Coronavirus Memo Update – 4/15/2020Brandermill Woods independent living angle

Coronavirus Memo Update – 4/15/2020

Wednesday, April 15, 2020

Brandermill Woods has implemented the following changes for the health of residents and staff:

  • Dining – In order for our kitchen to maintain the high-volume of quality and efficient take-out orders, we have to limit the number of choices. In order to help you maximize your dining allowance for the next 30 days, we have decided to give each resident an additional $100 for your next meal plan period beginning on 4/16. The residents who live in the apartments will receive $300 per resident ($600/couple) starting on their 4/16 meal period. The residents who live in the Cottages will receive the same amounts starting on their 5/1 meal period. This is a temporary change, and will be re-evaluated in 30 days. The Grab and Go will be open from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday to sell items such as wine, homemade soup, cookies and soft drinks (while supplies last).
  • Masks are now required for all staff and approved visitors if they come in contact with residents. Disposable surgical masks are suggested but handmade masks may also be used. We are recommending that all residents coming into the common areas wear masks or cover their face for their own protection and the protection of others.
  • Transportation: Medical Appointments, Pharmacies, Banks, Grocery Shopping trips and Shuttle will continue. All other transportation is cancelled. Tuesdays at 6:45am-Publix; Wednesdays at 6:45am-Publix and 10:00am-CVS; Thursdays at 6:45am-Kroger; Fridays at 9:00am-CVS and 11:00am-Banks. Residents should stock up on groceries in the event that transportation is discontinued to grocery stores. Trips will be limited to 9 residents. Shuttle will run Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Please check with your doctors’ offices prior to making medical transportation requests because many medical offices are cancelling or rescheduling appointments.
  • To sign up for grocery shopping or pharmacy trips, please call the Front Desk. You do not sign-up in the Bluebook. Stock up on essentials and prescriptions.
  • The Governor has mandated everyone to stay home and self-quarantine. Virginians are only allowed to leave their homes for food, necessary supplies, work, exercise, medical attention and fresh air. We would like to strongly discourage any unnecessary trips off campus since this could expose the entire community. Residents can leave campus to take a drive to nowhere. If residents need emergency car maintenance, then we recommend calling the auto repair shop and question their process on keeping compliant with the Governors mandates. We can mail and send out small packages, so trips to the USPS/FedEx/UPS stores can be avoided.
  • If residents plan to make any unnecessary trips off campus, they will be required to contact Kristen and quarantine themselves in their units for 14 days upon their return to assure they have no COVID-19 symptoms. Necessary trips off campus include grocery stores, medical appointments, pharmacies or banks. Of course, we can’t prohibit you from leaving the property, however, if you make the choice to leave for an unnecessary reason, then we will be required to quarantine you upon your return in order to protect the community and your neighbors.
  • We encourage you to reach out to your family to discuss a plan if there is a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services mandated lockdown for our community. Also, make a contingency plan if you are dependent on a caregiver and that person gets sick and unable to work.
  • A large banner has been placed at the front of the community stating NO VISITORS. This applies to residents in the Apartments AND Cottages. Only medically necessary health providers are allowed on campus and they must come to the Clubhouse main entrance for screening. If you see someone and you’re concerned they shouldn’t be on property or you see someone entering a door other than the Clubhouse main entrance, please call the Front Desk. The Clubhouse Front Door Main Entrance is locked. Residents may enter with a fob. A phone will be located outside the Clubhouse Front Door for anyone trying to visit the Clubhouse. There will be posted instructions for non-residents, medically necessary visitors to call the Receptionist (or Security after hours) to be screened prior to entering the building. Medically necessary providers will not be allowed to enter the building if they have a temperature of 100.4 or greater or if they fail the Risk Assessment Screening Questions. Updated questions are located under the COVID-19 icon on Resident Apps. As of 4/14, there are 21 compromised facilities on the list. Any medically necessary visitors are not permitted to visit any of the common or dining areas.
  • We are maintaining an approved medically necessary visitors list until further notice. This list will include those who have to enter your homes such as caregivers, home health, hospice, and any person who organizes medicine. This list will also include those who do not enter your homes such as dropping off groceries, dropping off medicine or walking a pet. ONLY visitors on this list will be allowed on property. Residents must call Kristen at 521-8273 to add your medically necessary visitor to the list. If you have a last-minute addition after-hours, please call the Front Desk to make them aware of your visitor. We will have stationed staff members at the Front Entrance of the Community when available to monitor visitors. All drop-off’s to the apartments must be left at the Clubhouse Front Door. Please remind anyone dropping off items for residents in the Cottages to leave items at the doorstep. Do not enter the unit.
  • We will be closing the West Addition entrance to medically necessary visitors. Residents may still use this entrance.
  • Dining: Management has discontinued in-house Dining at The Bistro, Oscar’s and Lounge (i.e. Happy Hour). Take out “To-Go” services only. You will have a choice of 4 entrees, and the salad, fruit and dessert will be chef’s choice. Menus will be posted daily on BWTV channel 970. For take-out orders, please call extension 252 between 11:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Sundays. Allow 15-20 minutes until your meal will be ready for pick-up in the Living Room. Delivery, for a charge, is available for those unable to pick-up. Dining Services are only offered to residents. If you live in a Cottage and picking up a meal, please go to the exterior Living Room door. Do not walk through the building. The staff will meet you at the door to hand you the bag; do not touch the to-go bags on the tables or enter the Living Room exterior door. You may drive, use the Shuttle or walk. Residents who live in the Apartments will pick up their meals from the Living Room. This will help us with the requirements that Gov. Northam just put into place that no more than 10 people should be in a restaurant at any given time. If you’ve reached the voicemail on the to-go extensions, please don’t leave a message. Please call back.
  • We are offering assistance to help residents set up online grocery ordering and pharmacy delivery. If you would like help setting up grocery or pharmacy delivery, please contact Jess at ext. 256, Chase at ext. 409, or Stephanie at ext. 301.
  • Brandermill Woods vendors and contractors are no longer allowed on property. Only vendors that are here for an emergency or delivery are allowed on property.
  • Please don’t have flowers or baked goods delivered to the residents at The HCC/Haven to decrease the risk of exposure. The HCC/Haven are not allowing any visitors.
  • Genesis Therapy has closed their gym at The HCC/Haven but will provide services to Independent Living residents in their Apartments/Cottages until further notice. Please continue to call 269-0034 to reach Genesis Therapy. Residents will be screened and have their temperatures taken prior to each appointment.
  • Activities: All Activities and events are cancelled; Residents are encouraged to follow “social distancing.” The definition of social distancing is: deliberately increasing the physical space between people to avoid spreading illness. Staying at least six feet away from other people lessens your chances of catching COVID-19. A wonderful way to keep up mentally and physically is to get out side. Go for a walk, work in your garden, enjoy this beautiful weather and our beautiful property. Remember however to practice “Social Distancing” by staying at least 6 feet away from anyone that does not live with you.
  • Fitness: Land and aquatics fitness classes will be not be held. Some of Jess’s recorded Fitness classes are available under the COVID-19 icon on Resident Apps. One-on-one sessions will be discontinued. Fitness center and the Pool have been closed until at least 5/8.
  • Maintenance: Only urgent work orders will be completed (i.e. appliances not working, light bulbs), monitored by Louise at ext. 285. Non-essential work orders (i.e. hanging pictures and touch-up paint) will be completed at a later time.
  • Housekeeping: Service hours will continue as usual.
  • Accounting: If you have a billing question for Accounting, please call ext. 278 (Kendall), 279 (Danita), or 253 (Cary). Their office will not be open for in-person visits.
  • Wellness Nurses: Service hours will continue as usual.
  • Front Desk: Service hours will continue as usual.
  • Beauty Salon: The Salon has been closed until at least 5/8.
  • We will NOT allow the following outside specialists on the community until further notice. This includes the Massage Therapist, Audiologist, Podiatrist, Nail and Hair Technicians.
  • Guest Quarter reservations and rollaway beds are discontinued until the end of May or until further notice. It is the resident’s responsibility to notify their family of our recommendation.
  • We recommend this homemade solution for cleaning and wiping down surfaces on a regular basis: 10-parts water to 1-part bleach.
  • If you think you may have a fever or COVID-19 symptoms, please call your physician first and then notify the Wellness Nurses.

We are updated daily from the CDC and VA Department of Health regarding this virus and will continue to update you as needed. Please stay tuned to BWTV as we will continue to provide updates as we receive them. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Kristen Moore, ILU Administrator at 521-8273. Please continue to wash your hands and use hand sanitizer located at the entrance doors. If you are not feeling well, please contact your physician and do not visit the common or dining areas. Thank you for your assistance in keeping our community safe and healthy.