good news are negative please - wake robin · 2020-04-15 · you must put them in trash. you may...

200 Wake Robin Drive, Shelburne, Vermont 05482 | 802.264.5100 fax 802.958.8452 | www.wakerobin.com

March 23, 2020

Happy Monday everyone,

I hear there may be snow in our forecast today. I am so ready for spring. But our

son’s birthday is April 7th and there’s almost always snow that day, so I should know better than to hope for spring mid-March!

First some GOOD NEWS to report: Both of the residents (one in independent

living and one in Linden) who were tested for COVID-19 are negative for the virus. That means we have no suspected cases of COVID at Wake Robin at the

moment. This obviously could change at any point, but for now, everyone who was tested has been cleared for the virus. I know this was worrisome for many of you,

so I wanted to share this news as soon as we received it.

So, please continue to take all the precautions we have suggested - Wash your

hands often; don’t touch your face; social distance from others; stay out of groups. There seem to be several interpretations of what we meant in our instructions to

“lay low.” Since the Governor has not ordered everyone to stay inside, we are not requiring that right now. Whereas we would strongly discourage anyone having

visitors to their independent homes, I can’t absolutely say you can’t. But we’d prefer no visitors in your homes/apartment buildings, not only for your safety but

for the safety of your neighbors too. If you have visitors over for a walk outside, please maintain the 6-foot separation. Any visitors going into apartment buildings

must be screened at the front desk in the community center before entering an apartment building. Your children and delivery people from grocery stores or

restaurants can drive up to your building to drop off groceries/food/other essentials, but we’d ask that you wait outside for these deliveries, receive them

yourself, and bring them back into your home. Feel free to go for a drive yourself to see what’s happening in the outside world, but don’t interact with others and follow all the same recommended rules.

The one exception to this rule (there’s always one!) is for residents who require an

essential caregiver. These individuals may be a family member or may be from an outside agency. These caregivers have been preapproved by Health Services and

are allowed to go into homes to support a resident. They are always screened at the front desk before heading over to the residence where they are providing support .

Now, there are a few residents who may at some point be asked to actually self-

isolate by the Health Department or a doctor, but that is because they have tested positive for COVID themselves, come into contact with a possible COVID infected person, been on a cruise or came back from a country with travel warnings or have another contagious illness. That means they are not to leave their apartment/cottage for 2 weeks or until cleared by a doctor. Medical meals will be delivered. Mail will be delivered. No visitors would be allowed. No walks outside.

I hope this helps clarify our instructions.

We have had several questions from residents concerned for our employees. Rest assured we are being extra attentive to their needs right now. No one has been laid off. A few are caring for an older parent and/or children and obviously want to be extra cautious. We have a solid plan in place to meet people where they are in relation their own particular needs. Staff are confident that if they can work and wish to work, we will have work for them to do. This includes paying employees who are asked by their doctors to self-isolate and cannot be here, or those who are absent in order to manage childcare. We are offering flexible schedules, work from home options where possible, and shifting jobs to where they are most needed and most comfortable. Through it all we are collecting and sharing State resources for them and their families, expanding our emergency loan, and keeping all benefits in place. We obviously recognize that our staff are our most critical resource so we are doing everything we can to make sure they and their families are ok during this crisis.

I had a terrific Zoom call today with some Maple residents. This was a previously scheduled in-person visit I was making to that neighborhood that we switched to a virtual chat. There were over 20 people on the call and by all accounts it went very well. So it appears we have the technology for medium sized groups to chat together. I’ll start getting these set up by neighborhood so we can meet and talk together in lieu of seeing each other around campus. We may run a few tutorials so people can get more comfortable with using the tool. Stay tuned for more info on that.

We have a great need for some masks and gowns for healthcare staff in Linden. Several of you have expressed a willingness to sew these for us. We have ordered gown material and it should be arriving later this week. There’s a gown pattern that



MaryBeth created, and there is a mask pattern that has been shared by the CDC that we can make also available. I understand elastic to wrap the mask around the ears might be in short supply, but one creative seamstress used elastic hair ties instead and that seemed to work fine.

An important warning from our friends at COVE (Committee of Vermont Elders): Beware of criminals pretending to be from the World Health Organization

(WHO). The following is information from the World Health Organization. Criminals are disguising themselves as WHO to steal money or sensitive information. If you are contacted by a person or organization that appears to be from WHO, verify their authenticity before responding. The World Health Organization will:

• never ask for your username or password to access safety information• never email attachments you didn’t ask for

• never ask you to visit a link outside of www.who.int• never charge money to apply for a job, register for a conference, or reserve

a hotel• never conduct lotteries or offer prizes, grants, certificates or funding

through emailThe only call for donations WHO has issued is the COVID-19 Solidarity Response

Fund, which can be found at https://www.who.int/. Any other appeal for funding or donations that appears to be from WHO is a scam. Beware that criminals use

email, websites, phone calls, text messages, and even fax messages for their scams. You can verify if communication is legit by contacting WHO directly. Contact

information and directions on reporting a WHO-related scam can be found at https://www.who.int/. Phishing: malicious emails appearing to be from WHO. WHO is aware of

suspicious email messages attempting to take advantage of the COVID-19 emergency. This fraudulent action is called phishing.

These “Phishing” emails appear to be from WHO, and will ask you to: • give sensitive information, such as usernames or passwords

• click a malicious link• open a malicious attachment.

Using this method, criminals can install malware or steal sensitive information.

A composting update: Green Mountain Composting has informed us that the “Biodegradable/Recyclable” bags are NOT compostable at their site. They are

mailto:[email protected].

https://www.who.int/

https://www.who.int/


made from natural gas, not plants! Also, the Plastic Wrap Recycling Corp. has confirmed that these bags do not qualify for the Plastic Bags recycling program.

You must put them in Trash. You may tie up your trash in them and dispose of in the Bagged Trash Bin.

Don’t forget to sign up for Written Cup if you are missing our weekly get-

togethers. This will be dedicated to good news, happy activities, our staff profile of the week, some updates, and some fun community challenges. No depressing news

allowed! So let Sherri know if you’d like to be added to her email distribution list - [email protected].

Thanks again everyone for your continued support and kindness. So far, so good!

Martha E. Maksym President and CEO

mailto:[email protected]


March 24, 2020

Greetings everyone,

Quite the winter wonderland outside my window! But with any luck, the

weather will warm up, the snow will melt, and yesterday’s storm will be a

memory!

I want to start by saying thanks for everyone who participated in the pot-

banging celebration last evening at 6 pm. I know it is an acknowledgement of

appreciation for all the healthcare and emergency services personnel who are

doing heroic work in this crisis. It sounded beautiful! Francis is posting a

video of last night’s concert on our website. Sincere thanks.

Thanks also to those of you who have stepped forward to help sew masks and

gowns for Health Services. Can’t believe we have to resort to this, but alas,

we do! The effort is much appreciated.

And thanks to many of our vendors and friends who have also donated

equipment:

• Steve Pitmon, Dentist has donated 300 surgical masks towards our PPE

supply

• Even some of our contractors on site have donated some of their N95

masks for our use if needed

• Global Foundries donated 50 clean room gowns for our use

We are very grateful.

Now I need you all to start preparing. I don’t want to alarm anyone

unnecessarily, but I am expecting that in the next several days, Governor

Scott will issue an Executive Order requiring people to shelter in place (or,

in other words, stay in!). We have started discussing what this will mean for

Independent Living at Wake Robin, but I expect it will include a


requirement that folks stay in and not congregate in groups of any size,

indoors or out. Not sure quite yet how Linden will handle the shelter in

place/stay in order. Meagan will communicate that as soon as we have an

answer.

I expect that if, and when, the Governor issues the Executive Order, we will

start implementing the following:

• No visitors will be allowed on campus, except essential care givers who

are preapproved by Meagan. This includes no family members.

• Mail pickup in the community center will be scheduled by

neighborhood and will likely be only every other day. You would not

be able to just drop by. We cannot have crowds in the Community

Center.

• The Community Center will be shut down and locked (residents can

enter with their swipe key). Front desk coverage may be limited. The

library will be closed. Sugaring would need to cease. Any other

gatherings (teas, cocktail hours, small dinner gatherings) would need to

cease.

• Packages will be left by delivery trucks (if they come at all) in the

vestibule and delivered by ES to your doors. We are still figuring out

how to handle pharmacy deliveries; more to come on that.

• The only authorized travel off campus will be to medical appointments

or groceries. I expect this will be enforced by law enforcement. I’d

assume no scenic drives are allowed.

• Outdoor walks/dog walks must be only with your spouse/partner and

only on Wake Robin property. For single individuals, I have asked

WRRA to organize a buddy system so you have one other person to

walk with, but it would be the same person daily. Obviously the 6-feet+

apart requirement must be followed. No small, medium or large group

walks.

• Housekeeping in common areas will be limited.

• Grocery trips in Wake Robin vehicles would be limited to once every

two weeks and would be limited in size. Anyone who needs the service

would be required to register ahead of time so we have lots of space in

the vans between individuals. They would take place only during the

restricted store hours reserved for seniors which are usually early in the


morning before stores open to the general public. Dining services will

continue to have its list of staples available as well that would be

delivered to your door.

• We still need to figure out if grocery deliveries will be allowed onto

campus. If yes, then how and to where? More to come on that.

These are our preliminary thoughts. I am sure we have forgotten much, so if

you have any questions about what a “shelter in place/stay in” order might

mean, I invite you to ask them now so we can have answers for you if/when

this become effective. Just send me an email at [email protected].

I’d also suggest you stock up on approximately two weeks of shelf stable

food so you can limit or eliminate your need to go to the grocery store.

Again, Dining Services will continue to have its list of staples available as

well.

The virus is continuing to spread in Vermont and is taking a heavy toll on

older adults. So we need to continue to be vigilant in how we follow the rules

we have set forth to date, and those we may need to set forth in the coming

days. Please know that our goal is to keep you all as safe and healthy as is

possible, despite how draconian we may become. Thanks again for your

cooperation. These are stressful times, and I know tempers may run short.

Please try to show kindness and compassion to each other. It matters. And we

will get through this. May not be for a few weeks or even months, but we

will! Look, we are already well into week 2 and so far, so good!

Gratefully,

Martha

Martha E. Maksym

President and CEO



March 25, 2020

Hi everyone, As you all may have read or heard, the Governor did issue a new Stay at Home Executive Order yesterday. It is quite restrictive and really only allows for business to continue if it is critical to the COVID-19 response effort in the state or if it meets an essential need, which he describes. So, much of what I shared yesterday will in fact take effect starting this evening at 5:00 pm. (new/updated information is in italics):

• No visitors will be allowed on campus, except essential care givers who are preapproved by Meagan. This includes no family members.

• To assure that Wake Robin follows the Stay in Place Order around groups gathering, mail pickup in the community center is being scheduled by the first letter or the first few letters of your last name. This will limit the number of people in the mail area at one time. We ask that you not just drop by. Here’s the schedule: Mail Pick Up on Mon, Wed, Fri: 8-9:30 am – Last names starting with A-B 10-11:30 am – Last names starting with C-Da 12-1:30 pm – Last names starting with De-He 2-3:30 pm – Last names starting with Hi-Mad Mail Pick Up on Tues, Thurs, Sat: 8-9:30 am – Last names starting with Maj-O 10-11:30 am – Last names starting with P-R 12-1:30 pm – Last names starting with S-T 2-3:30 pm – Last names starting U-Z

Sundays and nights/early mornings can be “emergency” pick up times only. Please use this option only as a last resort. The point of limiting


who comes when is to limit the number of people in the community center.

• The community center will be shut down and locked (residents can

enter with their swipe key). Front desk coverage will be the same for the moment, but may be limited in the coming days. Stay tuned for Library access news.

• Any gatherings (teas on outdoor decks, cocktail hours, small dinner gatherings) must cease or take place virtually. Check out the internet for some fun “Quarantini” recipes! Virtual happy hours are becoming the rage right now!

• Packages will be left by delivery trucks (if they come at all) in the vestibule of the Community Center and delivered by ES to your doors. Pharmacy deliveries will also be delivered to you by ES.

• The only travel off campus should be to medical appointments or groceries/pharmacies/work.

• Outdoor walks/dog walks must be only by yourself or with your spouse/partner. Preferably stay on Wake Robin property. o I have had several people ask if going over to Meach Cove is still

allowed to walk on those trails. Yes, that would be fine. Just not in groups.

o For single individuals, you are welcome to walk alone. That is actually preferred. But, if you would like a walking buddy, I have asked WRRA to organize a buddy system so you have one other person to walk with. It would need to be the same person daily.

o Obviously the 6 feet+ apart requirement must be followed. No small, medium or large group walks. You do not need to limit your walking to just around your unique neighborhood. Around the entire Wake Robin property is just fine.

• New York Times normally delivered to the Front Desk will be on a table in the Community Center vestibule. Same system to get a paper as before. Take yours if you subscribe. If you want to buy one, sign the sheet on the clipboard and you will be charged. Sunday papers will also be delivered to the Community Center vestibule for you to pick up. BFP


is being delivered to vestibules in apartment buildings and delivered to your door by ES staff.

• Dinner will continue being delivered nightly to your door and the menu system will remain the same. For all independent residents: If you have items missing from your delivered dinner order please call the kitchen at 264-5122. Let them know your name, address, and the missing item. We will be taking calls UNTIL 6:00 pm, and will do our best to deliver missing items to your door. For Sunday brunch we will be taking calls until 12:30 pm to deliver missing items.

I think that’s enough information for one day! I’m sure there are other things I forgot, but keep your questions coming and I will address them in future daily updates. Thanks again to all of you for your flexibility and cooperation. We, the staff, are doing our very best to keep things humming along here. We may miss a few things, but be patient with us. Everyone is working very hard in very stressful circumstances. I think they are a fantastic group and I am really proud of them all. I know you feel the same way. Don’t hesitate to say thanks whenever the urge strikes you. It’s much appreciated. Stay well. Keep your distance. Wash your hands. Sneeze and cough into tissues. And take care of each other-from afar, of course! Gratefully, Martha



March 26, 2020 Hi everyone, I received this email from a staff person yesterday in response to my comment about the 6 pm pot banging concert, and was so touched I wanted to share it with you. I was unable to share the experience of the pot banging with the residents because I am working from home, it brought back a fond memory to me of my grandmother. She was a nurse who spent much of her life and career in Detroit. Many years ago, she was relating an experience she had with pot banging that happened in 1918. At the time, she was studying to be a nurse in New York City. Among the stories she told was of working in a hospital where, to wheel a stretcher onto an elevator, she needed to tilt it up to fit and then pull on ropes to go up and down. The pot banging she told me about was to celebrate the end of World War I. When the end of the war was announced, people in her neighborhood were leaning out of their windows, banging on pots with large spoons to celebrate. I want you to know that I very much appreciate the gesture of gratitude from the residents of Wake Robin. In addition to feeling gratitude, I also view the gesture as a symbol of hope, that the struggles of yesterday, today, and tomorrow will be overcome and we can all return to the life we will have earned from working together. Although the end point of the pandemic may not be as definite and well-defined as we would all like it to be, I hope in the future we can have another pot banging to mourn the lost and celebrate a new beginning. Thank you. David Mitchell, RN I don’t know how to top that sentiment, so I’m just moving on to announcements… Linden Pen Pals: The Transitions Committee invites Independent Living Residents to become pen pals with our neighbors confined to Linden in this extraordinary time. They may not be able to receive visitors, but we're sure they'll appreciate receiving mail from their neighbors in independent living! We hope to make sure that each Linden resident receives a letter every week. To become a Linden Pen Pal


• Email [email protected] to request the name of someone in Linden with whom you would correspond OR indicate the name of someone that you already know and with whom would like to be paired. • Write to your pen pal (at least once a week. or more if you wish). • Deliver "mail" for Linden residents to the table in the Community Center vestibule on days when you go to pick up your own mail. Look for the labeled shoe box decorated with stars.

Elevators: Please be mindful of not having too many people in an elevator at one time. Two or three people maximum would be safe. If you have to, please just wait until another one comes along. Access to a Notary: Sherri Rigby ([email protected] / 264-5106) is a Notary and will happily schedule a time to connect with you and notarize any documents. Garbage/recycling/compost: Please continue to bring your garbage, compost, recycling to…wherever you normally bring it! (I don’t actually know where that is, but I’m hoping you do!) Outgoing mail: Bring it with you when you come to pick up your mail. You can put stamped and prepaid envelopes in the outgoing mail slots. If you need postage, or a package sent out, you’ll just have to plan ahead. But we have staff at the desk who could help with that. Jigsaw puzzles and the Library: For the moment, the Library is closed. We are very concerned about the COVID-19 virus living on surfaces (in this case book covers and jackets) for far longer than we are comfortable. So apologies, but book borrowing for the moment. Ditto for jigsaw puzzles on tables in community rooms. Please don’t do them. Too many people touching puzzle pieces is concerning. Thanks for your cooperation. What to do with the dinner plates etc.? Garbage? Compost? Recycle? Well the answers are coming in a flyer that will be included in your dinner bags this evening. Be looking for that. What have I missed??? I think that’s all the questions I received in the last 24 hours. But if you had a question and I haven’t answered it yet, feel free to email me again.




I want to remind any residents with ANY symptoms of respiratory illness including but not limited to fever/chills, cough and shortness of breath to call the Wellness Clinic AS SOON AS POSSIBLE at 264-5139 (do not arrive unannounced) and call your primary care physician. This is really important! We are currently (although this could change in a heartbeat!) COVID-19 free on campus. We have no one who tested positive, no one presumed positive, no one with tests out that we are awaiting results for. Let’s work really hard to keep it that way! And THANK YOU! PLEASE don’t forget that the Community Center is now secured. You need your E-Card to enter. Don’t forget to bring it with you! Thanks everyone. Tomorrow’s Friday! We will have made it through week two! Gratefully, Martha



March 27, 2020

Hi everyone,

Well, Friday did arrive! Hallelujah! Looks like Saturday will be quite nice, but

Sunday looks like rain. So get all your walking done tomorrow and snuggle in with

a good book, movie, opera, or favorite recipe on Sunday.

There is a new Happenings calendar out. Lots of great ways for you to keep busy

while keeping your distance! It’s included in today’s written Cup. Copies will also

be in your mailboxes and around the Community Center for when you come to get

your mail. Enjoy!

To clarify my mail pick-up instructions from Wednesday, for Linden residents,

your mail is delivered to you so no need to worry about the time slots. I apologize

if that was confusing to you.

US Census: First of all, if you haven’t already, please fill out the census. It’s

simple to do online. You should have received something in the mail

asking/directing you to do it online. You can go to https://www.2020census.gov/ to

fill it out. We’ve had lots of questions about whether Wake Robin residents “own”

or “rent”; for census purposes, you “rent.”

Greeny Update: Greeny says that the yogurt lids need to be rolled into 2” balls

(not 1”). You may also find your milk comes in different kinds of containers. The

waxed cardboard milk (like you got in school) is trash. The plastic bottles can be

rinsed and recycled. Lids can go back on the bottles or be collected in the green

room bins.

I’ve had several questions about visitors. Once again, our direction is that you have

no visitors. The Community Center is closed to everyone except to pick up mail.

Linden is closed to any and all non-Linden residents and staff. The campus, for all

intents and purposes, is closed. We don’t want non-Wake Robin folks in any of the

apartment buildings or cottages. There are a few exceptions we might make, but

those need to be made by me or by Meagan only. Otherwise, please no visitors,

and that includes family members. Thanks for your cooperation.

https://www.2020census.gov/


From Kate Hays, Director of Dining Services: Many residents have asked for information about what dining is doing to safeguard the

food that is prepared and delivered for your dinner. Know that Dining takes this very

seriously. Please sign onto the Resident Portal or Touchtown for more details.

So, that’s my last update of the week. Stay well. Rest well. Always reach out if you

have any questions or concerns.

See you (sort of) on Monday.

Many thanks, Martha

Martha E. Maksym

President and CEO

good news are negative please - wake robin · 2020-04-15 · you must put them in trash. you may...

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