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We're so grateful for the support of the community during this time!
Thanks to all of you who have donated PPE and medical supplies. Also thanks to the Fairbury and Forrest Apostolic Christian Churches for providing meals to encourage our team. And to St. Paul's Lutheran Church for donating doughnuts and chocolate milk for the residents. We are blessed! On behalf of the team at Fairview Haven, I would like to thank our surrounding communities for the tremendous support we have felt these past couple of weeks. It has been quite a journey as we strive to keep up to date on the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) guidelines. We care deeply about our residents and team members here at Fairview Haven and it has become apparent to us during this crisis that our community does as well! We recognize this quarantine has been difficult for our residents and their families, but are so thankful for the efforts so many of you have gone to with FaceTime, Skype and window visits.
We are so thankful to report that as of this writing, we are still free from the dreaded Coronavirus here at Fairview Haven. We have tested a few residents that have presented symptoms similar to those who experience Coronavirus, but thus far those tests have come back negative! We are also thankful that our team members thus far have been remaining healthy. While we don’t know our future, we know God holds that future in His hands! While our precautions we have taken up to this point have been successful and we haven’t yet experienced any positive tests, we know that we need to be prepared should an outbreak occur. Here are some of the things we have been doing to prepare: 1. We have been inventorying our PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) and studying the best approaches for preserving PPE so that we are well protected should we have an outbreak. At this point, we are unable to get the necessary supplies that we would need. So many in our community who have dug up and donated as many N95 masks as they can find have blessed us. While we still have a shortage, we feel that we will be able to keep our team members and residents safe. We are also receiving goggles and general face masks that will be helpful. And thanks to many seamstresses in our communities, we have developed a large stash of cloth masks that will help keep everyone safe. Our biggest struggle right now is disposable gowns. We continue to develop procedure that will help us to preserve these should we need them during an outbreak. 2. Our COVID-19 team has been working on protocol for caring for residents who may become positive with Coronavirus. Residents who have a diagnosis or are under investigation for a diagnosis will adhere to strict isolation precautions. It is our goal to limit the number of team members who will be assigned to care for residents who test positive or are under investigation to limit exposure. These team members will be trained on how to handle the isolation and given the necessary PPE. 3. Should a resident develop symptoms, his/her healthcare power of attorney will be notified. The physician and the Health Department will order testing for COVID-19. The healthcare power of attorney should then anticipate a phone call at least daily (or upon any change in condition). We ask that you coordinate with your family how the power of attorney will then communicate with the remainder of the family should an outbreak occur at Fairview Haven. While it is our desire to provide you with up-to-date information, we recognize we have limited resources. The best form of communication is emailing. We have established an email account for general COVID-19 questions at fvhfamily1@gmail.com. Thank you for your patience with us! And for your prayers and support! Dave Blunier Administrator Fairview Haven team members voted for MOST Awards to recognize our fellow team members. Since we cancelled our Team Appreciation Supper and Recognition Evening, we are gradually presenting the awards throughout our work days. Here we present ... Most Likely to Brave a Snowstorm to get to Work - Jeremiah Rinkenberger (Jeremiah's award was presented by window visit) Most Likely to Put the Gold Back into the Golden Years - Rick Plattner Most Likely to Take Over Dave's Job - Brandon Stoller Brandon received an Administrator's Survival Kit, including such useful items as a packet of gravy (because it's a gravy job), a pair of thumb protectors (for all the thumb twiddling), pillow and blanket (for all naps he'll get to take), a pocket protector and pens (to hold all his pens so he doesn't have to snitch everyone else's). This is what happens when you've been sheltering in place for too long!  Happy Faces today!!! It's Monday....virus or not...we play bingo.... Fairview Haven team members voted for MOST Awards to recognize our fellow team members. Since we cancelled our Team Appreciation Supper and Recognition Evening, we are gradually presenting the awards throughout our work days. Here we present ... Most Likely to be Snacking - Bobbie Lusk Most Enthusiastic - Ruby Bolliger Most Resident Centered - Sally Fehr Most Creative - Connie Wlos Most Resident Centered - Susan Steinsultz Most Likely to Borrow Your Stapler or Snitch Your Pen - Dave Blunier (can we say he did NOT think he qualified for this award!) Serenity Villa Most Creative - Barb Hall Most Humorous - Katie Fehr Most Enthusiastic - Liz Baxter-Gibson Fairview Haven team members voted for MOST Awards to recognize our fellow team members. Since we cancelled our Team Appreciation Supper and Recognition Evening, we are gradually presenting the awards throughout our work days. Here we present ... Most Humorous - Margaret Kaskavage Most Encouraging - Amanda Bee Most Likely to Work at Fairview Haven until Becoming a Resident - Dixie Steidinger Most Compassionate - Pam Kilgus Most Likely to Lend a Helping Hand - Beth Bork Most Likely to Notice When I'm Having a Bad Day - Deb Garlock Actually - here's our solution to the mask shortage. Some of our amazing team members and volunteers are creating cloth face masks with similar protection properties as paper masks. We are so grateful for the ingenuity and talents of our Fairview Haven family!   Shortage of masks?
No problem! A good sense of humor helps a lot with coping. REQUEST: Would any of our friends have forehead thermometers that you would be able to donate or loan to Fairview Haven? We are taking daily temperatures of every neighbor on the campus as well as every team member. We are currently using an oral thermometer with probe covers and will eventually run out of probe covers. And we can't order more right now. Thanks!! REQUEST: As you are well aware, there is some concern that we may not be able to get personal protective equipment if an outbreak of Coronavirus should occur. Our team has done some research and discovered how we can make cloth face mask that offer very similar protection to our regular face masks. We could use some dish cloths that are similar to this picture if you have any to spare. If you have some, please drop them in the container by the front door of Fairview Haven...  COVID-19 CRISIS FUND — Some kind supporters have asked us how they can help defray the costs of the extra staffing that is needed for the COVID-19 crisis. We are establishing a COVID-19 Crisis Fund so anyone is able to make donations to this cause. Feel free to pass this information along to anyone who is interested.
IMPORTANT MESSAGE: PLEASE PASS ALONG TO EVERYONE.
NO ONE can enter the front door of Fairview Haven or Serenity Villa EXCEPT authorized personnel. If you are dropping off something for a resident of Fairview Haven or Serenity Villa, you must leave it on the table in the vestibule between the front doors. Don't come inside to drop off any packages or mail. We are advised to keep any packages in quarantine for 48 hours. After that, they will be delivered to the residents for whom they are marked. Exceptions to this are perishable food and flowers. Thanks for your cooperation! Just have to share the inspiration these talented FVH team members gave us amid the stresses of COVID-19 prevention. We've set up a special email address: fvhfamily1@gmail.com. Please feel free to use this for questions and concerns related to COVID-19.
Also contact Dixie Steidinger (dsteidinger@fairviewhaven.org) or direct line (815-692-6706) to schedule virtual visits via our iPads at Fairview Haven, Fairview Estates or Fairview Suites. Contact the Serenity Villa team (815-692-6730) to schedule virtual visits at Serenity Villa. I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Be strong and of a good courage... Joshua 1:5-6 We were blessed with homegrown talent today - three team members who sang hymns beautifully together! In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. -I Thessalonians 5:18  We are setting up a schedule for the residents to Skype or Facetime with loved ones.
Please contact Dixie Steidinger (Life Enrichment Director) at dsteidinger@fairviewhaven.org or 815-692-6706 if you would like to use this service. Additional info: Call the main phone number at Serenity Villa (815-692-6730) to Skype residents at Serenity Villa. "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, (nor coronavirus, nor isolation, nor quarantines) shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39)
This morning as I arrived to work at 4:30 am, not really ready to face another day of uncertainty and challenges, I walked into the living room to some beautiful, soft, instrumental hymns playing on the CD player and a complete peace and calm throughout our home. It was a really good reminder of the fact that God is bigger than all of this chaos and He's got this. We have nothing to fear! My heart turned to gratitude and I would like to just take this opportunity to express that gratitude. I want to thank our wonderful team here at Fairview Haven who have showed up to work with a smile on their face to care for our loved ones. Oh, how things are different for them. We are adjusting daily to new changes, yet they are meeting the challenge with such great attitudes. I love to see the teamwork and the smiles as I walk the halls of Fairview Haven. Thank you team for being such an easy group of people to lead. Thank you to my management team who have been such an amazing support to me and to the team here at Fairview Haven. Thanks for your flexibility of coming in early, staying late, working weekends, taking calls "off the clock". I want to thank our family members. I can't really imagine how difficult it must be to have a loved one inside Fairview Haven who you are used to visiting every day and now all of a sudden you can't visit and we have no idea for how long. Many have expressed that you know we'll take good care of them and that our caregivers will love them like our own family, but still the pain of separation is there. Yet, I have not heard ONE family member complain. In fact I have been humbled by your attitudes and your appreciation for our team during this difficult time. So thank you for your support and patience with us. I know we won't get everything right during this crises, but I promise you that our team will do our very best to care not only for our residents, but our families as well. I want to thank our community. I know this is a difficult time for everyone. #canceleverything sort of seemed like a joke a couple weeks ago, but reality is here. I know that some people still have a hard time understanding. My heart is filled with gratitude as I see people who become educated begin to really get behind controlling this crisis. This really can't be about self preservation, but rather supporting and preserving your community. I'm thankful to live in a community that rallies around each other. Lastly I am so grateful for the prayers on my behalf and on behalf of the team at Fairview Haven. Sometimes when we pray we have no idea how that prayer is helping. This is one of those times that I can tell you, your prayers matter. I know that we are being carried by your prayers. I am going to beg you all to please continue to pray for Fairview Haven at least daily through this crisis. With God all things are possible! Of course our prayer is that we keep this nasty virus out of our community or at least contain it to a point that it doesn't devastate us. But, also that whatever comes that God will give us endurance, peace and calm, that He can be glorified in all things. Pray for healthcare providers everywhere! Thanks for letting me ramble and forgive my poor writing style (no editor to clean it up)! God bless all of you! - Dave Blunier, Administrator What we're doing at Fairview Haven and Serenity Villa:
Yesterday we had a small church service in the living room. Several of us enjoyed singing hymns together and Rick Plattner had a brief service. We found creative ways to play Bingo and have Bible meditation today. Our Fairview Haven family members are all working together and helping each other adapt. We miss our volunteers, family and friends! Hope you're all staying in and staying well. In accordance with new federal mandate, Fairview Haven will be closed to all visitors as of 10 pm on Friday 3/13/20.
https://www.mcknights.com/news/breaking-feds-to-ban-most-nursing-home-visitors-in-escalation-of-coronavirus-fight/?mpweb=1326-8249-98847 Starting next week, we plan to have modes of virtual communication so you can keep in contact with your loved ones. Watch the blog for more information on this next week. Thanks for your prayers and cooperation! It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: Great is Thy faithfulness. -Lamentations 3:22-23 |
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