December 3, 2020 | We hope this finds you well and having enjoyed a wonderful, although decidedly different, kind of Thanksgiving gathering. Holidays are so important to us all and we want them to be as memorable as possible, for all the right reasons! Thank you for working to make this Thanksgiving memorable for reasons of the safety and health of your loved ones.
Over the past months, as we moved into the Fall, and prepared for the coming holiday season, COVID-19 appeared to be less pervasive in the broader community; allowing States and Facility management the freedom to allow family visitation within the communities and to re-establish connection with their loved ones. We witnessed firsthand the benefit those familial and social connections had on the spirit and well-being of our residents and do not take lightly the burden of limiting interactions no matter how great the risk nor how necessary the reason.
Having said that and believing in the importance of these family interactions, at this time and after considerable discussion and collaboration with each community and our Corporate COVID Committee led by our Board Certified Medical Director, Dr. Dan Scarborough, and in concert with the published guidance and recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on the resurgence of COVID-19, we have determined that continued inside visitation at our communities poses an outsized risk to residents and staff, more than outweighing the benefit derived from these visits.
As we monitor positivity rates, we watch with the knowledge that the recent Thanksgiving Holiday gatherings so many people enjoyed are already resulting in growing rates of transmission and infection. With an eye to the coming holidays, we are implementing an immediate cessation of indoor visitation for a period of two weeks from the date of this communication during which we will observe the positivity rates in our respective areas and weigh the ongoing risk for the following Alabama communities:
- Haven Memory Care on Halcyon
- Haven Memory Care
- Homestead Village of Fairhope
- Live Oak Village
- The Madison Village
It is our sincere hope that in doing so we can minimize the risk of spread within the communities, hopefully allowing us to return to indoor visitation after the two weeks. We will reassess the risk level on December 18, 2020, and determine if we are able to re-initiate indoor visitations.
In the meantime, you may continue to schedule outdoor visits. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we understand the toll this is taking on everyone. If we can assist in facilitating a window visit, a video or facetime chat, or even an old-fashioned letter, please reach out to the community. We look forward to the ability to offer the COVID-19 vaccine shortly and know with robust participation we will see our risks drop dramatically. With this sacrifice and your continued support and cooperation we will move through this next wave to the most successful outcome possible.’
With gratitude,