Dear Residents, Families and Employees:

Visits with health center and personal care residents are in progress and going well.  Just a reminder, face masks must be worn covering the nose and mouth, there can be no eating or drinking during visits, no hugs or hand holding. 

As I shared in an earlier update, we will be requiring proof of flu vaccination for all visitors beginning October 1.  Regardless of your purpose for a visit, if you are coming for a compassionate visit or you are visiting during the scheduled visiting period, you will need a certificate of flu vaccination.  The flu certificate MUST contain the following information:

  • Lot #
  • Expiration Date
  • Physician’s letterhead or order pad with name and address, OR CVS, Walgreen’s, etc. certificate
  • Signature of person administering the vaccine

We are not mandating that you get a flu vaccine – we cannot mandate that.  We are stating that without the certificate you may not enter the community to visit.

Based on recent CMS guidelines for visits, one negative COVID-19 test result will be required to be produced by all visitors within 72 hours of the visit.  As of this date, we have not incorporated this into our program and we will provide you with notice as to the date this will be effective.

The Fireside Dining Room scheduled re-opening date is tentatively set for Monday, October 19.  There will be two primary times for seating.  Half of the first seating will be escorted to the tables at 4:00 and the second half of the first seating will be escorted to the table at 4:15 p.m.  The second seating will be split in half and escorted to tables at 5:15 and 5:30 p.m.   Everyone will be screened prior to being seated.  No one may independently seat themselves.

For those independent residents who are uncomfortable with the thought of dining in the Fireside Dining Room, we will continue to offer room service and it will be delivered at 3:30 p.m.  We will continue room service at no charge for a period of 30 days.  Effective November 19, 2020, we will begin to charge the daily rate for room service for those who do not come to the Fireside Dining Room. 

Please keep in mind that all of the Fireside Dining Room plans may change if there are any new cases of COVID-19, or if the mayor of Philadelphia changes the position on dining indoors.  We are thinking positively as we make our plans to re-open, however, the reality of the situation looms in the wings. 

There have been several requests to re-open the doors at M and P Buildings so independent residents can enter the building via those doors.  There are no immediate plans to open those doors at any time in the near future.  Our process remains to screen everyone who enters the community and that is not possible for us to do if we have three points of entry.  Further, we do not want visitors or family members who have keys entering the building without screening.  There is an increased risk to all of our residents and the potential to introduce COVID to the community with people entering the building without our knowledge.  It then becomes impossible for us to clean and sanitize the community properly.  I appreciate the “argument” about staff coming/going daily, but it is abundantly evident that our staff is practicing a sensible and safe lifestyle.  I recognize the hardship that entering at the main door presents to many of our residents, but it is in the interest of safety and health for everyone that we continue the practice of those M and P building doors remaining inaccessible from outdoors. 

Please do not hesitate to contact us with your questions or concerns.  You can send me an email directly at the address herein.