Physical Distancing

As recommended by infectious disease experts, only essential visitors such as health aids or caregivers are allowed in our senior living communities, and residents have been asked to stay in their apartments. Group activities are on hold, and residents are signing up on a schedule for laundry, walks, and other activities. 

Though there’s physical distance between us right now, we’re closer and more unified than ever. Days are filled with inspiring happenings like doorway dances, hallway sing-alongs, virtual hugs, courtyard concerts, theme days, and an abundance of gratitude between residents and associates. Residents are also enjoying daily handouts with games, jokes, and wellness tips. 

Enhanced Cleaning Protocols

We disinfect high-touch areas throughout the day. Housekeeping associates follow stringent guidelines informed by the CDC and certified industrial hygienists. We also integrate third-party, specialized cleaning professionals into protocols as needed. Our powerful supply-chain relationships allow us to source top-tier, EPA-registered disinfectants proven to kill pathogens such as Coronavirus, Norovirus, H1N1, Listeria, MRSA, and Staph. 

Personal Safety Devices

As always, all Holiday Retirement community residents are equipped with their own GreatCall emergency response device. This safety device helps residents get help for urgent situations with a touch of a button, and it’s also proven helpful while we shelter in place. We can send important messages to our residents all at once, and some residents have even been chatting with GreatCall agents if they just want a little company.

Sophisticated Tracking System

Holiday Retirement developed a state-of-the-art infectious disease tracking system that allows us to collect real-time data in our communities. At any given time, our infectious disease tracker can tell us all illness symptoms in each community, whether those symptoms could be COVID-19 symptoms or other illnesses. We can also track quantities of PPE and dining supplies.  

The tracker reports COVID-19-related data like the number of people who’ve taken a COVID-19 test, the number of pending tests, as well as positive and negative COVID-19 tests. This type of data feeds into our stages of infectious disease protocol, which we’ve enhanced during COVID-19. Information from the tracker helps us inform our actions. It’s also of interest to outside entities that are considering how to use our data, in a non-personal and privacy-protected way, to better inform clinical solutions to COVID-19.

24/7 Call Center

We have repurposed our in-house call center to manage most kinds of inquiries. Many calls are routed through the call center to give questions and needs the attention they deserve, while freeing up building staff to support the additional time higher safety protocols require.

Communication

We’re regularly communicating with residents and their loved ones about the status of our communities, enhanced protocols, and campus happenings. Associates are also helping coordinate video chats and visits from windows and balconies between residents and loved ones, so they can stay connected while adhering to physical distancing recommendations.

 

We’ll Get Through This

While it may be hard to imagine what life after COVID-19 will be like, we are committed to coming out of this even stronger. A safety-above-all-else concern has driven our decision-making. We have been doing all the right things, and we are sharing our protocols and experiences with experts who share that opinion of us. These are challenging times, but we’re confident about the work we’re doing to keep residents and associates safe.