TOWN HALL MONDAY

On Monday, June 14, the June Town Hall happens at 11am (for resident apartments on floors 6 to 8) and 2pm (for apartment residents 2 to 5).  In-person attendees can come to Heritage Hall, but the sessions will also be broadcast to in house TV channel 1970. 

We plan to feature the dining team leaders Amanda Maxwell and Matt Schwartz who will present extensive information about the program, immediate changes to be made in bistro and dinner operation.  Our objective is to have all understand what it takes to provide the best dining experience for everyone.

Mike Rohrbach will also speak about infrastructure projects, particularly the heating plant project which begins this month.  Of special interest is when a crane will be on site to remove old equipment from the top of the building.

Karen Doler provides an update on program offerings and detail about social life on campus.

WORKFORCE

A word about our work teams and hiring.  All have heard much about staff shortage and difficulties with hiring.  This challenges our ability to provide service in ways the organization and residents prefer.  When we are stretched, it is necessary to prioritize the work to be done.  All need to know that, in this mix, we are committed to making sure employees are not pushed beyond any kind of breaking point and we talk about the importance of self care for staff persons across the workforce.  When, for example, an employee is due and plans for vacation time, we are not inclined to deny time off.  Staff persons need to regenerate.   

The fact is, the pandemic is NOT over, even though everyone is desperate to return to normal.  This will require more time.  The world needs to recover as well.  The disease has succeeded in disrupting and scrambling a lot of things, from the economy, to health care, to the work force nationally.  I appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding.   

MASK USE   

Recent leadership discussions suggest that we should be able to allow residents to go mask free in common areas by June 28, when Pennsylvania lifts the masking guideline.   Employees and guests will still be asked to wear masks.

VACCINATION

Speaking of vaccination, we are revisiting the process for residents and employees.  There are very few residents who are unvaccinated and with these persons we’ll follow up.  Our employee teams are about 70% vaccinated, but we’re heading for 100% so will be approaching all unvaccinated employees with options for receiving the full dose.

COVID-19

One of the indicators that we are on the backside of pandemic is finding that the matter of Covid 19 doesn’t need to be front and center of every discussion and news report.  Bucks County’s positivity rate has been dropping steadily for a month now and today the rate is 1.1%.

SKILLED NURSING VISTATION

Because the nursing center still has non-covid upper respiratory cases, we have not lifted the ban on visitation.  Limited visits should be scheduled by logging on to Sign-up Genius (through the
WEL – Doylestown website).

Steven T. Cherry, nha

Interim Executive Director