Important Update from Charmaine Preiss, Executive Director —12/9/21Brandermill Woods independent living angle

Important Update from Charmaine Preiss, Executive Director —12/9/21

Wednesday, December 9, 2020

Health Care Community – The Haven, Assisted Living and Memory Care

For the COVID-19 Weekly testing conducted on December 7, 2020, we are pleased to report that all employees’ test results were negative. Please join me in expressing gratitude to all our Brandermill Woods Heroes in their efforts to keep our residents safe and facility-free of COVID-19.  

Due to the increase in Chesterfield County’s positivity rate to 9.11% and Virginia’s positivity rate increasing to 10.4%, we will extend the hold on indoor and outdoor visits through December 21, 2020. We are prepared to modify and resume visits once conditions allow and will share more information when a decision is made.  

We have continued dining services, beauty salon services and small group activities with limited numbers, social distancing and everyone wearing a mask. Our Therapeutic Recreation Department has several events on the calendar for December. Holiday movies will be shown several times each week through the end of December. On December 11, 2020, there will be a Santa’s Eats & Treats. Employees will dress in holiday attire and distribute our annual gift to each resident. Holiday Lights Bus tours will be scheduled and a Door Wreath Giveaway on December 14, 2020, just to name a few.

Brandermill Woods will continue to test all employees/vendors weekly based on the current positivity rate for Chesterfield County, per CMS guidelines. The direct care staff continue to wear N95 masks, and all employees continue to practice frequent and thorough hand washing. Employees continue to be screened daily for signs/symptoms prior to their shift.

With news of a vaccine very close and CDC guidance to include long term care facilities, we are currently making plans to roll out a vaccination program at Brandermill Woods Health Care Community. We will keep you updated as we get closer to implementing that plan.

Here is what we do know at the present time about COVID vaccines. Omnicare-CVS will provide Brandermill Woods with the vaccinations. The vaccine will be given in two parts. While the vaccine provides full protection at about seven days after the administration of the second dose, we will continue with all current COVID-19 infection prevention measures and precautions until further notice. Current COVID-19 testing requirements are likely to continue for the next several months.

The Commonwealth of Virginia does not plan to mandate the COVID-19 vaccination. Brandermill Woods also does not plan to require vaccination but hopes to achieve near 100% compliance. We will share additional education on the vaccine in the coming weeks to encourage all residents and employees to participate. Currently, we are in the process of notifying resident’s responsible parties to get a consensus of how many wants to participate in the vaccination program.  

Thank you for being diligent in following CDC guidelines, wearing a mask, social distancing and frequent handwashing. We are all exhausted from this pandemic but the end is near and we must remain steadfast. Remember that it has been recommended that you do not enter any building if you see people not wearing masks, it is not worth the risk.  

Our Management Team would like to thank each of you for your continued support.