Campus Update

October 24, 2022

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, transparency has been key. Therefore, we wish to communicate changes with our policy for COVID-19 precautions and required regulations, this letter will share new updates for our healthcare and assisted living areas of campus.

CMS (Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services) and the State Department of Health has begun to ease some of the restrictions for masking and testing as well as for quarantining residents. While we are excited to see these restrictions loosening, we want to communicate with you how we will continue to move forward on our campus.

As you may be aware, COVID-19 is still prevalent in our county, and the flu season has begun. Therefore, we will keep a high standard of vigilance to protect the health of the residents who live with us and the team members who work with us.

1. Masking. We ask all visitors, team members and residents to continue wearing masks when enjoying our public areas in healthcare and assisted living. When visiting inside a resident’s private room, we ask you to wear your mask however it is not required. Masks for residents are not a requirement when they are in their own room. If the resident you are visiting has a roommate, please protect each other by wearing a mask.
2. Screening In. Please continue to check in at the kiosk or sign in sheet as you have in the past. You will notice that the questions have changed so please read them carefully. This practice helps us should we need to communicate about a potential exposure in case of an outbreak on campus.
3. Testing. All team members who have a medical or religious exemption approved by Greencroft Communities will continue to test once a week. Any team member or resident who displays symptoms of COVID-19 will receive a test. If we have an outbreak, testing will follow state and federal requirements which may be more frequent.
4. Quarantine. Residents and team members who may have been exposed to COVID-19 but are not displaying any symptoms will not be required to quarantine. Residents and team members who have had an exposure AND have symptoms will be required to quarantine for the required days.

While it may seem like the holidays are too far away to think about, they are, in reality, not far away. In the new year, we plan to revisit these practices to determine how to proceed. Our priority is to keep your loved ones and our team members healthy and safe. We know you have that same wish.

Please do not hesitate to contact me with questions or reach out to our covidquestions@greencroftcommunities.org email address. We hope you enjoy this lovely fall season as we watch the green change into vibrant reds and yellows.

Peace and Blessings to you.

Rosemary Weeks,
Vice President of Operations
 

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June 27, 2022

 

As the fickle weather patterns of spring have more firmly moved on and the warmth and heat of summer is upon us, we hope you enjoy the upcoming holiday weekend. It is times like this when we reflect on and celebrate our nation's independence. We hope that you find time to celebrate in your own way this weekend. Whether you are working or not this weekend, we hope you find time to enjoy the holiday.

In addition to the upcoming holiday, we want to provide additional notification of changes in the COVID-19 vaccination definition by the Indiana Department of Health. Previously, up-to-date meant receiving the full vaccine dose(s) plus the first booster shot.  Now, the definition has been expanded to include  a second vaccination booster for those 50 years or older or who are immune compromised. This means that by July 1, 2022, residents and team members who meet these criteria will need to have been vaccinated and received the 2 boosters to be considered up-to-date.

Team members who have a religious or medical exemption which has been approved by Greencroft Communities will not need to do anything further. While the 2nd booster is not mandatory for employment, those who are not up-to-date will be required to begin COVID testing on the same schedule as those who are not vaccinated.

COVID vaccination clinics have been offered and continue to be offered in order to provide a convenient option to receive the booster for both residents and team members. We believe that the vaccine as well as the boosters help protect from severe illness when diagnosed with COVID-19. We encourage all who are able to please get the vaccine and the booster shots.

Should you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Thank you!

Rosemary Weeks,
Vice President of Operations

 

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November 22, 2021

During this season, I so much enjoyed the changing colors and the beauty of the carpet of leaves that adorn some of our driveways. It is also a reminder of the changing season and a preamble to the winter that is about to come.

As the holiday season is among us, we have received numerous questions concerning visitation and celebrations during this time of the year. Recently, CMS (Center for Medicare and Medicaid) issued new guidance concerning visitation at long-term health care facilities. We want to take this opportunity to update you on the Visitation During COVID-19 Pandemic policy. As we move into the holiday season, the following will be in place:

1. Visitation will be allowed at all times. All visitors should use the front entrance and sign in at the kiosk. There will be no limits in the lengths of the visits, but the core principles of infection control must be followed.

2. There will no longer be a limit on the number of visitors (up to now there has been a two-person limit) that can enter the facility at a time. Please note that there still needs to be adequate space in the room to allow for social distancing. Therefore, we may ask that only a few people enter at a time. Larger gatherings in which adequate physical distance cannot be maintained (i.e., parties, large family meals) cannot occur, unless you rent a room and follow the allowed number guidelines and infection prevention guidelines.

3. Visitors should go directly to the resident's rooms. They should not be walking throughout the building or sitting in the common areas. One visitor at a time is allowed to walk the resident throughout the facility

4. When the county level of transmission is high (it is presently high in Jasper County), masks must be worn at all times, regardless of the vaccination status while inside the facility.

5. All visitors MUST screen in at the front desk using the electronic kiosk.

6. While it is not recommended, residents who are presently in Transmission Based Precautions or quarantine will be able to receive visitors. Appropriate PPE (mask, gloves, gown, eye protection) based on the level of isolation must be worn at all times.

7. Compassionate care visitation is allowed at all times.

As the Thanksgiving celebration is just a few days away, we would like to encourage you to take your loved one to your celebration. The COVID-19 pandemic has meant that many times residents have felt isolated. Please remember that residents who are NOT vaccinated AND they spent more than 24 hours outside the facility would be required to quarantine for 14 days when they return.

Some family members have inquired about reserving a private room to host a meal for your loved one at our facility. The new directives will allow this to happen. Adequate social distance must be kept, so meeting rooms will have a maximum amount of people that would be allowed at one time.

If you are interested in reserving a space, please call the front desk 219-987-7005 or Activities 219-987-9221. These reservations will be limited to a maximum of 4 hours at a time.

As a community, we are glad that visitation policies are opening up. At the same time, we take this opportunity to remind you of the importance of being vigilant in observing and following all the principles of infection control. Visitors that have tested positive for COVID OR are experiencing COVID symptoms and currently meet the criteria for quarantine, should NOT enter the facility. Hand hygiene (use of alcohol-based hand rub is preferred), masks (covering mouth and nose), and social distancing at least six feet between persons must be followed at all times. This is for the protection of your loved ones and our team members. Keeping the members of our community safe is a high priority.

As we celebrate this time of the year, I will be grateful for many things, and one of them is the opportunity to serve each one of our residents. I thank God with my whole heart for the blessing of being part of this campus. As we celebrate together, I leave you the following verse as a blessing:

The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace. Numbers 6:24-26

Sincerely,
Rosemary Weeks
Vice President of Operations
 

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August 20, 2021

As you may have heard, on Wednesday August 18, President Biden announced he is calling on the Center for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) to require all nursing homes who accept federal reimbursement to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for team members. We recognize that this mandate will be met with mixed emotions. Some will be undoubtably relieved while others will be disconcerted and alarmed.

Since the COVID-19 vaccination availability, we have done our part to encourage all team members who are able to get the vaccine. We feel it’s the best way to maintain the safety and health of our team members, their families, and our residents. At the same time, in accordance with our CROFT values, we respect those who choose to think differently.

You may be asking what this mandate means? The answer is, we don’t know for sure. It appears we will receive communication as early as September. We ask for your patience as we await formal guidance from CMS and our state department of health with the policy and procedures. Once that is received, we will begin to process this guidance as an organization in conjunction with our team members

In addition, we are working with our state and national non-profit associations to advocate for team members who are unable to receive the COVID-19 vaccine due to religious beliefs and/or medical conditions. We expect these protections will be included in the mandate but feel it is vital for us to have our voices heard now.

Should you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact myself or another member of the leadership team. In addition, you may also email your concerns or questions to covidquestions@greencroftcommunities.org.

Sincerely,
Rosemary Weeks
Vice President of Operations

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June 10, 2021

We have new guidance from the Indiana State Department of Health. Some of the previous guidelines are still in effect – they are re-stated below. The newest change is that visits do not have to be scheduled, there is no limit to the number of visits, and the length of the visit is not limited.

• If both the visitor and the resident are vaccinated and the resident resides in a private room, masks can be removed once all parties are in the resident's private room.
• Visitors must continue to wear masks at all times outside of the resident's private room which includes while screening in at the kiosk, walking to and from the private room, and at any time they are in a public area of the community.
• If either the resident or the visitor are not vaccinated, or the resident has a roommate, or the visit is taking place in a public area, all parties must keep a cloth or surgical mask in place for the entire visit.
• If visiting in a semi-private room the number of visitors still need to be limited to 2 so social distancing can be maintained. However, you can take your loved one to a common area to accommodate more visitors at a time as long as masks are worn. If all parties are vaccinated, masks may be removed once you are all in a private area.
• One must always sign in and out at the kiosk, no matter how many times a day you are visiting.
• We ask that group visits (greater than 5) and/or group events still be scheduled due to still needing to monitor how many visitors we have at a time.

Opening up is exciting! It feels like it's been a very long time since things have been close to normal. Thank you for your patience and cooperation!

I am always available for questions or dialogue if you need additional information. Please call me at 219-987-9204 or email at rosemary.weeks@oakgrovecrv.org.

Sincerely,
Rosemary Weeks
Vice President of Operations
 

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March 22, 2021

It hasn’t been that long since the last letter, but there are more changes to share. There are new directives given by the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) following the recent recommendations that were put forth by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Center for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS). These new directives come as we acknowledge the first anniversary of the COVID-19 global pandemic. We are grateful for our county's continued lower positivity rate, although we realize that could change quickly. The new directives include the following areas:

Visitation: The new directives of ISDH concerning visitation programs (in COVID-19-free buildings and counties with a positivity rate of less than 10%) allow in-room visitation for all residents (Assisted Living and Healthcare). These new guidelines will begin right away. We will continue to schedule hours for family and friends' visitation and accommodate after hours and weekends based on staff availability.  While the new directives indicate that outdoor visitation (as permissible by weather) is the preferred choice since it possesses a lower risk of transmission, in-room visitation will be allowed.  Also, the new directives state that residents who are fully vaccinated may choose to have close contact (including touch) with their visitor while wearing a face mask and performing hand hygiene before and after.

All visitation (in both Assisted Living and Healthcare) requires an appointment; no walk-ins will be allowed. To set up an appointment, please call the following phone number: 219-987-9221.  There is a limit to how many residents can have visitors at a given time. When you call, you will be asked to leave the name of the resident you wish to visit, your name and telephone number, and the date and preferred times to visit. Our scheduler will call you with a date and time.  For all visitation (Assisted Living and Healthcare), the following guidelines must be followed:

1. Please always observe the social distancing of 6 feet. No physical contact can take place, except for the exception noted above.
2. When you arrive for your visit, you will first need to stop at the screening desk. There will be a set of questions (a COVID-19 screening form) that must be answered, and your temperature will be taken. There are posted Healthcare Visitor Guidelines and other Education Material that we ask you to read and observe.  Hand sanitizer will be provided and needs to be used before and after your visit.
3. Please bring a mask (surgical preferred) with you and wear it at all times during your visitation time. Visitation will not be allowed without the use of a mask.
4. Food and drink cannot be shared with your loved one during the visitation.
5. Only two family members (in-room visitation) will be allowed to visit each resident at a time. You must arrive on time for your visitation appointment.
6. Visitors will not visit other residents other than those identified upon arrival. For those visiting residents in their rooms, you will need to remain in the room at all times.  Oak Grove personnel will escort you to and from the room.

If visitors pose a risk for transmitting COVID-19 to the residents, facility, and/or staff, we will request the visit to be canceled. Our visitation's success depends upon the cooperation of our visitors, so please adhere to the guidelines. If there is one positive case of COVID-19 among our residents and/or among two or more healthcare staff at any time following the beginning of visitation, then visitation will cease by order of the Indiana State Department of Health. Besides, we want to remind you that our Activities Department can arrange a FaceTime call with your loved ones. If you are interested in scheduling a FaceTime call, please contact our Activities Department at 219-987-9221.

The updated directives that we recently shared with you will continue.   Those residents needing to leave the building for medical visits (transported by either Oak Grove staff or family/friend) will not need to quarantine for 14 days when they return.  Residents can continue to participate in outings/excursions (for less than 24 hours) with family members and will not have to quarantine upon their return. Residents will need to check out when they leave and check-in upon their return.

We are grateful that we find ourselves in this place. We know that many of you with loved ones in Healthcare have wanted to visit them in their rooms. It has been a long year. As much as we need to continue to be vigilant, we look at the future with hope.  I leave you with the following verse of hope and blessings:

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  - Romans 15:13

Blessings,
Rosemary Weeks
Vice President of Operations

 

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February 10, 2021

 

With the pandemic still very much in our lives, we continue to keep our CROFT values at the forefront of what we do. Our values guide us in everything from how we treat one another to the decisions we make each day. As January has turned into February, we have completed the second and even third vaccination clinics for our residents and team members at each campus in the Greencroft system.

This news is exciting as it means that most of our residents have gotten their second dose of the vaccine and are on their way to developing the needed immunity to COVID-19. While the number of team members taking the vaccine was not as high as our residents, we still had a good number of team members who decided to take the vaccine. The COVID-19 vaccine is not mandatory for our team members. We will continue to make this a voluntary action.

The vaccine is now available to more and more age groups in each state which will bring us closer to the level of  immunity needed in order be able to make changes in our routines. We have heard from many of you asking when restrictions will be removed. Our answer is that we must continue to follow the same guidelines put forth by the CDC (Center for Disease Control) and CMS (Centers for Medicare Medicaid Services) and our State Department of Health. We are unable to offer visitation until county positivity rates remain under 10% and we are COVID free for residents and team members. We wish that answer could be different Truly, we do. We are happy to report that some of the Greencroft Communities' campuses will be able to have visitations restored now that county positivity rates are below 10%. We celebrate the joy this brings to our residents and family members.

For the time being, we must continue to social distance, wear masks, keep washing our hands, and avoid gatherings until we, as a society, can reach a level of immunity which would make those actions less important. Trusted resources tell us that while even after the second dose of the vaccine, we can still contract COVID-19, and thus we can still transmit the virus to others. The vaccine may keep recipients from experiencing the severe symptoms of COVID-19 but not from transmitting the virus to those who have not been vaccinated. Therefore, we must adhere to the safety protocols we have in place.

We are thankful for the protection the vaccine offers to our residents as they have suffered the most severe of the effects of this virus. To know they have protection is a blessing. We continue to educate and answer questions for our team members and families so you may make an informed decision on whether to accept this protection for yourself when you are eligible.

Should you have questions specific to our campus, please do not hesitate to contact me directly. Should you have questions about COVID-19 or the vaccine, please don't hesitate to email covidquestions@greencroftcommunitics.org.

VP of Operations
Rosemary Weeks
 

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November 30, 2020

While driving to work, some days, the sunrise is glorious. It reminds me of the beauty in the world if we choose to see it. It also serves as a reminder of God’s creation and the hope for a new day. On this new day, I am writing to let you know of our outbreak of COVID-19 positive cases on our campus. We have worked diligently to keep this virus at bay. We currently have 10 residents on the COVID Unit and 11 other residents who have tested positive with the POC (point of care) test and are awaiting the pending lab test results. We have 4 POC positive cases amongst our team members, who are also awaiting lab confirmation, regarding true or false positive results. 

Yet, as the sun announces the beginning of something new, the small and big signs that God is with each of us renew our spirit and put the smiles back on our faces for the residents and families who we continue to serve. We must also take time to watch out for one another. Be the joy, give the smile, as it will be each of us working together as a team who will help us get through these challenging weeks and months ahead. There are no easy paths or shortcuts; we have to continue to move forward with compassion, love and the determination to remain focused on our primary mission: the well-being of each resident that has been entrusted to us for their care. The following scripture provides us with a path forward.

“Be STRONG and COURAGOUS, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your GOD is the one who goes with you.  He will not FAIL or FORSAKE you.”  - Deuteronomy 31:6

Everyday the words of encouragement, the little notes and gifts that many of you have shared with us, and your support have been received with gratitude as they provide us with strength for the journey. We feel your prayers for us and your loved ones.  The gifts of food and the expressions of thanks have lifted spirits and commitments of the team members who choose to come to work each day to serve their residents with love and care. I am grateful for our team members that are coming day after day with loving hearts to take care of our residents.

As far as an update for the building, any resident who begins to show signs or symptoms is being re-tested as needed. We currently have enough space for residents on our COVID unit and are putting plans in place should we need additional space.  We have also provided an iPad to the COVID unit to allow for FaceTime (Video conference calls) for the residents. I apologize if my previous communication caused any confusion. We are happy to schedule FaceTime visits through the Activity Department (219) 987-9221. Once the quarantine is lifted and weather permitting we will also schedule pre-arranged window visits on the porch. Please do not go to your loved one's personal window – this is not safe, and could intrude on those residents who live in surrounding rooms.

I realize that this is a scary and stressful time. The knowledge that we have the COVID virus in our building, the spike in positive cases in the surrounding counties, can create uncertainty and fear. You can be assured of our commitment in serving your loved ones.

Testing for the virus has become part of our work. We are testing team members on campus twice a week with rapid testing. If a positive test result comes back, we are confirming the positive test with a PCR test processed by a lab. Team members are sent home to quarantine during this time and have the availability to be paid for two weeks. If team members are positive and asymptomatic (no symptoms), they are offered work on the COVID unit. Those team members working on the COVID unit are receiving Critical Care pay above their normal rate of pay. Please be assured that team members working on the COVID unit are not also working in other areas of the campus.

As always, please reach out to us as you have questions or concerns. We want you to be informed of the actions we are taking and how we are caring for your loved ones. We will continue our daily updates, but I wanted the opportunity to reach out to each of you in more detail. You can also visit this website to find more detailed information about the numbers of cases and test results.

I have found that in difficult times, we can always find comfort in God’s words. I leave you with the following scripture which I hope provides you with comfort and reassurance in such a time like this.

“Heal me, O Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.” – Jeremiah 17:14.

Sincerely,
Rosemary Weeks
Vice President of Operations
 

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November 18, 2020

Each day brings new challenges to our campus as the pandemic, which we all thought would be over by now, continues to spread. These challenges are hard and sometimes even heartbreaking. We have done our best to provide for those who live with us and to help keep transparent communication with family members and our larger community. As we work through the challenges of team members and residents who contract COVID-19, we also help work through when COVID-19 hits our families and the families of our team members. It was not that long ago when many of us did not even know someone who had it. Now, it is harder to find someone who has not been impacted by COVID-19. 

Right now, in our county, we are experiencing record high positivity rates. This means the spread of COVID is not under control.  The area hospitals are reporting that their capacity is running out. We have been informed that one of the main contributors of this spread is small gatherings. Times when we all would feel ok about relaxing our guard and taking off our masks to enjoy our family or friends. It is understandable. We all wish to return to pre-COVID days.

With this information from our local hospitals and physicians, as well as the guidance we have received from the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), we are asking residents to please not leave the campus, or take your loved one off campus, during this holiday season. This type of celebration with family or friends has the potential to be devastating to residents and team members on our campus. We know when weighing the risk of infecting your loved one against a holiday meal and fellowship, caution will prevail.  

We understand that some of you may have already come to this decision on your own and for others this news will be difficult to read. We feel that way too. You are given two choices which are both hard to make. We are asking you to remain diligent in protecting your health and the health of your family.

Should you decide to leave or take your loved one out of assisted living or healthcare for the upcoming holidays, we will ask the resident to begin a 14-day quarantine upon return to campus. Please understand that this precaution is required by ISDH to help us protect other residents on campus. Due to the increased utilization of PPE during the 14-day isolation, we will add an increase of 6 service points to the Service Plan for those choosing to leave and then quarantine upon return. I put this in with the hopes our quarantine will end soon. However, if it does not, we cannot let anyone return if they choose to leave the campus. It would be putting our other residents at risk.

Please consider alternative ways to come together during this season. We continue to offer video calls as well as phone time and window visits. Cards and care packages from loved ones are always a treat for our residents. Once our quarantine ends, and the positivity rates decline, we will again offer scheduled indoor visits.

As mentioned, each day does come with its challenges during this pandemic. Each day, I take time to look for the good around me to keep me inspired. Most of the time, it comes from seeing the interactions between our team members and residents. The joy and laughter they share brings a smile to my face that just won’t go away. I pray you too can find the joy in each day God brings us.

Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have questions or concerns.

Sincerely,
Rosemary Weeks
Vice President of Operations
 

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October 12, 2020

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been our goal to be transparent in our communication, so you know what we know. This is what our CROFT Values (Creativity, Respect, Openness, Fairness and Teamwork) call us to do for one another.

We have always been prepared for when the virus would appear, not if it would appear. Even with our best efforts, we have experienced an outbreak of COVID in our facility. As of Thursday, October 8th we learned we had a team member who tested positive. This person began quarantining at home immediately. We immediately began contact tracing and testing anyone this team member might have had contact with. However, on Friday morning the Indiana State Board of Health called to instruct that we should immediately test all health care residents and team members. During the testing on Friday, October 9th one resident tested positive and another team member tested positive. This team member also began quarantining at home immediately. The resident was moved to our COVID Unit, which is entirely removed from the rest of the facility. All resident testing was finished October 9th with the rest being all negative. All the rest of the staff testing also resulted in negative tests. If your loved one tested positive or had an exposure, you will have already received a phone call. 

Per protocol from the CDC and ISDH we have implemented shelter in place protocols and discontinued visitation and communal dining and activities. This will continue for 14 days: October 9th through October 23rd. We will also begin outbreak testing of all residents and team members every 3-7 days during this time.

As you can imagine, this is a time of high stress and anxiety for residents and team members, with discontinuing communal dining, activities and visits. We know this is a difficult time for you as well. We ask for your patience and understanding. You will always hear directly from us if your loved one is impacted. We know God is with us, and you, as we all navigate this unexpected quarantine together.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to us should you have questions.  You can also find our daily updates on this website.

Sincerely,
Rosemary Weeks
Vice President of Operations
 

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September 1, 2020

As we continue finding our way through this pandemic, we have and will continue to follow the guidance of the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH), our state regulatory agency and the Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC). The guidance provided by these agencies is specific for healthcare providers like us to help provide for the health and safety of those we serve.

Now the federal government through the Department Of Health & Human Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has mandated that all “Facility Staff” which includes employees, consultants, contractors, volunteers, and caregivers who provide care and services to residents on behalf of the facility, must be tested for COVID per the frequency in the table below.  

Routine Testing Intervals Vary by Community COVID-19 Activity Level

Community COVID-19 Activity	County Positivity Rate in the past week	Minimum Testing Frequency
Low	<5%	Once a month
Medium	5% - 10%	Once a week
High	>10%	Twice a week

*This frequency presumes availability of Point of Care testing on-site at the nursing home or where off-site testing turnaround time is <48 hours.

Therefore, as you see or hear of increased testing of our team members, please do not be alarmed. This does not necessarily mean there are signs and symptoms of COVID-19 present. CMS is also sending point of care testing equipment and initial test kits to every skilled nursing facility in the country. We have not yet received this equipment but anticipate its arrival toward the end of September. Until we receive this equipment, Oak Grove has secured test kits from a vendor who feels they can meet the less than 48-hour turnaround time.

At this time, testing will be at no charge to team members. The Federal Government has provided initial funding through the CARES Act. As always, should team members have signs or symptoms of COVID, our health insurance covers the cost of testing. Team members can still go to any testing location to receive a test. It will be vital for us to receive those results to validate with our state survey agency that testing was completed.

CMS has added regulation (42 CFR § 483.80(h)) which requires that the facility test all residents and staff for COVID-19. Noncompliance related to this new requirement will be cited at new tag F886 and the facility will face civil money penalty fines of up to $10,697.00.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call. Also, please do not forget to check this website that contains updates regarding COVID-19 and any changes at Oak Grove.  

Thank you for your continued support and patience.

Sincerely,
Rosemary Weeks
Vice President of Operations
 

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July 17, 2020

As we continue finding our way through this pandemic. we have and will continue to follow the guidance of the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH), our state regulatory agency and the Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC). The guidance provided for these agencies is specific for us to help provide for the health and safety of those we serve. We would like to provide some clarity around the visitation policy on campus.

As the State of Indiana has followed the"Back on Track" plan to reopen the state, our reopening has been at a much slower and conservative approach since residents are the most vulnerable to COVID-19. A few weeks ago, we received guidance which allowed for outdoor visitations for residents and family members with certain protections in place. These protections include: screening of visitors, wearing a face mask, sanitization of the area between visits and 6 ft distancing. We have also made sure team members are available to assist residents as needed. The state is now moving to allowing indoor visitations for special circumstances, while still following all the precautions listed above. However, the preferred method of visitation is still outdoor.

ISDH is also requesting we provide a minimum of 4 hours a day, which we have been exceeding. Plus, that we provide some evening hours and weekend hours, which we have also been doing on an as needed basis. We are working on the Activity Department's staffing schedule in order to provide consistent, but limited, evening and weekend hours.

Please continue to call the Activity Department at (219) 987-9221 to schedule visits. They will let you know what is available. We are cutting back on some of the time slots due to starting to provide scheduled activities for all residents.

If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to call.

Also, please do not forget on this website are updates regarding COVID-19 and any changes at Oak Grove.

Thank you for your continued support and patience with this new way of life!

Rosemary Weeks
Vice President of Operations

Indoor Visitation Guidelines

1. Visitation in outdoor spaces will continue in conjunction with indoor visitation.

2. The visitation schedule will include set hours each day. There will be some evening and weekend time slots available for the convenience of family members and residents.

3. Visitation hours will be provided.

4. Visitations must be scheduled 24-48 hours prior to visit.

5. Visitation is limited to COVlD-negative or COVID-recovered residents, as defined by the resident meeting the CDC's guidance for discontinuation of transmission-based precautions.

6. Visitors will enter facility through one designated entry point.

7. Visitation will be limited to 3 visitors at a time. The schedule will provide for equal opportunities for all residents to receive visitors should they wish.

8. The facility will provide proper PPE for residents and Staff. Each visitor will provide their own mask.

a. If a visitor arrives without a mask, the visitor may purchase one if the facility chooses to sell them
or the facility may offer the visitor one if available.

b. Both visitor and resident must wear mask during the visit.

c. If a visitor refuses to wear a mask, they will not be allowed to visit.

9. Designated routes to visiting areas will be determined by the facility.

a. Physical barriers for safety and for privacy may be utilized.

10. Visits in a private resident room will be established for bedbound residents or those who for health reasons cannot leave their rooms.

a. Accommodations will be made for bedbound residents with roommates, so safe visitation can occur. Physical barriers such as curtains for added safety and privacy may be used.

b. When both roommates are bedbound, scheduling visitation of families at the same time will be avoided.

11. Visitors will be screened prior to entry.

a. Visitors will be required to sign in and attest to their current COVID-status and symptoms, have temperature taken and answer questions relating to symptoms,

b. A log will be taken of visits, which will include name, contact information and start and end time of visit.

c. Visitors who do not "pass" will not be allowed to visit.

12. During the visit, visitors will:

a. Wash their hands or utilize an alcohol-based hand rub upon arriving at the facility.

b. Wear a mask at all times while visiting.

c. Maintain at least six (6) feet distance from all residents in the facility.

d. Utilize the routes indicated by the facility to travel to and from the visitation area.

e. Children are permitted to visit.

i. Visitors with children must be able to manage them, and children must be able to wear a
face mask during the entire visitation.
ii. Children under the age of 2 are not required to wear a mask per CDC guidance.

13. Designated visiting area will be disinfected after each visit.

Visitors that do not follow these criteria may have the privilege of visitation revoked.

 

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June 29, 2020

We recieved notification that one of our team members received a positve test result today.  We are in the process of determining where this team member worked when he/she was in the building.  Should there have been an exposure, we will contact the residents and/or family members as needed.  We are monitoring signs and symptoms of our residents to determine if anyone contracted the virus.  Every resident is being monitored at each shift change for changes in condition. 

We will continue our outdoor visitation as the Indiana State Board of Health requires they are halted only when a positive case occurs with a resident.  We feel that the benefits of the interaction between loved ones far outweighs the risk of exposure given the precautions we are taking during visits.  Should this change, we will let you know.

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June 15, 2020

We were able to have an additional 17 team members tested which is good news! We have received 4 addtional negative test results. The results are trickling in, but in the next few days, we should start to see more results. Please keep our team members and residents in your prayers. Even though no one is exhibiting signs or symptoms, it is still a time of anxiety as we await our results.

Thank you!

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June 11, 2020

We began our state mandated testing today for all team members.  We were able to test 100 team members.  We still have 50 who need to be tested.  We are working to secure a location for them to go to receive their test.  As results of the testing are received, we will reporting those.  As all of our team members support assisted living and healthcare, we did not break out the numbers in the chart above.  All those being tested are counted as working in healthcare.  At this time, we do not have any residents or team members who are showing signs or symptoms.  We do monitor temperatures and are screening our team members and residents at the start of each shift.

Thank you for your prayers and continued support.

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June 10, 2020

In accordance with the state mandated testing of all healthcare staff, we have started testing today of all team members.  We will report the results of those tests as they come in.  We expect it will take 2-5 days to recieve the results.  We will not share the health information for our team members but will share overall numbers.  Should you have questions, please do not hesistate to contact us.

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June 9, 2020

 

 

The most recent updates from the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) allow Outdoor Family Visitation at Long-term Care and Assisted Living Facilities.

Previously, to prevent the outbreaks of COVID-19 in long-term care facilities, CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid) and the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) recommended restricting visitation and the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) required us to follow this guidance to protect residents. However, they now recognize that we are at a point where outside visits with safety precautions in place should be an option for those facilities who are able to do so. Therefore, the ISDH has shared “conditions of visitation” to allow long-term care and assisted living facilities to start allowing for outdoor visitation. The team at Oak Grove is working diligently to put our plan into place to be ready for our residents to receive visitors should they wish.   

Here are the conditions the visitors must follow:

• Facility must be free of COVID-19 for 14 days prior to any visits.
• Resident visitors must be screened for signs and symptoms of COVID and must sign in and provide contact information.
• Visitors must use alcohol-based hand rub before and after visitation.
• Outdoor visitation spaces must allow appropriate social distancing of at least 6 feet between visitors and loved ones.
• Visitors must stay in the location designated by the facility, at all times.
• Visitors must appropriately wear a face covering at all times.  If you do not have a mask, you will have to reschedule your visit.
• Visitation will be restricted to children 12 years of age or older – visitors with children must be able to manage them, and children must be able to wear a face mask during the entire visitation (special family circumstances warranting children under the age 12 to visit may be approved by the VP of Operations).
• Locations will be at each end of the front porch so we are able to monitor visits at all times.
• Furniture will be arranged to assure 6-foot distances at each location, please DO NOT rearrange any furniture.
• NO PETS (dogs, cats, etc.) please.  This is going to be challenging enough at first; we will re-evaluate at a future time, when restrictions and a little less stringent. 

We are planning to open visits up this Thursday, June 11, 2020. To schedule a time slot, please call Karre Parker in our Activities Department at 219-987-9221 and leave a message. When arriving for your visit, please remain in your car until the previous resident and family have left the visiting area and the area has been sanitized. We will then proceed with the screening process.  The available time slots will be 9 AM, 10 AM and 11 AM and then 1 PM, 2 PM and 3 PM, Monday through Friday. You will be allowed to visit for ½ an hour, then we will need to sanitize before the next scheduled visit. Please be sure to go to your designated visitation spot and stay there. The Gazebo will be off limits since this is where the residents like to visit with each other. Thank you in advance for your cooperation!

On another topic: I and other Oak Grove staff have received multiple pleas to have the beautician return so residents can have their hair done. I understand! There is nothing I would like to see happen more than for the Beauty Salon to open back up.  However, as recently as June 4, 2020, on a call with Matthew Foster the Assistant Commissioner for Health Care Regulation, he said “no beautician appointments”.

Please don’t forget you may visit our website visit www.greencroft.org to find updates regarding COVID-19 and any changes at Oak Grove. Please direct other family members to this site if they have questions/concerns. And, I am always available to help in any way I can.

Thank you for the continued support and the trust you have placed in us as the Oak Grove Team strives to keep the Oak Grove Residents safe.

Sincerely,
Rosemary Weeks,
Vice President of Operations

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May 1, 2020

Dear Residents and Family Members,

Throughout this pandemic, our goal has been and will remain to keep our residents safe and healthy.  We have and will strive to maintain a high level of communication throughout this pandemic.  Expectations and procedures continue to change rapidly.  As each new guideline from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) came out, we acted quickly to put those in place and kept you informed.  We are proud of the resiliency of our team members to adapt quickly while maintaining the joy each day in providing for our residents.

The media coverage regarding nursing homes around the country has been disheartening.  It’s hard to read and see that coverage when I see something vastly different each day here on our campus.  The love and kindness between the residents and our team members is heart-warming and pure. The team members who work here are called to serve this ministry.  It is our privilege to care for those who need it most and to safeguard their health.  We appreciate the time our residents, families and our local community have taken to show us their appreciation.  It has been heartwarming to see the support for our team members coming to work every day to care for our residents and keep them safe.  Thank you!

Due to the media coverage, the Indiana State Department of Health has asked long term care providers to provide daily updates to residents and/or responsible parties.  Therefore, we will provide you with daily updates on the status of positive COVID-19 cases on campus. We currently have no cases at Oak Grove, but if we do we will share the total number of cases, any new cases in the last 24 hours and any deaths in the last 24 hours related to COVID-19.  At Oak Grove, you will receive an automated call every day with our current status of COVID-19 cases. This communication will begin on Monday, May 4th. 

At this time, we will only direct our daily communication to the designated resident or responsible party.  We are unable to add additional family members to this communication process.

In addition, we have assigned a team member to be your point of contact should you have questions or need additional information.  Following are some contact options if you have questions/concerns to share:  Rosemary Weeks, Vice President of Operations for ANY unit, but specifically Rehabilitation or COVID Unit at (219) 987-9204.  Dana Nunamaker, Social Service Director for Independent or Assisted Living at (219) 987-9227.  Tammy Driscoll, Assistant Director of Nursing for Long Term Care (Oak Branch I or II) at (219) 987-9226.  If you have problems contacting your designated person, please call our main number at (219) 987-7005.  You can also email us at info01@oakgrovecrv.org.

We would also like to provide you with our Corporate Compliance Hotline number which is managed by an independent third party.  Please use this number if you feel you are not able to get ahold of anyone on campus or if you feel that you have not been able to reach resolution with the team members on campus.  This number is 1-800-211-2713.

You also have the option to call your local Ombudsman who is:  Jacqueline B. Hill.  You can reach her at: (219) 794-1829 x2468.  This individual is not an employee on our campus but can be a resource for you should you feel you have not been able to reach resolution with the team on campus or with our system office team members.

You may also visit our website to find current information about the status of COVID-19 on our campus as well as information on the steps we have taken to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 on our campus.  Please visit:  www.greencroft.org.  You can direct other family members to this site to receive the same information you will receive daily.

And as always, our usual practice will continue regarding contacting the designated representative for your loved one, if there are changes with his/her health or well-being.

Thank you again for the support and trust you have placed in us.  We appreciate your prayers for our team members and residents as we also pray for your health and safety.

Sincerely,
Rosemary Weeks
Vice President of Operations

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April 27, 2020         

Dear Residents and Families,

We are very proud of our team’s dedication every day to keeping our residents (and their fellow team members) safe and healthy. We know the changes to routines, extra precautions, and dealing with uncertainty brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic is causing extra stress and perhaps some anxiety for our team. We recognize that since we are working in health care, we are experiencing extra challenges. We are grateful every day for the outstanding, compassionate individuals who have chosen to be part of our Oak Grove Team. Each of our team members at Oak Grove is truly a hero. 

There are currently no cases of COVID-19 at Oak Grove. As of the date of this update, there are 34 positive cases in Jasper County with one death attributed to the virus. There are 40 positive cases in Newton County with five deaths attributed to the virus.

Additional updates and information:

1. Our community has been so generous in supporting Oak Grove during the pandemic. Individuals from our community have made and donated homemade fabric face masks and gowns to help keep our team members and residents safe.
2. Oak Grove is prepared in the event that a case of COVID-19 would be confirmed on our campus. We have an ample supply of PPE (personal protective equipment) for our team, and we have identified a number of rooms which will be designated for residents who will require isolation. Should any resident present with symptoms, he or she will be moved to that area of the building.
3. In addition to all of the homemade fabric masks that have been donated to Oak Grove for team members to wear while providing care for residents here at Oak Grove, we have also given each team member a face mask to take home with them to wear if they need to make essential trips, like to the grocery store or gas station.
4. We still have the two iPads on loan from the Jasper County Foundation to help residents and families connect with each other. If you need assistance setting up a video call with a resident, please give us a call at 219-987-9221 and someone will call back to schedule a time.  
5. As part of our effort to get timely information to families, we are in the process of setting up a Group Email that will allow us to email families with up-to-date information. If you have not yet sent your email address to us, please send that information to Jan Voigt, Medical Records Coordinator, at jan.voigt@oakgrovecrv.org.

We are again scheduling “window visits”; we will take your loved one to a designated location, e.g., library room or old Oak Leaf sitting area, where you can safely be on the porch and see your loved one and visit on the phone. However, the window must remain closed during the visit. The closed window serves as a barrier that is in place to protect our residents and team members.

PLEASE, do not visit outside your loved one’s room window. In order to maintain privacy and safety for everyone, we ask that window visits only occur from public areas inside the building for residents and from porch windows outside or visitors.

Reminder: all items being dropped off for a resident should be done so at the main entrance between the hours of 11 AM to 12 PM and 3 PM to 4 PM.  Residents, please stay indoors during these times to limit potential exposure to COVID-19.  Please limit this to Monday-Friday, NO weekends.

Lastly, Mother’s Day is right around the corner. We fully expect all these safety precautions will still be in place. Send flowers, or cards, or gifts, but please respect the directives we have in place to keep our Residents and Staff safe.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support as we partner to provide our Residents with the best care possible. Please do not hesitate to contact us should you have further concerns or questions.

Sincerely,
Rosemary Weeks
Vice President of Operations

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April 3, 2020 

Dear Residents and Families:

With the coming of Spring, it is important for you/your loved ones to have an opportunity to go outside and enjoy the sunshine.  It is equally important to protect you/your loved ones and our staff from the spread of Covid-19 virus. When we have visitors outside on our campus, it makes it difficult to provide for both. PLEASE DO NOT VISIT OUR CAMPUS!

As a reminder, the only reasons anyone should be coming to campus is to deliver medications/laundry or a scheduled visitation at the end of life. The Governor of Indiana has already issued a “Stay At Home” order and travel ban. Both of these directives limit travel to only “essential” (groceries, health care workers, etc.) purposes. Coming to visit your loved one, even through the window, does not meet the definition of “essential”. While I understand the difficulties of being separated during this time, it is important that we follow the directions from trusted sources like the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Indiana State Department of Health.

In an effort to keep our residents safe we are now asking you to limit the times and days you drop off laundry and/or medications. Please limit this to Monday-Friday, NO weekends; between the hours of 11 AM to 12 PM and 3 PM to 4 PM. Residents, please stay indoors during these times to limit potential exposure to an outsider.

We have technology available for you to communicate with your loved ones through Facetime. We encourage you to take advantage of this venue. Please contact Activities at (219) 987-9221 to arrange for a time to talk with your family member.

Also, the Indiana State Department of Health is recommending that no resident be allowed to leave the facility except for emergency medical services. If a resident and/or family does not comply, the facility may refuse to allow the resident back into the building because of the risk that they pose to others.

We need your help to keep yourself/your loved ones safe. We all must do our part. Thank you for your patience and understanding during this time. Please know that we are doing all we can to provide the excellent quality care you expect from Oak Grove Christian Retirement Village.

Sincerely,
Rosemary A. Weeks
Vice President of Operations

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March 24, 2020

Yesterday, the Indiana State Department of Health has recommended that no resident be allowed to leave our healthcare or assisted living areas except for emergency medical services. If a resident and/or family does not comply, the facility may refuse to allow the resident back into the building because of the risk that they pose to others. Our Medical Director on campus supports this policy as well. Any time an assisted living or healthcare resident leaves our campus, they risk exposure to COVID-19.  This policy does not apply to our independent living residents. However, the Govenor has implemented a stay at home order which restricts travel for non-essential reasons. Therefore, independent living residents should practice self isolation and restrict visitors from their homes.

While we understand that this is a difficult time to be apart from your loved one, it is for the protection of your family member as well as all the other residents on our campus. 

Thank you for understanding and patience.