the moments rapid testing

To Test…or Not to Test?

Hi, I’m Elizabeth Wright, Founder of The Moments.

As we all work together to slow the spread of COVID-19, please know that our highest priority at The Moments remains the safety and health of our community.

Our leadership team has led the staff and residents through this uncertain time with an abundance of care and caution.

Since the first case hit our shores, our team has worked to protect the health of our residents, staff and loved ones.

What has that looked like here at The Moments?

The first case of COVID-19 in the U.S. was confirmed on January 21st.  At that time, we reviewed our sanitation and hygiene training for staff and our methods to encourage resident hand washing.  We increased our supplies and reviewed our mask fit and surface cleaning process

As the first case reached Minnesota on March 6th, we met with staff and reached out to families. We further reduced all non-essential visits and reimagined our entertainment activities.

With our families’ support, we closed our Lakeville Campus to all visitors on Friday, March 13th.  Committed to keeping family and friends closely connected, we have increased our messaging through personal emails, more frequent Facebook posts and private video calls through Skype and Facetime.

Since March 27th, the Moments staff are screened prior to each entry including temperature and risk assessments of their health, their household and interactions at other healthcare facilities. In addition, every staff member wears a facemask at all times and employs hand sanitization throughout their shift.

Our Chef and nutrition teams have moved to delivering meals on shift and smaller settings, rather than our usual community gatherings – increasing attention to emotional and hygiene needs, including daily temperature checks for all residents and sanitizing chairs and tables after each meal.

Even our building is prepared.  Our HVAC system was uniquely designed to deliver six complete air changes per hour which means clean air, safer air, throughout the building. Our resident rooms have individual fresh air and filtration above the windows, both designed to increase safety and sanitation levels.

Our normal protocol includes rigorous disinfecting on every shift, including: doors, handrails and other common areas. New or returning residents may (re)join The Moments community, so long as we are able to screen and isolate for a 14-day period.  We continue to monitor CDC guidelines.

This time has been trying and frightening for all of us.  But, our staff has improvised and innovated effective solutions, borne out of love. Focused on emotional well-being, our staff decorated their masks which they introduced via a staff stand-up comedy routine.  It was a welcome break for all.

We hope this review gives you comfort knowing we are trained, prepared and actively protecting the health of everyone who works or lives here.

Please reach out to me directly at elizabeth@themoments.com or to our Vice President of Operations Peter Hendrickson peter@themoments.com with any questions, ideas or concerns. This page will be updated as additional information becomes available.

Stay well. Stay in.

Questions?
If you have any questions that you’d like to discuss regarding our residents, please reach out to The Moments of Lakeville’s Vice President of Operations, Peter Hendrickson, at Peter@themoments.com.

For staff and staff family questions, please contact The Moments Human Resources Director, Kristin Jutting, at kristin.jutting@themoments.com.


Newsroom 

For more information on memory care and COVID-19 

Published On: July 22, 2020