COVID-19 Update

Staying Safe, Healthy, and Engaged During The Pandemic – The UMH Way

July 27, 2021

Life for residents at United Methodist Homes has begun to return to “normal” with high vaccination rates among our residents and our staff. With the continued threat of the Delta variant, we remain diligent in our commitment to our infection control safety protocols as well as screening every person who enters our buildings. The screening entails a temperature check and questionnaire to determine if an individual has symptoms or has participated in an activity that would put our treasured residents and dedicated staff at risk.

Families are welcome to visit with the residents in the community or invite them to their homes. Residents are encouraged to gather together for meaningful programs, activities, events, and entertainment. They dine with friends in our Dining Rooms, they visit each other in their apartments, take trips to the beach, local restaurants, and much more! They have resumed trips to the grocery store, pharmacy, and other destinations to run errands. Our residents are able to live their best lives! Anyone who is unvaccinated must continue to wear a mask at all times when inside the community or when interacting with residents.

As additional precautions, all our communities follow the recommendations of the Connecticut Department of Public Health and CDC and continue to maintain ample supplies of PPE and COVID tests, if needed. Please check out our Facebook pages to learn more about how UMH residents are thriving.

December 2020

At UMH communities, we have been and continue to be dedicated to keeping our residents safe, healthy, and engaged during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Every member of our team is committed to the highest level of infection control protocols.  Equally important is their dedication to keeping residents engaged in life and connected with each other and their loved ones.

Top Reason New Residents are Choosing to Move In During the COVID-19 Pandemic

To be HEALTHY – Vaccinations are on their way and residents in our Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing sites are at the top of the list to receive the COVID-19 vaccine! According to the State of Connecticut distribution plan, our residents and staff are considered a top priority.  For this we are grateful.

• During the pandemic, our residents continue to get three, healthy, home-cooked, and delicious meals each day. They have the choice of socially distanced dining in our Dining Rooms or room service if they prefer. 
• Residents receive personal care in their apartments by staff who are tested for COVID on a regular basis and follow all infection control processes.

To be HAPPY – Social interactions are the key to good health.  Many have struggled living at home, isolated from friends and family. 

• According to a Gallup Poll, people need 6-7 hours of social interaction each day. This is not possible for many seniors living at home but is much more attainable in a UMH community.  Socially distanced programs are held throughout the day and in the evening.  Whether you are interested in painting, book discussion groups, live entertainment, fitness, or games, we have systems in place to keep residents healthy.  Face masks are provided to all residents, and the staff keeps residents safe by wearing not only face masks but in many instances, face shields.  We have an abundance of PPE and sanitizer available at all times. 

To be SAFE – Our infection control protocols are designed to mitigate risks associated with COVID-19.  Every person entering the building goes through a health screening.  Visitation with family and friends is handled in such a way to encourage human interaction while staying safe.

• Even during times of quarantine, residents stay active and engaged with visits from staff, one-on-one programs, or activities via our in-house TV channel where available. We help them maintain virtual connections with their loved ones to keep the lines of communication open. 

To have SOMEONE KNOW THEY ARE OKAY – Trained care staff are on-site 24-hours a day, available to check in on residents to make sure they are okay.  Staff are available in the event of an emergency or just some small talk if a resident is looking for some company.  Family and loved ones have peace of mind knowing the residents are being well cared for, both physically and emotionally.   They receive regular communication from our leadership team that is transparent.  If there are changes to our protocols, families are in the loop and know what to expect.  Good relationships are critical during times such as these.

December 8, 2020 

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused distress and hardship for all of us, but seniors and those who care for them have been most severely impacted. At United Methodist Homes, we are breathing a sigh of relief that vaccinations are on the horizon. In the coming days, our community Administrators and Executive Directors will be sharing more information regarding the vaccination process with you, as more details emerge.

New information about the vaccine continues to develop each day and plans for distribution are expected to continue to evolve as the situation develops. Currently, it is anticipated there will be three phases of vaccine distribution starting with the First Phase as soon as the vaccine is received. The First Phase will include healthcare workers, long-term care facility and assisted living residents. Those residents and staff, residing or working in our nursing homes or assisted living communities at United Methodist Homes will be included in this First Phase. Independent living residents in the Wesley Village Cottages may be included in the Second Phase to be delivered between January and May. Our skilled nursing facility (Bishop Wicke Health and Rehabilitation Center) has already been notified that vaccinations should occur between December 22nd and December 28th and we expect similar notifications for other communities in the coming days. Each community will be managing the collection of required consents prior to the arrival of vaccinations.

We understand you may have questions about the safety and efficacy of the vaccine. Please click to review the information provided by The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine through our pharmacy vendor, Omnicare. We will continue to share additional information as it becomes available. If you have additional questions, please reach out to the Administrator or the Executive Director of your community.

We are hopeful that vaccinations will begin the process of healing from the COVID crisis. It is important to understand that the vaccination process will take months, and we will continue our infection control practices as guided by CDC and the State of Connecticut through the process.

Sincerely,

David M. Lawlor

President & CEO, United Methodist Homes

July 24, 2020

At UMH, our top priority is the safety and well-being of the residents who live in our communities while finding new and creative ways to keep them active, engaged and connected with each other and their loved ones during these unprecedented times of the COVID-19 pandemic. The requirements of social distancing and PPE do not get in the way of us living our mission and continuing to focus on relationships and encouraging our residents to live lives full of meaning and purpose. 

Important Changes

In order to keep COVID-19 at bay, all UMH communities conduct Infection Control Rounding each day to monitor the goings-on in the community to ensure that staff and residents alike are adhering to proper safety measures.  Every person who enters one of our buildings is required to have their temperature taken and complete a Health and Travel Questionnaire.

An Executive Order from the office of Governor Lamont mandates weekly COVID-19 testing of all nursing home patients and staff.  It is mandated for assisted living staff who have not previously tested positive for COVID-19. All testing will continue until no new-onset positives are found for at least 14 days since the most recent positive result.  

As new information is learned about the virus, we consult our team of clinical experts and adhere to the advice from the Connecticut Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and make adjustments to our protocols as necessary.

Resident Life

Our communities are offering many programs throughout the day for residents to participate in either virtually or in-person with proper social distancing.  Residents are enjoying exercise classes, musical entertainment, word & trivia games, themed snacks & traveling happy hour carts, fashion shows, and of course, Bingo. Residents are encouraged to visit with each other and take walks around our beautiful property while wearing their face masks and practicing proper social distancing.  Families are now enjoying outdoor visits with their loved ones in areas specifically dedicated to this purpose. Maintaining emotional connections with loved ones is critical for good mental health, especially now. 

We have begun the process of opening the Dining Rooms in some of our communities.  Residents continue to have the option of receiving top-notch room service with healthy and delicious entrées and snacks, delivered to their apartment with a smile by our staff.  Additionally, some residents have opted to take advantage of our outdoor dining venues.  

On-site physicians and other care providers such as podiatrists and therapists are now permitted in community spaces that accommodate the need for social distancing. This is a great benefit to our residents who have concerns about going to medical appointments off-site. We have assisted residents with telehealth appointments and will continue to do so as they request this service.

We are offering transportation to medical appointments for those requiring an in-person visit.  Some communities have also begun offering scenic drives for a change of scenery.   

We are continuing to work with prospective residents and their families by conducting virtual tours and moving new residents into our communities. Please reach out to a member of our marketing team if you would like to schedule your tour. 

We appreciate all the kind and supportive words from our residents, families, and friends and ask for your continued understanding as we navigate this evolving situation.

Wishing you good health,

David M. Lawlor

President & CEO, United Methodist Homes

March 19, 2020

We understand you may be concerned about the spread of the Coronavirus COVID-19 and how it may impact the UMH communities. Ensuring residents are cared for in a safe and healthy environment is our top priority. We are taking all the recommended precautions and appreciate your help and understanding as we manage the risks presented by COVID-19. Please know we receive regular guidance from the United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”), United States Center for Medicare Services (“CMS”), and the Connecticut Department of Health (“DPH”).

There are good reasons why families choose UMH in a time of crisis. At UMH, we are blessed to have a top-notch medical team that cares deeply for the residents we serve. The clinical leadership of our communities are skilled, experienced, and long-term members of our team. Our Medical Director, is a geriatric physician and long-term UMH board member and has provided invaluable guidance and practical solutions in each of our care settings. We also maintain a preferred provider network with Connecticut’s progressive health care delivery systems (Yale Health System, Hartford Healthcare, and Griffin Hospital). Our executives hold leadership roles in state provider associations of LeadingAge (the state and national organization focused on education, advocacy, and applied research about aging), and Connecticut Assisted Living Association.

Based upon our review of protocols, input from our network, and guidance from state and federal officials, we will be implementing the following changes in our communities, effective immediately and to last for at least two weeks:

• Each admission is screened by our Infection Control and Medical Team before occupancy.
• Every person entering a building has their temperature checked and must answer a health questionnaire and wash their hands before proceeding. Anyone with symptoms is not permitted entrance.
• We have increased the frequency of cleaning common spaces in our communities, including frequently touched surfaces such as workstations, handrails, countertops, and doorknobs.
• As always, we continue to practice proper handwashing hygiene, washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. An alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains 60-95% alcohol may be used if washing hands is not an option.
• As always, sick employees are required to stay home if they have ANY symptoms of respiratory illness. If symptoms develop during their work shift, they will notify their supervisor immediately. Of course, our residents and staff are expected to cover their mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
• As always, our caregivers wear gowns and gloves when interacting with residents who are sick.
• We are also following the temporary recommendations of the CDC and DPH, as follows:
  • Visitors are not currently permitted in any community, except under special circumstances.
  • All residents are receiving meals in their apartment or room.
  • All residents and staff are practicing social distancing and we are having fun finding new and creative ways to stay connected and engaged with each other by reducing group sizes.

We are continuing to work with prospective residents and their families by conducting virtual tours. Please reach out to a member of our marketing team if you would like to schedule your tour. 

We appreciate all the kind and supportive words from our residents, families, and friends and ask for your continued understanding as we navigate this evolving situation.

Wishing you good health,

David M. Lawlor

President & CEO, United Methodist Homes.