Week of March 20, 2022
Visitation
IN-PERSON VISITATION
Wartburg’s Meadowview and Skilled Nursing Facility are excited to welcome you to campus for personal visits with your loved ones in a safe environment, in accordance with New York State Department of Health guidelines.
As of today,
- In-person visitation for Meadowview is OPEN.
- In-person visitation for the Skilled Nursing Facility is OPEN.
Please assist us by reviewing the guidelines that will be followed during your visit:
- All visitors will be screened for signs and symptoms of COVID-19, including temperature checks, and will complete a form for potential contact tracing information prior to visitation.
- Visitors who exhibit any COVID-19 symptoms or do not pass the screening questions will not be allowed to visit.
- Face masks are to be worn at all times and will be provided upon entrance to the building.
- Visitation will be conducted outdoors or in a well-ventilated space.
- Only 3 visitors per resident will be allowed at any time.
- Visitors under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult 18 years of age or older.
TO SCHEDULE A VISIT FOR MEADOWVIEW:
In-person visitation hours are Monday through Sunday from 10am – 4pm. Please call (914) 513-5257 for more information.
TO SCHEDULE A VISIT FOR SKILLED NURSING FACILITY:
In-person visitation hours are Monday through Sunday from 11am – 8pm. Please call (914) 513-5488 for more information.
We look forward to seeing you!
VIRTUAL VISITATION
We are also promoting phone calls & virtual visits for family members due to restrictions. If you would like to arrange a phone call or virtual visit with a patient/resident in the nursing home, please email tr@nullwartburg.org and a staff member will be in touch to coordinate the virtual visit/call. For Meadowview Assisted Living, please email mprovenzano@nullwartburg.org. General messages will also be posted periodically to the Wartburg website.
Family and/or Designated Representative Communication
Monthly Resident/Designated Representative Zoom Calls: In an effort to ensure accurate and timely communication about Wartburg’s response to COVID-19, we invite Residents/Designated Representatives to participate in monthly family Zoom calls with Administrative Staff:
Nursing Home – Waltemade/Rehab (From 2:00-2:30)
The next monthly meeting will be on August 12, 2021 at 2:00 PM EDT
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81239321335?pwd=TU9xZUR3MjlaZXBIOFV4ZnR1c2FSdz09
Meeting ID: 812 3932 1335
Password: 1Ht7wT
Please know that information discussed in these Webinars is not resident-specific.
In addition, for Families/Responsible parties, Wartburg provides COVID-19 daily notification messages regarding positive test results or deaths within the facility.
Nursing Home Family Information Line is 914-513-5477.
Meadowview Family Information Line is 914-513-5479.
FAMILY COMMUNICATION (Skilled Nursing and Meadowview Assisted Living)
Family communication remains a priority. As always, family members are contacted by staff for any changes in residents’ condition, and they can call the resident’s/patient’s social worker or nurse for updates on their loved ones.
WARTBURG SPIRITUAL CARE SERVICES
If families or staff members are in need of spiritual or emotional support, our Director of Spiritual Care, Pastor Kimberli Lile is available to listen to your concerns, ask questions to help you discern what your heart is saying, and pray with you. “Pastor Kim” is an ordained pastor with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and a board certified chaplain with the Association of Professional Chaplains. She has worked alongside healthcare professionals for almost twenty years. Pastor Kim’s phone number is 914.513.5162, and email is klile@nullwartburg.org.
Should you have any questions regarding Wartburg’s response to preventing the spread of COVID-19, please contact the Compliance Help-Line at 844.673.8247, Wartburg’s Nursing Home Administrative Team (Bridget Zimmermann at 914.513.5488 or Greg Poole-Dayan at 914.513.5209). Wartburg’s Assisted Living (Meadowview) Administrative Team (John Schuster at 914.513.5252, or Virgie Valentine at 914.513.5268). Families may also contact the New York State Ombudsman program Westchester representative at 914.500.3406 or email judy@nullltccc.org. You may also submit questions directly to the New York State Department of Health at icp@nullhealth.ny.gov, covidadultcareinfo@nullhealth.ny.gov, or covidnursinghomeinfo@nullhealth.ny.gov.
Additional Information
PANDEMIC EMERGENCY PLAN
To protect the well-being of The Wartburg residents, staff, and visitors, the following Pandemic Emergency Plan (PEP) has been developed and is included in our all-hazards Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP). The purpose of this plan is to describe the facility’s approach to mitigating the effects of, preparing for, responding to, and recovering from pandemic events. A copy of the PEP can be found here.
For any questions regarding the Pandemic Emergency Plan, please contact Bridget Zimmermann, Administrator, at (914) 513-5488.
EMPLOYEE TESTING
All personnel in nursing homes and adult care facilities will be tested in accordance with the New York State Department of Health guidelines.
ADDITIONAL SAFETY MEASURES IN PLACE
Wartburg has implemented the following safety measures:
- All staff working in the Skilled Nursing Facility and Meadowview are wearing a facemask and eye protection if they are within 6 feet of residents/patients;
- Screening procedures for signs or symptoms of respiratory illness (including a cough, fever, and/or shortness of breath) are in place for all staff working in the Skilled Nursing Facility and Meadowview. Screening includes temperature checks upon arrival;
- We are following strict infection control and prevention guidelines; and
- We have increased the frequency of cleaning hard surfaces in residents’ rooms and common areas (such as handrails, elevator buttons, door knobs and phones) with antiviral disinfectant.
NEW YORK STATE COVID-19 EMOTIONAL SUPPORT HELPLINE
Supporting others through VOVID-19 isn’t easy as healthcare workers and first responders are on the front lines of the COVID-19 emergency. The Department Of Health (DOH) set up an Emotional Support Helpline to help with anxiety, stress, depression, trauma, and grief. Call for free and confidential support. 1.844.863.9314, 8 am – 10 pm, 7 days a week.
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT
We are tremendously grateful for the outpouring of support from families and the greater community who have offered supplies and words of encouragement to the Wartburg staff. During this crisis, we need your support more than ever. Please consider making a tax-deductible, emergency gift to help our nonprofit. Donations of:
- Personal Protective Equipment (masks, gloves, sanitizer, etc.)
- Words of encouragement for Residents (cards, posters, etc. that can be sent via USPS regular mail)
- Words of encouragement for staff (that can be sent via email: staffsupport@nullwartburg.org)
- Monetary donation via Wartburg.org/giving
ADULT DAY SERVICES
As a reminder, Wartburg closed all Adult Day Service programs. If you have questions about the closures please contact Administration at 914.513.5209.
HOUSING (LOHMAN VILLAGE, FRIEDRICHS)
Residents have been encouraged to stay home, limit visitation and only go out if necessary. Also, no public gatherings are allowed in the buildings as per the Governor’s Executive Order. Common areas are being cleaned twice weekly, emergency maintenance continues 24/7, and a COVID-19 weekly newsletter is delivered to each apartment on Mondays. Food pantry distribution continues and is available for ALL independent living tenants. Also, ALL independent living tenants receive daily wellness checks (telephonically for Lohman Village and via Friedrichs floor ambassadors) including risk assessment of the following areas:
- Access to food, fluids, adequate supply and refills for needed medications, toiletries, cleaning supplies;
- Any changes/lack of support system due to social isolation;
- Mental health disorders & active substance abuse – ongoing telephone emotional support offered to tenants and their families;
- Special cleaning protocols;
- A review of delivery services to minimize person-to-person contact;
- Understanding of social distancing (including elevators, lobby, mail area, entering and exiting the buildings); and
- Everyone is encouraged to practice general flu-prevention measures including proper hand washing as recommended by the CDC which are the exact same measures that will help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
For questions regarding housing precautions, wellness checks, visitation, or anything related to ongoing operations and resident protective measures call:
914.513.5472 (Lohman Village)
914.513.5295 (Friedrichs)
SOCIAL DISTANCING AND SELF-MONITORING
All of us should self-monitor for COVID-19 illness – especially those who have had close contact with a person with possible or confirmed COVID-19. Close contact includes those persons who reside or provide care in the same household of the ill person or are an intimate partner of the ill person. Persons who think they have possible or confirmed COVID-19 should isolate themselves until 7 days following onset of illness and 72 hours after being consistently afebrile (without fever) and with resolving respiratory symptoms. Such ill persons should only seek healthcare if they have severe or worsening illness.
GENERAL FLU-PREVENTION MEASURES
We continue to encourage everyone to practice general flu-prevention measures as recommended by the CDC which are the exact same measures that will help prevent the spread of COVID-19:
- Stay home if you’re feeling sick;
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue or sleeve; throw the tissue away immediately;
- Wash your hands regularly;
- Avoid touching your face;
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick;
- Practice social distancing (6-feet); and
- Get your flu shot, if you haven’t already received it.
We will continue to provide periodic updates as necessary. There has been an overwhelming community appreciation for the courageous care giving staff who are working under unprecedented physically and emotionally challenging circumstances. Our gratitude for their passion, commitment, and continued service is everlasting.
COVID-19 Resources
The situation is evolving rapidly. Please see the links below for the most up-to-date information.
Proper Hand-Washing Technique
Official Information on (COVID-19)
- NYC Dept. of Health (COVID-19) Updates
- COVID-19 Quick Updates for NYS
- CDC- Symptom Checker & Coronavirus Testing Info
Conversations with Children about COVID-19
- CDC’s Guiding Principles
- National Association for School Psychologists: Parent Resource
- PBS: How to talk to your kids about coronavirus
- Child Mind Institute
Mental Health Support
- NY State Free Emotional Support & Referral Hotline (844) 863-9314
– Staffed by 6,000 mental health professional volunteers - NYC Well Free text, chat, call support 24/7
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Emergency and Crisis Services
- National Suicide Prevention 24/7 Lifeline: (800) 273-TALK
- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: Taking care of your mental health in the face of uncertainty
Eviction Prevention Services
- Bronx Works – Free Eviction Prevention Services
- Catholic Charities
Provides assistance with eviction prevention, emergency shelter, & affordable housing regardless of religious affiliation - Coalition for the Homeless: Searchable database of housing resources
Hunger Prevention
- Interactive NYC Food Bank Map
- Street Smarts NYC Map– Manhattan
- Hunger Free NYC – All 5 Boroughs (English/Espanol)
- Feeding Our Neighbors Pantry List– Manhattan, Bronx, Staten Island
- Feeding America National Foodbank Finder– All USA
Access to Technology
- Altice USA: 60 days free wifi
Families must apply - Comcast: 60 days free wifi
Families must apply - Spectrum: 60 days free wifi
Families must apply - Map of LinkNYC & Free Wifi Hotspots
The Center for Aging in Place
Financial Resources
Individuals
Note: Many lenders & service providers are offering relief for those in need of financial support. If you are struggling to make any payments, communicate immediately with your lenders because there may be new solutions that have not been publicized yet.
- NY Post Article: short overview describing policy changes to reduce burdens posed by rent, mortgage, student loan, & credit card payments
- NY Times Article: in-depth overview of policy changes & tips for financial sustainability during the Coronavirus pandemic
- National Employment Law Project Fact SheetNew Unemployment Benefit Options under Federal CARES Act
- Dept. of Labor:How to File a Claim for Unemployment Benefits
- Dept. of Labor:COVID-19 Related Unemployment Benefit FAQs
- Dept. of Labor:Before You File for Unemployment FAQs
- Dept. of Labor:After You Have Filed for Unemployment FAQs
- NY Times Article:Federal Stimulus Check FAQs
Non-Profits & Small Businesses
- Non-Profit Times Article: 7 Ways The CARES Act Supports Non-Profits
- Non-Profit Quarterly Article: CARES Act Overview for Non-Profits
- Paycheck Protection Program Application
- National Council of Non-Profits Chart:Loan Options for Non-Profits Under CARES Act
- Non-Profit Finance Fund Toolkit:Includes cash flow tool, scenario template, and emergency resources
- Forbes Article:Financial Relief for Small Businesses
- Goldman Sachs Article: Small Business Resources
Free Volunteer “No-Contact” Quarantine Delivery Services
- Invisible Hands
This service prioritizes NYC’s most at-risk populations but is open to anyone. Fill out an online application & call (732) 639-1579 with questions. - Corona Couriers
Anyone may use this service whether quarantined, elderly, or disabled. Email coronacourier@nullprotonmail.com or call/text (929) 320-0660 to make a request.
Free Community Hotlines
- National Domestic Violence 24/7 Hotline
200+ languages supported. All calls are confidential. (800) 799-7233 - Safe Horizon Domestic Violence 24/7 Hotline(800) 621-4673
- Safe Horizon Rape Crisis 24/7 Hotline(212) 227-3000
- NYS Alcoholics Anonymous Resources(212) 647-1680
- NYC Narcotics Anonymous Hotline(212) 929-6262
- Child Abuse 24/7 Hotline(800) 342-3720
- New York Connects Resources Hotline
Connects New Yorkers of all ages & ability levels to long term support services (800) 342-9871 - CDC Main Website: Latest updates on the Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- Frequently Asked Questions and Answers via the CDC
- World Health Organization (WHO) Situation Reports
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Novel Coronavirus
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Interim Guidance for Healthcare Workers
- New York City Department of Health
- New York State Department of Health
- European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control COVID-19 cases geographical distribution