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Village Assisted Living Memory Care
Village Assisted Living Memory Care Updates
The following is communication sent via email to the families and loved ones of Village Assisted Living Memory Care residents. If you have a question, please contact Heather Scott, administrator, at hscott@jkv.org.
It has been nice to have a good reason to take a break from reporting COVID-19 information: we have had no new cases since an associate tested positive on April 6. I am confident you agree! Today I want to focus my email on changes in two leadership positions at Village Assisted Living and Memory Care.
For those of you who are new to the Village Assisted Living family, in February I shared that my last day with John Knox Village would be June 3, 2021.
My husband, daughter, and I are moving away from the Kansas City area to be closer to our families (who are nine hundred miles away). My husband and I moved to Kansas City in 2007 so he could work on his doctorate. We thought we would be here long enough for him to finish school, but we loved the area and the people so much, we made it our home for nearly fourteen years.
During my time in the area, I have only worked at John Knox Village, and I have been the administrator for Village Assisted Living since 2009. It was, and always will be, my first baby. I have loved every second of serving you and your loved ones.
Earlier this month, I learned who will be administrator for Village Assisted Living after I leave. His name is Anthony Columbatto, and he has been the administrator for the Village Care Center since October 2016.
On June 7, Anthony will become the vice president of health and community services for John Knox Village. In this role, Anthony will serve as the administrator of Village Assisted Living and Memory Care on an interim basis. Anthony will office out of assisted living to be available for the residents, family, and team.
In the upcoming weeks, Anthony will introduce himself to families via e-mail, and to residents via resident meetings. Stay tuned for more information.
It is with bittersweet emotions that I share Tressa Dickerson has submitted her resignation as the director of nursing for Village Assisted Living and Memory Care.
Tressa has been our rock for nearly five years – most notably during the pandemic. She has given us all so much, and she will be dearly missed.
Her last day will be Friday, May 7. Please join me in wishing her well in her new endeavor by sending well-wishes to tdickerson1@jkv.org.
The clinical supervisors, Jackie Byers, Samantha Gladney, and Charity Hammer will take on most of the director of nursing's job duties. There will be director of nursing support provided to the clinical supervisors by the Village Care Center's director of nursing/assistant administrator, Tami Hoversten.
I can assure you that Village Assisted Living and Memory Care is being left in extremely caring, and more than capable, hands. Likewise, we are part of a Life Plan Community where there are resources from across the healthcare continuum available at our fingertips. You can have confidence your loved ones will continue to be well taken care of during these transitions.
Today I have an update regarding the results of testing performed April 12 and 13, as well as future testing dates.
Yesterday we tested associates and this morning we tested all residents, and all results were negative for COVID-19!
Due to the testing results received this week, and with the Jackson County positivity currently rate below five percent, we are able to move to monthly testing for associates.
Also due to the Jackson County positivity rate being below five percent, we won't need to test residents again until an individual who works or lives in Assisted Living or Assisted Living Memory Care tests positive for COVID-19.
The next scheduled test for associates will be on May 13, 2021.
Effective immediately, all parts of Assisted Living and Memory Care are available for visits and non-essential outings.
Current news regarding the presence of COVID-19 at John Knox Village:
Village Care Center: There have been no new resident or associate positive cases so far this month. As of today, all care neighborhoods at the VCC are open to visitors.
Don't forget: You now can simply stop by within visiting hours: 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The end times are hard-stop times, due to available staffing. Entry will be denied after visiting hours close. Visitor(s) must complete a visitor log and screening prior to entering resident care area.
All areas outside of VCC and VAL
There have been NO new resident or associate positive cases reported so far this month. The easing of restrictions and allowing visitors on campus seems to be going smoothly. I hope that many of you have been able to enjoy visits from friends and family.
Reopening the Village, Cautiously
Phase II of Independent Living's Reopening Plan will go into effect on Monday, April 19.
Watch JKtV Channel 2 for a presentation by Maria Timberlake, vice president of senior living, explaining the new steps toward more active living. It will be shown at 3 p.m. Thursday, April 15; 5 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m. Saturday; and 1 p.m. Sunday.
Details also will be published in the Mid-Month Update that comes out on Friday, April 16, and in the Daily E-Blast and on www.JKVLife.org
A few vaccination-related announcements and tips:
Effective April 9, the State of Missouri opened its vaccine distribution plan to all Missouri residents age 16 and over. https://covidvaccine.mo.gov/residents/
The City of Lee's Summit and the State of Missouri are hosting a drive-thru mass vaccination event on April 14 and April 15 at the Legacy Park Soccer Venue, 1501 NE Legacy Park Drive, from noon to 8 p.m. on both days, with up to 2,200 doses of the Pfizer vaccine expected to be administered per day.
Registration is required using the Missouri COVID-19 Vaccine Navigator. After registering, an e-mail will be sent to schedule an appointment. You can also register by calling 877-435-8411. Volunteers from the John Knox Village EMS team will be assisting. For information: cityofLS.net/ls-vaccine-event.
If you have senior friends outside of John Knox Village who are trying to figure out how to get the vaccine, direct them to this web page: https://covidvaccine.mo.gov/seniors/
Today I want share news both related and unrelated to COVID-19.
Outbreak Testing
Last week got off to an unwelcome start with an associate testing positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, April 6. Fortunately, during the outbreak testing performed on residents on Tuesday and staff on Thursday, no one else tested positive for the virus, so we were able to offer inside visits and non-essential outings for all Memory Care neighborhoods and most areas of Village Assisted Living, except the 400 and 105-125 apartments.
Today and tomorrow, we will complete the outbreak testing of staff today and residents tomorrow. If each of these days goes well, apartments 401 – 425 and 105 – 125 will be able to resume inside visits and non-essential outings on Wednesday, April 14. All other areas are currently able to have inside visits and non-essential outings. Outdoor visits are always available (weather permitting) and remain the preferred option.
On Feb. 1, 2021, Village Assisted Living began major renovations to its common areas. The goal of the project was to give our residents in the original assisted living building a more beautiful environment that blends nicely with our other, newer, care neighborhoods.
Fast forward to mid-April, and there is now new paint on walls and ceilings, lighting, carpet, handrails, baseboards, new wayfinding signs, and a complete overhaul to the Garden nurses' station. We are still working on the revamp of the Southview/Manor nurses' station and the activity room, as well as a facelift to the Ambassador Room, ice machine room, and 100 wing laundry room.
While the original timeline was six months, I am happy to share that the work to the common areas in all areas except the Ambassador room, Ambassador Meeting room, and porte cochere will be completed by the end of April. This means that we may be able to move new furniture into the renovated spaces in early May. Installation of the artwork will be the last component of the project, and it is expected in late May.
I will have another update for you later in the week, so stay tuned.
Effective tomorrow, April 9, we are open for indoor visits and non-essential outings on all Memory Care neighborhoods as well all parts of Assisted Living, except for our 400 wing and a select portion of the 100 wing (apartments 105 – 125).
The affected areas cannot have indoor visitation or go on non-essential outings until the re-testing is complete on April 14.
We encourage all areas to have outside visitation (weather permitting).
I am sorry to inform you that today we learned of a non-direct care associate who tested positive for COVID-19.
The associate was working in Assisted Living on the 400 wing and a portion of 100 wing (apartments 105-125), and has been removed from the work schedule. Unfortunately this means we cannot do indoor in-person visitation or non-essential outings in Assisted Living, Memory Care 1, and Memory Care 2 until we are able to perform initial outbreak testing on all residents (April 6) and staff (April 8).
For all areas, you are encouraged to take advantage of outside visiting options that are available.
Memory Care 3 is not affected by the associate who tested positive for COVID-19 today. All indoor in-person visits and non-essential outings are still permitted.
For the non-affected wings, if no one tests positive on Apr. 6 or Apr. 8, we can resume indoor in-person visitation and non-essential outings.
For the affected wings, these activities will be put on "pause" until the outbreak testing is complete. If there are no new positive cases following our second round of outbreak testing of staff on Monday, April 12 and residents on Tuesday, April 13, we can resume indoor in-person visitation and non-essential outings on Wednesday, April 14
I know this is disheartening. It is a reminder the pandemic is not over and it is so important to remain vigilant in our efforts to continue the momentum we have sustained thus far in 2021.
Likewise, I know this is new and uncharted territory for all of us, so please do not hesitate to let me know if you have questions.
Share Facts, Not Fear
April 2021 Village Assisted Living Update
Village Assisted Living COVID-19 Update
Residents Bring Home Missouri Senior Games Hardware
John Knox Village
1001 N.W. Chipman Road
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