independent residents, but by all accounts it was enjoyed and the food was delicious. We also had our employee holiday party during the day on Monday. Although we could not sit and socialize and share lunch, a lunch was provided and a large number of staff went home with a gift that they won in a raffle for all employees.

I especially want to shine a spotlight on our Enhanced Living (activities) staff. I know many of our residents have lived through some dark times in history, but this may be the bleakest Christmas they’ve experienced. Megan Boran, Director, and her staff have worked very creatively and physically hard to decorate the entire community, create the holiday village and various themes for each station, keeping up with zoom/Facetime visits, deliver many packages to residents that have been arriving for days now, partnering with Dining for some creative desserts at the parties (s’mores bread pudding!!) and cookie baking, surprises, and continuing to do everything within their power to keep spirits and morale up. They have been OUTSTANDING!

The entire Wesley Enhanced Pennypack Park staff is beyond compare. I am blessed to work with such a great group – the best in my long career. Words cannot express how much they are appreciated.

My heartfelt wish for all of you is to have a very safe and Merry Christmas. I hope the light of this season of peace and good will shines brightly upon you and your families.

Warmest regards,

Suzanne H. Lachman, LNHA
Executive Director
slachman@wel.org
Direct: 267.348.3340