Yesterday CDC published new guidance for the public about what those who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 can now safely do. In addition, CDC released updated Healthcare Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations in response to the COVID-19 Vaccination.

While we are excited to see CDC progressing towards normalcy in their guidance, Fairview Haven must continue to abide by the regulations of Illinois Department of Public Health and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. While these agencies have not yet issued updates to the regulations, so far they eventually follow the CDC recommendations.

In these recommendations, the nursing home is given significant freedom to begin lifting restrictions for at least our fully vaccinated residents and visitors. Fairview Haven will not mandate our residents, team members or visitors to get vaccinated for COVID-19 and will respect everyone’s individual decision about the COVID-19 vaccine, although we do strongly support vaccination as a means to protect our residents and move forward towards the normalcy we all so strongly desire. We promote that everyone should utilize trusted sources, such as their family physician, when making this decision.
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With that being said, I feel obligated to share with you that we believe in the coming days, persons (visitors and residents) who are vaccinated will have less restrictions at Fairview Haven than those who are not. While this may not be our choice, as a licensed facility, we will follow the law. We look forward to a day soon when all restrictions can be lifted, but until then, there likely will be distinctions made. If you have questions or just want information about the COVID-19 vaccination, please feel free to reach out to Dave Blunier, Brandon Stoller or Lila Fehr, or private message Fairview Haven.

​If you're planning to visit Fairview Haven, please read the following:
Greetings, It’s been a couple of months since we’ve done a public update regarding our COVID-19 policies and procedures here at Fairview Haven. Recently, we have updated our policies due to guidance changes from CDC, CMS and IDPH. Please understand that if and when you see changes of guidance in the news, it doesn’t always mean that changes are going to happen at Fairview Haven. We are required to satisfy more than one governing body and are often required to do a risk assessment before making any changes. The Fairview Haven COVID task force is constantly monitoring CMS (our federal regulatory body), IDPH (our state regulatory body) and CDC. We also keep in constant communication with six other Apostolic Christian Homes in Illinois through our shared “Corporate” nurse.
With recent updates from CDC, CMS and IDPH, Fairview Haven has revised its COVID-19 Infection Control policy. In essence, we have adopted nine core principles for COVID-19 Infection Prevention. Fairview Haven will adhere to these core principles as best as we can as we implement policies and procedures for the safety, dignity and well-being of our residents.
Of the nine core principles, there are four that we need everyone’s help with.
1. Screening – anyone entering Fairview Haven is required to go through a screening process. Visitors who have been in close contact with individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the past 14 days, have been diagnosed themselves with COVID in the past 10 days or have signs and symptoms that could indicate COVID-19 will not be permitted to visit at this time. If you are cleared to visit, you will be asked to wear a name badge at all times to show our staff you have been cleared for entry to the building.
2. Hand Hygiene – It is very important that residents, team members and visitors are using proper hand hygiene at Fairview Haven. There are hand sanitizer stations placed throughout the building for your use, please use them!
3. Face covering or mask – Visitors on our campus are required to have their mouth and nose covered with a cloth face covering (or disposable facemask) anytime they are in our building or around our residents. Residents are expected to wear a face covering when they leave their room or when they have a visitor with them. And team members are required to wear a face mask at all times (with exceptions for breaks) at Fairview Haven as well.
4. Social Distancing – 6 feet is the magic number according to CDC. Visitors must maintain social distancing as much as possible. Understand, at this time, vaccinated residents (those who have a teddy bear on their door) are allowed physical contact. Unfortunately, during contact the mask must continue to cover the mouth and nose.
The visitor guidance and outing guidance (available at the front desk and on our website on our COVID-19 page) is developed with these core principles in mind. A few highlights that all visitors must comply with:
1. Please call and schedule any visit or outing. This allows us to ensure that the resident is available and ready for your visit. Unfortunately at this time we are still required to monitor all visits – we do this by asking you to leave the resident’s door open so that our staff can monitor without disturbing your visit.
2. There is no longer a limit on the number of visitors a resident
may have. We are only limited by the number of people that can fit in the visiting area and still maintain 6 feet between the visitors and the resident. When you schedule your visit, please indicate how many visitors there will be.
3. No roaming: When you come for a visit, you will be escorted to your resident’s room (or designated visiting area) and you will be asked to leave directly after the visit. You may not stop to visit with other residents and/or team members.
4. You must wear a face covering at all times and practice social
distancing as much as practicable.
5. If you develop symptoms within 3 days after your visit, you must notifiy the Administrator or Director of Nursing.
6. As you take residents out on outings, please remember the core principles. While we can’t monitor outings, we do ask that you follow IDPH guidance which includes:
a. Masking at all times
b. Social Distancing where applicable. Physical touch allowed for vaccinated residents.
c. You can remove mask for eating, but always remember the core principles of COVID safety.
d. Limit gatherings to those that comply with IDPH guidance. <50 people, masking, etc.
Residents will never be declined their right to leave Fairview Haven. However, if guidance is not followed, we must enact quarantine upon return for the safety of other residents and team members.
Outings and visits will be available so long as our county positivity rate remains below 10%, IDPH does not impose mitigation efforts AND Fairview Haven is not experiencing an outbreak. An outbreak is classified as ONE facility acquired or associated case.
Again, you can find this guidance posted on our webpage under COVID-19 as well as at our main reception area. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to Dave Blunier, Brandon Stoller or Lila Fehr if you have any questions about what is acceptable and what is not.
Thank you for all your support over the past year. It has been a long journey and unfortunately we must remain vigilant. While we see light at the end of the tunnel we are not to the end. I implore you to continue to be diligent in following the guidelines developed by Fairview Haven to remain in compliance with CDC, CMS, IDPH and to keep our residents safe. By doing so, you are doing your part to help maintain a home where life is lived in abundance and keep Fairview Haven on the path to fully reopening.

When you have a day off work and it's your birthday! ​

Colfax – Ferne Onken, 88, of Colfax, passed away at 10:00am, April 1, 2021, at Carle BroMenn Medical Center, Normal.
Her funeral will be held at 11:00 am, Saturday, April 10, 2021, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Anchor. Pastor Jim Davis will be officiating. Burial will be in St. John’s Lutheran Church Cemetery, Anchor.
Visitation will be held from 4-7:00pm, Friday, April 9, 2021, at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Colfax and one hour prior to services at the church on Saturday.
Memorials may be made to the St. John’s Lutheran Church, Anchor or Alzheimer’s Association.
Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Colfax is in charge of arrangements.
Ferne was born October 5, 1932, in Metamora, the daughter of Rudolph and Esther Reeser Garber. She married Ronald Onken on February 26, 1950. He died September 2, 2010.
Surviving are her children, Ricardo (Debra) Onken of Colfax, Steven (Rhoda) Onken of Snohomish, WA Victoria (Daniel) Eyer of Anchor; grandsons, Jason Onken of Elgin, Nicholas Onken of Brooklyn, NY, and Ryan (Ashley) Eyer of Doral, FL; granddaughters, Rebecca (Robert) Connor of Colfax, Christina (Adam) Zehr of Cary, Leah (Phil) Painter of Snohomish, WA, and Josh (Holly) Mathis of Mackinaw; and great grandchildren, Chloe, Norah, and Ethan Onken, Briana Goeppinger, Brooklynn Connor, Abigail Mathis, Isiah, Matthew, and Joshua Painter, Jackson and Emery Eyer, and Cora and Hayley Zehr.
She was preceded in death by her parents, granddaughter Amy Onken, two brothers and one sister.
Ferne was a secretary for Octavia School District, she waitressed at Fincham’s Steakhouse in Colfax and owned and operated with her husband Ron Onken Chevrolet also in Colfax.
She was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Anchor.
Ferne loved to knit, cook, and bake for her family. Whether it was for Thursday Night Dinners, at the cabin on the lake, or a holiday, Fern enjoyed these times with her family. She also enjoyed attending her grandchildren’s sporting events and coffee time with her friends.
She loved her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren even more.
An online registry is available at www.duffypilsmemorialhome.com