September 27, 2024

Dear Friends,

Over the past year our assisted living community has expanded its footprint, introduced the Resilient Living Center, added two new households, and welcomed many new residents and family members to LiveWell. With this season of growth, we recognize the need to expand the skills and resources available to the people who live, visit and work in our assisted living community. 

We are pleased to introduce three of LiveWell’s Wellbeing Directors into the life of our assisted living community: Jenn Terrey, MSN, RN, BC-NC, Jenna Weiss, R-DMT, LNHA, and Kate Keefe, OTD, OTR/L. These talented individuals have over 31 years of combined experience working at LiveWell, and like Christine Sampson, RN, they each have over 25 years advancing human centered and strengths-based approaches to supporting people living with cognitive change.  

With Christine Sampson, RN, and her nursing team, they will support the growth of our community and our priority of advancing wellbeing. At this time, all four dynamic women will serve as a transdisciplinary leadership team for the assisted living community at LiveWell. This co-led team will officially begin on October 1st. We are also in the process of hiring an additional nurse to support the daily needs of the residents. 

There will be more opportunities to share Jenn’s, Jenna’s, and Kate’s specific roles. For now, we wanted to introduce them to you and help you understand why we are adding them to the households. With Christine, they will round out a transdisciplinary leadership team, adding additional nursing skills, integrative health coaching, strengths-based occupational therapy, and recreation, engagement, and dance therapy skills. This team will work together daily to support those who live with us, to coach and work alongside our team, and to communicate and plan with family members.  

We hope that you will get to know them in the households, at care plan meetings, and at wellbeing circles and neighborhood gatherings. Below you will find a brief bio of each of them so you can get to know their background, strengths, and skills before you meet them. We are also including the contact information for each household and for the new and existing members of the assisted living team.  

I hope you will join us in welcoming Jenn, Jenna, and Kate as they step into the roles where we need them now.

Be Well, 

        
Michael J. Smith      
President and CEO    

Maley W. Hunt
COO and Administrator 

TRANSDISCIPLINARY LEADERSHIP TEAM

Christine Sampson, Director of AL Nursing: csampson@livewell.org  
Christine has dedicated her nursing career to supporting individuals with changing brains as it relates to dementia and intellectual disabilities. She has several leadership positions in nursing here at LiveWell and in other senior living communities.  Christine’s approach has always been to meet individuals where they are in their journey. She works alongside coworkers, families, and other colleagues to develop positive approaches to care. Christine practices a holistic approach that includes all facets of well-being that creates opportunities for individuals to live their best life.  

Jenn Terray, Wellbeing Director of Integrative Health Coaching: JTerray@livewell.org   
Jenn has been partnering with people living with dementia and those who love them for the past 30 years. As a registered nurse, she has cultivated a high level of awareness and rich body of resources to support people both clinically and in their overall wellbeing from early on in their diagnosis through end of life. She is a qualified teacher of MBSR- Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and uses these practices in her everyday living. Jenn is a pioneer member of The LiveWell Institute and The Wellbeing Director of Integrative Health Coaching taking an active role in co-designing programs for post-diagnostic living that highlight developing habits to support wellbeing. Jenn is the proud mother of two adult sons and enjoys running, yoga, hiking and exploring nature with her husband, Mike and two dogs, Blitz and Otto.  

Jenna Weiss, Wellbeing Director of Learning and Creative Arts: Jweiss@livewell.org   
For the past 25 years, Jenna has been involved in designing and facilitating experiential learning opportunities for diverse groups as an educator, coach, and facilitator. She brings a background in embodied movement practices, creative arts, mindfulness to her workshops, and a great deal of curiosity about the capacity of the human spirit for resilience and recovery. Jenna is a Registered Dance/Movement Therapist. Starting from her first career in education with special needs youth, she expanded into the study of human development and movement along the life span. She is interested in learning from individuals living with dementia as they navigate change, both personally and in their families and communities. Jenna has a regular movement and mindfulness practice, is a self-taught painter, fiber artist and practitioner of Social Presencing Theater.  

Kate Keefe, Wellbeing Director of Healthy Lifestyle Innovation: kkeefe@livewell.org  
Kate has over 24 years of experience working with persons living with cognitive change related to Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. As an occupational therapy practitioner, Kate focuses on discovering the retained abilities of persons living with cognitive change and teaching care partners how to adapt the environment and communication to support their loved one’s best ability to function. Kate recognizes the stressors associated with being in the role of care partner. As an OT (Occupational Therapist), she builds awareness with care partners to support their own health and wellbeing by making slight changes to practice self-care and use various stress management techniques.  

CONTACT INFORMATION

Main Number: 860.628.9000   

River Bend Cordless: 860.628.3052  
River Bend Nursing Office: 860.628.3045   

River View Cordless: 860.621.5031  
River View Nursing Office: 860.628.3046   

Meadow Spring Cordless: 860.628.3057  
Meadow Spring Nursing Office: 860.628.3058   

Agnes Piendak, AL Neighborhood Nurse (Meadow Spring): APiendak@livewell.org  
Aliza Quinones, AL Neighborhood Nurse (River Homes): aquinones@livewell.org  

September 10, 2024

Dear Friends,
September is already upon us and fall is quickly approaching!  We plan to squeeze the last few summer days out this month.  Please mark your calendars for September 19th for our Summer Concert Series Grand Finale.  Ticket to Ride, a Beatles cover band, will be performing that evening in front of the Resilient Living Center starting at 6pm.  We hope to have a large crowd and see you all there!  September’s special events are live on our website as is the new semester of classes which start this week.  Looking forward to the new offerings and opportunities for all residents, families, staff, and community members this fall. 

New Door Access Codes: We are now ready to launch customized door access codes for each staff member and family anywhere that the new keypads have been installed so far.  Starting this week you can use your four-digit employee ID number to access the neighborhoods, ex. _ _ _ _ #.  If you do not remember your employee ID it can be found in UKG, or you can ask Rit, Jacky, or Anne.  We will continue to keep the current code also active through the end of the month to aid in a smooth transition to this new system.  Please note: This does not yet impact the Meadow Spring entry doors, the stairwells and the double doors in the Main Building as those keypads remain on the existing system at this time.   

Café Opening Soon, Join Us in The Gathering Place: We are gearing up to open The Gathering Place later this month.  As staff of LiveWell we will be doing a ‘soft opening’ with all of you prior to a grand community opening.  As you start to walk through the café you can meet Chris, our Café Coordinator, and may be invited to sample trial menu items.  As we finalize the menu, staff meal plan options, and staff training we will share more with you on specific dates when you can start purchasing items in the café!  We are thrilled to be activating this space and will have many more exciting announcements soon.  

Welcome New Team Member: LiveWell is pleased to introduce you all to our new Director of Housekeeping and Hospitality, Veronica Hickman.  Veronica joins us with over 10 years experience in healthcare, she enjoys participating in her church as a deacon, is proud of her son Marc, who happens to work in the LiveWell dining department, and has a Bachelor’s in Business Management from Post University.  Veronica is eager to meet all members of the LiveWell community, learn what we do well, what we can improve, and how to continue to grow the rich tradition of making LiveWell the most welcoming and inclusive physical environment for all.  Veronica will be sure to introduce herself, please do the same and strike up a conversation! 

Staff Meetings Later this Month and Relias: We will be hosting our next quarterly all staff meetings the week of September 30th.  The schedule will be posted by the timeclocks and shared in the next memo.  September 30th also marks the due date for this year’s Relias.  Thank you to everyone who has already completed their Relias and for continuing to wrap it up this month if you are not done yet. 

Save the Date: Our annual Employee Recognition dinner is planned for October 16, 2024. We will gather at The Lake House in Wolcott at 5:00pm. All staff are invited as we honor employees that are celebrating their milestone anniversary in 2024!  Invitations and more details coming soon. 

Be Well,

Maley W. Hunt
         COO & Administrator

 

August 30, 2024

Dear Friends,
As Labor Day weekend approaches, we want to take a moment to express our appreciation for each and every one of you. It is your hard work, day in and day out, that makes our organization successful.  Thank you for all that you do!

Dermatology Services On Campus: Starting next week, we will have dermatology services available for staff, residents, and visitors in the Resilient Living Center Clinic. The provider is Brittany Dalene, NP and she will be here the first Wednesday of every month in the afternoons.  If you are interested in setting up an appointment for yourself or your family, you can call 877.345.5300.  This partnership is with OnSite Dermatology and they accept most major commercial insurances.  We look forward to offering more services like this on campus for all of you and your families.

Barista/Café Assistant Position Available: We are getting closer each day to opening the café.  We are now ready to hire someone as a Barista/Café Assistant!  We would love to recruit from within for this position.  Some of the skills we are looking for are the ability to do food and beverage preparations, sell food with our point-of-sale system, maintain cleanliness of the café environment, and deliver an amazing customer experience for people visiting the café.  For a full job description please see posting in the breakroom and in the main kitchen or visit Anne McCarty, Jacky Clark, or Sam Johnson.

Donations for Plant Programs: This fall Moira is going to be sharing even more of her green thumb with all of us on campus.  She is looking to lead more plant programs and engagement experiences for the residents and members called ‘Natures Canvas’.  As part of this we are asking to see if any of you have extra gardening supplies, plants for propagation, and more. Donations can be left with Donna at the Front Desk. In particular we are looking for:

Plastic pots (with holes in the bottom) various sizes

Plastic catch trays (various sizes)

Terra cotta pots (various sizes)

Catch pots (smaller in nature, but we’ll need various sizes of these as well)

Creative centerpiece containers (for making flower arrangements and centerpieces)

Floral foam for fresh flower arrangements

Clear vases

Succulents

Herbs (to propagate)

Indoor plants (also to propagate)

Flowers for arrangements

Shallow containers (to make fairy gardens)

Fairy garden figurines

Resilient Living Center Main Entrance Now Locked at Night: At LiveWell we offer access to our community 24-hours per day and want to ensure the safety of all residents, families, staff, and visitors.  We now have the ability to supplement the supervision of our security guards and receptionists at the main desk by locking the front door when someone is not at the desk.  What this means for visitors is that if someone had to briefly step away from the desk, or at night when the security guard is here, the main door will be locked and accessible via a door keypad.  The code for the keypad is currently still the same as all the neighborhoods followed by a pound sign, ie. x x x x #.  If a visitor does not know the pin, they may push the doorbell and intercom to share that they are here to visit.  We do not anticipate that this will impact most visitors.  For second and third shift staff, knowing the code will be very important to enter and exit after hours.  Individualized codes will also be on the near horizon for all.

Be Well,

Maley W. Hunt
         COO & Administrator

 

August 8, 2024 

Dear Friends,  

Concert Tonight: Tonight, The Greg Hahn Group will be continuing our Summer Concert Series at 6pm!  We will be having the concert in the Performance Studio due to the rain.  The concert is free and all are welcome!  We look forward to seeing many of you there and at other upcoming Special Events. 

 
Construction Updates: This weekend on the first floor of the Main Building, the corridor to Meadow Spring will be adjusted.  The passageway will be slightly rerouted to allow for the construction of LiveWell’s new spa.  At no time will access to the Meadow Spring neighborhood be impassable as the new temporary walls are installed and pathways are adjusted. 
 
Assisted Living Wellbeing CoLead Transition: We are currently going through a transition in our Assisted Living Wellbeing CoLead role.  We want to thank Lindsay Morris for the time she has spent at LiveWell and the support she has given residents and families.  As we look for a new addition to the LiveWell team the best people to contact are Agnes Piendak (Meadow Spring), Elana Butler (River Homes), Christine Sampson (General Clinical Questions), and/or Maley Hunt (Operational/Administrative Questions).  If you call the main number, 860.628.9000, Donna and Jay can help direct your call.  
 

Be Well,

     

         Maley W. Hunt
         COO & Administrator

 

July 22, 2024 

Dear Friends,  
Today we celebrate the opening of Hill Spring (the new second floor neighborhood)! This is incredibly exciting as every one of you has played a part in reaching this milestone, thank you!  The moves will continue through the week, and we anticipate keeping pace with our originally planned schedule which will have Well Spring (the new first floor neighborhood) opening on Wednesday and all moves being complete by Thursday afternoon.  

River Home Elevators: Tomorrow, July 23rd, there will be a brief cutover for the generator in both River Homes between 6:00am and 7:00am.  During that time there will be about 20-minutes in each house where the elevators do not work.  This time was selected to minimize disruption, thank you for your patience as we do this important work to connect to our permanent generator.  

Door Code Changes: The door codes for Well Spring and Hill Spring will be very similar to our current code.  The one change is that the last button is the # button not the * button.  Our new access system provides options for devices that can open the doors without a code.  The new system will also allow us to provide personalized codes for visitors. We will share more about these options soon. 

Neighborhood Phone Numbers: With new areas opening we wanted to share the phone numbers for all the neighborhoods on campus: 

Main Number: 860.628.9000

River Bend Cordless: 860.628.3052 

River Bend Nursing Office: 860.628.3045 

River View Cordless: 860.621.5031 

River View Nursing Office: 860.628.3046 

Well Spring Cordless: 860.628.3029 
Well Spring Nursing Office: 860.628.3032

Hill Spring Cordless: 860.628.3043 
Hill Spring Nursing Office: 860.628.3042 

LiveWell Summer Concert Series: We are thrilled to share that we will be hosting an outdoor summer concert series this summer!  The first concert will be THIS THURSDAY on July 25th at 6pm with the Chris Marolda Band!  We will have concerts on August 8th and August 22nd and September 12th.  We hope you will join us for this summer fun in addition to all our July and August Special Events. 

 
Be Well, 

           

Michael J. Smith             Maley W. Hunt
President & CEO            COO & Administrator

 

July 19, 2024 

Dear Friends, 

In 2016 we began collaborating with people living with dementia and their families to re-design our campus and our skilled care neighborhoods. Together, our goal was to create dignified spaces that offered greater normalcy, privacy, support, autonomy, choice, and connection.  Since construction began in 2022, we have communicated each our steps to advance these goals, adapting plans along the way, and asking for, and appreciating your continued patience. 

Today we again say, “Thank you” to all skilled nursing residents, families, and staff for your patience this past week as we waited for the final approvals to move into the newly renovated areas.   

Today, LiveWell confidently passed the final inspection.  We are ready to start the moves from the A-Side to Well Spring and Hill Spring on Monday, July 22nd! 

Move Schedule: All moves will happen between Monday, July 22nd and Thursday, July, 25th.  On the day of a resident’s move, they will enjoy breakfast on the A-Side and then move over to their new neighborhood after breakfast and before lunch.  We expect having all of a resident’s belongings in the new neighborhood by early afternoon and will call to update families once the move is done.  On the day prior to a resident’s move, we may begin to bring some of their clothes over to their new room to prepare in advance for the move.  

Weekend Office Hours and Tours: This weekend we will have leaders available on Saturday and Sunday to answer questions and give tours of the new spaces.  On Saturday, Rita Bergstrand and Maley Hunt will be available from 10:30a to 1:30p to provide tours.  On Sunday, Julia Girardin will be available from 10:00a to 12:00p to do the same. 

First Quarter Rewards Plus:  We completed our first quarter for the new Rewards Plus program. Staff earned a total of $3,400 that went into Health Savings Accounts by doing things that improve wellbeing. In addition, we gave away 6 gift cards from our raffle for staff that participated in Rewards that do not have an HSA. Congratulations to Ireris Abrew, Meredith Dresko, Idalia Gonzalez, Larry Lacombe, Kasia Stelmaszek and Erika Walsh! We will continue to offer a variety of ways for everyone to continue to focus on overall wellness! Great work everyone! 

Staff Parking:  A reminder to first and second shift staff to please park in the two staff parking lots available on campus. The one to the right of the main entrance and the back lot off Mulberry Street. The lot directly in front of the Resilient Living Center is reserved for our resident’s visitors and community members coming to use the Center. Second shift staff may move their cars to that visitor lot after 7:00pm. Much appreciated! 

LiveWell Summer Concert Series: We are thrilled to share that we will be hosting an outdoor summer concert series this summer!  The first concert will be on July 25th at 6pm with the Chris Marolda Band!  We will have concerts on August 8th and August 22nd and September 12th.  We hope you will join us for this summer fun in addition to all our July and August Special Events. 

Best, 

Michael J. Smith                 Maley W. Hunt
President & CEO                COO & Administrator

 

July 12, 2024

Dear Friends, 

We want to share the following update:

Like you, we are building with excitement to move into the new Well Spring and Hill Spring neighborhoods. The neighborhoods are looking beautiful, and we are preparing to assist residents and their families in the upcoming move. We are continuing to progress with our final approvals to receive our certificate of occupancy. We need this certificate before we can initiate any moves. While we had hoped to announce that we would begin moves on Monday, know that we join you in the mixed emotion of having to wait just a little longer. We believe that we are very close in being able to share good news, and we will continue to update you on our progress. When we have obtained our certificate of occupancy, we will provide you with updated moving plans. 

Thank you for your continued patience.

Best, 

Michael J. Smith                 Maley W. Hunt
President & CEO                COO & Administrator

 

Maley’s Memo 
June 18, 2024 

Dear Friends,  
 
This week we are celebrating our outstanding Care Partner Team with CNA week!  Please join us in recognizing their incredible work connecting with and supporting the people who call LiveWell home.  Thank you for all that you do this week and every week LiveWell Care Partners! We also want to recognize Juneteeth, also known as Freedom Day, that symbolizes the end of slavery and is a time to celebrate African American freedom and achievements.   

Main Building Fire Alarm Testing, 6/19: Tomorrow, Wednesday, June 19th we will have fire alarm testing in the Main Building from approximately 8am to 3pm.  This testing will be periodic and will be silenced as quickly as possible.  We will round to let you know the testing is happening and round again to share when the testing is complete. 

Main Building Water Shutdown, 6/19: Tomorrow, Wednesday, June 19th, we will be making the final switchover of water for the newly renovated SNF.  We will have no water for two hours on Wednesday morning from approximately 10am to 12pm.  Please plan accordingly for resident care, food, and staff breaks.  The River Homes and Resilient Living Center will not be impacted by this shut down and would be the usable bathrooms during this time.  

Kitchen Move, Next Week: At this time, we are anticipating moving from the Main Kitchen to the Test Kitchen late next week.  We will share another update as we continue to track the exact day.  With that update we will share menu updates for the days of the move and any support needed for the kitchen team. 

Skilled Nursing Move, Starting 7/15: In July we will be moving all residents from the A-Side to the newly renovated skilled neighborhoods Well Spring (1st floor) and Hill Spring (2nd floor), we anticipate this happening the week of July 15th.  The new schedule that is posted by Kim next week will include the additional staffing for the week of and after the move, and share the new neighborhood assignments.  As a reminder, these teams that are forming are a ‘next step’ as we have more neighborhoods to renovate and create teams on!  There are a lot of moving pieces and we are working hard to consider teams, residents, families, and relationships as we form the new neighborhoods of Hill Spring and Well Spring.  If you have questions about the moves, please email me or visit my office and add to our ongoing list of questions! 

If you did not come to one of the SNF trainings, or you work in AL and would like a tour, I can offer tours this Friday, June 21st.  Please let me know if you would like to take a tour on Friday! 

Yard Goat Tickets Available: LiveWell received a selection of Hartford Yard Goat tickets for the Thursday, June 27th game from our partner Ride Share.  Tickets are available on a first come, first served basis. Please see Donna if you would like to reserve up to 4 tickets.  

LiveWell Celebrates Pride: Join us on Tuesday, June 25th from 3:00-4:30pm in celebrating the joys, accomplishments and resilience of the LGBTQIA+ community at LiveWell’s first Pride event. Learn about why we celebrate Pride, participate in a “Rainbow Dance,” listen to the coming out stories of members of the Stonewall Speakers Bureau and raise our voices in song as a call to action for increased acceptance and freedom for the LGBTQIA+ community. This event will take place in the Performance Studio.  
 
Employee Rewards Plus Program Happenings: Matt Udal, Financial Advisor, will be in on June 21st and 25th for 1:1 meetings.  Sign up at the front desk with Donna. The new LiveWell Employee Rewards Plus continues this month with even more ways to earn points!  Please visit this new special page on our website for more information: www.livewell.org/employee-rewards-plus. Please note that some programs require advanced sign-up and may have a fee and some are drop in and free!  We look forward to seeing you at the programs and events! Please see Anne McCarty with any questions or suggestions.  
 
Best, 

Maley Hunt
COO & Administrator 

 

Maley’s Memo

June 3, 2024

Dear Friends, 

I’d like to begin by sharing that our hearts go out to the family, friends, and colleagues of Trooper First Class Aaron Pelletier, who was tragically killed in Southington on I-84 last week.  Our law enforcement community is very tight knit and many of you have friends and family that serve. These tragedies can touch people in different ways, and this happened in the community where we work and many of you live, have children in school and spend time.  Services for Trooper First Class Pelletier will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. We are aware that travel to and from Southington will be significantly impacted by traffic along with Southington school closures on Tuesday and an early dismissal on Wednesday.  Please plan ahead to allow extra time to get to/from work and check your GPS as several roads will be closed on both of those days.  If you or anyone on our team could benefit from formal support now, know that our Employee Assistance Plan is always available, and Anne McCarty can help you access that resource.  

Kitchen Move: Later this month the Kitchen will be moving from their space to the Test Kitchen temporarily.  As we get closer to the exact date, we will share that with all of you.  This will be a big switch for the kitchen as the Test Kitchen will not have all the same capabilities as our current kitchen and there will be new things for the team to learn.  When we make that switch there will be a few meals that are impacted and will be easier for the kitchen to prepare as they make the move.  Thank you for supporting the kitchen team while they prepare for and make this change! 

Skilled Nursing Move: In July we will be moving all residents from the A-Side to the newly renovated skilled neighborhoods Well Spring (1st floor) and Hill Spring (2nd floor).  We have a Task Force that meets weekly to plan for all aspects of this move.  Training for skilled nursing team members will be held on June 12th and June 19th to review logistics, learn new technologies, and tour the neighborhoods.  If you work in assisted living and would like to tour, we will set up some times later this month.  If you have questions about the moves, please email me and we can include the information in the trainings! 

Employee Rewards Plus Program Updated for June: The new LiveWell Employee Rewards Plus continues this month with even more ways to earn points!  Please visit this new special page on our website for more information: www.livewell.org/employee-rewards-plus.  Please note that some programs require advanced sign-up and may have a fee and some are drop in and free!  We look forward to seeing you at the programs and events! Please see Anne McCarty with any questions or suggestions.   

As a reminder, this program is meant to support all of our wellbeing through activities that you shared as meaningful to you in the survey from earlier this year.  If you participate in one of LiveWell’s medical HSA plans you will be able to earn money for your Health Savings Account, up to $250 every 3 months (per quarter) and if you do not take LiveWell’s health insurance you are invited to participate and will be entered in a raffle to win prizes each quarter.   

Living Well Project Update: Thank you to everyone that attended the Knowing Me and Belonging Retreats last month, so many incredible ideas for impact projects came out of those meetings.  As we look to the summer, the assisted living neighborhoods will be getting more resident input on the ideas and voting in July at their Neighborhood Gatherings on the first project.  For skilled nursing we will focus on the upcoming moves and then revisit the ideas when we are on the new neighborhoods as a great way to help meet new people and foster belonging in the new environments.  Throughout this time, the Wellbeing Circles will continue weekly for all neighborhoods and the schedules for each is posted on each neighborhood.  

Best, 

Maley
COO & Administrator 

 

Maley’s Memo April 30, 2024

Dear Friends,  

Construction Update, Main Building Power: Tomorrow, May 1st, the main building (1A, 2A, and Meadow Spring) will be on generator power from approximately 7am to 4pm.  All red outlets on the neighborhoods will work, as will any emergency lighting that is connected to the generator.  The River Homes, Resilient Living Center, and Administrative offices will not be impacted by this work.  

Employee Rewards Plus Program Updated for May: The new LiveWell Employee Rewards Plus continues this month with even more ways to earn points!  Please visit this new special page on our website for more information: www.livewell.org/employee-rewards-plus.  Please note that some programs require advanced sign-up and may have a fee and some are drop in and free!  We look forward to seeing you at the programs and events! Please see Anne McCarty with any questions or suggestions.   

As a reminder, this program is meant to support all of our wellbeing through activities that you shared as meaningful to you in the survey from earlier this year.  If you participate in one of LiveWell’s medical HSA plans you will be able to earn money for your Health Savings Account, up to $250 every 3 months (per quarter) and if you do not take LiveWell’s health insurance you are invited to participate and will be entered in to win prizes each quarter.   

Living Well Project Update, Neighborhood Gatherings and Retreat #2: We had our first Neighborhood Gathering of the Living Well Project on 1A and 2A last week.  A huge thank you to all who attended to make the gathering a success and to the coaches for 1A and 2A that planned a thoughtful, inclusive experience for their neighborhood.  The first Neighborhood Gatherings will continue later this week.  These gatherings will be an introduction and overview to the Living Well project.  The days and times for this first gathering for each neighborhood are:  

• River View – Wednesday, May 1st, 4pm to 6pm 
• Meadow Spring – Thursday, May 2nd, 2pm to 3:30 pm 
• River Bend – Thursday, May 2nd, 4pm to 6pm 

 
Starting tomorrow, we will begin our second series of Living Well Project retreats.  These half day, 4.5 hour, retreats will focus on Knowing Me and Cultivating Inclusion and Belonging. From these retreats we will start down the path of generating our first impact projects of the year.  I am very excited to hear your ideas and watch the project really grow! 

Employee Meetings: In May we will be hosting employee meetings to give construction updates, review the Employee Rewards Plus program, and review other topics that you are interested in.  If you have questions and suggestions that you think should be part of the agenda, please reply to this email and let me know.  

 
Best, 

Maley
COO & Administrator
 

 

LiveWell COVID Update, April 15, 2024  

Dear Friends, 

Testing and Results: Over the weekend we tested all residents in River View and have two new positive cases. We will test River View residents again on Tuesday.  All staff in River View continue to test before each shift.  

Resident Cases: There are currently 6 active COVID cases in River View.  

Visitor Guidelines: Visiting River View is considered high risk as there are six active COVID cases in that house. If you choose to visit, it is recommended to wear at minimum a KN95.  Masks will be located in the entry vestibule of the house.  Visits for COVID positive residents must happen in their room and residents of River View will not be using the Resilient Living Center at this time. If you would like an N95 for your visit, one can be provided. All staff in River View will be wearing masks and testing daily.  

We will update you again later this week.   

Best, 

Maley W. Hunt 

COO & Administrator 

LiveWell COVID Update: April 11, 2024

Dear Friends, 

Testing and Results: Yesterday we had a resident of River View test positive for COVID.  We then tested all residents of River View and had three more positive cases.  We will test all River View residents again on Friday and Sunday.  

Resident Cases: There are currently 4 active COVID cases in River View.  

Visitor Guidelines: Visiting River View is considered high risk as there are four active COVID cases in that house. If you choose to visit, it is recommended to wear at minimum a KN95.  Masks will be located in the entry vestibule of the house.  Visits for COVID positive residents must happen in their room. If you would like an N95 for your visit, one can be provided. All staff in River View will be wearing masks and testing daily.  

This is a reminder to all of us that, even if you are up to date on all COVID vaccinations, COVID is still present and it is easy to transmit this virus while you are still asymptomatic. If you have cold-like symptoms, we advise you not to visit as both COVID and Flu are actively present in Connecticut. 

We will update you again after testing on Friday.   

Best, 

Maley W. Hunt 

COO & Administrator 

Maley’s Memo

April 8, 2024 

 

 

Dear Friends, 

 

Volunteer Appreciation Month and New Opportunities: As we celebrate national volunteer appreciation month, we share our deepest gratitude to LiveWell volunteers Terri, JoAnn, Pete (and Breeze), and Scarlette who bring much joy to our community! Please also join us in welcoming our five newest volunteers who will be starting in April: Bob, Dave, Mickie, Linda, and Donna! If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about volunteer opportunities at LiveWell, please reach out to Chelsea Block cblock@livewell.org or see Donna DeFazio at the front desk for a volunteer application. 

 

Construction Update, Main Building Power: Tomorrow, April 9th, the main building (1A, 2A, and Meadow Spring) will be on generator power for the whole day (approximately 14 hours).  During this time the final cutovers for new power connections will be made.  All red outlets on the neighborhoods will work, as will any emergency lighting that is connected to the generator.  The River Homes, Resilient Living Center, and Administrative offices will not be impacted by this work.  

 

Living Well Project Update, You’re Invited to Neighborhood Gatherings:  Thank you to those of you that attended our first round of retreats.  We will be sharing information about the Living Well project throughout the year via email updates and in-person gatherings.   

 

The Living Well Project will bring together those who live, visit, and work on our campus to collectively reflect upon, co-create, and put into action individual and organizational improvements that are hallmarks of a Dementia Positive Community. A community that advances the wellbeing and inclusion of all people living with dementia to foster purpose, connection, growth, and belonging, through care, resources, and advocacy.  

 

The Living Well Project will empower those living with dementia, or caring for, or about someone who is experiencing dementia, to develop self-care skills, take an active role in their own health, and build emotional resilience to support their wellbeing.  

 

As a next step, we will be starting ‘Neighborhood Gatherings’ later this month and invite each of you to attend your neighborhood specific gathering.  The purpose of the Neighborhood Gathering is to build community spirit and consensus around the impact project(s) that the neighborhood will move into action.  All stakeholders (people who live, work and visit) are invited to enjoy food, fun, and fellowship while advancing progress and celebrating project achievements.   This first Neighborhood Gathering will be an introduction and overview to the Living Well project.  The days and times for this first gathering are:  

 

• 1A – Wednesday, April 24th, 3pm to 4:30pm 
• 2A – Friday, April 26th, 3pm to 4:30pm 
• Meadow Spring – Thursday, May 2nd, 2pm to 3:30 pm 
• River Bend – Thursday, May 2nd, 4pm to 6pm 
• River View – Wednesday, May 1st, 4pm to 6pm 

 

We hope to see many of you at the Gatherings later this month! 

 

Be Well, 

 

Maley W. Hunt

COO & Administrator

 

Maley’s Memo

February 29, 2024

Dear Friends, 

What do you eat for lunch?  We would like to know!  Sam Johnson and team are working hard to brainstorm ideas for our new café and your input is crucial.  We want to offer foods that will interest you and that you will want to eat.  Please email us some suggestions of different sandwiches, pizzas, hot foods, cold foods, and more that you would like to see in the café when it opens! 

Help us name the café!  Please submit suggestions of names for the café by emailing us HERE.  We are brainstorming and have been asking a few of you, and you have awesome ideas, please keep sharing them.  The café will be open to our campus and the greater community.  

1:1 Meetings with Maley and Anne: In last month’s employee meetings we discussed offering 15-minute one on one meetings with us.  Anne and I invite you to sign up for a time using this link to connect with us that is personalized to you.  We can discuss career goals, questions about LiveWell initiatives, employee benefits, and any other topics you may want to bring up.  We look forward to seeing you!  If none of these times work for you, please reach out and we will make a time that works, we are happy to come in early/stay late for all shifts and want to be available on days that work for you. 

1:1 Meetings with a Financial Planner: As a LiveWell employee you have access to free financial planning.  Matt Udal will be hosting individual sessions LIVE in the Resilient Living Center.  You can sign up for a 30-minute personalized session using this link! 

Per Diem Receptionist Position: We are reaching out to see if any current per diem or part time LiveWell employees would like to be trained as a per diem receptionist.  When Donna or Jay take vacation or have a day off, we would like to add to our per diem team to help fill in!  You would need to be comfortable answering the phones, greeting visitors, and doing administrative tasks, as assigned.  Please reach out to Chelsea Block for more information on how you can explore this opportunity. 

Land’s End Ordering:  Some of you were asking on easy ways to get some clothes with the LiveWell logo on them.  Here is the link to our Land’s End ordering guide.  We can also embroider other clothes that you bring in that fit with the LiveWell color pallet, please bring them to Anne or Jacky and we can have them embroidered for you at no cost.  

Employee Group HIIT Class with Tyler: Tyler is offering High Intensity Interval Training classes for staff on Wednesdays from 3:30p to 4p.  Classes are $10 for employees and you can sign up here for individual classes!  

Yoga with Kate: The classes are FREE for employee members and held on Thursday mornings, 7:30a to 8:30a, in the Movement Studio.  For the schedule of dates/to sign up:  Please click here to reserve your spot each week on Sign-Up Genius.   

Weight Management with Diane: This offering is underway, if you would still like to join, please reach out to Diane. Weigh-ins are weekly on Wednesdays from 11:30a to 1:00p and 3:00 to 4:00p in the Fitness Studio of the Resilient Living Center.  The last weigh in will be Wednesday, April 10th.  If you cannot make your weigh-in, you can email a picture of your weight to Diane at ddecker@livewell.org.  Confidential BMI and Body Fat Percentage will be measured on April 10th. If you would like to check BMI at additional times you can let Diane know at your weigh-in for the week.  All participants should sign-up for their Employee Membership in Club Express to sign the participation waiver! 

Best, 

Maley W. Hunt

COO & Administrator

 

Maley’s Memo
February 7, 2024

Dear Friends, 

LiveWell Rewards Plus/Resilient Living Survey: Thank you to everyone who completed the survey! We are pulling together the responses and will use this data to design the LiveWell Rewards Plus program which will start in April.  Below there are already ways to get involved in the Resilient Living Center as an employee. 

Visit the Art Studio and Learn about Pottery with SOCCA:  We would like to invite everyone to visit the beautiful art studio on Wednesdays and Fridays from 10a to 12p to visit our new friends from the Southington Community Cultural Arts (SoCCA), Robert and Shelby. They are both seasoned potters and excited to help LiveWell establish a thriving ceramics program. Stop by to chat and say ‘Hi!’ They will be playing around with setting the space up for the next several weeks. We look forward to inviting you all to Pottery Wheel Open demonstrations later this month to watch these master artists in practice. Get excited to be able to learn how to use a pottery wheel and hand build with clay in the coming months when we open for classes! 

Employee Group HIIT Class with Tyler: Starting February 14th Tyler will be offering High Intensity Interval Training classes for staff on Wednesdays from 3:30p to 4p.  Classes are $10 for employees and you can sign up here for individual classes or the whole 10-weeks!  

Yoga with Kate:  The classes are FREE for employee members and held on Thursday mornings, 7:30a to 8:30a, in the Movement Studio.  For the schedule of dates/to sign up:  Please click here to reserve your spot each week on Sign-Up Genius. Please also sign your fitness waiver with Tyler prior to starting yoga classes. ALL ARE WELCOME!   
 
Weight Management with Diane:  Some of you have asked for shared accountability in tackling weight management with a group.  As a result, Diane has volunteered to support people from February 21st to April 10th to track their weight and BMI.  The initial weigh-in will be on Wednesday, February 21st and will then happen weekly on Wednesdays from 11:30a to 1:00p and 3:00 to 4:00p in the Center Studio of the Resilient Living Center.  The last weigh in will be Wednesday, April 10th.  If you cannot make your weigh-in, you can email a picture of your weight to Diane at ddecker@livewell.org.  Confidential BMI and Body Fat Percentage will be measured on February 21st and on April 10th. If you would like to check BMI at additional times you can let Diane know at your weigh-in for the week.  All participants should sign-up for their Employee Membership in Club Express to sign the participation waiver! 

February Resilient Living Center Events: Join us for this month’s events, you can visit this link: www.livewell.org/special-events at any time to see more details about the rotating selection of events and share the invite with friends and family! 

Thursday, February 8th | 2:00p-3:00p 
A Gift for You– Winter Restoration with Live Cello 
Free | Performance Studio 
Registration Required |CLICK HERE TO REGISTER 

Friday, February 9th | 3:30p-4:30p 
Valentine’s Flower Arranging Workshop 
$50/Member $60/Non-Member | Performance Studio 
Advanced Registration Required by Feb. 7th | 20 Seats available | CLICK HERE TO REGISTER 

Thursday, February 15th | 4:30p-6:30p 
Abstract Intuitive Art Workshop 
$60 Member, $75 Non-Member | Art Studio  
Led by CT Artist Deborah Velásquez 
Advanced Registration Required by February 14th | 8 Seats Available | CLICK HERE TO REGISTER 

Thursday, February 22nd | 2:00p-3:00p 
African American History – A Musical Narration 
Free | Performance Studio 

Monday, February 26th | 3:00p-5:00p 
Great Performances – Julian Joseph plays Gershwin, London Philharmonic Orchestra 
Free | Performance Studio  
Registration Required | CLICK HERE TO REGISTER 

Wednesday, February 28th | 4:00p-5:30p 
Blue Zone Viewing Club with Blue Zone Foods 
Free | Performance Studio  
Registration Required | 45 Seats Available | CLICK HERE TO REGISTER 

Best, 

Maley W. Hunt

COO & Administrator

 

Maley’s Memo
January 30, 2024

Dear Friends, 

Thank you to so many of you for attending the Quarterly Staff Meetings last week and WELCOME to the over 20 new team members that have joined LiveWell in the last two months!  We are excited to have our team expanding and to be opening the second River Home, River View this week.  There is a lot happening on our campus and each of you play such an important role in supporting the wellbeing and operations for all who live, work, and visit, thank you.  In next week’s Memo Anne and I will have more information and sign-ups for the 1:1 meetings we spoke about in the quarterly meetings.  

Construction Update:  River View, the second River Home opens this week!  We anticipate 5 people moving over to the house by the end of the week, several of whom were already on campus in different apartments.  We shared at the staff meetings that the next new area to open will be the Café and Social Lounge in early Spring.  We then anticipate the first two skilled nursing neighborhoods to be ready in late Spring/early Summer.  In the meetings we quickly went over all the new neighborhood names: River Bend (1st River Home), River View (2nd River Home), Meadow Spring (‘Existing’ Assisted Living), Well Spring (1B), Hill Spring (2B), Garden Spring (1A), and Mountain Spring (2A).   

Employee Parking: We now have all new parking areas open on campus and are working diligently to have the construction team park across the street in the commuter lot.  Cars that do not have LiveWell parking stickers could be towed by the construction company, so please place the required sticker on your windshield. 

We are still getting questions about where staff should park.  Employees are always welcome to park in the Mulberry Street parking lot on any shift.  Staff can enter through the Loading Dock door, Kitchen Courtyard Door, or Resilient Living. No one should enter or exit the building directly on/off the Meadow Spring assisted living neighborhood.  

On the first and second shift, staff can park in the large lot off South Main Street, to the right of the main entrance.  After a break on the second shift, and on the third shift, staff can park in front of the Resilient Living Center.  Please do not park in front of the Resilient Living Center between 7:30am and 7pm as there are lots of classes and visitors at these times.  If you do park in front of the Resilient Living Center before 7:00pm, you will be asked to move your car. If you work in the River Homes and have questions around which garage bays you can park in front of, please reach out!  

LiveWell Rewards Plus/Resilient Living Survey: At the meetings last week we passed out a short survey on the new LiveWell Rewards Plus program offerings and more generally, what you are interested in engaging in at the Resilient Living Center.  If you have not already completed the survey, please do so by 1/31/24 to receive a $5 gift card to Dunkin’ or Starbucks.  There are extra surveys at the Front Desk, with Jacky Clark or Anne McCarty, and with the Supervisor.  

Yoga with Kate: The classes are free for employee members and held on Thursday mornings, 7:30am to 8:30am, in the Movement Studio.  For the schedule of dates/to sign up:  Please click here to reserve your spot each week on Sign-Up Genius. Please also sign your fitness waiver with Tyler prior to starting yoga classes. ALL ARE WELCOME!   

Be well, 

Maley W. Hunt

COO & Administrator

 

Maley’s Memo 

January 12, 2024

Dear Friends, 

Infection Prevention Update: Thank you all for wearing masks and testing each week!  As of today (1/12) we are no longer requiring masks or testing as a proactive measure.  We will keep the mask and testing stations available at the various entrances. Please help be our partner in continuing good infection prevention by reporting any your symptoms, testing BEFORE coming to work, and proactively electing to wear a mask if you know of exposures you may have had.  Wearing the masks over the holidays did help reduce exposures a LOT and kept many people healthy, thank you! 

Quarterly Staff Meetings: Michael and I will be hosting meetings for all employees on January 23rd, 24th, and 25th.  The schedules will be posted by the timeclocks.  Please plan to attend one of the meetings, if you are working those days, it will be worked into your schedule.  The meetings will be held in River View (the 2nd River Home)! 

Construction Update: You may have noticed the Ops Team at work (thank you!) shifting the staff break room over to the reflections room.  Next week, in both the 1st and 2nd floor core the construction team will be putting up temporary walls and starting work in these areas.  This is particularly exciting as it will start work on spaces that include the Spa and Therapy Gym!  More construction updates will be shared at the quarterly meetings. 

Employee Parking Passes:  Thank you to all who are displaying their parking passes.  Parking passes are MANDATORY and we will be looking for them starting next week.  You can stick it on your windshield in the lower passenger corner (it is static cling, not a sticker) or you can have it laying visibly on your dashboard.  If you do not have a pass yet, you can get one from Donna or Jay in the front, or we will have a self-sign out for night shift in the RN Supervisor’s office.  

Resilient Living Member January Special Events: All LiveWell employees get free membership to the Resilient Living Center. Please see Kristina or Peggy with any questions on how to sign up to access upcoming special events! We will have new events each month, please let us know suggested days of the week, times of day, and types of events you would like to see.  Email Chelsea Block and me here with your ideas! 

Moving into the New Year – Group Fitness Class 
Wednesday, January 17th 3:30-4:30pm 
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER – FREE (Cap at 25) 
Open to all Members 
Moderate paced group fitness class led by Tyler throughout our Resilient Living Center Fitness Spaces. 

Blue Zone Viewing Club: January 
Wednesday, January 24th 4:00pm-5:30pm 
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER – Free (Cap at 45) 
Join us on the 4th Wednesday of each month as we view and discuss each of the four episodes of the Netflix Series- Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones. We will learn more about Blue Zones, habits that can be applied to our own lives, and snack on Blue Zone inspired refreshments. Sessions are co-facilitated by LiveWell’s Director of Culinary Experience, Sam Johnson and Community Engagement, Brian Connolly. We will “travel around the world with author Dan Buettner to discover five unique communities where people live extraordinarily long and vibrant lives.” 

January’s Episode: The Journey Begins (34m) 
Buettner travels to Okinawa, Japan, where the island’s oldest residents still share a serene way of life motivated by a sense of purpose, or ikigai. 

Stencil & Brush Workshop 
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER | $20/person(Member) $25/person(Non-Member)  
(Cap at 15) 
Friday, January 26th | 4:00pm-5:00pm 
Join us as we create a Winter DIY farmhouse wooden stencil board decoration! 
Class taught by Masila 
1 hour | Refreshments | in the Art studio at the Resilient Living Center  

Pat and Amity Musical Duo 
Wednesday, January 31st | 1:30pm-2:30pm 
Drop In-Free | Performance Studio at the Resilient Living Center 

Yoga with Kate: Yoga is continuing this week!  The classes are free for employee members, held on Thursday mornings, 7:30am to 8:30am, in the Movement Studio.  For the schedule of dates/to sign up: Please click here to reserve your spot each week on Sign-Up Genius. As long as we have at least two participants each week we will run the class. Please also sign your fitness waiver with Tyler prior to starting yoga classes. ALL ARE WELCOME!  (If this time does not work for you and you would like to take a yoga class, please reply to this email and offer what times might work for you, with enough interest we will look to schedule some additional offerings.) 

Be well, 

Maley W. Hunt

COO & Administrator

 

Maley’s Memo 
January 3, 2024 

Dear Friends, 

Happy New Year!  As 2023 has closed, we reflect on the incredible work of this team and the residents and family members who live, work, and visit the LiveWell community. Wishing everyone a 2024 filled with joy, blessings, and everything you are hopeful for.  

Employee Parking Passes:  Please ensure that you have your LiveWell Parking Pass displayed in the lower passenger corner of your windshield.  If you do not have a pass yet, you can get one from Donna or Jay in the front, or we will have a self-sign out for night shift in the RN Supervisor’s office.  With winter fully upon us we want to be able to identify cars as this will help with snow removal and preparation.  Parking passes clearly displayed are required, thank you for helping make this happen!   

Resilient Living Member Benefits: The January Special Events will be dropping later this week.  As you see what we are offering, please let us know suggested days of the week, times of day, and types of events you would like to see.  Email Chelsea Block and me here with your ideas! 
 
Yoga with Kate: Yoga is continuing this week!  The classes are free for members, held on Thursday mornings, 7:30am to 8:30am, in the Movement Studio.  For the schedule of dates/to sign up: Please click here to reserve your spot each week on Sign-Up Genius. As long as we have at least two participants each week we will run the class. Please also sign your fitness waiver with Tyler prior to starting yoga classes. ALL ARE WELCOME!  (If this time does not work for you and you would like to take a yoga class, please reply to this email and offer what times might work for you, with enough interest we will look to schedule some additional offerings.) 

Infection Prevention Update: Thank you all for wearing masks and testing each week!  With these efforts we have found several employee cases of COVID before they could spread.  As a reminder, if you do not feel well, please report your symptoms and test BEFORE coming to work.  All staff should continue to wear KN95 masks and test the first shift of each week until (and including) Jan 12th to mitigate spread of post-holiday illnesses.  

Be well, 

Maley W. Hunt

COO & Administrator

 

Staff Update
December 16, 2023

Dear Friends,
We are in the midst of one of the biggest seasons of gathering and celebrating, with that can also come exposure to more viruses like COVID, Flu, and the common cold.  To help reduce the potential spread of illness over the next few weeks we are going to introduce some increased preventive measures including wearing masks and weekly staff surveillance testing for COVID. 

Starting today we ask that all staff and visitors wear KN95 masks while at LiveWell.  We are making this protocol through January 12, 2024.  We will reevaluate throughout the next few weeks and continue to update you on resident cases and updated guidelines. 

We will also be having all staff test weekly for COVID, on their first shift of the week, through January 12, 2024.  [We will continue to test any staff with known exposures or any symptoms like runny nose, sore throat, congestion, fatigue, body aches, etc.]  We will have some extra COVID testing kits by the front desk for staff and visitors who would like the ability to test at home.  Testing before you visit, if you have had an exposure, is also a best practice. 

Hand hygiene is a great way to reduce transmissions of any illness and we encourage you to regularly hand sanitize and/or wash your hands frequently.  

We will update you on the resident testing on 2A on Monday and will share more information about infection prevention protocols for the holiday parties scheduled for this week.  

Be well, 

Maley W. Hunt

COO & Administrator

 

Maley’s Memo
December 4, 2023

Dear Friends, 

We want to share some updates on the December Member Events in the Resilient Living Center and construction updates for next week!  We hope to see you at these events and are excited to begin to have events like this each month to provide connection, meaning, purpose, and joy for the LiveWell community. 

December Member Events – All held in the Performance Studio 

Music with Guitarist Mick Iarusso: Thursday, December 7th, 2:30pm to 4pm, Free for Members and their guests 

Enjoy 50s to 80s hits with some seasonal favorites thrown in.  There will also be a Hot Cocoa Bar and other refreshments! 

Stop in for one song or the whole performance. 

Holiday Floral Arranging Workshop: Friday, December 15th, 3:30pm to 5pm, $50 for Members  

Enjoy cocktails, mocktails, and appetizers starting at 3:30pm with floral arranging starting at 4pm.  The Green Petal of Cheshire will facilitate the class and each paying registrant will leave with one (1) arrangement.  You are welcome to recruit a helper and work on an arrangement together at no additional cost! 

Click here for more information or to register for this event: Holiday Floral Arranging Workshop Registration  

PLEASE REGISTER BY DECEMBER 7TH so supplies can be arranged 

Kindly note: You will need to be registered as a Member to sign up for this event. You can do this online here.

Music with Harpist Carolyn Brodginski:  Tuesday, December 19th, 2pm to 3pm, Free for Members and their guests 

Enjoy music, holiday cookies and other refreshments! 

Stop in for one song or the whole performance. 

 

Construction Update 

Next week, from Tuesday, December 5th through Thursday, December 7th the construction team will be working on some connections in the 2nd Floor Core.  This work will not restrict access to the elevators or neighborhoods.  It will impact access to the Supervisor’s office from approximately 6am to 3:30pm each day.  The difference people will notice is that to the left of the elevator there will be a temporary wall for those three days while they work on ceiling connections.  If you have any questions, please reach out! 

 

Be well, 

Maley W. Hunt

COO & Administrator

 

Maley’s Memo
November 21, 2023

Dear Friends, 

Happy Thanksgiving LiveWell!  I am so grateful to be a part of this team.  We have a lot happening around us with construction, transformation, and new beginnings.  In all of these moments I see new gifts each of you share.  I am grateful for your joy, curious questions, flexibility, commitment, fun, passion, love, warmth, humor, and so much more!  As you reflect during this season, I hope you will share what you are thankful for by replying to this email!  If we have enough responses, I will create a word cloud to share later this week! 

Thanksgiving Pies, Tuesday and Wednesday Pick-Up: It is that time of year… PIE!  Starting mid-day Tuesday through Wednesday we will be passing out Apple or Pumpkin Pie to all employees for the holiday.  This is one way we want to share our gratitude, and some tasty treats, with all of you.  It is one of my favorite LiveWell traditions, so if you’re new or this will be your 20th pie, I hope you enjoy! We are incredibly thankful for all of you and the ways you make LiveWell special.   

Yoga with Kate: Yoga has been so popular that Kate will continue to offer FREE Yoga in the Resilient Living Center! With the holidays the schedule will exclude a few days but in general it will be Thursday mornings, 7:30am to 8:30am, in the Movement Studio.  For the schedule of date/to sign up:  Please click here to reserve your spot each week on Sign-Up Genius. As long as we have at least two participants each week we will run the class. There are flyers in the studio space for more information. Please also sign your fitness waiver with Tyler prior to starting yoga classes. ALL ARE WELCOME!  (If this time does not work for you and you would like to take a yoga class, please reply to this email and offer what times might work for you, with enough interest we will look to schedule some additional offerings.) 

Parking Passes (Get yours this month!): Please pick up a parking pass and register your vehicle with Donna and Jay by the end of the month.  As we get closer to potential snow situations these passes will also help us when we are plowing!  All you need to do is have your license plate number, make, and model and Donna and Jay will share a static cling (non-marking!) sticker with you for the front right side of your windshield. 

Technology Office Hours: We’re excited to offer Technology Office Hours for the first time with Rit Campbell, LiveWell’s IT Innovations Specialist. Office Hours will be held in the Learning Lab on Tuesdays 10:00am-11:00am and in the Media Room on Thursdays from 2:00pm-3:00pm. Rit will be available for Resilient Living Center members, including staff and families, to “drop in” and ask questions/learn about technology. Want to learn how to use OneNote? Use the new Zoom Rooms in the Resilient Living Center? Speed up your laptop? Move your documents over to OneDrive? Curious about our new CarePredict app? Stop in and see Rit! 

Resilient Living Member Benefits Coming Soon: We will be hosting special Member Events in December in the Resilient Living Center, including Flower Arranging!  We will be updating Open Gym Hours for this semester!  

 

Be well, 

Maley W. Hunt

COO & Administrator

 

Staff Update
November 11, 2023

Dear Friends,

LiveWell COVID Update, November 11, 2023

Testing and Results: This morning we had a resident test positive for COVID on the 1A neighborhood. We tested all other residents on the 1A neighborhood using rapid antigen tests and no other residents were positive. All staff on the 1A neighborhood were also tested and all staff were negative for COVID. We will test all the 1A residents again on Monday, November 13th.  

Resident Cases: There is currently one resident from 1A that is positive for COVID.  

Visitor Guidelines: Visiting the 1A community is considered high risk as there is one active COVID case on that neighborhood. If you choose to visit, it is recommended to wear a KN95.  Masks will be located at the new lobby entrance in the Resilient Living Center and by the entrance to the 1A neighborhood.  Visits for 1A residents must happen on the neighborhood and in the resident’s room. If you would like an N95 for your visit, one can be provided. All staff on 1A will be wearing KN95 masks.  

We encourage you to rapid test before your visit, even if you are up to date on all COVID vaccinations. It is easy to transmit this virus while you are still asymptomatic. If you have any cold-like symptoms, we advise you not to visit as both COVID and Flu are actively present in Connecticut at this time. 

We will update you again after testing on Monday.   

 

Be well, 

Maley W. Hunt

COO & Administrator

 

Maley’s Memo
November 10, 2023

Dear Friends, 

What a fabulous celebration we had last night for all of our milestone team members.  It was amazing to see so many of you there and hear the beautiful stories about each of our honorees!  All of the names are listed in the lobby, please join me in thanking and congratulating all of these amazing people.  A big thank you to the planning committee as well who organized a beautiful event and made sure that the phenomenal team members who worked during the event last night also had a delicious meal.  It takes our whole community to have special evenings like last night, I feel so lucky to be a part of the LiveWell tribe! 

LAST DAY Benefits Enrollment (Medical, Dental, etc.): Open enrollment for benefits is happening now and today, Friday, November 10th is the last day!  This year it will be done in UKG.  All benefit eligible staff MUST log in to enroll or waive benefits by November 10th.  If you have questions about benefits, the enrollment process or need login help, please ask Anne or Jacky, they are both available by phone today!   

TOMORROW Hot COCO 5k in Cheshire: The race is tomorrow, Saturday, November 11th, in Cheshire and registration is still open.  I invite you and your families to participate and have long sleeve dry fit tee shirts for anyone participating!  If you are coming, please stop by my office today or send me a note so I can have them at the race for you tomorrow! There are several options to choose including a 5K run, 1 mile walk, and Kids Fun Run. Sign ups are on your own at this link.  

Parking Passes Available Now: We are excited to introduce parking passes for all our employees. This will help ensure that only LiveWell staff are parking in designated staff areas. They will also help us identify vehicles more quickly in the event we need to contact you to move your car during inclement weather. Please see Donna or Jay to let them know your vehicle details to receive your parking pass. Please give them the Make/Model, Color, and License Plate. The passes are static cling style and can be removed/moved easily (there is NO adhesive on them). Please be sure to put your pass on the passenger side of your front windshield. 

Technology Office Hours: We’re excited to offer Technology Office Hours for the first time with Rit Campbell, LiveWell’s IT Innovations Specialist. Office Hours will be held in the Learning Lab on Tuesdays 10:00am-11:00am and Thursdays from 2:00pm-3:00pm. Rit will be available for Resilient Living Center members, including staff and families, to “drop in” and ask questions/learn about technology. Want to learn how to use OneNote? Speed up your laptop? Move your documents over to OneDrive? Curious about our new CarePredict app? Stop in and see Rit starting next Tuesday, 11/14! 

 

Be well, 

Maley W. Hunt

COO & Administrator

 

Maley’s Memo

Maley’s Memo
October 30, 2023
Last week we had the first residents move-in to River Bend!  Congratulations to the team that helped prepare for and welcome the new members of our community.  We will continue to have new move-ins throughout the month of November to River Bend.  It takes MANY people to make a new building a community and a success. Every member of the LiveWell team makes this possible.  I am so appreciative of the culture we have and the new challenges each of you are taking.  It is exciting for all who live, work, and visit here and I have gotten some amazing feedback from all, thank you! 

Accushield: We are no longer requiring LiveWell staff to sign into Accushield before their shift! Families/visitors/vendors who spend time with residents will still be required to sign in upon arrival. Please be sure to continue to let your supervisor and Chelsey Emmons know if you have any questions about symptoms or exposures. 

Flu Clinics This Thursday & Friday: Chelsey will be hosting Flu Shot clinics for employees this Thursday, 7:30am to 4pm, and Friday, 7:30am to 12pm, in the Treatment Rooms in the Resilient Living Center.  You can drop in or book a time with this link!  Flu shots are required for all employees.  If you received it outside of LiveWell, please give paperwork to Chelsey, she is also available for questions. Additionally, we encourage you to get the new COVID booster, which can be easily accessed at local pharmacies, please share this paperwork with Chelsey as well.  

Benefits Enrollment (Medical, Dental, etc.): Open enrollment for benefits is happening now!  This year it will be done in UKG.  All benefit eligible staff MUST log in to enroll or waive benefits by November 10th.  You can find a link to the benefits guide in UKG on the first page of your Open Enrollment steps. If you have questions about benefits, the enrollment process or need login help, please ask Anne or Jacky.   

Parking Passes Available Now: We are excited to introduce parking passes for all our employees. This will help ensure that only LiveWell staff are parking in designated staff areas. They will also help us identify vehicles more quickly in the event we need to contact you to move your car during inclement weather. Please see Donna or Jay to let them know your vehicle details to receive your parking pass. Please give them the Make/Model, Color, and License Plate. The passes are static cling style and can be removed/moved easily (there is NO adhesive on them). Please be sure to put your pass on the passenger side of your front windshield. 

Hot COCO 5k in Cheshire: Several people have already shared that they will be participating in the Hot COCO 5k in Cheshire on Saturday, November 11th. Families are welcome! There are several options to choose including a 5K run, 1 mile walk, and Kids Fun Run. Sign ups are on your own at this link. If you plan on joining, please let me know, I have surprises for people participating! 

 

Be well, 

Maley W. Hunt

COO & Administrator

 

Maley’s Memo

October 12, 2023

Parking Update: Thank you for your exceptional patience over the last week. The parking lot to the right of our Main Entrance on South Main Street is officially complete!  We invite you to use either the South Main Street Lot or Mulberry Street Lot and to save the Resilient Living Lot for visitors and families.  We are excited to have more parking for all of us and hope that you find your needs met with all of the new options! (After breaks on second shift and overnight you are welcome to park in front of the Resilient Living Center.)  Parking passes will be debuting soon and we will have more information shortly! 

Hot COCO 5k in Cheshire: Thanks to an awesome idea from one of our team members we will be having a team for the Hot COCO 5k in Cheshire on Saturday, November 11th!  There are several options to participate including a 5K run, 1 mile walk, and Kids Fun Run.  I will be out there racing the 5k and hope you will join!  Sign ups are on your own at this link.  If you join, please let me know and we can explore matching shirts if we have enough participants! 

Annual Employee Recognition Dinner: You are invited to our Annual Recognition Dinner to celebrate members of our team that have reached a milestone work anniversary in 2023! The dinner will be held at The Lake House in Wolcott on November 9th. An email invitation was sent out yesterday and you can RSVP right through the evite or with Donna at the front desk. This is always a wonderful night of food, fun and celebrating each other. Hope you can make it! 

Updated COVID Vaccines: COVID positive numbers in Connecticut are on the rise. Staff are encouraged to get the updated COVID vaccine. The bivalent (original strain + Omicron BA lineage) vaccine is no longer available and has been updated, to match circulating strains, to a monovalent with the Omicron XBB lineage. Search www.vaccines.gov for locations and appointments. Please notify Chelsey Emmons if you receive the vaccine. 

Yoga with Kate: Kate Keefe will be offering FREE Yoga in the Resilient Living Center starting in October!  Thursday mornings, 7:30am to 8:30am, through November 9th Kate will be teaching Yoga in the Movement Studio.  Please click here to reserve your spot each week on Sign-Up Genius.  As long as we have at least two participants each week we will run the class!  There are flyers in the studio space for more information.  Please also sign your fitness waiver with Tyler prior to starting yoga classes. 

 

Be well, 

Maley W. Hunt

COO & Administrator

 

Maley’s Memo

September 26, 2023

 

Dear Friends,

Infection Prevention: It is all of our responsibility to keep each other healthy.  There is an in-service for all employees this week on Infection Prevention.  The most important thing that you can do is to quickly report any symptoms and/or exposures.  We have plenty of masks and encourage you to wear them if you meet these criteria, when in doubt, wear a mask.  We will no longer be accepting ‘allergies’ as a reason not to wear a mask.  If you have visible symptoms, cough, sneezing, runny nose, you will be asked to wear a mask and/or to stay home until your symptoms are under control.  Additionally, please practice excellent hand hygiene often to help prevent the spread of germs.  We will be offering the flu shot at LiveWell later this fall and the new COVID booster is now available in the community.  If you have vaccination questions you can always reach out to Chelsey Emmons. 

Relias and Raises:  Relias is due this Saturday!  Please complete your Relias as soon as possible.  Relias is required to be completed before any raises, if eligible, can go into effect.  Raises will not be retroactive if your Relias is not complete.

Yoga with Kate: Kate Keefe will be offering FREE Yoga in the Resilient Living Center starting in October!  Thursday mornings, 7:30am to 8:30am, from October 5^th through November 9^th Kate will be teaching Yoga in the Movement Studio.  Please click here to reserve your spot each week on Sign-Up Genius.  As long as we have at least two participants each week we will run the class!  There are flyers in the studio space for more information.  Please also sign your fitness waiver with Tyler prior to starting yoga classes.

Parking: As a reminder, all parking in front of the Resilient Living Center is for visitors.  The new lot on Mulberry Street is officially open and paved!  This provides a number of additional spaces for staff.  From this lot you may take the sidewalk around to the Main Entrance or enter via the loading dock.  If you enter through loading dock, please still complete the Accushield questions in the Resilient Living Center.  Staff may also park in the lot to the right of the driveway on South Main Street.  We are working on LiveWell parking passes and will be debuting them in the coming weeks.

IT Innovations Specialist: We are excited to welcome Rit Campbell, LiveWell’s new IT Innovations Specialist. Rit, along with CTComp, will provide assistance to staff and residents and support the expansion of technology on our campus.

 

Be well, 

Maley W. Hunt

COO & Administrator

 

Maley’s Memo
August 21, 2023

Dear Friends, 

Parking & Entrance: Thank you all for your patience as we have switched our main entrance over to the Resilient Living Center.  Helping families find their way, bringing residents to programs, you have all played a part in making this switch go as smoothly as possible.  As a reminder, all parking in front of the Resilient Living Center is for visitors.  If you are working first shift, or at the start of second shift, please park in the lot to the right of the driveway, not in front of the Resilient Living Center.  Third shift, and after breaks on second shift, you can park in front.  We want to ensure people here for classes, programs, visits, or tours can park in front of the main entrance.  

Second Shift Care Partner Referral Bonus:  We continue to have several openings for second shift care partners and are actively recruiting experienced full-time staff both SNF and AL.  We would like to offer a referral bonus of $600 to any current LiveWell team member that recommends a full-time second shift care partner AND for any per-diem team member that would like to commit to a full time second shift position.  You would receive $200 after their first month and $400 after 6 months of their employment, this bonus is available to all employees!  If you know of someone, please connect with Jacky or Anne to help add CNAs to our second shift team, we can also give you a flyer to share with people you may know! 

Equipment Studio NOW OPEN: We are thrilled to announce the opening of the Equipment and Movement Studios! Please stop in, check it out, sign a waiver if you haven’t already, and start utilizing this great new employee benefit.  Tyler wants to see it busy and help all of us feel strong, confident, and energized!  The full flyer is below but the open times for employees are:  

• Monday, Wednesday, and Friday – 7am to 10am; 1:30pm to 8pm
• Tuesday and Thursday – 7am to 8:45am; 1pm to 3pm; 5:15pm to 8pm 

There is a sign in sheet in the studio to track usage and see how these hours work for people.  Please remember that you must sign a waiver before using the gym, Tyler can help you do this and will be available during most open gym times before 4pm.  Anne and I are also happy to orient and do a waiver with you, please reach out! 

Be well, 

Maley W. Hunt

COO & Administrator

 

Maley’s Memo
August 10, 2023

Dear Friends, 

It was nice to tour the new Resilient Living Center with many of you in July.  For those who were not able to join us, we look forward to introducing you to the new resources, programs, and spaces available in the Resilient Living Center. 

As we shared in our July meetings, we plan to close the existing front entrance, lobby, and administrative offices the week of August 14th.  We will turn that portion of the building over to the construction team for demolition and renovation.  While this area is under construction, we will redirect all foot traffic through the new Resilient Living Center entrance.  You are welcome to park in the new lot directly in front of the Resilient Living Center and enter through the Resilient Living Center starting next Monday.  The current lobby will be turned over to the construction team on August 16th.  Starting next Wednesday, August 16th, the entrance to the Resilient Living Center will be the main entrance and all of the parking in front of the Resilient Living Center will be for visitors. 

We are also preparing to initiate the renovations of the 2B and 1B neighborhoods.  Rather than having a few residents remain in the 1B neighborhood and renovate around their rooms, we received permission from the Department of Public Health to renovate existing spaces on the A side of the building and the upstairs core to safely and temporarily accommodate current skilled care residents.  We have been working with several families who have agreed to transition to these temporary spaces on the A side of the building and upstairs core.  We deeply appreciate the flexibility and support of these families, and others who have already made transitions. 

In August we will be transitioning the 1A and 2A living rooms, the Co-Lead offices, the Therapy office, and the adjacent office into temporary resident rooms.  This will allow the 1A and 2A teams to support a few more residents.  Both teams will receive additional staff to support these additional residents.  We will transition staff from the 1B team to support the residents from the 1B neighborhood as they move to the A side of the building.  

The Co-Lead office will move to the upstairs core (where finance is currently) and the TVs on the A side of the building will be relocated from the living room onto the neighborhood.  The kitchens on both 1A and 2A will be available for visiting when meals are not taking place. 

While we are very excited to fully renovate the neighborhoods on the B side of the building, we recognize that each new beginning starts with a period of letting go.  Our teams will continue to work with the families of residents on 1B on transition plans.  After we have safely transitioned all residents from the 1B neighborhood, we will take time to reflect with the staff and families that have called 1B their home.  We will remember and celebrate what made 1B special and offer our goodbyes to that space we called home. After this neighborhood gathering on 1B, we will turn both the 2B and 1B neighborhoods over to the construction team. 

Again, thank you for your cooperation, flexibility, and patience, especially those who have agreed to transition to the new temporary resident rooms we are creating.  We will keep all of you updated on our transitions as they progress. 

Be well, 

Maley W. Hunt

COO & Administrator

 

Staff Memo 

Tyler’s Fitness Memo and Invitation to All of You! 
August 8, 2023

I wanted to share with all of you the Top Reasons people don’t go to the gym.  Do any of these sound familiar? 

1.  The weather is horrible outside and I can’t get there. 
2.  Traffic is brutal so not today. 
3. I have to come home after work and grab all my stuff then get back in the car and go. 
4. There is nobody at the gym to help me and show me what to do. 
5. Everyone at the gym is in shape and I feel like everyone is staring at me. 
6. I’m too tired to go after working a long shift. 
7. There isn’t enough time in the day for me to go. 
8. I want to spend time with my kids before and after work. 
9. My gym is always busy and I can’t get on a machine. 
10. The gym is too expensive. 

Say goodbye to all the excuses!  The new gym in the Resilient Living Center is right on campus here at LiveWell and eliminates every single one of them.  You are already here, it’s free for you to use, not busy, available to you morning, noon, and early evenings, and I’m available at no cost to help you set up a routine or program for you to follow which will make the most of your time, help you reach your goals, and keep you injury free.  Take advantage of this awesome amenity being the first members of the Resilient Living Center! 

Make an appointment to sign a waiver so you can get started.  Please see the Open Studio Schedule below! 

See you all soon, 

Tyler McCauley, CPT, RTS
Wellbeing Director of Fitness and Movement
 

Maley’s Memo
August 1, 2023

Dear Friends, 
 

Thank you to everyone who is working on different neighborhoods and helping on different shifts and assignments, your commitment to each other, the residents, and their families is seen and valued!  As residents continue to move to the A-Side from 1B we will ensure that each neighborhood has the optimal level of staff to support the needs of the residents.  We continue to be committed to everyone receiving their standard hours each week.  As we have people and teams interacting in new ways we want to remind everyone about our renewed focus on Huddles.  The nurses are doing an AMAZING job using Huddles to bring the team together each shift and ensure that everyone has what they need to be successful.  Thank you all for improving communication and how we support those that live here!  

Second Shift Care Partner Referral Bonus: We continue to have several openings for second shift care partners and are actively recruiting experienced full-time staff for that role.  We would like to offer a referral bonus of $600 to any current LiveWell team member that recommends a full-time second shift care partner AND for any per-diem team member that would like to commit to a full time second shift position.  You would receive $200 after their first month and $400 after 6 months of their employment.  If you know of someone, please connect with Jacky or Anne to help add CNAs to our second shift team, we can also give you a flyer to share with people you may know! 

DEIB Council Information Sessions: We have two upcoming sessions to learn more about the new DEIB Council that Shazia will help form here at LiveWell.  The sessions are open to anyone that lives, works, or visits at LiveWell and would like to attend.  We know these times may not work for everyone so if you are interested in learning more about the council or in participating on the council please contact Shazia!  The sessions will be on Wednesday, 8/2 at 2pm and Friday, 8/11 at 4pm, both in the Resilient Living Performance Studio. 

Introduction to LiveWell’s Equipment Studio and Personal Training: There are still lots of slots available to do an Equipment Studio Orientation.  You will need to do one of these sessions if you are interested in using the equipment during ‘open studio’ times which will start the week of August 14th!  Please use this link to sign up for your 10-minute orientation to the Equipment Studio. You can also use this time to explore the opportunity to train with Tyler for 50% off as an Employee Member of the Resilient Living Center.  The cost for employees is $20 for 30-minutes of 1:1 training which can be paid through payroll deduction, cash, or check, if you haven’t done one of the free 30-minute sessions with him yet, those are also still available.  

Annual Mandatory Fit Testing Sign Ups: We are offering this year’s OSHA mandated fit testing for N95 masks at LiveWell on August 29th and August 30th from 8a-4p.  Please use this link to sign up for your time slot. All Care Partners, Nurses, Therapists, Operations Team Members, and Housekeepers must participate.  This is an annual requirement so even if you went last year you need to sign up again.  If you miss your time you will be required to make an appointment and complete your fit testing at Occupational Health.  Thank you for helping to meet this requirement.  

Be well, 

Maley W. Hunt 

COO & Administrator 

 

Staff Memo 
July 6, 2023

Dear Friends, 
 
We are writing to update you on our air conditioning challenge on the 1B Neighborhood. 
 
We want to start by sharing our appreciation for the staff on 1B who rose to the occasion and stood by the people they care about and for.  You are an amazing team.  As a thank you, we will be adding an additional dollar to all hours worked on 1B from first shift on July 1^st through second shift July 5^th.  We are aware that different AC problems have impacted the kitchen, so this recognition pay will be extended to the kitchen team too.  We also appreciate our maintenance team and our contractors who did everything they could to mitigate and solve this challenge. 
 
We appreciate everyone’s patience. Our challenges were not in finding or paying professionals.  We have had contractors on site since Friday responding to this issue.  Our challenge has been locating the appropriate supplies to provide temporary and permanent relief from our AC problems.  Temporary portable units were delivered on Monday.  We were also very fortunate to locate and secure a 20-ton rental AC unit and a generator to operate it.  Thankfully, that 20-ton AC unit and generator arrived yesterday.  The AC unit is located by our loading dock.  The unit is working, and we anticipate it will keep the 1B neighborhood comfortable.
 
The measures we took this week were planned so that we could have AC as quickly as possible regardless of the cost. We are fortunate to have a team that rolls up their sleeves and meets any challenge with a can-do attitude, a big heart, and hard work ethic. Thank you again for your patience, teamwork, and cooperation.

Be well, 

Michael J. Smith      
President and CEO

 

Update 7-3-2023

Staff Memo
July 3, 2023

Dear Friends, 
 

I am writing to update you on a challenge we are experiencing with our air conditioning (AC) on the 1B neighborhood. Our building has a roof AC unit for each side of the building; each of these units has two compressors.  The roof AC unit on the A side of the building is working fine. On Friday, we experienced a problem with the roof AC unit that controls the B side of our building.  Our AC contractor was on site Friday and made repairs.
 
Over this past weekend, only one of the compressors on the B side was working.  While we await repairs to the second compressor, we brought in portable AC units to the 1B neighborhood.  The portable AC units will provide more relief as they continue to operate. We also requested a temporary external backup AC system to connect directly to our building ventilation system on the B side of the building to replicate the lost AC from the roof unit.
 
Thankfully, with help from our construction partners at CE Floyd, we were able to locate a 20-ton temporary external AC unit.  This AC unit will be delivered on Wednesday and will be hooked up directly to our ventilation system for the B side of the building.  
 
We have made the CT Department of Public Health (DPH) aware of our situation. We will keep you and DPH updated on the progress of our repairs and the installation of our temporary 20-ton AC unit.
 
We are taking extra precautions during this hot weather to make sure the residents and staff of 1B are well hydrated and safe.  The AC units on the A side of the building continue to operate and are independent of the units on the B side of the building.  If a resident living on the 1B neighborhood would benefit from a cooler environment we can have them visit the A side of the building during the daytime.
 
I apologize for the inconvenience and value your patience and cooperation as we continue to resolve this important issue.

Be well, 
        
Michael J. Smith      
President and CEO

 

Update 6-5-2023

Maley’s Memo
June 5, 2023

Dear Friends,  

I want to take the time to recognize June as Pride Month. As an inclusive organization, we support the LGBTQIA+ community.  We look forward to continuing to grow the ways we come together, celebrate, and see each other!  Be on the lookout for information from Shazia on starting an inclusion council and the many other ways we will continue to cultivate inclusion and belonging in all that we do.

‘I See You’ Project Launches TODAY: For the next two months, members of the Wellbeing Core of Discovery invite you to take more time to see moments of connection all around us.  To bring attention to these moments there will be cards around campus which we will fill out and post on the glass connector between the lobby and 1^st Floor Core.  In addition to filling out and posting the cards, the group has designed a calendar of ways that we can come together to connect, this week’s goal is to: Practice Presence.  (Full calendar is pictured below.)  If you have questions, please ask Donna at the Front Desk!      

End of Life Experience Exploration:  I am looking for a group of us to gather and discuss the End-of-Life Experience at LiveWell.  We have beautiful rituals on how we say goodbye as people physically leave our community.  As we design and build new spaces we want to ensure that this exceptionally meaningful tradition grows with us.  If you are interested in attending a gathering to explore this growth, please reply to this email or let me know by Friday, June 9^th.  We will be scheduling time together in the next week or so!

LiveWell Summer Fun Continues with Yard Goats Tickets: Congratulations to Meredith Dresko on winning the swimming pool! Our next Summer Fun activity is a Yard Goats Game!  We were given 20 tickets to the Hartford Yard Goats game from our partner Rideshare.  The tickets are for the game on Wednesday, June 21^st.  The game starts at 7pm.  If you are interested in a ticket, please let Donna know and she will keep a list, tickets are first come, first serve!

Wellbeing Retreats Coming Soon: Thank you to all members of the Wellbeing Core of Discovery for hosting Spark Sessions over the last few weeks!  I am excited to continue gathering later this month in retreats to grow our individual and collective wellbeing, creating a community where we all feel seen and belong!  The retreats will start on June 13^th and extend into July.  Please connect with Kim or your supervisor if you are curious for when you are scheduled to go!

Be Well, 

Maley W. Hunt

COO & Administrator

Update 5-30-2023

May 30, 2023

Dear Friends,

It has been a while since I’ve gotten a note out to all of you… there will be a lot coming up over the summer months so this will be a great place for us all to keep in touch!

Wellbeing Spark Sessions and Retreats: I hope you have been enjoying the Wellbeing Spark Sessions hosted by the Wellbeing Core of Discovery!  If you have not already had a chance to go, please consider attending one this week.  They will be offered today (5/30/23) at 2pm and 3pm, tomorrow (5/31/23) at 2pm and 3pm, and Thursday (6/1/23) at 7am, 2pm, and 3pm.  The sessions are 30 minutes each and help us all start to examine our own wellbeing in anticipation of retreats. 

Wellbeing Retreats will be held in the Resilient Living Center the weeks of June 12th, 19th, and 26th.  You will be scheduled as part of your work week by Kim Blazek or your department head.  There is also still time to add to the wellbeing canvas art project in the first-floor core.

New Phones: If you have been at LiveWell in the last week you may have noticed new phones!  We are still in the process of our full switchover.  The phones will be able to grow with us and our needs throughout the Campus Redesign.  If you have any questions or suggestions on the phones, they are very customizable and we would look forward to your input. You can reply to this email or reach out to Chelsea Block.

Employee Swimming Pool Raffle: Let me start by sharing that I NEVER win things… yet last week I won a small above ground pool at a LeadingAge Connecticut event!  I want to pay it forward and share with you all.  If you are interested in a 10-foot wide, 30-inch deep, above ground pool with a filter, please put your name in the raffle in the lobby.  I hope one of you will be able to enjoy this great prize for yourself or your family!  We will select the winner on Friday, June 2^nd.

Resilient Living Center: We are excited to share that our first events in the Resilient Living Center will be the Wellbeing Retreats for all staff in June!  Once we have our certificate of occupancy in mid to late June, we will be sharing this space with all of you, please stay tuned! 

 

Be Well, 

Maley W. Hunt

COO & Administrator

Update 5-15-2023

Dear Friends,

Today (5/15/23) – Phones Fully Restored

We are pleased to share that our phones are back up and fully operational.  You can now resume calling our main number at 860.628.9000.

Thank you for your understanding and patience as we worked with Cox to resolve this issue!  

Be Well,

Michael J. Smith                     Maley W. Hunt

President & CEO                    COO & Administrator

Update 5-13-2023

May 13, 2023

Dear Friends,

Update for Today (5/13/23) – Phone Outage

Our phone system is currently offline. We are troubleshooting the outage and do not believe it is construction related. Please use the Nursing Supervisor cell phone 860.919.0834 to connect with LiveWell and we will provide an update tomorrow.  Know that in case of emergency, we have cell phones throughout the building to contact necessary parties/emergency personnel.  We will be able to call you.

Be Well,

Michael J. Smith                     Maley W. Hunt

President & CEO                    COO & Administrator

Update 5-1-2023

Maley’s Memo
May 1, 2023

Dear Friends,  

Thank you to everyone who made it to the all-staff meetings last week.  Our next quarterly meeting will be in mid-summer.  Between now and then, we will be hosting information sessions about working in the River Homes and beginning new work related to supporting and growing all of our wellbeing here at LiveWell! 

Sign Up for an Employee Fitness Consultation: Tyler McCauley, our new Wellbeing Director of Fitness and Movement, met with many of us already for fitness consultations.  He is offering more timeslots this week!  Sign up here for your personalized 30-minute session.

Construction Updates:  

Tomorrow to Wednesday – HVAC Connections in Main Corridor  

Starting tomorrow morning, May 2nd, around 6:00am, the team will be installing temporary plastic walls in the main corridor from about the Coffee Room to the double doors by the core.  They will only be taking up half the width of the corridor.  The corridor will still be passable during this work.  We anticipate the work will last all of Tuesday and part of Wednesday.  The stairs to the second floor will need to be accessed past the double doors. 

This Week – Exterior Finishes in Courtyard between 1B and Kitchen 

This week the team will be doing some exterior finishes in the Courtyard between 1B and the Kitchen.  The courtyard will still be usable but there will be some scaffolding and workers in that area.   

Thank you for your patience and we do expect another update later this week on one more impact to the corridor for final HVAC connections.  Please reach out with any questions! 

 

Be Well,

Michael J. Smith                     Maley W. Hunt

President & CEO                    COO & Administrator

Update 4-21-2023

April 21, 2023

Dear Friends,  

*Tomorrow* Beam Raising and Taco Truck:  Tomorrow we will be having our Topping Out Celebration for the River Homes.  We invite you and your families to stop by!  We will have Spot on Taco in front of the Resilient Living Center from 11:30a to 2p, construction vehicles ready for children of ALL ages to ‘touch a truck’ and will be placing the signed beams up in the rafters of the River Homes at approximately 12p.  There is still time to sign the beam and a second beam has been added to fill up today!  Hoping to see many of you and your families there! 

All Staff Meetings Next Week:  We will be holding this quarter’s meetings next Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.  Schedules are posted and we hope you can all make it to one of the meetings.  Michael and I will share construction updates, answer questions about themes that came up in the 1:1 meetings, and share more about next steps to promote wellbeing, belonging, and resiliency within our LiveWell community.   

Healthier Me 2023: Congratulations to everyone that participated and worked toward healthier habits over the 8-week challenge.  An extra special thank you to our coaches: Becca, Corrin, Annie, Kristina, Diane, and Jenn!  The overall winners in weight loss were Terry B., Lena F., and Britt A.!  Congratulations ladies on your success!  I also want to celebrate winners from Week 6 through 8 who include: Grace S., Cassie C., Shannon K., Kaitlyn A., Sherri S., Alicia B., and Bob S.!  It always amazes me the sense of community this challenge brings and all the small and mighty habits we form to lead us into Spring and Summer.  For everyone who participated in the majority of the challenge, about 7 of the 8 weeks, there will be a prize coming in the near future! 

Employee Fitness Consultations: Tyler McCauley, our new Wellbeing Director of Fitness and Movement, met with many of us already for fitness consultations.  He will be selecting two more days to do these consultations and we will share a sign up when those days are locked in. 

 

Be Well,

Michael J. Smith                     Maley W. Hunt

President & CEO                    COO & Administrator

Update 4-10-2023

April 10, 2023

Dear Friends,

This is a special time of year that includes Passover, Easter, Eid al-Fitr, and Earth Day celebrations. It seems that spring is also fully upon us, perfectly timed with these celebrations to draw our attention to reflection, introspection, and growth.  As the trees begin to bud, their blossoms showcase a burst of color before leaves fill up the branches. This period signals newness and growth.  The trees survived the winter and are celebrating.

At LiveWell, we too emerge from winter, shedding masks that we have worn for three years, we too have much to celebrate.  The new buildings on our campus are blossoming!  This week is the one-year anniversary of when we began construction.  We are inviting all of you to pause, reflect, and celebrate this milestone occasion.  We are planning a topping out ceremony on Saturday, April 22nd.  This is a construction tradition that has been occurring in some fashion for centuries as a celebration of project milestones and occurs when the final structural beam is raised into place, completing a building’s frame.

For LiveWell, this celebration will begin this Wednesday, April 12th, when we plan to have roofing beams located in our lobby for you to sign, draw, and leave messages on. These beams will be in the lobby until Saturday, April 22nd, when we will have a ceremony raising them into place at the River Homes. 

On Saturday, April 22nd, we invite you to join us in celebrating this milestone and growth of our campus with a party for the whole family from 11:30am to 2pm!  We will raise the signed beams, have made to order tacos from Spot on Tacos food truck, and have construction vehicles to get up close and take pictures with.  If you cannot join us on April 22nd, please visit LiveWell between April 12th and 21st to add your name to the beams!

Thank you for the patience and cooperation you continue to offer during construction. Together we are creating a more vibrant future for LiveWell. We are building on the strengths of where we have come from, and a passion to support the wellbeing of people impacted by dementia in a community where they are seen and belong.

We look forward to celebrating this season of renewal together, and this important milestone of topping out the new River Homes.

Be Well,

Michael J. Smith                     Maley W. Hunt

President & CEO                    COO & Administrator

Update 4-7-2023

Maley’s Memo
April 7, 2023

Dear Friends,  

Employee Fitness Consultations: Tyler McCauley, our new Wellbeing Director of Fitness and Movement will be available starting next week to talk with you about your fitness goals!  He is eager to connect with as many of us as possible to help us build wellbeing by bringing fitness into our lives with individualized exercise programs.   

The consultations will be complimentary 30-minute sessions in the 2B living room.  You can sign up for your individual consultation HERE.  

Please select times that work well for your team and your schedule.  You may sign up while you are working or when you are off.  We want everyone to continue to explore different modalities to support our wellbeing and Tyler wants us all to be prepared to sweat a little bit too! 

Individual Team Member Meetings: Anne and I have met with most of you and truly enjoyed hearing your questions, excitements, and spending time one on one.  If you did not have a meeting with us and are still hopeful to do so, please reply to this email and we will find a personalized time.  We will use the feedback from the 1:1 meetings to inform the agenda for this quarter’s all staff meetings and for initial information sessions on working in the River Homes.  Please, reach out if you would still like to meet! 

All Staff Meetings Coming Soon:  We will be holding this quarter’s meetings the week of April 24th!  Schedules will be posted next week and we hope you can all make it to one of the meetings.  Michael and I will share construction updates, answer questions about themes that came up in the 1:1 meetings, and more.  If you have specific things you are hoping to hear, please let me know by next week. 

Next week I will give a Healthier Me Wrap Up and celebration list for everyone’s hard work! 

Be Well,

Michael J. Smith                     Maley W. Hunt

President & CEO                    COO & Administrator

 

Update 3-31-2023

Dear Friends,  

You were amazing this past week as we made our way through our first annual DPH survey since Spring 2020.  This was our first survey in a while for the veteran members of our team. It was also the first for new staff and staff that are newer to their administrative roles at LiveWell.  Thank you to all of you! 

We know how fantastic you are, but it was nice that many of the survey team also noticed how special you and LiveWell are.  We will not have the final results from this survey for a couple of weeks; however, we believe the results will reflect the level of excellence that we see every day.  DPH assesses quality based on the absence of negative findings or medication errors. We assess quality based on the impact you have on other people’s lives and how you make other people feel loved and important.  You are exceeding expectations on all measures!  Thank you. We hope that you are as proud of yourselves as we are of you.  We will have pizza today and are planning more ways to celebrate our successes together in the near future. 

This month not only marks the last time that DPH was here, but it is also the 3rd anniversary of when we proactively began to wear masks.  We appreciate our team’s early intervention of wearing masks, the support you have continually shown for receiving vaccinations and all other measures you have taken over the past three years to keep the people who live here, one another, and your families safe.  We have no doubt that all your efforts saved people’s lives. Over the past three years we have shared hard times, beautiful moments, hope, and grief. COVID is not gone, but we believe that it is time to shift away from the daily use of masks throughout the building. 

When community transmission is below 10%, and we are not in an active outbreak we no longer need to wear masks community wide. Starting today we will stop requiring masks community wide.   

We will post more information about when we will or will not wear masks in the lobby. For example, if you have a known exposure or symptoms that you have been approved to work with, you will still be asked to wear a mask. Visitors will also no longer be required to wear masks and will follow the same guidelines.  We will continue to keep masks at the entrances for staff or visitors should they choose to wear one. We encourage you to continue to practice great hand hygiene as we take this next step forward from the pandemic.  

 

Thank you for all your amazing work, we feel truly blessed to be a part of this team.

 

Be Well,

Michael J. Smith                     Maley W. Hunt

President & CEO                    COO & Administrator

Update 3-10-2023

Maley’s Memo
March 10, 2023

Dear Friends,  

Team Member Gratitude: Thank you to Maria Rogers for reaching out to share the following great will among co-workers!  Laura Lavin and Sherri Scanlon, with one of our residents, made cupcakes for the 1B staff to support all the extra work that it takes to help residents with COVID.  What a beautiful example of coming together and sharing the compassion of our team! 

If you have other goodwill gratitude that you would like me to share in the weekly memos, please reply or reach out. 

Individual Team Member Meetings, Please Sign Up: Anne and I have met individually with over 100 of your fellow team members.  These individual meetings are 15-minutes long and we ask you to consider the following questions in advance of the meeting:  

1. What opportunities are you most excited about or hopeful for? 

1. What opportunities do you want to learn more about? 

1. What questions do you have as our campus is redesigned? 

Use this Sign-Up Genius to select your slot, if you need help, please connect with Donna at the front desk and she will help you sign up.  It is our hope to meet with EVERY employee, if you have not met with us yet, please sign up or reach out for an alternate time!  

Healthier Me Challenge, Week 3 & 4 Winners: Great work to everyone participating in the Challenge this year!  The Week 3 weight loss winners were Austin Rogers losing 1.88% and Jean Marquis losing 1.66%.  Teresa Lohr won the Week 3 Portion Size/Healthy Meal Challenge.  The Week 4 weight loss winners were Lena Ferland losing 1.89% and Cassie Cote losing 1.14%.  Shaquena Brown won the Get Outside and Move Challenge.   

Week 5 is all about keeping up those steps and exploring the power of positive, intentional thoughts. 

One of our nurses, Becca, is putting together a walking group! They will meet first on Wednesday, March 22nd at 3:30pm at the Southington bike trail parking near Zingarellas restaurant in Plantsville. 

St. Patrick’s Day Corned Beef Allowance: I am passing on a message from the wonderful, Diane Decker.  So many of you are thoughtful of resident preferences and observations of holidays, etc.  To this end, Diane did research regarding meat on Friday during lent for residents and the Archbishops are making an accommodation for Friday, March 17th, you can read more about it here.  We wanted to pass on this information to all of you as we are also sharing this with families.

 

Be Well,

Maley W. Hunt

COO & Administrator 

 

Update 3-3-2023

McCarty’s Memo
March 3, 2023

Supporting our Community: Our local Southington YMCA has been a great partner over this year offering classroom space until we have our own in a few months right on our campus. To give back to them and local families, LiveWell participated in their Annual Sloper Plunge which supports camp scholarships. Corrin Campbell, Katie Luce, Jennifer Terray, Anya Bounds, Bob Kassery, Annie Graikoski and Katie’s friend Jacob all took the chilly plunge on a very snowy Saturday last weekend. Team LiveWell raised $1,805 and appreciates everyone who donated. Keep an eye on the digital board for pictures from this fun event.

Retreats Postponed: We are disappointed to share that we will need to postpone the beginning of our retreats that were originally scheduled to start next week on March 7, 8 and 9. We will be adding additional dates in April and your scheduling coordinator or supervisor will reach out to reschedule you or schedule you for a date if you have not yet been confirmed.

Healthier Me Challenge: We had another great week as we all try to pay attention to our health. Last week’s challenges included getting 10,000 steps at least 2 days, focusing on positive affirmations such as There is a benefit and an opportunity in every experience I have, in addition to the weight loss challenge. Week two winners are Jean Marquis losing 2.16% of her weight and Terry Bingham who lost 2.05%. Rob Walsh won our raffle for getting his steps and focus on positive affirmations. 

COVID update: 1B currently has six positive COVID cases. 1B staff should COVID test weekly and/or if you feel unwell until further notice. All other staff are not required to test at this time; however, if you have been exposed outside of work and/or are experiencing ANY symptoms, please connect with Chelsey Emmons for testing instructions. The testing area will remain available each day for you to use if you need to test.

All employees (and visitors) are required to sign in with Accushield every day. This is how we will know who should/should not be testing. It also serves to help us with contact tracing based on when symptoms/exposures start, etc. If you have challenges signing in, please let us know and if you would like to use the faster ‘app’ version, Donna can help add your phone number to that list.

Be well, 

Anne McCarty

 

Update 2-22-2023

McCarty’s Memo
February 22, 2023

I am happy for the opportunity to write to you while Maley is away for a few weeks and keep you up to date on what’s happening at LiveWell. 

Black History Month and Upcoming Retreats: February is the month we recognize Black History in our country. As we consider the importance of this month, we can reflect on the words of Malcolm X “We need more light about each other.  Light creates understanding, understanding creates love, love creates patience, and patience creates unity.” 

These are important words to our LiveWell community as we strive to all feel seen, valued, and heard. Beginning in March, Shazia Chaudhry, Director of Community Inclusion and Belonging, will be facilitating day long retreats reflecting on what it means to work and live in a culture that focuses on diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. Your supervisor or scheduler will contact you to schedule you for this day long experience. We are excited to begin this journey together.    

Healthier Me Challenge: We are off to a great start with our 2023 Healthier Me Challenge. Over 70 staff and families have signed up and are focused on areas of movement, weight loss and overall wellness. Each week we will recognize the winner and runner up of the weight loss challenge and give a raffle prize by random drawing who met the steps/wellness challenges. Week one winners are Terry Bingham losing 5.46% of her weight and Alicia Brockett who lost 2.97%. Donna DeFazio won our raffle for getting her steps and drinking her daily dose of water.  Great start everyone! 

Individual Staff Meetings: Maley and Anne have met with over 60% of the team and are really enjoying hearing what staff are excited about as our campus goes through so many changes. If you have not had a chance to sign up yet, please know that we will have more dates available beginning in mid-March.  We look forward to connecting with each of you. 

COVID Update: 1B currently has one positive COVID case. 1B staff should COVID test weekly and/or if you feel unwell until further notice. All other staff are not required to test at this time; however, if you have been exposed outside of work and/or are experiencing ANY symptoms, please connect with Chelsey Emmons for testing instructions. The testing area will remain available each day for you to use if you need to test.  

All employees (and visitors) are required to sign in with Accushield every day. This is how we will know who should/should not be testing. It also serves to help us with contact tracing based on when symptoms/exposures start, etc. If you have challenges signing in, please let us know and if you would like to use the faster ‘app’ version, Donna can help add your phone number to that list. 

Be well, 

Anne McCarty

Update 2-9-2023

Maley’s Memo
February 9, 2023

Join LiveWell’s Sloper Plunge Team: Each year the YMCA hosts a Sloper Plunge to raise money to give scholarships to local children for summer camp.  To show our gratitude for the amazing YMCA partnerships we forged over the last year we wanted to join in on this amazing event!  The event is on February 25th with Check-in at 12pm and Opening Ceremonies at 12:45pm.  We are looking for people to jump and for people to cheer on the jumpers!  Learn more about the Sloper Plunge, donate, or join our team, by clicking HERE. Please reach out to Corrin with any questions or to learn more.  (Note that the water is only about 4 feet deep so needing to swim is not required.)  While I will be away for the Sloper Plunge, I may be completing my own version later this month in Antarctica…photographic proof to come next month! 

Healthier Me Challenge, Week 1: We have had over 70 people join the challenge this year, wow!  There is still time to join the challenge, with paperwork in the lobby.  This week’s challenges include Weight Loss, Hydration, and Steps.  To learn more, check out the Employee Portal, Passcode: staff1261  

Valentine’s Treats Next Week: Next Tuesday is Valentine’s Day, to show our appreciation a healthy treat will be prepared by our kitchen team for all shifts. We will also have special boxes on the neighborhoods and in staff lounges with supplies to make a special note to share your love with a coworker, resident, family member, to bring home to your loved ones, or to yourself.  

(Second Round Coming Soon) Individual Team Member Meetings: Anne and I have met individually with over 60% of the LiveWell team and have had a lot of fun learning more about each person.  We will be sending out more dates and times in March to make sure we have the opportunity to speak with every team member.  

2023 Relias Education Available: The 2023 education is now available in Relias.  Please begin to complete your modules as you have time. 

 

Be well, 

Maley W. Hunt 

COO & Administrator 

Update 1-30-2023

January 30, 2023 

Dear Friends, 

Collecting Family, Staff, and Resident Feedback:  As we continue our path of physical redesign on LiveWell’s Campus, we are also working to enhance our website and messaging.  As someone who is already a member of the LiveWell Community, we want to hear from you!   This week we are actively collecting information from people who live, work, and visit LiveWell on the following topics: 

1. In one or two words, how would you describe what living at LiveWell is like?  
2. Do you have a short story or brief example of how LiveWell has helped you or your family/friend living with dementia make the most of their everyday experience? 
3. What do you think is the most important thing a community focused on empowering people living with dementia should provide residents and families? 

If you have responses to any of these prompts, we are asking that you reply to this email with your answers.  All of the answers will be synthesized and used as a way to inform messaging for our website, future outreach, and informational materials.  We believe that you have the best insights on what makes LiveWell unique and what keeps you connected to this community. 

If you have any questions about this request for feedback, please reach out to me or to Corrin Campbell.  You may also see Corrin out and about on the neighborhoods asking residents these same questions. 

Individual Team Member Meetings, Please Sign Up: Anne and I have met individually with approximately 50 staff.  We want to meet with every staff member so please sign up for a time to meet.  These individual meetings are 15-minutes long, and we ask you to consider the following questions in advance of the meeting:  

1. What opportunities are you most excited about or hopeful for? 
2. What opportunities do you want to learn more about? 
3. What questions do you have as our campus is redesigned? 

Use this Sign-Up Genius to select your slot, if you need help, please connect with Donna at the front desk and she will help you sign up.  

2023 Relias Education Available:  The 2023 education is now available in Relias.  Please begin to complete your modules as you have time. 

Healthier Me Challenge, Sign-up Sheet Available in Lobby:  It is that time of year, the Annual Healthier Me Challenge!  This year, there will be three challenges that include weight loss, steps, and overall wellness. The challenges will run for eight consecutive weeks starting Wednesday, February 8th and ending Wednesday, April 5th. You can choose to participate in as many of the challenges you would like.  

Each week there will be two winners. They will be posted at the front check-in table. Please visit the staff portal each week under the Healthier Me button for information, links, and resources. If you would like a printed copy, please ask Donna. Everyone who participates in at least 7 of the 8 weeks will receive the newest LiveWell gear when the challenge is completed.  

To sign up, please get a packet from the front lobby and return it to the front desk by Friday, February 3rd. 

HAVE FUN! EAT HEALTHY! MOVE MORE!  

Maley W. Hunt 

COO & Administrator

Update 1-19-2023

Maley’s Memo
January 19, 2023

Dear Friends, 

Individual Team Member Meetings, Please Sign Up: At our quarterly all staff meetings earlier this month Michael and I mentioned conducting 15-minute meetings with all LiveWell employees.  We are ready to start those meetings next week!  These sessions will be primarily with Anne and me, they will be 15-minutes long, and we ask you to consider the following questions in advance of the meeting:

1. What opportunities are you most excited about or hopeful for?
2. What opportunities do you want to learn more about?
3. What questions do you have as our campus is redesigned?

This will be the first of two waves of meetings.  These slots range from January 25th to February 10th, please be proactive in scheduling your meeting as we are hopeful to meet with all staff before the end of March!

Use this Sign-Up Genius to select your slot, if you need help, please connect with Donna at the front desk and she will help you sign up. 

Parking and Entrances on Campus: Thank you all for your continued patience and adaptation as we have so much construction happening around campus.  We continue to remind our construction partners not to park in our gravel lot in the back or our paved lot in the front.  If you see people parking there, please feel free to share this with Bob K. or me.  If you park in the gravel lot, please start to park at either end of the lot (not randomly in the middle) and try to park as close as you can to the person next to you.  This will help us fit as many cars as possible!

Please remember that all employees should be entering and exiting LiveWell through the Main Lobby or the courtyard between 1B and the Kitchen.  This includes to start and finish your shift, and for breaks.  Other doors are only for access for trash removal, deliveries, etc.  Please reach out to me if you have any questions about this.

COVID Updates, Masks, Testing, and Accushield:  We are in the process of reviewing and adjusting our COVID procedures based on DPH and CDC guidance.  At this time, we want to share that if you are in a non-resident area you are not required to wear a mask. This includes offices, meetings without residents, break rooms, and back of house areas.  If you are walking in hallways, on neighborhoods, or with residents you should still be wearing a mask (KN95 on neighborhoods and surgical in other areas, as we are currently).  We will continue to track community transmission rates and if they decrease, we will review our mask policy for other areas.

At this point we will also not be requiring weekly staff testing.  If you have been exposed outside of work and/or are experiencing ANY symptoms, please connect with Chelsey Emmons for testing instructions.  We will have the testing area available each day for you to use if you are needing to test.  If we re-enter a new outbreak period, we will advise on the testing requirements at that time.

All employees (and visitors) are required to sign in with Accushield every day.  This is how we will know who should/should not be testing.  It also serves to help us with contact tracing based on when symptoms/exposures start, etc.  If you have challenges signing in, please let us know and if you would like to use the faster ‘app’ version, Donna can help add your phone number to that list.

 

Be well,

Maley W. Hunt
COO & Administrator

Update 1-9-2023

Staff Update
January 9, 2023

Dear Friends,

Wellbeing Core of Discovery Information Session Tomorrow 

We are excited to invite you to join the information session with LiveWell and The Wellbeing Lab tomorrow, Tuesday, January 10th, from 3:30p to 4:30p on Zoom.  We encourage you to attend if you would like to participate in the Wellbeing Core of Discovery and to participate even if you are curious, wanting to learn more.  An informational sheet and how to express interest in joining the group is included below.  The deadline for expressing interest in the group is this Thursday, January 12th.    

Click here to join the Wellbeing Information Session, 1/10/23, 3:30p EST 

LiveWell COVID Update, January 9, 2023 

Connecticut Positivity Rate: 15.66%, Trending down, still very high 

Testing and Results:  Today we tested all residents on the 1B neighborhood using rapid antigen tests and all test results were negative.  We will test all the 1B residents again on Wednesday.  

Resident Cases: The 1B resident who was positive for COVID was transferred to the hospital and is working on their recovery there.  Please extend your wishes of recovery for this individual.  There are currently no active COVID cases at LiveWell.   

Visitor Guidelines:  Visiting the 1B community is considered high risk as there was COVID exposure on that neighborhood.  Visits for 1B residents must happen on the neighborhood and in the resident’s room.  If you would like an N95 for your visit, one can be provided.  All staff on 1B will be wearing KN95 masks. 

We look forward to seeing many of you tomorrow afternoon on the Wellbeing Information Session.  Please reach out with any questions!    

Be well,

Michael J. Smith
President and CEO

Maley W. Hunt
COO & Administrator

Update 1-7-2023

Staff Update
January 7, 2023

Dear Friends,

LiveWell COVID Update, January 7, 2023

Connecticut Positivity Rate: 17.36%, Trending up

Testing and Results: Today we had a resident on 1B who developed symptoms and tested positive for COVID. We tested all other residents on the 1B neighborhood using rapid antigen tests and all test results were negative. We will test all the 1B residents again on Monday.

Resident Cases: There is currently one resident on 1B positive for COVID.

Visitor Guidelines: Visiting the 1B community is considered high risk as there is one active COVID case on that neighborhood. Visits for 1B residents must happen on the neighborhood and in the resident’s room. If you would like an N95 for your visit, one can be provided. All staff on 1B will be wearing KN95 masks.

All visitors will continue to wear KN95 masks and we encourage you to rapid test before your visit, even if you are up to date on all COVID vaccinations. It is easy to transmit this virus while you are still asymptomatic, and community transmission is high and increasing.

 

Be well,

Michael J. Smith
President and CEO

Maley W. Hunt
COO & Administrator

Update 12-24-2022

Staff Update
December 24, 2022

Dear Friends,

LiveWell COVID Update, December 24, 2022

Connecticut Positivity Rate: 13.05%

Testing and Results: Today we had one resident on the 2A neighborhood test positive for COVID on a rapid antigen test. They are isolating, on increased precautions, and will receive treatment at LiveWell from our clinical team.

Following this positive case, we then tested all residents on 2A and there were no other positive cases. We will continue to perform surveillance testing on this neighborhood and will keep you updated with the results. Our staff continue to test weekly, as they have all fall.

Resident Cases: There is currently one resident on 2A positive for COVID.

Visitor Guidelines: Visiting the 2A community is now considered high risk as there is now active COVID on that neighborhood. Visits for 2A residents must happen on the neighborhood and in the resident’s room. If you would like an N95 for your visit, one can be provided.

All visitors will continue to wear KN95 masks and we encourage you to rapid test before your visit, even if you are up to date on all COVID vaccinations. It is easy to transmit this virus while you are still asymptomatic, and community transmission is high and increasing.

We know this is unwelcome news the day before Christmas. Thankfully, over 90% of all residents have the bivalent COVID booster. As we have in the past, we will do everything we can to halt its spread and minimize the disruption to our community.

We are hopeful that this season will shine its light and spread its peace.
Be well,

Michael J. Smith
President and CEO

Maley W. Hunt
COO & Administrator

Update 12-23-2022

Maley’s Memo
December 23, 2022

Dear Friends,

December Celebrations: What a wonderful Month of Celebration we have had. There are still a few treats to be had, including staff meals on both December 25th and January 1st. We will also be doing raffles on all shifts for people working December 25th!

The last round of our $75 Spa Finder Gift Card winners are Violet Krawczyk, Grace Czernecka, and Brenda Barrett! Congratulations to all our winners this month!

All Staff Meetings 1st Week of January: Michael and I will be holding staff meetings for all staff on January 3rd, 4th, and 5th. The schedule is listed below. Please attend one of the sessions to get the most up-to-date information on construction, the launch of a Wellbeing Core of Discovery, and more news for Winter 2023 at LiveWell.

Kitchen Appreciation and Gratitude: Please join me in giving an extra shout out to our Kitchen Team! Not only have they been making special preparations for people who live here, they have been feeding and treating us all month long! Thank you for all you do and the ways you nourish our community. Your care and talents shine all year long and were especially apparent this month!

Holiday Basket Raffle: The basket raffle raised over $1,500 for the Friendship Club! A huge thank you to everyone who helped create the baskets and purchase tickets. We had several staff winners including Austin Rogers, Kate Keefe, and Michael Smith.

Education Fair Follow Up: Gratitude for everyone who fulfilled their education requirements through participation in the live Learning Fair last week! If you are one of the few employees who was unable to attend, you have been assigned the learning module in your Relias account. You must complete the brief module which includes your annual 2022 Code of Conduct signature before 12/31/22. Need help? Contact Jenna Weiss or Jacky Clark and they will assist you!

Be well,

Maley W. Hunt
COO & Administrator

Update 12-22-2022

Staff Update
December 22, 2022

Dear Friends,
Looking out the window of any space on LiveWell’s campus, you see piles of earth, construction vehicles, and future buildings as a physical representation of the ideas that started within this community years ago. These ideas were generated when staff, family, and residents gathered in conversation to consider how to support wellbeing in new ways. Since those collaborative gatherings, we have accomplished many amazing milestones. We have persevered through hardship and struggle to re-emerge together stronger and ready to embrace new spaces and practices that support the belonging and wellbeing of everyone who lives, works, and visits at LiveWell.

Central to our growth, is the belief that people living with dementia matter and are deserving of opportunities to live well that others may not see. Together, consciously and sub-consciously, we have been creating a positive community; a place where we feel we belong. A place where we can feel seen, heard, and valued, and can contribute to our own and our collective wellbeing. This important work is never done.

In 2023, everyone will be invited to continue to shape and improve our community. Together, we will learn from each other and external thought leaders and take steps to build a more inclusive and belonging community that supports the ability of everyone to live well.

To begin this effort, we are seeking a working group of about 20 people to join a ‘Wellbeing Core of Discovery’. The Wellbeing Core of Discovery will include people living with dementia, staff, and family members from our LiveWell community and will be joined by leaders from the Wellbeing Lab. They will gather to explore wellbeing on a personal level, a group or team level, and a community level. This Core will then design learning experiences/retreats and tools together for all people at LiveWell to actively improve their own and our collective wellbeing. Ultimately all members of our LiveWell community will be invited to participate in the experiences/retreats that this Core will design.

To learn more or to join the Wellbeing Core of Discovery, please attend one of our next quarterly meetings, and/or participate in an informational session on Tuesday, January 10th via Zoom from 3:30pm to 4:30pm. Quarterly meetings with staff and families will be:
Staff Meetings: January 3rd, 4th, 5th in the Board Room. Times throughout the day.
Family Meetings: January 3rd at 5:30pm & January 5th at 12:30pm via Zoom; invitations will follow.

If you are interested in joining the Wellbeing Core of Discovery, please join one of the above sessions or email Jenn Terray. The Core will be formed by January 13th and will meet for the first time on January 17th. In general, the commitment is on Tuesday afternoons from February through April.

We look forward to gathering with you in the New Year. Please reach out with any questions in the interim. May you open to both giving and receiving love at this special time of the year.

Be well,

Michael J. Smith
President and CEO

Update 12-14-2022

Maley’s Memo
December 14, 2022

Dear Friends, 

Lots of updates this week!  Please let me know how communication is going, what we can improve, and what is going well.  More exciting things about our month of celebration below! 

A Month of Celebration: Over the next weeks there will be several different celebrations to highlight! 

• Festive Scrubs and Holiday Sweaters: This Friday, December 16th, we invite everyone to wear fun festive scrubs, sweaters, socks, etc.  Looking forward to seeing everyone’s outfits! 
• Chair Massage Sign Ups: Please reach out to Donna to book your 10-minute Chair Massage on 12/16 or 12/20. Slots are filling up, but there are still times available on both days! 

• Staff Meals:  This Wednesday the special meal is Sesame Chicken.  Next week, 12/21, the meal is Eggplant Parmesan!  A huge thank you to the kitchen for all they are doing to make our celebrations possible. (Who agrees Chef Brian’s Hot Cocoa was the best ever yesterday?!) 
• Spa Finder Winners: This week’s $75 gift card winners are Donna DeFazio, Lelieth Mangal, and Julie Pazareskis!  We will draw three more next week! 

Food Donations: Diane is helping us collect food for Southington Community Services.  They are most hopeful to collect pasta sauce, baking items, juice, canned fruit, and children’s snacks.  The box will be out in the lobby for the next few weeks.  

Holiday Basket Raffle:  Thank you to everyone who helped create the AMAZING baskets in our lobby.  The baskets will be up until 12/20 and you are able to purchase raffle tickets with cash or check from Donna or Jay until mid-day on the 20th.  Tickets are 1 for $2; 3 for $5; 7 for $10; and 15 for $20.  I am excited for you to see what our creative teams put together. If you work overnight, please email Donna at ddefazio@livewell.org to request tickets.  

Education Fair: The Education Fair is happening today and tomorrow in the first-floor core.  Please stop in to learn, snack, and be entered into a daily gift card raffle!  For those who cannot attend there will be self-learning on Relias.  The Fair/Education is required.   

 

If you have any questions about the education fair, holiday basket raffles, or this month’s celebrations, please email me back! 

Be well, 

Maley W. Hunt 

COO & Administrator 

Update 12-7-2022

Maley’s Memo
December 7, 2022

Dear Friends,

A Month of Celebration: Over the next week there will be several different celebrations to highlight! 

• Cookies: We will have more delicious cookies on December 9th, and 10th, thank you to the kitchen team for baking us these festive treats! 
• Staff Meals:  This Wednesday the special meal is Cranberry Chicken.  Next week, 12/14, the meal is Sesame Chicken! 
• Spa Finder Winners: This week’s $75 gift card winners are Erika Walsh, Lucy Grenier, and Genesis Segura!  We will draw three more next week! 
• Hot Cocoa Day: December 13th is National Hot Cocoa Day and we will have a Hot Cocoa Bar throughout the day to celebrate! 

• Chair Massage Sign Ups: Please reach out to Donna to book your 10-minute Chair Massage on 12/16 or 12/20, there are times for all three shifts! 

Food Donations: Diane is helping us collect food for Southington Community Services.  They are most hopeful to collect pasta sauce, baking items, juice, canned fruit, and children’s snacks.  The box will be out in the lobby for the next few weeks. 

Holiday Basket Raffle: On Friday afternoon, 12/9, we will be putting out this year’s holiday basket raffle!  The proceeds from this year’s raffle will benefit The Friendship Club.  The baskets will be up until 12/20 and you are able to purchase raffle tickets with cash or check from Donna or Jay between the afternoon of the 9th and mid-day on the 20th.  Tickets will be 1 for $2; 3 for $5; 7 for $10; and 15 for $20.  I am excited for you to see what various teams are putting together. If you work overnight, please email Donna at ddefazio@livewell.org to request tickets.  

Benefits Renewal: As you know, all benefit eligible staff have completed open enrollment. Our new dental plan is now in effect with UnitedHealthcare. Please update your dentist the next time you have an appointment. The HealthJoy app is your one stop for benefits information and support.  You can access all your plan information in the benefits wallet and ALL staff have access to mental health support through our HealthJoy Employee Assistance Program and the Telemedicine Behavioral Health. Please see Anne or Jacky in HR for any questions or support you need. 

Education Fair: The Education Fair will be held the week of December 12th.  Please download the Relias App on your phone if you are able, or we will have iPads available at the fair.  See the flyer at the end of this email for more details. 

If you have any questions about benefits, the education fair, or this month’s celebrations, please email me back! 

Be well, 

Maley W. Hunt 

COO & Administrator 

Update 12-1-2022

Maley’s Memo
December 1, 2022

Dear Friends,

Welcome to December!  Who can believe winter is almost here and 2022 will be coming to a close?  To recognize all of your amazing work throughout the whole year we wanted to celebrate our amazing LiveWell team all month long!  Below I will include the guide for the whole month, it is also posted around the building.  Each Monday we will be doing a raffle for Spa Finder Gift Cards to help you relax and take care of YOU this busy season with little light and colder days.  Every Wednesday there will be a full meal and each week we will have different food and wellbeing surprises! 

A Month of Celebration: Next week is cookie week!  We will have cookies on December 4th, 5th, 9th, and 10th.  On Wednesday the special meal will be Cranberry Chicken.  All staff will be entered in the Monday raffle and winners will be announced in next week’s memo! 

Education Fair: The Education Fair will be held the week of December 12th.  Please download the Relias App on your phone if you are able, or we will have iPads available at the fair.  More information to come next week. 

New Benefits Year: December marks the start of a new benefits year and with that there are Rally Gift Cards to earn!  You can earn up to $200 per year if you are enrolled in the LiveWell health plan.  You can do this through physical activity check ins, virtual appointments, health surveys, and more!  Additionally, in January the match for Motion dollars for staff enrolled in either of the HSA plans will be $1 for $1, so get a fitness tracker and get ready to be able to earn up to $6 per day for your Health Savings Account by participating in the motion program throughout the next year. 

If you have any questions about benefits, the education fair, or this month’s celebrations, please email me back! 

Be well, 

Maley W. Hunt 

COO & Administrator 

Update 11-22-2022

Maley’s Memo
November 22, 2022

Dear Friends, 

In celebration and recognition of the holiday this week, below are a few updates. Thank you for all of your contributions to make LiveWell such a phenomenal place to work. I know I will be sharing my gratitude for you.

Thanksgiving Pies:  It’s time for us to give thanks for all of you!  We will be passing out pies today (Tuesday), Wednesday morning starting at 7am, and Wednesday afternoon.  If you are not working today/tomorrow, please swing by and get your pie.  The toughest part is deciding between Apple or Pumpkin!

Thanksgiving Meal:  Thank you in advance to everyone who is working the holiday this year.  As a thank you, we will have a staff meal on Thursday for everyone, a small token of our appreciation for those of you spending time here and away from your families.

Dress Down/Fun Scrubs:  I invite everyone to wear jeans on Wednesday and Friday, as long as they are work appropriate and you are able to perform the functions of your job. I also invite those working on Thanksgiving to wear fun scrubs to celebrate that day!

Be well, 

Maley W. Hunt 

COO & Administrator 

Update 11-19-2022

Maley’s Memo
November 19, 2022

Dear Friends,

Thank you to everyone who came out Thursday night to celebrate LiveWell’s 30th Anniversary!  We were able to recognize many of you that were there and shared applause and appreciation for those not able to attend.  Perhaps the most amazing part was that we honored four colleagues with 30 years of service at LiveWell: Kim Blazek, Diane Decker, Lisa Naples, and Margaret Shover.  Please join me in wishing these tremendous women and all who were recognized congratulations on their impressive tenure at LiveWell!
 
I also want to extend an extra special thank you to all who worked at LiveWell Thursday night.  By nature of our 24/7/365 commitments we are not often able to all gather together at the same time.  The people who worked last night made it possible for others to attend, thank you!
 
As part of the evening, I created a tribute to our team and wanted to share it all with you.  It is a nod to pop culture of the early 1990s.  This goes to the rhythm of the infamous DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince’s, “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.”
 
Now this is the story all about how,
SNF Care got flipped-turned upside down,
And I’d like to take a minute, just sit right there,
I’ll tell you how a place called LiveWell got to its thirtieth year.
 
In Plantsville, Connecticut, farm land here,
Started with a vision sans hallways, and plants in the sphere.
Engagin’, carin’, cookin all cool,
And all the smart therapists, wishin’ for a pool.
 
When the Govenor’s task force, up to some good,
Stared buildin’ LiveWell in this neighborhood.
Kim got hired, Diane, Lisa, and Margaret too.
They said, “We’re ready for residents, get them in soon!”
 
Fast forward a few years, and Michael came here,
The suit said “prep,” his nametag CE-Oh, and vests everywhere.
If anything I could say this CEO was rare,
But I thought, “Nah forget it, let’s get Doreen doing some hair!”
 
With Carl standing by the med cart EV-ER-Y night,
and Jenn T ensuring residents were treated right.
The teams were free to design and co-create,
They started drafting up those Good Gardening values, with haste.
 
Next RLPS pulled up to twelve-sixty-one,
All we yelled, “Time to design, the next horizon!”
After thirty bright years, we are still right here,
Transforming the lives of those we serve every year.
 
Finally, in the vein of extending thanks and gratitude I wanted to remind everyone that with Thanksgiving next week comes… PIE!  We will be distributing pies to all team members starting Tuesday afternoon and extending through Wednesday.  Be sure to grab your choice of Apple or Pumpkin to share with friends and family this holiday.

Be well, 

Maley W. Hunt 

COO & Administrator 

Update 10-31-2022

October 31, 2022

Dear Friends,

Access Your Paycheck on UKG:  This week we made the official switch from Paychex to UKG for payroll.  Anne created a great flyer on how to access the UKG app to review your paycheck.  The flyer includes step by step instructions and will be emailed to all users and will be posted by all time clocks and Accushield.  You may access UKG on your computer by clicking the link here or by the mobile app.  If you have any questions on how to review your paycheck please contact Anne McCarty or Jacky Clark.

LiveWell’s 30^th Anniversary and Employee Anniversary Dinner: All of you should have received an ‘evite’ to the party on November 17^th at Farmington Gardens.  Please RSVP by November 7^th   to the evite or to Donna DeFazio.  If you have any questions regarding the party, please reach out to me, Anne McCarty, or Chelsea Block.

Flu Shots Mandatory and Now Available: If you have not gotten your Flu Shot yet this year, please see Chelsey while you are working to get your flu shot. If you choose to receive the flu shot outside of LiveWell, please bring Chelsey the documentation of your vaccination.  We ask that all staff receive their flu shot by December 1, 2022. 

Be well,

Maley W. Hunt

COO & Administrator

Update 10-17-2022

October 17, 2022 

Dear Friends, 

Accushield and Staff Testing: Thank you to everyone who is diligently using Accushield and doing a weekly COVID test!  As a reminder, all employees are still required to sign-in using Accushield even though we are no longer taking temperatures.  Additionally, as community transmission rates continue to be high, we are still required to have all staff (who have not had COVID in the last 30-days) test once per week for COVID.  If you have any questions about our processes, please reach out. 

Flu Shots Mandatory and Now Available: It is that time of year again, and Chelsey Emmons has secured flu shots for all staff and residents.  Flu shots are mandatory for all staff, as in prior years, unless you have a religious or medical exemption.  In lieu of doing a traditional flu clinic we want to make it most convenient for all of you.  Please see Chelsey while you are working to get your flu shot; she will also be making rounds with the cart. If you choose to receive the flu shot outside of LiveWell, please bring Chelsey the documentation of your vaccination.  We ask that all staff receive their flu shot by December 1, 2022.   

LiveWell’s 30th Anniversary and Employee Anniversary Dinner: We are THRILLED to invite all of you to a PARTY at Farmington Gardens on November 17th!  We sent you an email invitation through “Evite” today with the details of the party.  We will be celebrating LiveWell’s 30th Anniversary and employees with milestone anniversaries.  We will honor employees celebrating 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and for the first-time, 30 years of service at LiveWell.  We hope that you will join us on this joyous night and ask that you either RSVP to the evite or to Donna DeFazio by November 7th. 

Benefits Open Enrollment: Our annual open enrollment for benefits begins today! Meetings are scheduled throughout the week (see times at lobby check-in) and all the information you need to enroll is on the www.employeenavigator.com website. There are a few new enhancements to benefits including a new dental plan with UnitedHealthcare that includes a buy up option that offering additional coverage including orthodontia. Enrollment deadline is October 31, 2022. Please see Anne or Jacky for questions.  

 

Be well, 

Maley W. Hunt 

COO & Administrator 

Update 9-27-2022

Maley’s Memo
September 27, 2022

Dear Friends,
This week Michael and I are holding this quarter’s staff meetings. Communicating to you through these memos, the staff portal, or in person meetings is to ensure you have all the information you need to be successful each day. We look forward to seeing you at one of the meetings on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday this week and are available outside of those meetings should you have more questions.

‘Hero Pay’ Deadline is October 1st: As a LiveWell employee, you are considered an Essential Worker in Connecticut. If you worked here, or at another healthcare facility, from March 10, 2020 through May 7, 2022 you are eligible to apply for money from the State of Connecticut. Under this program you could receive up to $1,000. Please take advantage of this! In order to file you will need to create an account HERE and fill out the forms for, “Essential Worker Premium Pay.” For your reference, we are class “1a essential workers”. To fill out the form you will need your social security number and another document to prove your employment status (ie. social security card, W2, etc.). If you have questions while filling out this paperwork, please reach out to me, Jacky Clark, Chelsea Block, or Anne McCarty. The deadline is October 1, 2022. We will have an extra laptop in the lobby this week for you to complete this paperwork!

Wednesday Lunch Locations: With the Stolba Area now under construction the two designated staff break areas are the Coffee Room and the 1st Floor Break Room. Each Wednesday we will put salads/soups in those two locations for people to access.

Apple Harvest Festival Road Races and Booth: LiveWell is a Gold Sponsor of Southington’s Apple Harvest Festival activities, including the Road Races! We would love for you to join our ‘LiveWell Team’ and participate in one of the Road Races (walking or running) on Sunday, morning, October 2nd. While there is a cost to register for the races, LiveWell will provide anyone who signs up with a special long sleeve tee shirt, please come to the front office with your race registration to collect your shirt! Visit the Apple Harvest Website HERE to sign up. I will be running the 5k (3.1 miles) if you want to join me in that race! Also, come check out the LiveWell Booth which will be on the Town Green, across from the Congregational Church and infamous Apple Fritter stand. See you there!

Be well,

Maley W. Hunt
COO & Administrator

Update 9-14-2022

Maley’s Memo
September 14, 2022

Dear Friends,

Stolba Area Construction Update: Starting on Monday, September 19^th, we will be turning over the second floor Stolba Center area to the construction company.  Over the last week we worked closely with several team members who are relocating their offices.  A HUGE thank you to all of them for their flexibility and to the Maintenance Team for helping move everyone!  This will impact employee break space.  Starting on Monday, September 19^th, all employees will be asked to take their break in the first-floor break room.  We will also reserve the Coffee Room on the first floor from 10:30a to 12:30p each day for breaks. 

COVID Testing and Bivalent Boosters: With the recent authorization of the new bivalent vaccine, which targets the original COVID strain and Omicron BA.4 and BA.5, the definition of what it means to be ‘Up-to-Date’ is once again evolving. To be ‘Up-to-Date’ you must have had a booster in the last 2-months or received the new bivalent booster. This means that most of our team is due for the new bivalent covid booster or will have to begin testing two times each week, your first shift of the week and in the middle of your week.  Starting next week, staff who are not up-to-date with their COVID booster will need to begin testing twice per week. If you have a question on the new booster, please connect with Chelsey Emmons.

Apple Harvest Festival Road Races: LiveWell is a Gold Sponsor of Southington’s Apple Harvest Festival including the Road Races!  We are inviting you to join our ‘LiveWell Team’ to participate in the Road Races on Sunday, October 2nd.  While there is a cost to register for the races, LiveWell will provide anyone who signs up with a special long sleeve tee shirt, in addition to the race shirt you will receive by registering!  Visit the Apple Harvest Website HERE to sign up.  I will be running the 5k if you want to join me in that race!

Be well, 

Maley W. Hunt 

COO & Administrator 

Update 9-6-2022

Maley’s Memo
September 6, 2022

Dear Friends,

Happy September All!  School is back in session, football starts this weekend (Fantasy, anyone!?), and construction is all around us!  I hope you all found time to enjoy the summer, getting those last beach days in before fall. 

Staff Town Hall Meetings: It is an exceptionally busy season at LiveWell. With all that is happening on campus we want to ensure that each of you feels well informed, prepared, and supported through all changes.  In addition to memos and emails we want to get some in-person time with you all later this month!  Michael and I will be hosting Staff Meetings the week of September 26^th and we want YOU to help us shape the agenda!  Please submit topic suggestions and questions by replying directly to this email.  A schedule of the meetings will be posted in the coming weeks.

New Parking Area on Mulberry Street: A new employee parking area is opening this week behind Assisted Living.  This lot should be entered and exited via Mulberry Street.  Anyone who is currently parking across the street in the commuter lot is now welcome to park in the new parking lot.  Additionally, members of the team on first shift are also asked to park in this lot.    The lot has a temporary packed gravel surface, due to this type of surface, keeping the lot lined is not possible.  There will be stakes to mark the suggested parking spots.  Please help us maximize space in this lot by parking within the stakes.  You may begin parking in this lot immediately.  To reach the main entrance you can walk along the side of the building on the temporary gravel road, or you may enter via the courtyard between 1B and the kitchen.  If you enter through the courtyard, please be sure to go to the lobby to complete the Accushield check-in.  If you have questions, please contact Bob Kassery or me. 

Current Parking Lot:  Please only park in the designated lined spaces in the paved parking lot at the front of campus.  If there are not enough spaces in this lot, please check the Mulberry Street lot for parking.  We will ask you to move your car if you park in a visitor spot between 8a and 8p or if you are not in a designated parking space. 

PPE Update: You may have noticed that the brown lunch bags are no more!  The new check-in process is to use hand sanitizer and then take a KN95 mask from the box on the table.  KN95s will continue to be worn in all resident areas.  Surgical masks may be worn off the neighborhoods when you are not with residents.

Be well, 

Maley W. Hunt 

COO & Administrator 

Update 8-30-2022

Maley’s Memo
August 30, 2022

Dear Friends,

I cannot believe the end of August is here and with that Labor Day Weekend is already upon us!  To say THANK YOU to all of you, LiveWell is hosting a special BBQ lunch catered by Saints.  Tomorrow, in lieu of salad, we will have hamburgers, hot dogs, clam chowder, baked beans… and more!  The catering will be set up at lunch time and all are welcome to come, even if it is not your scheduled work time/day.  There will also be special meals for evening shift, wraps by our kitchen and specialty salads from Saints, and night shift, hot breakfast by our kitchen! 

Everyday you continue to impress me with your dedication to those we serve and each other.  Your flexibility through construction has been incredible.  I am so glad to be on this team and that is because of you.  Here’s to a good burger, on a hot day, with awesome people! 

Be well, 

Maley W. Hunt 

COO & Administrator 

Update 8-15-2022

Maley’s Memo
August 15, 2022

Dear Friends,

Essential Worker Premium Pay:  As a LiveWell employee you are considered an Essential Worker in Connecticut.  If you worked here, or at another healthcare facility, from March 10, 2020 through May 7, 2022 you are eligible to apply for money from the State of Connecticut.  Under this program you could get up to $1,000, please take advantage of this!  In order to file you will need to create an account HERE and fill out the forms for, “Essential Worker Premium Pay,” for your reference we are class 1a essential workers.  To fill out the form you will need items like your social security number and another document to prove your employment status (ie. social security card, W2, etc.).  If you have questions while filling out this paperwork, please reach out to me, Jacky Clark, or Anne McCarty.  The deadline is October 1, 2022.

*PAST DUE* OSHA Forms and Fit Testing:  Thank you to everyone who filled out your forms and signed up for fit testing!  If you have not filled out the forms and signed up for N95 fit testing, please do so as soon as possible.  This is an OSHA requirement for all employees that work with residents and/or on neighborhoods.  Please follow these steps:

1. Pick up and complete the medical forms,required by OSHA.  Forms are at the front desk for your convenience. 
2. Please complete ALL 4 pages of the forms and return to Donna or Jay at the front desk ASAP, they are PAST DUE at this point. 
3. Sign up for a time on August 22^nd, 23^rd, or 24^th using this link.

Ongoing PPE and Testing: The 2B neighborhood is currently in outbreak.  There is one positive resident on 2B.  Please only go on 2B if you are scheduled to work there, wear an N95, and follow all posted signs.  All other neighborhood employees can continue to wear KN95 masks.  All staff, please continue to test with the same frequency that you have been, once or twice a week, as applicable.

Be well,

Maley W. Hunt

COO & Administrator

Update 8-8-2022

Maley’s Memo
August 8, 2022

Dear Friends,

On days like today I realize that we do not get to choose when our resilience is tested.  Unfortunately, Sunday evening several of our team members had their vehicles vandalized in what we presume to be a random act of theft, similar to other thefts and vandalizations that happened in the area recently.  While I saw our team members upset, violated, and concerned, what I also saw was the strength and compassion of our team. 

Even though her car was not impacted, Courtney M. stayed late to support her coworkers, making sure people were safe and supported.  Andy A. helped cover neighborhood staffing so people could attend to their vehicles and routinely checked back in with them throughout the night to offer his support.  The challenge of identifying cars was supported by Laura L. who quickly got the right people on site to attend to people’s needs.  Shaquena B. noticed an additional car impacted across the street and drove a co-worker over to check on their car together.  Carlton D. helped vacuum glass and secure plastic on people’s windows. 

When bad things happen, we are reminded of what it means to be a part of a community and I am honored to be part of a community that shows up for people who are in need.  No one was alone, everyone’s physical person was safe, and while sometimes life presents us with bad situations, how we respond and support each other is a true testament to the culture we have at LiveWell.  Thank you to those mentioned and so many more for your support, your resilience, and your trust that this community will be there for you on your good and bad days. 

The police mentioned these acts are happening repeatedly in the area, here is a resource on how to help keep your car safe anywhere you park.  The leading tip is to not leave anything visible or valuable in your car.  We have plenty of lockers and secure areas inside the building.  If you need help finding a place to secure your belongings at work, please reach out to me or Anne McCarty.

*Action Required* OSHA Forms and Fit Testing: Many of us have worn N95 masks and experienced ‘Just in Time’ fit testing.  We know now that PPE, including respirators (N95 masks), will continue to be needed when in close contact with someone who is known or suspected of having COVID.  As part of LiveWell’s OSHA compliant worksite-specific respiratory protection program (RPP) we are launching third-party facilitated medical evaluations and annual fit testing.  Please follow these three steps if you are an employee who works on a neighborhood and wears an N95 mask:

1. Pick up and complete the medical forms,required by OSHA.  Forms are at the front desk for your convenience. 
2. Please complete ALL 4 pages of the forms and return to Donna or Jay at the front desk by today, August 9^th. 
3. Sign up for a time on August 22^nd, 23^rd, or 24^th using this link.

If you are unsure if you should be Fit Tested, or have any other questions, please ask Donna or Jay at the front desk as they have a list and the forms for all required team members.

Ongoing PPE and Testing: The 2B neighborhoods is still currently in outbreak.  There is 1 positive resident on 2B.  Please only go on 2B if you are scheduled to work there, wear an N95, and follow all posted signs.

• Please only take 1 mask per day from the front, unless yours breaks or becomes soiled.
• ALL staff will need to do a rapid test their first shift of the week.
• Staff aged 50 and older without a second booster must test twice this week.
• All staff on the 2B neighborhood should wear N95 masks.
• All staff on 1A, 1B, 2A, and AL and all visitors should wear KN95 masks.
• Off the neighborhoods, while in offices, staff may wear a surgical mask.
• Report ANY symptoms or exposures BEFORE your shift. COVID is now presenting very similar symptoms to a cold and allergies: fatigue, stuffy nose, cough, congestion, etc.

Free Masks Available for Personal Use: LiveWell was fortunate enough to have many masks donated to us throughout the pandemic.  In reconciling our PPE we have more masks than we can use.  With spread continuing out in the community we wanted to offer you masks for personal use.  The masks do say that they are expired but we feel confident that they are good for social settings, shopping, travel, etc. The masks are in the front lobby by the rapid testing forms, please help yourself!

Be well,

Maley W. Hunt

COO & Administrator

Construction Update 8-2-2022

August 2, 2022

Dear Friends, 

Tomorrow – Temporary Courtyard Space Reduction
The construction team needs to assess drainage lines from the courtyards and roof. On Wednesday, August 3, 2022, we will temporarily remove some pavers in the Courtyard between 1A and the lobby and move the construction fencing to accommodate this work.   We anticipate the courtyard will be restored to full use in about three days. During this time there will be more limited space in that courtyard.  There are tables and chairs that are easily accessible in the courtyard across the hall, between 1B and the lobby.  If you need assistance finding outdoor space, please let us know as we can make more available in other areas. 

Ongoing – Foundation Work
The team continues to work on the foundation for the Center for Resilient Living.  You can see the start of the concrete walls being formed in the drone photo below!  In addition to this work, they are preparing to start placing Geo-Piers in our old parking lot to reinforce the soil before beginning the foundations on the River Homes.  The Geo-Piers work is anticipated to start next week and there will be noise and significant vibrations during this time.  It will predominantly be felt on the B-side of the building but has the possibility to impact the whole campus.

Please reach out with any questions and thank you for your ongoing support as we navigate construction.

 Be Well, 

Michael J. Smith                      Maley W. Hunt

Update 4-15-2022

April 15, 2022

Dear Friends,

Blessings to you if you are celebrating Passover, Ramadan, Easter, or simply enjoying the splendor of a spring day.  At this time of year, nature has a way of conspiring to reinforce the importance of being reflective and witnessing new beginnings.

If you are like us, we look forward to seeing the spring bulbs and early flowering trees and shrubs on campus.  Yet every new beginning also reminds us that we are letting go of what came before it. 

This year, our construction plans will alter our landscape.  We are literally and figuratively paving a way to a new future. Our contractor, C.E. Floyd, will be on campus Monday morning setting up construction fencing where site work will soon begin. 

We are preparing to let go of the plants and bulbs in the oval entry island, the front circle, and the areas within the brown picket fencing (except for the Dryfe Memorial area near Mulberry Street).  We are hopeful that you might give new life to some of our plants that will otherwise be removed in construction.  You are welcome to bring a shovel and to remove plants in these specified areas.  When you arrive to remove plants please check in at the lobby before digging up plants to confirm that the location is appropriate and safe.  If you are interested in any of these plants, please make plans to remove them before Wednesday April 20, 2022.

Hopefully you will be able to join us at one of our upcoming information sessions this week.  We look forward to connecting.

Be well,

Michael J. Smith                           Maley W. Hunt
President & CEO                          COO & Administrator

Update 4-10-2022

April 10, 2022

Dear Friends,

As many of you know, over the past two years, in addition to navigating the unpredictable nature of this pandemic, LiveWell has been diligently working on plans to improve our physical environment and expand the resources offered on our campus. We are pleased to share that we will be holding meetings in the coming weeks to share more about our plans and our next steps. Below is a quick recap of the status of our project, the anticipated next steps, what to expect in the next two weeks, and our ongoing communication efforts.

QUICK RECAP
Over a year ago, we shared with you our designs to renovate the LiveWell campus. In August 2021, we had a clear path to finance our project and all building approvals, yet our plans were placed on hold when we unexpectedly did not receive a required Certificate of Need (CON) from the Department of Social Services.

In the fall of 2021, we appealed this CON decision. We won that appeal the last week of December 2021. As a part of this appeal, our plans were modified. We originally requested that in the future we serve 56 people in skilled care and 85 people in assisted living. The CON modification increased the number of people we can serve in skilled care by 20 and decreased our proposed assisted living apartments by 20. All other aspects of the plan that we previously shared remain the same.

The CON modifications required us to send our construction plans back to the architects. After we revised the construction documents, we needed to re-submit our plans for approval with the town and the Department of Public Health, and to rebid the construction contract. This has been a lengthy process, but we have all approvals in hand and a new construction contract. This past month we have been working to orchestrate the financing for this project.

NEXT TWO WEEKS
Our board will be meeting soon to review our options for financing. After our board meeting, we may begin an early enabling phase of site work in April. We will complete marking all underground utilities. We anticipate that we will receive a delivery of some more construction materials and construction equipment next week. We hope to store these materials behind the building. Our environmental consultants will be onsite on April 14th, 15th, and 18th collecting samples from inside and outside of the building. We anticipate installing construction fencing along Route 10 and Mulberry Street the week of April 18th. We will also need to drill and collect soil samples in the courtyard between the kitchen and the 1B neighborhood on April 20th.

PHASING OVERVIEW
We anticipate that our early enabling site work will start in April. It will likely take three months to reconfigure new utility connections and to construct new parking areas. This site work will temporarily affect how we access the campus, but it will not change or disrupt our operations, our residents’ lives, or where we currently park. This early enabling phase of site work will allow us to construct our new homes along the Quinnipiac River and our Center for Resilient Living. This phase of construction will be performed between the summer of 2022 and the summer of 2023. We expect to begin the renovations to our existing building in the summer of 2023. This final phase of the project will likely take one year to complete.

We will hold information sessions the week of April 18th to share the revised plans and more details about the phasing of our construction and renovations on campus.

ONGOING COMMUNICATION
As we embark on this project it will be important to keep open lines of communication with every member of our LiveWell community. We plan to hold regular meetings to share information on what to expect over the course of the coming month and to answer any questions. We deeply appreciate your trust and look forward to sharing more details about upcoming informational sessions.

Be well,

Michael J. Smith                           Maley W. Hunt
President & CEO                          COO & Administrator

Update 4-4-2022

Maley’s Memo April 4, 2022 Dear Friends, Ramadan Kareem!  “There is an unseen sweetness in the stomach’s emptiness. We are lutes. When the sound box is filled, no music can come forth. When the brain and the belly burn from fasting, every moment a new song rises out of the fire. The mists clear, and a new vitality makes you spring up the steps before you . . .”  – Rumi  Saturday, April 2nd, marked the beginning of Ramadan in the Islamic calendar. As you greet your Muslim friends in these beginning days, wish them a “Ramadan Kareem!” This is the holiest month of the year for Muslims worldwide. Many Muslims will be fasting for 30 days—not eating any food or drinking any beverages from sunrise to sunset each day as they go about their regular routine of work and leisure activities. They will take the time to slow down, introspect and work on their spiritual pathway to get closer to God. The holy month brings opportunities to give to the needy; in a small way, appreciate what it feels like to be hungry; practice gratitude and continue to nurture a deep appreciation for the people in our lives; the struggles we all have that make us stronger and blessings which are bountiful when we take the time to notice them. It is a challenging month and yet, a deeply spiritual and grounding time for those who observe. (Thank you to Shazia Chaudhry for helping to craft this great explanation!)  Covid Update: On Sunday, April 3rd, we had a 1A staff member test positive for COVID.  The 1A neighborhood is now on outbreak protocol.  All 1A residents were rapid tested early this morning and all had negative test results.  This does change PPE and testing for staff in the whole building:  ALL staff will need to do a rapid test their first shift of the week.  1A staff will wear an N95 and face shield.  1A visitors will wear a KN95, face shield, and visit on the neighborhood.   All other staff with direct resident contact (CNAs, Nurses, Therapists, Engagement) and visitors (2A, 1B, 2B, & AL) will wear a KN95 on the neighborhoods.  Off the neighborhoods, while in offices, staff may wear a surgical mask.   Please report ANY and all symptoms or exposures.  COVID is now presenting very similar symptoms to a cold and allergies: stuffy nose, cough, congestion, etc.    Parking: This is your friendly reminder to not park in visitor spots.  I recognize that there are some staff cars in the visitor spots most mornings.  Please, park in the lower lot first and then the upper lot.  Also, please do not park in the circle until all the regular parking spots are full. Always do a loop around, even if it looks full, as there may be one open, thank you!    Healthier Me Challenge: This week marks the halfway point!  Diane will be helping those who wish to measure their BMI and Body Fat Percentage on Wednesday. Times and location will be posted.  Please join me in congratulating our Week Five and Week Six Healthier Me winners:   Week 5 Winners  The Rock the Scale Winner is Kellie Hoch with a 1.77% weight loss!  The Stretching Challenge Winner is Melanie Ruiz!  The Steps Winner is Sherma Larzar!  Week 6 Winners  The Rock the Scale Winner is Maritu Gonzalez with a 1.65% weight loss!  The Food Label Challenge Winner is Olivia Fama!  The Steps Winner is Sampa Kambikambi!  The week seven challenges include: a Meditation challenge, a Steps challenge, and a Rock the Scale (Weight Loss) challenge.  All the challenges will be posted on the Employee Portal and the password is staff1261.    Be Well, Maley

Update 3-22-2022

March 22, 2022

Dear Friends,

Happy Spring to All!

Visiting: Visiting is now low risk on all neighborhoods.  We have also added tables and chairs in the courtyard off the main hallway.  On nice days, please encourage outdoor visiting!

Current PPE & Testing:  This week there will be no weekly testing for staff or residents.  The only testing would be based on symptoms, exposure, or vaccination status.  The PPE for this week is as follows:

• All fully vaccinated people on any neighborhood should wear a surgical mask.

Healthier Me Challenge: Please join me in congratulating our Week Four Healthier Me winners:

Week 4 Winners

• The Rock the Scale Winner is Lelieth Mangal with a 1.24% weight loss!
• The Healthy Sweets Swap Challenge Winner is Leigh Anne D’Addario!
• The Steps Winner is Kaitlyn Anderson!

The week five challenges include: a Stretching challenge, a Steps challenge, and a Rock the Scale (Weight Loss) challenge.  All the challenges will be posted on the Employee Portal and the password is staff1261. 

Be Well,

Maley

Update 3-14-2022

March 14, 2022

Dear Friends,

This is the last full week of winter; I cannot believe spring is practically here!  We will be having some fun ‘theme’ days this week to get our energy up as we Spring Forward with longer days and hopefully warmer weather.

Welcome New Team Members: Last week we had a great orientation group start their job shadowing!  Please welcome these new team members, introduce yourself, and help show them around.  We have Anisa C. and Melissa G. joining as per diem Nurses.  We have Tom C. and April M. joining as per diem Care Partners, Myra E. joining as a 1B Care Partner, and Farida S. joining as a 2B Care Partner.  We have Faydra H. joining as a Housekeeper.

Visiting: We updated families that visiting Assisted Living is considered very high risk and that visiting all other neighborhoods is back to a low risk level.  Visitors will be wearing surgical masks on the skilled nursing neighborhoods and KN95s on assisted living.  Please continue to encourage hand washing with soap and water at every possible interaction as we continue the work to end our GI Outbreak.

Current PPE & Testing:  This week there will be no weekly testing for staff or residents.  The only testing would be based on symptoms, exposure, or vaccination status.  The PPE for this week is as follows:

• Everyone on all skilled nursing neighborhoods should wear a surgical mask.
• Everyone on the assisted living neighborhood should wear a KN95 mask.
  • Please do NOT go on assisted living unless it is your scheduled assignment, this includes the dining department.

 

St. Patrick’s Day AND Holi:  Please join in on the fun this week… Thursday is St. Patrick’s Day and Friday is Holi (the Festival of Color/Light that celebrates the arrival of spring)!  We will have some thematic food in the Stolba Center on Thursday and invite you to wear some festive clothes to work this week to celebrate these two holidays:

• Thursday, March 17^th – Wear green/St. Patrick’s themed attire!
• Friday, March 18^th – Wear a bright colored shirt, think Pink, Yellow, Green, Red, and jeans (work appropriate, no rips, able to perform job duties)!

Healthier Me Challenge: Please join me in congratulating our Week Two AND Week Three Healthier Me winners:

Week 2

• The Rock the Scale Winner is Gracey Siedlecka with a 3.71% weight loss!
• The Healthy Snack Winner is Shaquena Brown!
• The Steps Winner is Jean Marquis!

Week 3

• The Rock the Scale Winner is Annie Graikoski with a 2.33% weight loss!
• The Screen Time Winner is Shannon Kiley!
• The Steps Winner is Lelieth Mangal!

The week four challenges include: a Healthy Sweets Swap challenge, a Steps challenge, and a Rock the Scale (Weight Loss) challenge.  All the challenges will be posted on the Employee Portal and the password is staff1261. 

Be Well,

Maley

Update 3-7-2022

March 7, 2022

Dear Friends,

Let us take a moment to acknowledge all that is happening in the world right now and how it may feel impossible to carry on with life knowing that there is a war happening in Ukraine right now.  Each of us may be feeling this differently, impacted differently. This is a time to practice being human to practice listening, and to support each other and the anxiety, sorrow, and uncertainty that may be beneath the surface.  This poem truly resonated with me, and I wanted to share it with each of you:

            I am washing my face before bed
            while a country is on fire.

            It feels dumb to wash my face and
            dumb not to.

            It has never been this way and it has
            always been this way.

            Someone has always clinked a
            cocktail glass in one hemisphere as
            someone loses a home in another,
            while someone falls in love in the
            same apartment building where
            someone grieves. The fact that
            suffering, mundanity and beauty
            coincide is unbearable and
            remarkable.

• Maria Andrew

May we continue to learn, grow, and notice that the human experience combines events and feelings in ways that can be both unbearable and remarkable simultaneously.  Today we pause from our daily routine, lean into our values, notice how we are feeling, and reflect with the people around us.

Be Well,

Maley

Update 2-28-2022

February 28, 2022

Dear Friends,

I am sending a huge thank you to our whole team and especially the B-Side teams today!  You are all working exceptionally hard to support the residents in their recovery and using the best infection control possible to protect everyone from the Norovirus on those communities.  The virus is highly contagious. The best way to stay safe is to wash your hands with soap and water and to continue to disinfect all surfaces regularly.  We are so thankful for the ways you are practicing courage and compassion in the approach to this outbreak!

Visiting: We sent communication to all families last week that visiting the 1B and 2B neighborhoods is very high risk given the GI (Norovirus) outbreak.  Families may still visit, but they have been informed of the risk. All visits for 1B and 2B must happen on the neighborhood.  Additionally, 2A visitors will continue to wear N95s and eye protection through this week.

Current PPE & Testing:  We are now ten days out from our last staff positive case of COVID.  We will be testing all 2A residents again this Wednesday and all staff should test their first shift of the week.  The PPE for this week is as follows:

• Goggles/face shields and N95s need to be worn on the 2A neighborhood.
• Everyone (staff, visitor, volunteer, etc.) on all other neighborhoods (1A, 1B, 2B, & AL) should wear a KN95 mask.
• Staff that do not work on neighborhoods may wear surgical masks. If you go on a neighborhood, you must change to a KN95, or N95 for 2A.

Healthier Me Challenge: Please join me in congratulating our first three Healthier Me winners:

• The Rock the Scale Winner is Terry Bingham with a 7.55% weight loss!
• The Hydration Winner is Jenna Brodeur!
• The Steps Winner is Becca Lynn!

The week two challenges include: a Healthy Snack challenge, a Steps challenge, and a Rock the Scale (Weight Loss) challenge.  All the challenges will be posted on the Employee Portal and the password is staff1261. 

We are excited to help with the Healthy Snack challenge this week by making a change to our snacks in the Stolba Center.  We will be swapping out our foods that are less nutrient dense (think cookies, poptarts, chips) with more nutritious choices (think whole fruit, oatmeal, peanut butter crackers).  There will still be special occasion treats but in general we think it is important to put our snacks to the test and support all the amazing work we are doing to be healthier versions of ourselves!

Finally, if you are participating in the weight loss challenge, you can help us “Rock the Scale.”  For each pound that you lose you can put a rock in a jar (located by the front door in the lobby).  We will create an amazing visualization of all the weight that we are losing as a team, so stick to it and earn your rocks each Wednesday at weigh-in!

Be Well,

Maley

Update 2-21-2022

February 21, 2022

Dear Friends,

Current PPE & Testing:  Unfortunately, we had a staff member test positive on Saturday.  Due to this test result all staff will continue to test this week.  Residents on the 2A neighborhood will also have to test weekly for the next two weeks.  We have also adjusted PPE requirements for this week:

• Goggles/face shields and N95s need to be worn on the 2A neighborhood
• Everyone (staff, visitor, volunteer, etc.) on all other neighborhoods (1A, 1B, 2B, & AL) should wear a KN95 mask*
• Staff that do not work on neighborhoods may wear surgical masks. If you go on a neighborhood, you must change to a KN95, or N95 for 2A.

* Some staff may have to wear an N95 based on their vaccination/booster/exposure status, this will be communicated directly with those team members.*

Healthier Me Challenge:  Congratulations to everyone who has embarked on the Healthier Me Challenge, we now have 60 people signed up!  In the words of one of my favorite Peloton coaches, Jess Sims, “Check. Done. You’re here.  The hardest part is over.  You showed up!” Did you know if you have LiveWell’s health insurance you can get the Peloton App free for a year or a discount on a bike or treadmill?! Click here to check out the offer! You do not need any equipment to enjoy many of their classes that include yoga, meditation, cardio, strength training, and more. 

The week one challenges include: a hydration challenge, a steps challenge, and a weight loss challenge.  All the challenges will be posted on the Employee Portal and the password is staff1261.  We will begin announcing winner’s next week.  It is not too late to sign up, you can still find the forms in the lobby and in the Stolba Center. 

*COMING SOON* Town Hall Meetings:  Starting in March, Michael Smith and I will be hosting Town Hall meetings for all staff to hear campus updates and ask us questions.  It is our hope to start doing these meetings a few times per year so that we increase the ways we all connect and communicate!

Be Well,

Maley

Update 2-14-2022

February 14, 2022

Dear Friends,

Happy Valentine’s Day!  I hope that you all get to share some love with those that mean the most to you today.  We want to show our love for all of you with some homemade cake pops and cupcakes that will be in the Stolba Center today.  A HUGE thank you to LiveWell’s own chef Jean for putting together the delicious and gorgeous holiday treats, we hope you enjoy!  There will also be stations around the community to make homemade Valentines, Jenna and Donna put these together, thank you!  All around a great day to spread and feel the love.

Current PPE & Testing:  All 1A residents tested negative last week, we will not have to test residents this week.  All staff will continue to test this week.  We anticipate this will be the last week of staff testing.  We do have some PPE changes for this week:

• Goggles and face shields do NOT need to be worn by anyone at this time
• Everyone (staff, visitor, volunteer, etc.) on a neighborhood should wear a KN95 mask* 

*Off the neighborhoods you may wear a surgical mask. Some staff may have to wear an N95 based on their vaccination/booster/exposure status, this will be communicated directly with those team members.*

Healthier Me Challenge:  This is the week!  The Healthier Me Challenge will start this Wednesday.  We have about 40 people signed up for this year’s challenge so far and we are extremely excited to get started.  All the challenges will be posted on the Employee Portal and the password is staff1261.  If you signed up, you will be receiving information on who your coach is by Thursday of this week.  For those participating in the Weight Loss portion of the challenge the weigh-ins will start on Wednesday.  You may weigh yourself with the scale near the lobby (the room next to where we test for COVID) and take a picture of your weight.  You will send the picture to your coach each week.  Finally, this is also the first week for BMI and Body Fat Percentage measurements.  Diane, our Dietician, will be in the 1^st floor core on Wednesday from 11:30a to 12:30p and 3p to 4p and Jacky from 7:00a to 8:00a in the lobby to take those measurements. Please have a picture of your weight with you when you stop to measure.  It is not too late to sign up, you can still find the forms in the lobby and up by the Stolba Center. 

Be Well,

Maley

Update 2-8-2022

February 8, 2022

Dear Friends,

All resident testing had negative results last week!  This awesome news means that we will only have to test the 1A neighborhood this week.  I would also like to thank all of you for your help and dedication to safety in relation to getting the COVID booster.  This Friday marks the Governor’s mandate of the booster for all long-term care employees.  This team has rallied around getting the booster, hosting clinics, and being proactive, thank you!

Welcome New Team Members:  Please join me in welcoming Jill Lubrano to our Engagement Team.  If you see Jill, please say hi and introduce yourself!

Current PPE & Testing:  Testing for all staff will continue this week.  All staff should be testing once per week on your first shift of the week.  Please initial and date the log sheet by the testing binders when you do your weekly test.  If you have any questions on what PPE to wear, please ask.

• On all neighborhoods, all people (staff, visitors, etc.) must wear eye protection and an N95 mask.

 Healthier Me Challenge:  Registration ends this Friday!  I hope you’ll join me and a bunch of your co-workers in these health and wellness challenges.  There will be prizes and winners each week.  Registration packets are available in both the Lobby and Stolba Center.  The programs will start next week on Wednesday, February 16^th! 

Be Well,

Maley

Update 2-1-2022

February 1, 2022

Dear Friends,

Last week we again had no new resident cases of COVID, this news lets us more freely welcome families back for visits!  This is an incredible accomplishment especially as community cases remain high and we are still having staff members test positive.  Your unwavering attention to infection control does not go unnoticed and is incredibly appreciated.  In addition to your excellence in fighting COVID, I think it is important to recognize and thank all of you who helped during the winter storm this weekend.  In all departments people adjusted their hours to ensure that all neighborhoods and departments were supported.  We work in a field that requires more of us when inclement weather comes and you all took on the charge and stepped up, thank you!

Welcome New Team Members:  Last week we had a great orientation group.  Please join me in welcoming these new members of the team, introduce yourself and help show them around!  We have Donna D. joining as our Front Desk Receptionist, Noreen G. and Antonio A. joining as 2A Care Partners, Betsy T. and Doreen H. joining as Housekeepers, and Maria R. joining as a 2B Care Partner.

Current PPE & Testing:  As we still have positive staff cases, testing will continue this week.  All staff should be testing once per week on your first shift of the week.  Please initial and date the log sheet by the testing binders when you do your weekly test. 

• On all neighborhoods, all people (staff, visitors, etc.) must wear eye protection and an N95 mask.
• The Accushield screening questions have been updated, please read closely when signing in this week!

We will be doing resident testing again this Wednesday.  If you have any questions on what PPE to wear, please ask. 

Healthier Me Challenge:  You are invited to participate in this year’s Healthier Me Challenge!  This year’s challenge will offer many ways for you to get involved.  Some examples are weight loss, nutrition, mindfulness, and weekly steps challenges.  Registration packets are available in both the Lobby and Stolba Center. Registration for the challenge will end on Friday, February 11^th and the programs will start Wednesday, February 16^th!  (I’m excited this challenge starts AFTER we get to enjoy Super Bowl snacks!)

Be Well,

Maley

Update 1-25-2022

January 25, 2022

Dear Friends,

This was a challenging week in our fight against COVID.  While it is exciting news that many of our positive residents had mild symptoms and are now recovered, we did have two residents pass last week who had COVID.  It is a blunt reminder that the population we serve remains vulnerable to this virus and that the added safety measures we executed were warranted. Thank you to each one of you that helped care for those residents, our hearts go out to the 1A community.  I would also like to thank each of you that continues to wear your PPE properly, test weekly, and thoroughly answer our screening questions.  Each of these practices helps to keep everyone at LiveWell safe!

Current PPE & Testing:  All staff should be testing once per week on your first shift of the week.  Please initial and date the log sheet by the testing binders when you do your weekly test.  On all neighborhoods you must wear eye protection and an N95 mask.  1A is the only neighborhood still on full precautions (gown, eye protection, N95).  We had no new resident cases of COVID last week and we currently have no active cases of COVID in the building.  We will be doing resident testing again this Wednesday and will share how those results will impact PPE as soon as we have that information.  If you have any questions on what PPE to wear, please ask before entering a neighborhood. 

Healthier Me Challenge:  You are invited to participate in this year’s Healthier Me Challenge!  This year’s challenge will offer many ways for you to get involved.  Some examples are weight loss, nutrition, mindfulness, and weekly steps challenges.  Registration packets will be available starting tomorrow, January 26^th in both the Lobby and Stolba Center.  Registration for the challenge will end on Friday, February 11^th and the programs will start Wednesday, February 16^th!  It will be a 14-week challenge so we will all be able to focus on developing our ‘Healthier Me’ before summer.

Connecticut Mandates Booster:  Effective February 11, 2022, the booster will be made mandatory for all long-term care employees in Connecticut.  If you are eligible for the booster (5 months post Pfizer or Moderna, 2 months post Johnson & Johnson, 3 months post diagnosis of Covid) you will be required to get your booster dose before February 11^th.  Please plan to schedule your booster dose in the community and share your updated vaccination card with Jacky Clark or Anne McCarty once you have received your booster. 

Be Well,

Maley

Update 1-17-2022

January 17, 2022

Dear Friends,

Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, a day to remember a man who stood for a movement. Dr King’s family recounts that his teachings are often molded into key phrases that are convenient and yet do not always address the enormity of what he stood for and wanted to accomplish.  His daughter was recently asked to reflect on how we can continue to honor his legacy and do the hard work that he set us up for on promoting equality and dismantling racial injustice.  Dr. Bernice A. King, his daughter, shared that it is our job to continue, “seeking to penetrate hearts while we are addressing policy,” and that “we have a collective power… together we can move mountains.”  I encourage you to use today, and this week, to look up something new about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. or to ask someone about what his teachings and his legacy mean to them.  (Here is an awesome resource from Stanford University.)  Each of us will interpret it differently, through different lenses, and together we can continue to enlighten each other, grow, and move beyond awareness toward action.

Current PPE & Testing:  All staff should be testing once per week on your first shift of the week.  Please initial and date the log sheet by the testing binders when you do your weekly test.  On all neighborhoods you must wear eye protection and an N95 mask.  After last week’s resident testing, we were able to end using gowns on 2A and only one room remains on precautions.  1A is still on full precautions as we had two more residents test positive last week.  We will continue resident testing this week and relay the news of those results as we have them.  If you have any questions on what PPE to wear, please ask before entering a neighborhood. 

COMING SOON Annual Biggest Loser/Employee Wellness Challenge:  Each year we do a health and wellbeing challenge for all employees complete with prizes, team spirit, and personal goal setting!  Whether you want to lose a few holiday pounds, maintain your health, get stronger and eat better, or want to focus on YOU, this is a great opportunity to join us in health and wellbeing promotion as a great start to 2022!  We will be beginning this year’s challenge in the coming weeks; sign-up sheets will be available in the lobby soon… stay tuned!

Connecticut Mandates Booster:  Effective February 11, 2022, the booster will be made mandatory for all long-term care employees in Connecticut.  If you are eligible for the booster (5 months post Pfizer or Moderna, 2 months post Johnson & Johnson, 3 months post diagnosis of Covid) you will be required to get your booster dose before February 11^th.  Please plan to schedule your booster dose in the community and share your updated vaccination card with Jacky Clark or Anne McCarty once you have received your booster. 

Be Well,

Maley

Update 1-17-2022

January 17, 2022

Dear Friends,

Thank you for the ways all of you have stepped up over the last week.  When we are in an outbreak like this, your teamwork shines even brighter than normal.  The part that each of you plays is what makes us successful.  I hope that this week we can declare that some of our resident’s will have recovered from COVID!  I recognize the extra effort it takes to care for COVID positive residents, especially when many of our team are not feeling well or exposed themselves.  Know that there are a lot of people supporting you from home, including many families.  Michael and I have heard from several families who continually applaud your dedication to their relative and the LiveWell team.  They are so thankful for all that you do and are sending virtual support and good will.

Taking Good Care of Ourselves:  Navigating life during this pandemic is not normal or easy. Please try your new resources on our HealthJoy app: Telehealth Behavioral Health for just $5 per visit. We created this affordable resource for you!  You can also access the Employee Assistance Program if you wish to receive immediate behavior health services, or in-person services.  We hope you find support with these resources available to you and through the team that surrounds you at LiveWell. As always, you may reach out to Anne McCarty with any questions you have.

Current PPE & Testing:  During this outbreak, all staff will test at least once per week on your first shift of the week.  If you have any symptoms or believe that you may have been exposed, please reach out to us immediately, we will help coordinate a rapid test.  If you have had an exposure, and you have no symptoms, you will need to test each day that you work and remain in the lobby until you receive the test results.  We were able to purchase more of the Abbott card tests so we will be using those this week.  Please initial and date the log sheet by the testing binders when you do your weekly test.  On all neighborhoods you need to wear eye protection and an N95 mask, and 1A and 2A are still on full precautions.  Staff on those neighborhoods need to wear a gown and gloves, changing between contact with each resident.  If you have any questions on what PPE to wear, please ask before entering a neighborhood. 

Connecticut Mandates Booster:  Last week, the Governor of Connecticut indicated that boosters will be mandatory for all long-term care employees by February 11^th.  As a team we have done a fabulous job with boosters, approximately 95% of our eligible staff have received their booster.  The definition of ‘eligibility’ for the booster has also shifted slightly.  You are eligible for the booster 5 months post Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, 2 months post Johnson & Johnson vaccine, and 3 months post diagnosis of COVID.  We all have our minds connected to getting through this current surge in cases.  We will work with all our staff who are eligible to receive the booster, and together we will come up with a plan.  For now, thank you for your continued focus on making our way through this surge of community cases and for keeping our residents safe and well cared for.

Thank you again for being so conscientious and for supporting each other and the residents.  Together you have done a nice job of containing this virus and working under very challenging conditions.  You are awesome!

Be Well,

Maley

Update 1-10-2022

January 10, 2022

Dear Friends,

Thank you for the ways all of you have stepped up over the last week.  When we are in an outbreak like this, your teamwork shines even brighter than normal.  The part that each of you plays is what makes us successful.  I hope that this week we can declare that some of our resident’s will have recovered from COVID!  I recognize the extra effort it takes to care for COVID positive residents, especially when many of our team are not feeling well or exposed themselves.  Know that there are a lot of people supporting you from home, including many families.  Michael and I have heard from several families who continually applaud your dedication to their relative and the LiveWell team.  They are so thankful for all that you do and are sending virtual support and good will.

Taking Good Care of Ourselves:  Navigating life during this pandemic is not normal or easy. Please try your new resources on our HealthJoy app: Telehealth Behavioral Health for just $5 per visit. We created this affordable resource for you!  You can also access the Employee Assistance Program if you wish to receive immediate behavior health services, or in-person services.  We hope you find support with these resources available to you and through the team that surrounds you at LiveWell. As always, you may reach out to Anne McCarty with any questions you have.

Current PPE & Testing:  During this outbreak, all staff will test at least once per week on your first shift of the week.  If you have any symptoms or believe that you may have been exposed, please reach out to us immediately, we will help coordinate a rapid test.  If you have had an exposure, and you have no symptoms, you will need to test each day that you work and remain in the lobby until you receive the test results.  We were able to purchase more of the Abbott card tests so we will be using those this week.  Please initial and date the log sheet by the testing binders when you do your weekly test.  On all neighborhoods you need to wear eye protection and an N95 mask, and 1A and 2A are still on full precautions.  Staff on those neighborhoods need to wear a gown and gloves, changing between contact with each resident.  If you have any questions on what PPE to wear, please ask before entering a neighborhood. 

Connecticut Mandates Booster:  Last week, the Governor of Connecticut indicated that boosters will be mandatory for all long-term care employees by February 11^th.  As a team we have done a fabulous job with boosters, approximately 95% of our eligible staff have received their booster.  The definition of ‘eligibility’ for the booster has also shifted slightly.  You are eligible for the booster 5 months post Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, 2 months post Johnson & Johnson vaccine, and 3 months post diagnosis of COVID.  We all have our minds connected to getting through this current surge in cases.  We will work with all our staff who are eligible to receive the booster, and together we will come up with a plan.  For now, thank you for your continued focus on making our way through this surge of community cases and for keeping our residents safe and well cared for.

Thank you again for being so conscientious and for supporting each other and the residents.  Together you have done a nice job of containing this virus and working under very challenging conditions.  You are awesome!

Be Well,

Maley

Update 1-3-2022

January 3, 2022

Dear Friends,

Yesterday evening, with the aid of rapid antigen tests, we identified that four residents living on the 1A neighborhood are positive for COVID. Several other residents on 1A have cold symptoms, yet they are not testing positive for COVID. Overnight we administered rapid antigen tests for all other residents. This testing revealed that one resident on 2A is also positive for COVID.

Thank you to all who are caring for and supporting these residents and for all of you who are implementing more measures to protect and monitor the safety of all other residents and staff. Your support of one another is inspiring. In addition to our appreciation, we will compensate staff that are working directly on the 1A and 2A neighborhoods with an additional dollar in their hourly pay. This additional pay will remain in effect until the residents residing on these neighborhoods resolve their cases of COVID.

Molecular PCR tests have been collected on the other residents experiencing cold symptoms on 1A, and they were delivered to the lab when it opened this morning. We plan to administer molecular PCR tests on all residents this week. When we have the results of these tests, we will share them with you. As you have heard in the news, the omicron variant can spread rapidly. There are also several staff who currently have COVID or who have been exposed.

We will be administering daily rapid antigen tests on all residents on the 1A and 2A neighborhoods. We are closely monitoring and assessing the health of everyone who lives and works at LiveWell. These assessments will provide data to help us make good decisions to keep people safe and support good health. We are encouraging all residents to remain in their rooms and to wear a mask. To assist in our efforts to contain this highly contagious virus, we have also instituted droplet and contact precautions for the care of all residents who live on the 1A and 2A neighborhoods. This means, that in addition to the use of N95 respirators that we instituted over a week ago, that staff are now donning and doffing new isolation gowns/gloves in between the care of each resident.

Both neighborhoods are now closed to visitors. Throughout the entire building we are transitioning to virtual visits, as in-person visiting is no longer prudent at this time. We will continue to support compassionate care visits. We will continue to monitor the health and safety of all other residents on all other neighborhoods and encourage their social distancing. If we have any concerns about the health of any resident living anywhere, we will administer a rapid antigen test and individual molecular PCR test. We will also continue to administer rapid antigen tests on staff that report any health concerns.

Our ability to support and encourage one another helped us get through the last outbreak a year ago. This time, we are armed with vaccines, boosters, or medications for the treatment of COVID. One thing that has not changed, is our team’s determination to lift each other up, to ask for help and to listen when help is needed.

We appreciate your ability to quickly adapt to this situation, and we will continue to update you. Please know that many families have reached out to share their prayers and encouragement for our tribe.

Be Well & Thank You,

Maley

Update 12-21-2021

December 21, 2021

Hello Friends,

Today is the first day of Winter and the shortest day of the year.  For many this time of year can be both incredibly exciting and incredibly challenging.  One thing I always love to reflect on is that starting this week it begins getting lighter each day and each week.  I plan to really grab on to that notion this year and recognize the light that is still in our lives each day.  For me so much of that light comes from getting to work with each of you.  Your kindness, compassion, and commitment to LiveWell has shone so bright this year.  I have been impressed so many times by the ways large and small that you step out to help each other.  This week I look forward to longer days, more time together, and the ongoing opportunity to recognize each of you for what you bring to this team.

Holiday Raffle Basket Winners:  Wow!  Our first year doing a holiday basket raffle and we raised $2,697! Thank you to every one of you that contributed to making the baskets and for purchasing tickets.  The money will be shared with each neighborhood for resident engagement above and beyond what we already offer.  Start brainstorming as a neighborhood to think of engagement activities that this fundraiser can help support!

Without further ado, our very lucky staff/LiveWell team member winners are: 

• Odette Johnson won the Fit Foodies Basket donated by the Rehab Team.
• Erica DeFrancesco won the Move Night Basket donated by the 2B Team.
• Agnes Piendak won the Peace & Love Basket donated by the Admissions Team.
• Brenda Barrett won the Self Care Basket donated by the Nurse Leadership Team.

Our family/visitor winners are:

• Roy VanWagner won the Game Night Basket donated by the 1B Team.
• Spagnolettis won the Beer Time Basket donated by the Kitchen Team.
• Donna Finn won the Whiskey & Cigar Basket donated by Finance Team.
• Kathy Veneziano won the Cozy Night In Basket donated by the B-Side CoLeads.
• Marty won the Happy Hour Basket donated by the Community Services Team.
• Andrew Rothstein won the Wine Time basket donated by the A-Side.
• Karen Allard won the Peanut Butter Lover Basket donated by the Maintenance Team.
• Toni Escott won the Outdoor Fun Basket donated by the Administrative Team.

So many of you and so many families participated, thank you, and please join us in congratulating them! Here’s looking forward to more creative baskets and chances to win in the future as we start a new LiveWell Tradition.

Reporting Symptoms: There are several colds going around with symptoms very similar to COVID. Accurately reporting your symptoms prior to working is a responsibility we all share.   Please do not come to work if you have COVID symptoms.  Please speak with your supervisor if you have ANY symptoms you think are related to something other than COVID.  Please do not wait until the beginning of your shift, please report symptoms as soon as they happen.

COVID Testing Update: We have not had any staff or residents test positive in the last 14-days.  We will be pausing rapid testing for all fully vaccinated staff members.  Please pay close attention to signs in the lobby for when to (or when not to) test.  All residents will be tested tomorrow, Wednesday, December 22^nd, by Griffin Health.

Be well,

Maley

Update 12-13-2021

December 13, 2021

Hello Friends,

Let’s start by saying a big THANK YOU to the Kitchen Team for all their work in making us delicious holiday meals on Wednesday and for those sugar cookies last week!  This week on Tuesday and Thursday they will be setting up a Hot Chocolate Bar in the Stolba center for our ongoing Employee Appreciation events this month!

Welcome New Team Members:  Last week we had a great orientation group, some of the names and faces may already be familiar and some may be brand new!  Please welcome these new team members, introduce yourself and help show them around.  We have Kendra H. joining as the new A-Side Social Work Co-Lead, Stephanie C. joining as a night nurse on 2A, Latoya M. joining as a per-diem Care Partner, and Yvonne B. joining as a 2A Care Partner.

Reporting Symptoms: There are several colds going around with symptoms very similar to COVID, accurately reporting your symptoms prior to working is a responsibility we all share.   Please do not come to work if you have COVID symptoms.  Please speak with your supervisor if you have ANY symptoms you think are related to something other than COVID.  Please do not wait until the beginning of your shift, please report symptoms to Chelsey when you have them.

COVID Testing Update: We are updating our testing practices.  Starting tomorrow, fully vaccinated staff will only be required to test once per week when we are in an outbreak.  To do so you will initial the list by the testing room and put the date that you test.  We are in an outbreak now, so the expectation is that everyone tests the first shift that you are at LiveWell between Tuesday, December 14^th and Monday, December 20^th.  As a reminder, if you have ANY symptoms, you must stay home and arrange a drive-up test.  Thank you for continuously adjusting as we constantly revise our COVID protocols to stay up to date on best practice and what is safest for all of us!  Together we will stay healthy.

Keep Us Safe, Boosters & N95s: Our goal in promoting boosters or masks is simple: Let’s make LiveWell a safe place to live and work.  If anyone has other ideas to help keep us safe, please share them with us. Seventy-five percent of all eligible staff have received their boosters and we expect to be at 81% by the end of this week.  This is an enormous accomplishment and extremely important in continuing to keep all of us healthy and as safe as possible. 

Our final booster clinic is tomorrow, Tuesday, December 14^th.  We ordered extra doses and have a few open spaces if you have not already signed up!  To sign up for a booster please visit Sign Up Genius to reserve your time slot.  You can also access the Sign Up via the staff portal, the password is staff1261.  As a reminder we are offering a $200 bonus for eligible individuals that receive their booster by tomorrow, December 14^th. 

If you choose not to receive your booster and are eligible, you will be asked to wear an N95 mask starting this Wednesday, December 15^th.  As a reminder, if you become eligible for the booster after December 14^th, please communicate with Chelsey Emmons and share your choice to receive the booster or to wear an N95.  Community cases are on the rise and the Omicron variant is in CT.  The N95 or the booster will provide added protection to you, the residents, your coworkers, and your family.

Holiday Raffle Baskets:  Please stop by the front desk between now and Sunday to purchase raffle tickets for the baskets.  The tickets are $2 each; 3 tickets for $5; 7 tickets for $10; or 15 tickets for $20.  You will then be able to put your ticket(s) in a raffle for the basket of your choice.  We will select the winners on Monday, December 20^th and ask that you pick up your basket by December 24^th.  All proceeds from the basket raffle will be used by the neighborhoods for engagement related activities above and beyond our regular programming.  We are excited to spread cheer and have our neighborhoods be creative in what extra special work they can do with everyone that lives here, start brainstorming!

Be well,

Maley

Update 12-6-2021

December 6, 2021

Hello Friends,

Let’s start by saying a big THANK YOU to the Operations Team for all their work in setting up Christmas decorations around LiveWell.  Getting all those trees up is not easy and is in addition to their regular schedules.  I know how many people appreciate how this season transforms spirits through décor and for that we are so thankful.  Additionally, you will soon see all the holiday baskets in the lobby… so many of you contributed to the baskets, helped put the baskets together, and set up the baskets, thank you!

Milestone Anniversaries & Employee Appreciation:  We are excited to begin celebrating our staff that have achieved a milestone anniversary in 2020 and 2021. Please be on the lookout for the list of names that we will display in the lobby, and we hope you will join us in appreciation for your teammates that have dedicated their career to all who work, live, and visit at LiveWell.  We will also be continuing our celebration of the holiday season with special treats in the Stolba Center later this week and we will continue with our special meals each Wednesday. Please share gratitude with our kitchen team for their extra efforts this month!

Holiday Raffle Baskets:  I am so impressed by the baskets you all put together and how they came together, they look AMAZING!  The baskets will be up in the lobby starting tomorrow, December 7^th through Sunday, December 19^th.  To purchase raffle tickets please visit the front desk between 8:30a and 5p daily, Lori or Jay can help you purchase tickets (via cash or check).  The tickets are $2 each; 3 tickets for $5; 7 tickets for $10; or 15 tickets for $20.  You will then be able to put your ticket(s) in a raffle for the basket of your choice.  We will select the winners on Monday, December 20^th and ask that you pick up your basket by December 24^th.  All proceeds from the basket raffle will be used by the neighborhoods for engagement related activities above and beyond our regular programming.  We are excited to spread cheer and have our neighborhoods be creative in what extra special work they can do with everyone that lives here, start brainstorming!

COVID Booster Clinic at LiveWell: On Friday, December 10^th and Tuesday, December 14^th we will have our next two booster clinics!  Last week we had 45 of you attend the booster clinic, we now have 50% of all eligible staff boosted!  A huge thank you to Chelsey Emmons and team for organizing and administering the boosters here at LiveWell.  This Friday we will be able to offer all three types of vaccine (Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson).  If you would like Moderna or J&J, this is the clinic to sign up for!  The times we will have the booster available are 8a to 11a and 1p to 3p this Friday.  To sign up for a booster please visit Sign Up Geniusto reserve your time slot.  You can also access the Sign Up via the staff portal, the password is staff1261.  Please sign up by tomorrow, Tuesday, December 7^th for this week’s clinic!  As a reminder we are offering a $200 bonus for eligible individuals that receive their booster by December 14^th.  If you choose not to receive your booster, we will have you wear an N95 mask and eye protection next week as added protection for both the residents, your coworkers, and yourself.  If you have any questions, you can ask by replying to this email and it will come directly to me. 

Be well,

Maley

Update 12-1-2021

December 1, 2021

Hello Friends,

For almost two years LiveWell has been doing everything in our power to help to protect one another in our battle against COVID.  We have witnessed how our collective resolve to act swiftly and together can halt this disease.  We are again at an important juncture in our fight to protect one another as cases and variants are on the rise.  While our staff is 100% vaccinated, it appears that boosters are necessary in our ongoing fight to protect ourselves, our own families, and the residents who live with us.

You all impressively stepped up to do your part to become vaccinated well before the State and Federal government made vaccinations a requirement.  We need to make a similar commitment with boosters now.  At both the State and Federal level there are initiatives to make this booster mandatory.  We believe that it is unwise to wait for a federal mandate, needlessly risking more sickness or death. 

We have done remarkably well at halting this virus compared to our peers.  This is because we have always stepped up to do the right thing to protect one another before other organizations or the government.  We are scheduling our own booster clinics for staff on December 3^rd, 10^th, and 14^th.  We need all of you who are eligible for the booster to receive it by December 14^th or to resume wearing a face shield and an N95 every day. 

To show our appreciation for those who share our commitment to act swiftly and decisively to protect each other we are offering a $200 bonus to every staff member who receives the booster before December 14^th.  The bonus will be paid on December 17^th.  This booster will likely become required in the future, but this bonus will NOT be repeated after December 14^th for staff that are currently eligible for the booster.

Thank you to all who already received the booster and to those of you who will join them.  We look forward to you receiving your $200 bonus. Those who are eligible for a booster but do not choose to receive it will not get a bonus and must resume wearing an N95 and a face shield and avoid eating in shared dining areas.  As you make your choice, please remember that waiting for government mandates has not proven to be a good strategy to protect staff or residents.

If you have any questions about the boosters, please direct your questions to Chelsey Emmons, Christine Sampson, Rita Bergstrand, or Jenn Terray.  Thank you again for all you have done and continue to do to as a tribe to protect one another.

Be well,

Michael Smith          Maley Hunt

Update 11-29-2021

November 29, 2021

Hello Friends,

As we return from giving thanks it is already time to wish you a Happy Hanukkah! The Festival of Lights is here; for those that celebrate this holiday, I hope you have a wonderful week of connectedness, delicious food, and joy with your families and friends. 

Ongoing Rapid Testing & New Safety Pledge:  Please continue to rapid test at the beginning of each shift, this testing is mandatory for all employees.  Keeping all of us safe and our team whole is everyone’s responsibility.  This week we will be circulating a new safety pledge for all team members to commit to.  There are simple steps we can take to keep each other safe, and they boil down to sharing when we have symptoms or someone, we have been in contact with has symptoms, doing the proper check-in procedure on our way into work, vigilance with hand hygiene, and getting our vaccines and boosters. 

COVID Booster Clinic at LiveWell: On Friday, December 3^rd we will have our first COVID booster clinic at LiveWell, with a second clinic on Friday, December 10^th.  We will be offering the Pfizer booster at these first two clinics.  The times we will have the booster available are 8a to 10a and 1p to 3p.  To sign up for a booster please visit Sign Up Genius to reserve your vaccination.  You can also access the Sign Up via the staff portal, the password is staff1261.  Please sign up by tomorrow, Tuesday, November 30^th for this week’s clinic!  I urge you to take advantage of this opportunity to get your booster.  More and more of our team members who are not boosted are getting COVID.  I do not want to see anyone get sick and the booster is our best protection currently.  If you have any questions, you can ask by replying to this email and they will come directly to me. 

Employee Appreciation:    Over the month of December, as we close out 2021, we want to make being a part of the LiveWell team that much more special.  The days are short, it is getting cold, and we can still have fun! There will be special surprises each week throughout the month in the Stolba Center and on Wednesdays we will be doing a full meal for the team in lieu of soup (A huge thank you to the kitchen for treating our stomachs so well)!  Also, keep your eyes out for recognition of the tremendous tenure of our team with their milestone anniversaries which will be celebrated this month as well.  LiveWell is an incredibly special place because of each of you, the energy you bring, and the number of hours and years you pour into this work.  I am humbled each day working aside you and love celebrating all the contributions you make!

Be well,

Maley

Update 11-22-2021

November 22, 2021

Hello Friends,

Thanksgiving is upon us!  I cannot believe it is already here.  This is my favorite week of the year and my favorite holiday.  I try to count my blessings and give thanks to people that I care about year-round, and, hopefully this week we all get at least a brief moment of pause to truly think of all the things we are thankful for.  When I try to narrow it down, I always come back to how thankful I am for the amazing team here at LiveWell.  The teamwork, the care and compassion, the dedication to the residents and each other… it truly is unparalleled.  Thank you for all that you bring to this team, your expertise, your uniqueness, and your energy. Each of you is what makes LiveWell special.  I also want to recognize that we do care for people every day, all day and with that comes working holidays.  I am extra grateful for the time each of you give to be here this week and over the holiday.

I need to juxtapose my thanks with caution to please be safe this holiday.  I appreciate how exciting it is to spend time with more people than last year, however the risks are still high.  Try to be around only vaccinated people and keep your groups small.  Practice excellent hand hygiene and mask wearing while at work.  Most importantly, if ANYONE you are around develops symptoms, call your supervisor and relay that information BEFORE coming to work.  Exposures will sideline team members and put a crunch on others.  It is up to each of us to keep everyone healthy and to keep LiveWell well-staffed throughout this season.  Thank you in advance for getting your boosters (more information below on a LiveWell booster clinic), being smart about the safety precautions you have at your gatherings and practicing great infection control in all areas of your life. 

Employee Appreciation Pies: Yum, it is time for LiveWell’s holiday pie tradition!  Some of you have gotten to experience this tradition year after year and for some of you it is new.  Each year we offer our thanks and appreciation for you through Apple and Pumpkin pies! Starting tomorrow through Wednesday afternoon, we will have them in the lobby around shift changes.  If you are not on the schedule, I encourage you to drop in to grab your pie!

COVID Updates & Booster Clinic at LiveWell:  Breakthrough cases of COVID are happening.  We have had 4 fully vaccinated, but not boosted staff members test positive in the last month and we have had 2 additional staff with direct unmasked exposures to COVID in the last week.  This is alarming.  With this increase in cases, please continue to rapid test daily.  We will test all residents tomorrow morning, if the residents test negative, we will be able to return to surgical masks on 2B tomorrow. 

Most people at LiveWell were fully vaccinated in January, 10 months ago, and it is time for a booster!  Anyone who received Pfizer or Moderna before May 22, 2021 is eligible and anyone who received Johnson and Johnson before September 22, 2021 is eligible. 87% of you are eligible for the booster and only 19% of you have reported to us that you received it.  If you have already gotten your booster, please bring your card into Jacky Clark or Anne McCarty.  Other nursing homes in Connecticut are having major outbreaks and those outbreaks are starting and spreading primarily through people who did not have their booster. 

With these facts, we have found a way to offer COVID boosters at LiveWell!  Our Nurse Leadership Team will be hosting Pfizer booster clinics on December 3^rd and December 10^th from 8a to 10a and 1p to 3p.  To sign up for a booster please visit Sign Up Genius to reserve your vaccination.  Everyone needs to sign up by the Tuesday before each clinic so that we can order the correct number of doses.  Next week I will share more information on the paperwork you will need to complete for the clinic.  As we have demand we will continue to offer more dates.  Please, take advantage of this opportunity to get your booster as cases continue to rise in the community.  If you have any questions, you can ask by replying to this email and they will come directly to me.  Be well,

Maley

Update 11-17-2021

November 17, 2021

Hello Friends,

It’s not Monday… but you still get a memo! I wanted to be able to share updates on testing and visiting, thus the delay in this week’s update.

Testing & Visitor Status: We are pleased to share that all residents in Skilled Nursing and Assisted Living tested negative for COVID yesterday. All staff have also tested negative for COVID. We will continue to test staff daily and will test all residents again on Tuesday, November 23^rd. We also wanted to share that new guidance was recently released by CMS and we are able to resume visits for ALL neighborhoods.  The new guidance shares that we do not have to pause visits as long as risks are shared with any visitors.  We will continue to communicate well with this tribe and families on any exposures, changes in testing, and increased risks regarding visits.

PPE Levels: All staff will continue to check in at the front on the Accushield.  If you are working on 2B we will have you test upstairs on the neighborhood, wear an N95, and use eye protection (face shield or goggles) until Tuesday, November 23^rd.  2B will not have to wear gowns between residents.  All other staff will wear surgical masks throughout the building.

Screening Questions & Reporting Symptoms: It is incredibly important that each of us accurately report how we are feeling each day.  More and more other illnesses are going around in addition to cases of COVID getting closer to LiveWell.  Just over the past 3 weeks we have had 3 staff members get COVID and 1 more have COVID in their home.  If you have ANY symptoms or anyone in your home has ANY symptoms you must report them to your supervisor immediately and receive guidance on next steps.  Every day counts when getting ahead of the spread of COVID and making yourself available to test is crucial.  Coming to work without first receiving guidance and not testing in a timely manner puts everyone at risk.  We will be creating an updated safety pledge for all of you to sign in the coming week outlining this guidance.

Boosters and Flu Vaccines: The best way to keep everyone safe is through vaccination.  While over 99.5% of our team is fully vaccinated for COVID, boosters are critical.  Only 15% of you that are eligible for boosters have shared with us that you have received one.  Thankfully our resident booster rate is over 95%.  If you have your booster, please share a new copy of your card with Jacky Clark ASAP.  If you need help scheduling your booster please ask as we are happy to help you get your shot!  As a reminder, flu vaccinations are mandatory at LiveWell, as they have been in recent years. All staff must receive their flu shot by December 3^rd.  I will share additional dates/times that Chelsey Emmons will be available to give Flu Shots next week.

Be well,

Maley

Update 11-12-2021

November 12, 2021

Hello Friends,

Today we were once again reminded how COVID-19 is a persisting reality.  This morning a vaccinated staff member reported symptoms and tested positive for COVID-19 on a rapid antigen test.  This staff member last worked on the 2B neighborhood on Tuesday, November 9th, and was symptom free throughout their shift.  On Wednesday morning this person developed symptoms.  This staff member is recovering at home and will remain at home until they are cleared to return.

As a precautionary measure we have begun precautions on the 2B neighborhood including the use of N95s, shields, and gowns. After learning of the staff member’s positive result this morning, we conducted rapid antigen tests on all residents and all resident results were negative for COVID-19.  We will repeat resident testing again on Tuesday, November 16^th. 

We have resumed testing all staff members daily, please complete a rapid test at the start of each shift.  Additionally, if you worked this week or came to the Education Fair please come in to complete a rapid test between now and 12:00pm on Monday, November 15^th.  We must test all staff who have worked to resume visits on the unexposed neighborhoods.   

Per current health regulations, this one positive staff case requires us to temporarily pause all visits. Depending on the results of our testing, we may potentially resume visits with all residents, except those living on 2B, as early as the afternoon of Tuesday, November 16^th.  Visits with residents from the 2B neighborhood will need to remain paused until at least the afternoon of Tuesday, November 23^rd, again depending on the results from our ongoing testing.

Over 71% of residents have received their COVID-19 booster with more scheduled next week as we now have both access to order and administer all booster options (Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson) for residents.  It is important that all staff continue to receive their boosters, if you are more than 6-months past when you received your vaccine it is not as effective at protecting you from COVID-19.  If you have gotten your booster, please give a copy of your updated vaccination card to Jacky Clark or Anne McCarty as soon as possible.

Finally, if you or anyone you have close contact with has ANY symptoms (cough, fever, runny nose, etc.) you must stay home, report the symptoms to LiveWell immediately, and get tested.  Thank you in advance for understanding and respecting how important timing is to keeping everyone that lives, works, and visits at LiveWell safe. 

Be well,

Michael, Smith and Maley Hunt

Update 11-12-2021

November 12, 2021

Hello Friends,

All neighborhoods are currently off precautions and visits are open for all residents!  Thank you for the amazing ways that each of you stepped up to ensure that everyone stayed safe.  The last two weeks are an excellent reminder that it is up to all of us to keep each other safe and healthy.  Please continue to call your supervisor if you or anyone you have been in contact with has symptoms (runny nose, cough, fever, lack of taste/smell, etc.).  As the holiday’s approach, and you are attend holiday gatherings, please be aware of the vaccination status of the people you are with and if possible, wear masks and gather in smaller groups.  It is up to all of us to keep our community safe, and you are doing an amazing job of leading the way!

Welcome New Tribe Members & Celebrate New Roles

Please join me in welcoming the nine new tribe members that completed orientation last week.  As you see them please introduce yourself and help them find their way around. We are so glad they are here and how their presence here helps to continue to grow our team!  Joining as full time Care Partners we have Jeanine M. and Olivia F. and per diem Care Partners Antoinette M. and Jazmyne I.  In the dining department Jillissa S. joins us as a full-time team member and Emma R., Alexavier R., Tajlia L. as per diems.  We have also added a weekend receptionist on Saturday and Sunday from 8:30a to 5:00p and Jay C. will be filling that position.  In addition to new tribe members, I would like you to all join me in celebrating Chelsey E. who will be our new Infection Preventionist and Meredith D. who will be our new Finance Specialist!

Open Enrollment (Deadline 11/15)

The Open Enrollment deadline is one week away and over 100 employees still need to enroll. Please login to the benefits portal and review the presentation online or use the QR code posted at time clocks to access the presentation.  Jacky Clark and Anne McCarty are available this week to help. Please reach out for an appointment with them, if needed.  Additionally, as the end of our benefits year approaches so do the last few weeks to get Rally benefits for this year.  If you log in to Rally there are numerous ways to earn money for gift cards, please ask if you have questions!

Education Fair

The fair is happening this week on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.  It is mandatory that all team members attend the education fair.  This year we are asking you to download the Relias app before the fairas the quizzes will be in real time electronically; click to download the Relias app here app  now.  If you don’t have the capability to download the app we will have iPads available.  Please know your Relias log in information when you come to the fair.

Be well,

Maley

Update 11-8-2021

November 8, 2021

Hello Friends,

All neighborhoods are currently off precautions and visits are open for all residents!  Thank you for the amazing ways that each of you stepped up to ensure that everyone stayed safe.  The last two weeks are an excellent reminder that it is up to all of us to keep each other safe and healthy.  Please continue to call your supervisor if you or anyone you have been in contact with has symptoms (runny nose, cough, fever, lack of taste/smell, etc.).  As the holiday’s approach, and you are attend holiday gatherings, please be aware of the vaccination status of the people you are with and if possible, wear masks and gather in smaller groups.  It is up to all of us to keep our community safe, and you are doing an amazing job of leading the way!

Welcome New Tribe Members & Celebrate New Roles

Please join me in welcoming the nine new tribe members that completed orientation last week.  As you see them please introduce yourself and help them find their way around. We are so glad they are here and how their presence here helps to continue to grow our team!  Joining as full time Care Partners we have Jeanine M. and Olivia F. and per diem Care Partners Antoinette M. and Jazmyne I.  In the dining department Jillissa S. joins us as a full-time team member and Emma R., Alexavier R., Tajlia L. as per diems.  We have also added a weekend receptionist on Saturday and Sunday from 8:30a to 5:00p and Jay C. will be filling that position.  In addition to new tribe members, I would like you to all join me in celebrating Chelsey E. who will be our new Infection Preventionist and Meredith D. who will be our new Finance Specialist!

Open Enrollment (Deadline 11/15)

The Open Enrollment deadline is one week away and over 100 employees still need to enroll. Please login to the benefits portal and review the presentation online or use the QR code posted at time clocks to access the presentation.  Jacky Clark and Anne McCarty are available this week to help. Please reach out for an appointment with them, if needed.  Additionally, as the end of our benefits year approaches so do the last few weeks to get Rally benefits for this year.  If you log in to Rally there are numerous ways to earn money for gift cards, please ask if you have questions!

Education Fair

The fair is happening this week on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.  It is mandatory that all team members attend the education fair.  This year we are asking you to download the Relias app before the fairas the quizzes will be in real time electronically; click to download the Relias app here app  now.  If you don’t have the capability to download the app we will have iPads available.  Please know your Relias log in information when you come to the fair.

Be well,

Maley

Update 11-1-2021

November 1, 2021

Hello Friends,

Thank you ALL for your amazing pivot last week to help keep our tribe safe!  Please join me in giving extra gratitude for the 2A team and their ongoing focus on increased precautions for the rest of this week.  This instance of a fully vaccinated staff member testing positive reminds us how important it is to wear our masks, wash our hands, and be mindful of higher risk situations/activities.  While it is exciting to think that children may be eligible to receive the vaccine as soon as later this week, we all need to remember that as the weather gets colder and gatherings move inside that these are high risk environments for the spread of COVID.  Each time we have a tribe member test positive it will mean added precautions and limited family visits.  Let us continue to do our amazing work of prevention, get boosters when eligible, and not drop our guard when it comes to this virus!

Current Precaution Levels:  Here is a summary of where we are in regard to our possible COVID exposure on October 22^nd.  We will continue to rapid test ALL STAFF before each shift through Friday, November 5^th.  2A will stay on precautions through Friday.  Visitors will be allowed for residents on 1A, 1B, 2B, and AL.  There will not be visitors for 2A at this time.  We reminded all visitors that if they are not fully vaccinated, they are not to visit past the secure double doors to the core.  If you need help supporting this or if you have any questions on precautions, testing, or visitors, please ask! 

Evening of Remembrance: On Thursday, November 4^th there will be a Virtual Celebration of Life beginning at 4pm.  You can access the program HERE.  Following the virtual program, we will have a Memorial Luminary walk from 5p to 7p.  The walk will be a drop in event where people can participate in a reflective experience honoring and remembering the residents who have passed from September 2019 through August 2021.  The outdoor event will require masks and social distancing.  We invite all of you to participate in either or both events and we will have ways that people who are working may participate as well. 

Open Enrollment:  All benefits eligible employees should visit the benefits portal to enroll by November 15^thand learn more about what benefits LiveWell offers.  Unfortunately, some of our in-person sessions were cut short last week, however the recorded presentation is available on the portal which is also where you will enroll.  Please reach out to Anne McCarty or Jacky Clark with any questions, they are here to help!

Flu Vaccinations: If you did not receive your flu shot last week please visit the Nursing Supervisor’s office to receive your shot or to set up a time to receive it.  If you receive the flu vaccine outside of LiveWell, please share your documentation with Laurah Michaels.

Education Fair: We will be holding our annual education fair November 9^th, 10^th, and 11^th.  The teams are working on some awesome timely topics that will apply to all employees including NEW ‘Plain Language’ for emergency communication, Infection Control, Back Safety, Well-Being Rounds, and Coaching for Communication.  This year we are asking you to download the Relias app before the fair as the quizzes will be in real time electronically; download the Relias app here app  now.  (If you don’t have the capability to download the app we will have iPads available.  Please know your Relias log in information when you come to the fair.)

Be well,

Maley

Update 10-26-2021

October 26, 2021

Hello Friends,

It is our unpleasant role to share with you the unfortunate reality that this COVID virus remains in our midst. This morning a vaccinated staff member has reported to us a breakthrough case of COVID-19.  This staff member last worked on the 2A neighborhood on Friday, October 22^nd, and was symptom free throughout their shift.  Over the weekend this person developed symptoms and was tested on Monday.  They received and shared their results with us today.  This staff member is recovering at home and will remain at home until they are cleared to return.

As a precautionary measure we have placed all residents living on the 2A neighborhood on contact precautions. We tested all residents using rapid antigen tests, and all results are negative for COVID-19.  We have tested approximately half of our staff and those results are negative as well. This is very encouraging news.

 HuntIf you worked any shift between last Tuesday, October 19th and today, please come in to rapid test as soon as possible. We will monitor all residents and staff for any symptoms.  We will repeat resident testing again on Friday, October 29^th.  As part of our ‘science plus’ commitment, in addition to resident testing, we will rapid test all staff, every day prior to your shift and wear KN95 masks, for as long as we remain in an outbreak period which at a minimum is November 6th.

This one positive staff case also requires us to temporarily pause all family visits.  Depending on the results of our testing, we may potentially resume visits with all residents, except those living on 2A, as early as October 30th.  Visits with residents from the 2A neighborhood will need to remain paused until at least November 6th, again depending on the results from our ongoing testing. While in-person visits are paused it will be our responsibility to help support the families with their need to stay virtually connected.

 This instance is a reminder of how important it is to share any symptoms you develop in real time.  If you work a shift, any symptoms you develop within 48-hours of working must be reported immediately and we will most likely ask you to come to LiveWell to do a drive up rapid test.  Additionally, if you have any symptoms, DO NOT come to work even if you are fully vaccinated. We must take every symptom seriously.  We are sorry for the disruption that this virus continues to cause.  We appreciate your understanding and flexibility, and we will continue to communicate with you as we navigate this situation.

 

Be well,

Michael, Smith and Maley Hunt

Update 10-25-2021

October 25, 2021

Hello Friends,

Hello Friends,

Happy Halloween Week!  I hope you all get lots of treats and only fun tricks.  Keep your eyes out around LiveWell at the end of this week for some sweet tooth satisfying treats. For all of you that are working on Saturday or Sunday, we invite you to mark the ‘Halloweekend’ by wearing Halloween scrubs or a festive sweater/shirt to mark the occasion, should you choose.  Additionally, there are a lot of events in the coming weeks so please encourage your co-workers to read this memo and look for flyers by the timeclocks and Accushield for the most up to date information about all our Fall happenings. (If you know someone that needs to be added or have this sent to a different email address please let Brian Connolly know.)
 
Benefit Meetings and Open Enrollment:  This pandemic emphasized that there is a lot that we deal with that is beyond our control.  How we treat each other in the face of stress says a lot about our Tribe and what we value.  Our Tribe reinforced the need to take care of each other and to be attentive to our mental health especially when stress levels get high.  In an ongoing effort to share our appreciation for you we are making some significant improvements to our health Insurance and wellness resources. 
 
In December, we will be doubling the money we deposit into your Health Savings Accounts; providing you with more dollars to help offset deductibles.  We will also be expanding the HealthJoy resources to all benefit eligible staff to cover mental health services, providing you with affordable, accessible, and ongoing mental health benefits.  
 
To learn more about these enhancements there are in-person meetings in the Boardroom on Tuesday, 10/26 at 7a, 8:15a, 2p, and 3:15p and on Wednesday, 10/27 at 7a, 8:15a, 2p, and 3:15p.  (See your supervisor or posted schedule for nursing for your scheduled time or stop into a meeting if you are not working that day.) There is also a recorded session in the Open Enrollment Guide on our benefits portal which is also where you will enroll.  Open enrollment is from Tuesday, October 26th to Monday, November 15^th.  Please reach out to Anne McCarty or Jacky Clark with any questions, they are here to help!

Flu Vaccinations This Week: Laurah M. will be administering flu vaccines this week.  You can drop in on Tuesday from 7a to 2p, Wednesday from 7a to 11a, or Friday from 7a to 3p to get your flu shot.  If you receive the flu vaccine outside of LiveWell, please share your documentation with Laurah Michaels.

Education Fair: We will be holding our annual education fair November 9^th, 10^th, and 11^th.  The teams are working on some awesome timely topics that will apply to all employees including NEW ‘Plain Language’ for emergency communication, Infection Control, Back Safety, Well-Being Rounds, and Coaching for Communication.  This year we are asking you to download the Relias app before the fair as the quizzes will be in real time electronically; download the Relias app here app  now.  (If you don’t have the capability to download the app we will have iPads available.  Please know your Relias log in information when you come to the fair.)

Be well,

Maley

Update 10-18-2021

October 18, 2021

Hello Friends,

Thank you all for your amazing work this week.  I am consistently impressed by all of you and your dedication to the LiveWell tribe.  When I get the chance to work the front desk, I hear from SO MANY families and visitors about the specifically wonderful ways that you care for and support their relative or friend.  People regularly comment on how much they feel like family and never would have expected feeling such a sense of community with a ‘nursing home’ or ‘assisted living’ and I know that this difference is each of you!  Thank you for your commitment and I look forward to continuing to find amazing ways to recount appreciation and recognize all of you!

Benefit Meetings and Open Enrollment:  Next week will be the kickoff for Open Enrollment, the time of year when we are able to review and renew our employer sponsored benefits.  This year we are excited to bring back in-person benefit update meetings.  There will be five sessions next week.  The days and times for those meetings will be posted by the timeclocks later this week.  There will be some enhancements made to this year’s benefits, particularly around an increased behavioral health benefit, we encourage you to attend one of the sessions next week to get more information!

Flu Vaccinations: Laurah M. will be spearheading our employee flu vaccination administration with hours the last week of October and the first week of November to get vaccinated at LiveWell.  The days and times will be posted by the RN Supervisor office later this week and shared in next week’s memo.  If you receive the flu vaccine outside of LiveWell, please share your documentation with Laurah Michaels.

COVID-19 Vaccine Booster:  Thank you to all who have gotten their booster and who are sharing their updated vaccination card with us!  I figured I would continue to share the links to make an appointment.  I believe they are still only scheduling Pfizer boosters but the Johnson & Johnson and Moderna boosters were approved last week so all who are 6-months post initial vaccination will be able to get boosters in the coming weeks.  CVS and Walgreens both have portals to schedule your booster, I also am hearing the Stop & Shop, Walmart, and Costco also have boosters available. If you need help scheduling a booster in the community, please reach out.  The boosters are exceptionally important to enhance your immunity against COVID-19 going into the winter months, which is when it was the worst last year; help protect yourself, your family, and LiveWell by making this a priority.  Please share a copy of your updated vaccination card with Jacky Clarkor Anne McCarty.

Be well,

Maley

Update 10-11-2021

October 11, 2021

Hello Friends,

A Tuesday Memo this week!  I hope this update finds you well.  I so appreciate all that you have done to welcome new residents, support changes in current residents, and be there for the families and visitors.  I know as the weather gets cooler that finding safe inside visiting spaces will get more challenging, I am working on a family letter reminding everyone of safe ways to visit inside and will share that with each neighborhood when it is complete so you have the same information as the families!

An Evening of Remembrance: It has been over two years since LiveWell has done a celebration of life for those who have passed away.  On November 4^th we will do an “Evening of Remembrance” for our friends who passed between September 2019 and August 2021.  The evening will consist of a Virtual Celebration of Life on Zoom at 4pm and then a drop in Evening Memorial Luminary Walk from 5p to 7p in the front circle.  We will share the official invitation with all of you and provide more details on logistics as we get closer.  The event invitation will go to all the families of those who passed, current families, and staff.  We will also be asking for volunteers to help in different ways with set up and programming, if you are interested in volunteering to help with the event, please reach out to me or Jenna Weiss.

COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Update:  This week we will be administering boosters for most of the residents on Wednesday and Friday.  A HUGE proactive thank you to all the people who are helping make this happen.  From ordering the doses, to the paperwork, to calling the families, to entering the orders, so many of you are helping make this possible and it keeps everyone safer, very important work!

At this time, we do not have a date to be able to administer staff boosters at LiveWell.  While we are pursuing alternatives to make this a reality, I strongly encourage you to get your booster in the community as doses are readily available!  CVS and Walgreens both have portals to schedule your booster, I also am hearing the Stop & Shop, Walmart, and Costco also have boosters available.  Several staff have shared their booster experience with me, side effects seem minimal and ease of getting an appointment seems high, I can say the same of my own experience.  If you need help scheduling a booster in the community, please reach out.  The boosters are exceptionally important to enhance your immunity against COVID-19 going into the winter months, which is when it was the worst last year, help protect yourself, your family, and LiveWell by making this a priority.  Please share a copy of your updated vaccination card with Jacky Clark or Anne McCarty.

Flu Vaccinations: We will still be administering flu shots for staff by our team!  Those clinics will take place the end of October/beginning of November.  As we have dates/times I will share with all of you.  There is no issue on how close together the COVID booster and flu immunization are (local pharmacies will give people both at once in different arms).

Be well,

Maley

Update 10-4-2021

October 4, 2021

Hello Friends,

It’s fall y’all!  This is my favorite season and I’ve heard that it is some of your favorite too. I hope that despite today’s dreary rain that you all get to enjoy some fall foliage and the season’s treats.  Whether it is a fall hike, sweater weather, pumpkins, cider… I hope that you get to take time to enjoy the changing seasons and uniqueness that is New England this time of year!

Dietary Department Recognition: Food is so important to all of us, and our dining team works so hard to bring our residents, and us, fabulous meals each day!  This week we are celebrating their hard work with a lunch on Thursday.  Please join me in recognizing their contributions to our tribe.  They are often ‘behind the scenes’ positively contributing to so many different areas of our community.  Thank you for all your amazing work, I look forward to celebrating you this week with food you don’t have to prepare!

COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Update:  For many of us, it’s time!  LiveWell will be recommending booster shots for all staff and residents.  Current eligibility allows for any team member to get the booster if they received both doses of the Pfizer vaccine at least six months ago (April 4^th or prior).  The vaccines that were given at LiveWell in the Stolba Center were all Pfizer. 

While we are still working on setting up our own administration of resident vaccines and a clinic for staff, I encourage you to get your booster in the community as it is very easy to schedule.  You can make an appointment for when it is most convenient for you as we will likely only be offering one clinic.  CVS and Walgreens both have portals to schedule your booster.  It will ask for your Name, Date of Birth, Type of Initial Vaccine, Date of Second Dose, and you will select the option for “18 and older and at high risk due to occupational or institutional exposure.”  (I tested this out today and easily booked a dose for after work at the Walgreens by my house this week!  I am hearing that the CVS site sometimes took two tries to find the appropriate locations, but both have worked well for folks.) 

When you go get your booster you will need to bring: a photo id, your COVID immunization card (the white CDC card), and your health insurance card.  There will be no cost to you to get your booster.  If you have any questions, please reach out and bring us a copy of your updated cards when you get your booster.  We will let you know when we have a date for a clinic here at LiveWell.

Be well,

Maley

Update 9-27-2021

September 27, 2021

Hi Friends,

Wow!  I heard from so many of you last week on things that you are grateful for and things that bring you joy.  From Fall flowers to your own travel experiences and planned trips to hikes and outdoor adventures and everything in between, you all have a tremendous amount of joy that you spread in and outside of work.  I was also able to see the joy you bring to families and how grateful they are for each of you.  It is overflowing how families feel about your work and I hope that they share it with you as much as they share it with me!

Welcome New Tribe Members: Last week we had 6 new people join the LiveWell Team!  Kaitlyn and Alicia are care partners joining the B-Side teams.  Maritza and Kathleen are care partners joining the A-Side teams.  Angela is a care partner joining per diem and Jeff is joining the maintenance team.  Please say hi, introduce yourselves, and help show them around!

COVID-19 Vaccine Booster and Other Updates: Thank you to all of you who are asking great questions about the COVID-19 Booster.  Last week, recommendations were officially released that all adults over 65 or living in congregate settings should receive a booster 6-months after receiving their second dose of the Pfizer vaccine; this recommendation applies to most of the residents at LiveWell.  Additionally, there were recommendations that adults 16 to 64 who are at an increased risk may receive a booster 6-months after receiving their second dose of the Pfizer vaccine; this recommendation applies to most of the employees at LiveWell.  We are actively working on receiving consents for residents to be able to get a booster and to get more information on how team members can get the booster, more information to come!

This week also marks the deadline for our tribe to be fully vaccinated to be in compliance with the Department of Public Health requirement for long term care employees. I am happy to report that the team has done a PHENOMENAL job in getting us ready for this requirement!  From completing the required paperwork to collecting and organizing that paperwork it has taken so much work from so many team members, thank you!

Finally, please remember that it is everyone’s responsibility to help encourage good infection control principles for ourselves and visitors, including wearing masks over our nose and mouth, practicing good hand hygiene, socially distancing when possible, and staying home when feeling unwell.  You all are doing a great job at this, and I encourage you to keep it up and feel confident to remind visitors to do the same; simple practices like masks and clean hands will make a difference in our continued success.

Be well,

Maley

Update 9-24-2021

September 24, 2021

Dear Friends,

Last month I shared with you that we did not receive the Certificate of Need (CON) we sought from the Department of Social Services (DSS).  This CON was required to proceed with our plans to renovate and change our skilled nursing care.  I would like to share an update on our plans so that you are aware of where we currently stand.

In August we filed an appeal with DSS to hold a rehearing on our CON.  I am pleased to share that our appeal was accepted by DSS.  DSS indicated that they are granting the Request for Reconsideration and reopening this matter.  While this is far more favorable than a denial of our Request for Reconsideration, I want to be clear, DSS is not reversing its decision and granting LiveWell’s CON request. They are agreeing to schedule a hearing which will likely take place in October 2021.  This hearing will allow us to provide additional evidence.  Optimistically this may provide the opportunity for us to mitigate their objections and/or reach a modified CON agreement.

 All things considered, this DSS decision is a step in a positive direction.  As I know more, I will share more.  Thank you all for your support, patience, and encouragement.

Be well,

      
Michael J. Smith           
President and CEO

Update 9-20-2021

September 20, 2021

Jambo (Hello) Friends,

Thank you for all your amazing work while I was away.  There is something so comforting about our LiveWell tribe and knowing that while you are away there are the most talented people here to fill in the gap.  I know that when any of us take time off there is more energy expended by our co-workers to pick up the pieces and I am so appreciative of the people that did that for me and the people that do that for each of you when you take your time!  I have so much Gratitude and Joy for all of you, for my husband, and for the ability to travel. I want to continue to practice that Good Gardening Value this week with all of you.  I look forward to rounding, seeing you, and hearing more about how you are Practicing Gratitude and Joy this week. I will also work to recognize the ways that I see you Practice Gratitude and Joy on a regular basis because I see it everywhere and it is what makes the LiveWell atmosphere so unique!

Recognizing Maintenance and Housekeeping: Last Thursday we got to celebrate the Maintenance and Housekeeping team.  This team does SO much for LiveWell; they are everywhere, helping with everything.  From clearing snow in the winter to keeping the building immaculate to connecting with residents and their families, I have never experienced a team more in tune with what the people who live, work, and visit here need.  Thank you for all that you do day in and day out to keep LiveWell functioning, this building would not be the same without each of your caring and compassionate approaches to how you do your work!

Orientation This Week: We have a new hire orientation from Wednesday to Friday this week in the board room.  It is another large crew, please pop in if they are on break and introduce yourself/welcome them to LiveWell.  Each orientation I hear the same thing, “Everyone here is so warm and welcoming,” thank you for helping curate that atmosphere!

Be well,

Maley 

Update 8-30-2021

August 30, 2021

Dear Friends,

Thank you all for your amazing work in getting your Relias done, tirelessly practicing good infection control, asking great questions to support your teams, and having fabulous perspectives day in and day out.  I see how much you each contribute every week, how dedicated you are, and how hard this work can be.  Your commitment is unparalleled, and I am so excited for where we will continue to go as a team with new members, all practicing our values together, I see how you energize each other, and it is truly inspiring! 

Welcome New Tribe Members: Last week we had 9 new people join the LiveWell Team!  Anastasia, Genevive, and Glenda are all care partners joining the 1B team.  Samantha and Amy are care partners joining the 1A team and Beulah is joining as a per diem care partner.  Sarah is joining as a per diem nurse, Sherma is joining the dietary team, and  Janet is joining as a Master of Social Work student.  Please say hi, introduce yourselves, and help show them around!

Practice Connectedness: I invited you all to Practice Connectedness with me and while I can never reach all of you in one week, I had an incredible time connecting with different voices in new ways last week.  With more intentionality I was even more able to see how connected each of you are with residents and how in those unique relationships both parties can, “receive sustenance, strength, and healing.” 

I want to recognize that in just one week it was possible to see uniqueness in each neighborhood and department. Last week I saw 2B rally around supporting a changing elder with deep emotional connection, I saw 2A connect as a team to help support its tribe members, I saw AL bid farewell to a moving resident, I saw 1B have fabulous engagement among residents and care partners, and I saw 1A share joy when a resident came off precautions.  Each week there are new opportunities to Practice Connectedness and look to the Good Gardening Values in a new way with renewed purpose.  I look forward to continuing to explore them even more in the coming months.

Time Away:  I will be away on my honeymoon from September 2^nd to September 19^th.  If you have any questions, concerns, or ideas during that time please reach out to Michael Smith or Anne McCarty in my absence.  I look forward to seeing you all when I return in a few weeks!

Be well,

Maley

 

Update 8-23-2021

August 23, 2021

Dear Friends,

Let’s start with a HUGE shout out to everyone that helped LiveWell prepare for the storm this past weekend.  From everyone that came in as scheduled for their shifts to the dining team making sandwiches for the team to the maintenance team prepping the grounds, ALL of you played a part in us being prepared.  Thankfully the storm was not as bad as is it could be, however just knowing there could be challenges so many of you stepped up for this tribe and for that we are extremely grateful! 

Practice Connectedness: I would like to start a new “LiveWell Good Gardening Values” spotlight and focus this week on Practicing Connectedness and remind us that:

Every living thing is connected.

We feel connected when we are seen, heard, and valued; and when we give and receive without judgement.

We receive sustenance, strength, and healing from our relationships.

These relationships benefit from diversity, and safe spaces to grow.

Together we become stronger and more connected when power is shared.

Together we create a shared vision and remain open to its evolution.

One way I actively approach connectedness is through rounding.  When I round it is an open invitation for you to stop me, ask questions, raise concerns, and provide suggestions.  All leaders at LiveWell want to hear from you and we can only answer questions and address concerns when you practice connecting with us.  It is when our voices come together and explore different perspectives that we will grow and succeed. 

I am so appreciative of how I see our values practiced each day and am excited to share with you how I try to practice them and how I see you practicing them. This week I invite you to Practice Connectedness with me, share ways that you see it manifesting at LiveWell and I will include your observations, and mine, in next week’s memo!

HR Huddles: Anne, Jacky, and I will be sharing HR updates through huddles throughout the community and across different shifts.  We will be reviewing topics that we get the most questions on including: the COVID Exposure/Sick Pay Protocol, the Per Diem Policy, and a staffing update.  If there are other topics that you are curious about, please reach out and we will add them to our agendas.  We look forward to connecting with you over the coming week and will post times for these huddles by the time clocks!

COVID-19 Vaccination: Starting September 7th the COVID Vaccination will be mandatory for all long-term care employees across Connecticut.  Thank you all for your commitment to getting the vaccine!  For us to be in compliance, if you got the vaccine outside of LiveWell, we will be collecting attestations that the vaccine cards you provided us are accurate.  This is a requirement from the State of Connecticut.  If you received your vaccination at an outside clinic, please stop by the front desk and complete an attestation from; we will also be reaching out proactively to you if we know you got your vaccine outside of LiveWell.

Relias: If you have not completed your Relias yet, please get it done as soon as possible!  The due date for all employees is September 5, 2021.  Thank you in advance for getting this done!

Be well,

Maley

 

Update 8-16-2021

August 16, 2021

Dear Friends,

This week we are being faced with the unfortunate reality that the COVID-19 cases in Connecticut and across the United States are back to trending up due to the rise of the Delta variant.  This week the Hartford County positivity rate was 4.7%, the highest it has been since late winter.  These increases in cases are getting closer and closer to LiveWell. 

Resident and Staff COVID-19 Exposures: Over the last few weeks, we have had three residents with potential exposures to COVID-19 that require each resident to be isolated for 14-days.  All three resident were exposed while off campus with fully vaccinated family members.  These exposures reveal that while the vaccine is still our best protection, it is not 100% effective in preventing someone from contracting COVID-19.  At this time, we will be escalating our risk level on residents leaving campus, even with fully vaccinated relatives.  Currently, we are recommending that residents only leave the campus with family if it is for a medical appointment.  If a resident leaves the LiveWell campus for any reason, we will perform a risk assessment asking questions around vaccination statuses, the ability to wear masks for the duration of the visit, and the destinations off campus.  The answers to these questions could result in in a resident being isolated for 14-days upon their return to mitigate the risks of leaving the campus.

In addition to resident exposures, we currently have three fully vaccinated LiveWell employees quarantining at home due to close contact exposures while outside of work.  All three remain at home and continue to rapid test negative.  With cases getting closer to LiveWell, we want to remind you that, should a team member or resident test positive, we would need to conduct outbreak testing for all of us and the residents and suspend regular visits for a short period of time while that testing occurs.  We all know how upsetting it would be to the residents and their families to suspend visits, so it is in part up to us to continue to practice above average infection control while at work and while at home.

Reporting Exposures and Symptoms: Most importantly, regardless of your vaccination status, should you experience any COVID-19 symptoms (cough, fever, headache, body aches, diarrhea, loss of smell, etc.), someone you live with experiences those symptoms, or you have a known exposure to COVID, please, STAY HOME and call your supervisor to share symptoms and exposure status.  From there we will determine your individual risk, offer rapid testing to you (and/or the person you live with), and provide a return-to-work plan.  We are partners in infection control, and we would all appreciate someone to stay home when sick/exposed as opposed to risking an outbreak at LiveWell.  Finally, the CDC now recommends that ALL people (vaccinated or unvaccinated) wear masks when in public, if you need masks for this purpose, please ask!

As always, reach out if you have any questions about our protocols, rationale for certain safety measures, or suggestions for how we can continue LiveWell’s science-plus approach to infection control. 

Be well, remain vigilant, and keep wearing your masks,

Maley

 

 

Update 8-9-2021

August 9, 2021

Dear Friends,

Welcome New Tribe Members:  Last week we had 10 new people join the LiveWell Team!  Sharin, Socorro, and Paola are all care partners joining the B-Side teams and Irma is a care partner joining the A-Side teams. Yahaira and Samantha are joining as charge nurses.  Christian is joining the dietary team and Teresa is joining the housekeeping team. Lori is joining the administration team and Sophie is joining as a volunteer!  Please say hi, introduce yourselves, and help show them around. 

Governor Mandates Vaccine for Long Term Care:  On Friday evening Governor Lamont issued an executive order mandating the vaccine for all long term care employees in Connecticut, this included skilled nursing and assisted living.  As of Friday, only 21% of nursing homes had a staff vaccination rate higher than 85%.  LiveWell already far exceeds this with a vaccination rate over 95% among all employees.  This week we will be reaching out to employees that are not fully vaccinated to continue with our personalized vaccination plans.  Employees must receive their first dose by September 7, 2021, for LiveWell to remain in compliance.  Thank you for all that you have done to keep the residents of LiveWell safe, and I am excited that other nursing homes and assisted livings will be able to feel the same sense of confidence with this mandate.  In addition to the protection that the vaccine provides, please continue to wear your mask, wash your hands, and practice good infection control while at work, at home, and out in the community.

Lobby/Check-in Update: We now have a receptionist/administrative assistant in the Lobby from 8:30a to 5p, Monday thru Friday, and leader coverage during that time on the weekends.  Outside of these hours there will be a security guard from 5p to 5:45a.  With these updated hours please remember to always sign in on Accushield. If Accushield is not working, please manually go through the questions and take your temperature.  It is required that every person complete the health screening daily.  Additionally, if you are yet to be vaccinated, the rapid tests taken outside of the 8:30a to 5p time window should be brought upstairs to the supervisor for review (if the supervisor is not in the office or the door is closed, please leave the test by the sink in the Rehab/Transitions room, directly across from the nursing supervisor’s office).  If you have any questions related to this, please contact Christine Sampson.

Financial Advisor Visiting LiveWell: Matt Udal, Financial Advisor, will visit later this month. If you have questions about your 401(k) plan such as where to invest your money or are wondering if you are on track for retirement, a short meeting with Matt can be a great step toward your financial wellness. Matt will be at LiveWell on August 25^th and August 30^th. Soon there will be more information by the check in area in the lobby for details and how to sign up for a time. We hope you will take advantage of this amazing resource, if you have questions related to this, please contact Anne McCarty.

Be Well,

Maley

 

 

Update 8-2-2021

August 2, 2021

Dear Friends,

I don’t know about you, but I am an Olympics fanatic and have been watching each night, staying up past my usual bedtime to watch people do more than they thought possible in so many diverse events and with so many diverse talents.  Last night it really hit home noticing ‘2020’ branding on EVERYTHING in Tokyo and made me think of how all of you have done more than any of us thought possible over the last year.  In every department and every role people have stepped up, taken on new responsibilities, and in the end made this a stronger, more resilient team, just like the Olympians who all trained for an additional year due to the postponed competition.  If we can rally around something like infection control, I can only imagine what we will accomplish when it is a topic of our choosing. 

As we continue forward this year there will be increasing opportunities to get involved in different action teams, neighborhood huddles, and ways to provide feedback and ideas throughout the organization.  Over the last month we launched 6 strategic planning action teams led by different members of the LiveWell tribe: Dementia Specialists (Maley Hunt), Institute (Michael Lepore), Marketing and Business Development (Maura Richards), Culture and Human Development (Anne McCarty), Technology (Chelsea Block), & Center for Resilient Living and Future State (Heidi Gil).  Soon you will begin to hear more about each team and be invited to participate in different capacities on different goals and projects.  If you are curious about the action teams or initiatives in advance of hearing more, always reach out to me or the other team leads with questions, ideas, and feedback!

Orientation this Week:  We have another large orientation class starting this week!  Orientation will be Wednesday through Friday this week, please stop by to welcome our new tribe members if you see them touring or in the Board Room.  I would also like to introduce Lori Conchado, our new Front Desk Receptionist/Administrative Assistant who started today!

Survey From CT DPH:  The Connecticut Department of Public Health launched an optional survey to assess healthcare worker’s knowledge in infection control.  They are looking to get as many responses from healthcare worker’s as possible, both clinical and non-clinical.  The survey takes about 10-minutes to complete.  I encourage you to participate to give feedback on your knowledge and training related to infection control, click HERE to take the survey.

Insurance Information Needed: Thank you to all who already provided their insurance information to Jacky or Anne.  This is a reminder that if you do not have medical insurance coverage through LiveWell (UnitedHealthcare) we will need a copy of your insurance card this week.  We are collecting this information in the event we have to resume weekly PCR testing.  If we do need to do this testing, there will not be an out-of-pocket cost to you!  Please email a copy of your health insurance card to Jacky Clark or Anne McCarty, or you can bring your card at your next shift for us to photocopy.  We will reach out to people individually if we do not get your card by August 4^th and you do not have LiveWell health insurance.  If you have questions, please ask!

Be Well,

Maley

 

 

Update 7-26-2021

July 26, 2021

Dear Friends,

I hope you are all enjoying your summer and having fun while also staying safe.  Unfortunately, the COVID rates are increasing in Connecticut and across the country.  All month rates have been increasing week over week and rates are now over 2.25% in Connecticut.  While this seems low, it is alarming as 10% is considered very high.  I encourage all of us to be extra vigilant in the activities we engage in, including wearing masks in all public places, even if they are not required, and really focusing on hand hygiene.  As a reminder, even if you are fully vaccinated, if you feel unwell with ANY symptoms, please call and come for a drive-up rapid test. We are hearing of ‘breakthrough’ cases with the Delta-variant of COVID. 

The Delta-variant is much more contagious than the original strain. If you are not yet vaccinated and exposed to this variant you only need to be in contact with the person for one second (not 15-minutes) for it to be considered a high exposure!  Delta is believed to be the most transmissible variant yet. It may also be able to partially evade the antibodies made by the immune system after a coronavirus infection or vaccination. Delta may cause more severe illness, although more research is needed.

Based on hospitalizations in the U.K., the Delta variant does seem to be more likely to lead to hospitalization and death, particularly among unvaccinated people, according to a recent study published in The Lancet.  Ninety-five percent of our staff are vaccinated.  Please do your part to help educate your family members and friends about the risks of not vaccinating. If you are part of the 5% of our staff yet to be vaccinated and would like to get vaccinated, please reach out and we will help you get the vaccine.

COVID Update:  If you have worked since Saturday, you may be aware that we now have two fully vaccinated residents on precautions due to a COVID exposure by a fully vaccinated visitor.  The vaccinated visitor developed COVID symptoms two days after visiting the two residents off campus.  We will be working to minimize the number of staff in contact with these residents and will be using full PPE, including N95s for any staff in contact with them while they are on precautions.  It is our goal to keep all of you and all other residents as safe as possible. 

There will be in-services on donning and doffing and key infection control principles this week.  In addition to the above steps, we will also be recommending that families visit on campus as much as possible versus taking their relatives off campus. If they are taking them off campus, we will encourage them to be outside or at private residences.  Thank you all for your continued vigilance and dedication to infection prevention because unfortunately, COVID is still a very real threat to us and those who live here. If you have any questions on safety please reach out to any co-leads, nurse leaders, or me. 

Insurance Information Needed: Throughout most of the pandemic the PCR tests were provided through a state testing program which ended last month.  LiveWell has secured the ability to continue to engage with our testing partner, Griffin Hospital, should we need to do PCR outbreak testing.  For routine daily testing of yet to be vaccinated team members and visitors we will use rapid tests.  Should we have a positive test, we may need to resume weekly PCR tests for all team members.  If this is the case, the tests will require your health insurance information be shared through a secure portal with Griffin Hospital.  While we are collecting your health insurance information, there will not be an out-of-pocket cost to you!  If LiveWell is your primary health insurance provider there is no action needed.  If you have a different primary health insurance provider, we will need a copy of your current health insurance card. 

For example, if you are insured by your spouse, your other place of employment, the state, you are uninsured, etc., we would need that information.  You can email a copy of your health insurance card to Jacky Clark or Anne McCarty, or you can bring your card at your next shift for us to photocopy.  Please get us this information as soon as possible, or by Monday, August 2nd at the latest.

Relias/Annual Education:  Reminding all of you to keep chipping away at your annual education on Relias as it is required for your increase to go into effect.  For all CNAs and nurses, your annual Relias education is due this Sunday, August 1st, 2021, and for all other tribe members your annual Relias education is due by October 1st, 2021.  Please do not wait until the last minute, get it done early!  If you have any questions related to Relias please reach out to Jenna Weiss.

Be Well,

 Maley

 

 

Update 7-19-2021

July 19, 2021

Dear Friends,

Welcome to Our New Tribe Members: Please join me in welcoming the following people to our LiveWell tribe!  For care partners we have Lizette (2A), Carmen C. (2A), Caresha (1B), Belinda (1A), Samantha (B-side), Janee (1A), Abby (2B), and Arelys (2B).  For nurses we have Karen (2A), Stephanie (2A), and Savanna (1A).  For housekeeping we have Carmen B. and for administration we have Kellie.  They all participated in orientation last week and are extremely excited to learn from you and get to work with the teams.  If you see new faces, introduce yourself and help show them around.  I am also excited to share that we already have another nine people and counting for an orientation class the first week of August! 

Recognition and Appreciation Event THIS Wednesday and Thursday: This week I feel honored to share that this food truck is being sponsored by my dad and stepmom.  My stepmom is a nurse by training and in recent years helped support her parents in their aging and, ultimately, dying process and my dad is currently the primary caregiver for my homebound grandmother. Both of them are so impressed with all that you do each day and the caring, compassionate, and dedicated approach that I tell them you all take in your work.  They intimately know the sacrifices and emotional toll that it takes to do such challenging work and wanted to say, THANK YOU, in the way the Hunt’s enjoy most… FOOD! 

Please join in the fun on Wednesday, July 21^st when we will have the “Get Stuffed” food truck here from 11a to 1:30p. I invite all of you to come regardless of if you are working that day/shift or not.  We will also be inviting residents to join in this celebration, as able, to enjoy the food truck as well.  The food truck menu will include burgers, lobster rolls, lobster grilled cheese, chicken sandwiches, quesadillas, and clam chowder; something for everyone! 

To follow the food truck, Panera will cater dinner on the evening of Wednesday, July 21^st, being delivered around 6p to the Stolba Center! AND, for night shift, we will be cooking a hot fresh breakfast LIVE from 3am to 4am the morning of Thursday, July 22^nd in the Stolba Center.  (As a reminder, this will replace the usual Wednesday salads so that all departments get to be celebrated and enjoy the appreciation!)

Curating Spaces and Meaningful Leisure:  I wanted to put a ‘teaser’ in this week’s memo on an initiative I hope you will want to join in on to help further grow our engagement with those that live here.  Much work has been done over the years at LiveWell to curate the neighborhoods in ways that promote meaningful leisure and engage people living with dementia in their surroundings.  With infection control at the forefront of our minds for so many months, some of the ‘extras’ have fallen to second place.  Last week we took the first step in renewing our commitment to foster open spaces that can be used for engagement all day long by placing orders for new books and puzzles and have restocked neighborhood dishware needed to enhance the dining experience away from disposable dishware.  As this unfolds, it is my challenge to you to spend the time and attention on how we can all practice engagement and how it is more than the programs that our engagement and humanities team so aptly delivers.  We are all on the engagement team and I look forward to ongoing dialogue around what that looks like!  

Be Well and Let’s ‘Get Stuffed’ This Week,

Maley W. Hunt
COO & Administrator

 

 

Update 7-12-2021

July 12, 2021

Dear Friends,

I am so excited for all that is coming up this month!  You all have been doing a fabulous job helping each other by picking up shifts and working extra hours.  I am extremely appreciative of your efforts and am excited to share that we will have 13 new tribe members at orientation this week!  So much time and energy has gone into hiring top candidates to join our team and now it is our turn to put in the energy to welcome them to LiveWell.  Joining us will be 8 CNAs, 3 nurses, 1 administrative fellow, and 1 housekeeper.  Thank you in advance for helping the new hires in their transition to LiveWell through sharing your warmth, compassion, and expertise!

Recognition and Appreciation Event Next Week: To keep in the vein of appreciation for all of YOU, we will be having some events next week to celebrate you on every shift!  On Wednesday, July 21^st we will have the “Get Stuffed” food truck here from 11a to 1:30p and invite all of you to come regardless of if you are working that day/shift or not.  We will also be inviting residents to join in this celebration, as able, to enjoy the food truck as well.  The food truck menu will include burgers, lobster rolls, lobster grilled cheese, chicken sandwiches, quesadillas, and clam chowder; something for everyone! 

To follow the food truck, Panera will cater dinner on the evening of Wednesday, July 21^st. AND, for night shift, Anne McCarty and I will be cooking breakfast for you during your break in the early morning hours of Thursday, July 22^nd.  We want to ensure that all departments and all shifts feel the love, thus these meals will replace our usual Wednesday salads so that the kitchen team gets a well-deserved break as well.  I cannot wait to see, eat, and cook with you all next week!

Family Visiting Update:  Effective this week we have stopped the use of Sign-Up Genius and the need for visits to be pre-planned.  What this means is that visits are now encouraged any day of the week between the hours of 9a and 5p.  None of the check in steps or PPE guidelines have changed.  Fully vaccinated visitors will wear a surgical mask, use Accushield, go to the neighborhood, and bring their relative to a designated visiting area (signs listing the designated areas are posted in the lobby and on all the neighborhoods).  Unvaccinated (not fully vaccinated) visitors will wear a KN95 mask, complete a rapid test, use Accushield, and go to a designated visiting area off the neighborhoods for a visit.  The next few weeks will be a transition and it will take us all time to get used to the new rhythm of visits.  Visitors may call ahead, or they may not.  Visitors may need to wait for their relative or friend to be ready to visit.  These are all things that we are prepared to help with and have articulated to all families.  As questions or suggestions around visits arise, please share them with me or your supervisor and we will be happy to address them as quickly as possible!

Have a fabulous week and be well,

Maley W. Hunt
COO & Administrator

 

 

Update 7-2-2021

July 2, 2021

Dear Friends,

We cannot believe that the July 4^th weekend is already upon us!  Thank you all for your continued support and fabulous feedback around our ongoing COVID-19 recovery efforts.  Our most recent recovery efforts have included refreshing touches to physical spaces, including some new furniture, the reinstatement of out trips for residents, welcoming entertainers and volunteers back to our community, and revitalizing the Art Room! 

As we continue to recover from COVID, we look forward to reengaging you and those who live and work with us more formally as key stakeholders.  We will be expanding our work to better understand and appreciate your experiences; what you see, feel, and do when you visit LiveWell.  We also look forward to better understanding and working together on our collective aspirations for LiveWell.

Over the course of the last year there were a lot of moments where infection control and keeping people safe from COVID were a primary focus.  LiveWell’s ‘Science Plus’ approach to infection control practices enabled us to keep COVID at bay longer than any other community of our size in Connecticut. We were able to maintain a sense of normalcy on the neighborhoods with residents not needing masks and not needing to socially distance in the same way that other communities required and are still requiring!  We are exceptionally proud of our LiveWell Tribe and all that we were able to do to keep your relatives safe.  Based on our understanding, we have the highest rate of vaccination in Connecticut among those who live, work, and visit at LiveWell.  Thank YOU for your commitment to this ultimate safety measure! 

Our collective commitments as a Tribe increase our comfort in adjusting more of our visiting procedures and in relaxing restrictions.  We believe these adaptations will enable us to return to a greater sense of ‘normal’ and increase meaningful connections.  

As of July 13, 2021, we will no longer use Sign Up Genius for visits!  We will still have a cap of 45 visitors inside of our building at any given time, a number we have not yet reached even on our busiest visit days. This would only apply for people inside, not in courtyards or going for walks.  We encourage visits to take place between 9am and 5pm, while trying to avoid mealtimes.  It will not be necessary to call ahead before your visit, but please know that depending on your relative’s needs, a call in-advance may help them to be ready to go outside, for a walk, etc. 

Below are procedures for vaccinated and unvaccinated visitors as well as some general visit guidelines:

Infection Control Principles for All Visitors

• Must pass the health screen (Accushield), wear a visitor sticker, and always wear a mask over your nose and mouth (inside and outside of the building).
• Perform Hand Hygiene before and after visit, at a minimum.
• Socially distance yourself (6 feet apart) from all other residents, visitors, and staff during your visit.
• Pets are now allowed at private visits. The pet may not visit other residents and must be on a 6’ leash at all times.  It is preferred that pet visits occur outside at this time but inside in private rooms is okay as well!

Fully Vaccinated Visitors

• Must wear a surgical mask (or KN95) over their nose and mouth throughout their time on campus.
• May go to the neighborhood to start their visit and find a place to visit.
• May visit in the resident’s room IF the resident’s roommate is not in the room, or if they do not have a roommate at the time.  
• Must visit in a private space whether on or off the neighborhood.  That means that no other resident can be in the room when visiting. (ie. unoccupied family room, TV room, neighborhood kitchen, reflections room, coffee room, outside courtyards, places where doors may close so other residents do not happen upon your visit).
• May NOT visit on the neighborhoods in any common spaces, dining tables, couches, TV room with other residents, during entertainment, etc.

Unvaccinated Visitors (Unless it is a pre-arranged Compassionate Visit)

• Must wear a KN95 over their nose and mouth throughout their time on campus.
• Must wait in the lobby for the resident to be brought to the visit.
• Must visit off the neighborhood in a private area such as:  reflections room, coffee room, lobby, or outside courtyards.

We are hopeful that by expanding visits to all days and not requiring the use of Sign Up Genius that you will enjoy greater flexibility in what types of visits are best for you and your relative’s schedule! Additionally, please continue to reach out with any special requests or questions related to what a meaningful visit is to you.  We have been able to be very creative on certain requests and look forward to partnering with you to continue to regain that LiveWell magic while upholding safety for all who live, work, and visit at LiveWell.

Happy 4^th of July,

Maley W. Hunt
COO & Administrator

 

 

Update 6-28-2021

June 28, 2021

Dear Friends,

Summer is here and it is HOT!  I hope all of you that have PTO are working with your supervisors to schedule some much-deserved time away.  As you look to take vacation, we are continuing to recruit and hire new tribe members for our open positions and to build our per diem ‘bench’ in all departments.  We had orientation last week with 5 new team members and are already planning another one for July 12th with 5 more people already committed and more interviews this week!  A big thank you to Anne and Jacky for their work to screen, interview, and onboard new team members and to all who help make our orientation days a success.

In addition to our recruitment projects, I feel like there have been a lot of “COVID Recovery” updates coming your way.  I figured today was a great day to do a digest of some of our more recent updates! 

I encourage you to reach out to me and other leaders with suggestions of things that feel like safe next steps to help each week feel more vibrant and help us all feel like we are Living Well this summer.

COVID-Recovery Updates:

• LiveWell Team Updates
  • All fully vaccinated staff may walk together outside without masks.
  • All fully vaccinated staff may eat together outside at one of our courtyard tables.
• Visitor Updates
  • Visitors may now bring pets to the building. The pets should be enjoyed in the private visiting areas (ie. outside, private room, designated visiting space).  The goal is to ensure good hand hygiene and social distancing between groups so that all people do not descend on the super cute puppy at once!
  • All routine visitors should always be masked regardless of their vaccination status, including outside, signage has been increased to help remind our visitors of this.
  • We are looking to update our number of visits at a time and to share updates with families this week, as this changes we will update you too!
• End of Life Updates
  • It is our goal to have all actively dying residents in their own private room.
  • We will be renewing our commitment to have hospitality services for our extended end of life family visits so that families are comfortable and able to visit for a long time with their relative.
  • We will be allowing family members during end of life visits that are in private rooms to remove their mask when no staff members are in the room so that the visit can be as meaningful as possible and get us as close to the end of life experience that LiveWell tries for.

Be Well,

Maley W. Hunt
COO & Administrator

 

 

Update 6-21-2021

June 21, 2021

Dear Friends,

Last week was a historic week in American history, Juneteenth is now recognized as a Federal Holiday to be celebrated each year on June 19th.  Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States.  While this is an important step forward it is also clear that there is a lot of work still to be done.  This emphasizes the importance of each of us seeing the worth and value in each and every person around us.  I look forward to engaging in courageous conversations around equality, diversity, and inclusion as we continue to grow as a tribe.

Welcome to LiveWell:  Please join me in welcoming our new orientees this week!  Joining us are three new Care Partners, Jillian Pernerewski, Zhane Waters and Ali Philippou, and two new LPNs, Stephanie Garrison and Karen Sinclair.  We also have the pleasure of welcoming a new attending physician, Dr. Jafri.  If you see any new faces, please introduce yourself and help show them a warm introduction to LiveWell.

Recovery next steps: We will be moving some tables into the courtyard located between the kitchen and the 1B living room for fully vaccinated staff to enjoy lunch together outside. In addition, we invite fully vaccinated staff to remove their masks while enjoying daily outdoor walks together.

Fitness Challenge Winner: Congratulations to all who participated in our 12-week Fitness Challenge.  As a group, we lost 253.5 pounds! We are excited to announce our top three “biggest losers” are Gracey Siedlecka with 12.40%, Terry Bingham with 8.85% and Brian Connolly with 7.15%! Stop down and see Anne to pick up your prize. All participants who completed the Biggest Loser or Fitness Challenge will be receiving a LiveWell sweatshirt! If you did not check in with Diane for your final weigh in and BMI percentage, please see Diane and see Kristina Tighe to order your sweatshirt. I hope that all who participated feel healthier, more balanced, and more connected to this tribe.  If you have suggestions on future challenges or team building endeavors, please do not hesitate to share.

Be Well,

Maley W. Hunt
COO & Administrator

 

 

Update 6-14-2021

June 14, 2021

Dear Friends,

Celebrating CNA Week:  Please join me in recognizing all our Care Partners this week for CNA week!  One of the many amazing things about LiveWell is our Care Partner team; I love that this team’s importance to our tribe starts in their job title.  They are all our partners in caring for those who live here.  LiveWell would not be known as the amazingly compassionate, whole person focused community if it were not for this team!  Thank you for all you do each day and know that one week of extra recognition is only the tip of our appreciation for each one of you!

All Staff Meetings: This week Michael and I will be hosting all staff meetings.  We are excited to spend time with all of you, share updates and good news, and hear your feedback, questions, and suggestions. Schedules of the meetings are posted by time clocks and at nursing stations. We are looking forward to seeing you, sharing updates, and hearing from you!

Receptionist/Administrative Assistant:  We are actively recruiting for a Receptionist/ Administrative Assistant for the front lobby.  This is a full-time position aimed at greeting our team and guests and supporting administrative projects.  Some of the key traits we are looking for are excellent customer service skills, great phone etiquette, strong computer skills, and the ability to be a team player.  While we are interviewing externally, I also want to encourage any of you to apply or recommend someone for the position.  Please reach out to Anne McCarty, amccarty@livewell.org, or me if you are interested!

Be Well,

Maley W. Hunt
COO & Administrator

 

Update 5-24-2021

 

May 24, 2021

Dear Friends,

Saturday was “International Being You Day.”  While we might be two days late, I want to encourage all of you to celebrate yourselves this week.  Being You Day is centered around empowering people to dream of what is possible, inviting people to embrace their uniqueness, and inspiring others to be who they choose to be.  Something I feel very passionate about is how often I see our team living these principles.  Whether it is building a peer up, meeting a resident’s needs in a unique way, or connecting 1:1 with one of our visitors, I constantly see each of you celebrating each other as unique individuals and living our Good Gardening Values. This week it is your turn to take some time celebrating being YOU!

New Tribe Member:  Please join me in welcoming Courtney McNulty, a new addition to our nursing team on nights.  With Courtney’s arrival we will also be welcoming Melanie Ruiz to day shift!  If you see new faces, please introduce yourself and welcome them to the team/their new team! 

Check-In Update: Thank you to the amazing team that has helped us all in the early mornings to feel safe as we check in each day. Now that the overwhelming majority of our team is vaccinated we are able to reduce our morning lobby coverage. As of this week, there will not be a designated team member at the desk from 5:45am to 7am.  During this time, please still check in as you have been using the Accushield.  If you have a challenge with signing in, please still take your temperature and ensure that you complete the alternate manual sign in sheet next to Accushield.  We will be doing periodic audits on Accushield use so continuing to sign in is crucial. 

Fitness Challenge Update:  Congratulations to this week’s weight loss winners: Gracey Sieldecka lost 1.37% and Kami Leszczyk lost 1.14%!  We included all ‘Water Challenge’ participants and all ‘Extra Steps Challenge’ participants in a raffle and our winners are Brian Connolly and Jenna Weiss!  The BONUS Challenge winner this week is Salli Klimkowski! Congratulations to all our winners! The Week 10 Challenge is now posted on the staff portal which you can access here and the password is staff1261.  Good luck on the challenge and be sure to send your completed challenges and weights to your coach each week. 

Be Well,

Maley W. Hunt

COO & Administrator

 

Update 5-17-2021

 

 

 

May 17, 2021

 

Dear Friends,

 

It is so refreshing to see our physical environment turning the corner and looking better each day!  I hope you feel some added energy as our teams work on continuing our beautification process.  We are still awaiting delivery of some new furniture which will really transform some of our spaces.

 

PPE Update, Shields:  Tomorrow marks over 98% of our residents being fully vaccinated!  With this awesome achievement, fully vaccinated staff and visitors will no longer need to wear shields starting on Tuesday, May 18th.  I hope this is welcome news for many of you.  The CDC released new guidance on mask wearing, stating that if you are fully vaccinated you no longer need to wear masks in certain situations. For now, nursing homes and other healthcare settings are not included in this guidance and we will continue to wear masks while at LiveWell.  Thank you for your incredible commitment to infection control and, as always, keep up your hand hygiene even with all these added changes!

 

Scholarship and Education Support:  As a reminder, there is information on the table by Accushield on scholarships and education support.  The due date for the scholarships is the end of May.  If you have any questions, please reach out to Anne McCarty.

 

Fitness Challenge Update:  Congratulations to this week’s weight loss winners: Bre Parker lost 1.22% and Kait Murphy lost 1.13%!  We included all ‘Active with Elders/Sleep Challenge’ participants and all ‘Extra Steps Challenge’ participants in a raffle and our winners are Leigh-Anne D’Addario and Deb Norman!  The Week 9 Challenge is now posted on the staff portal which you can access here and the password is staff1261.  Good luck on the challenge and be sure to send your completed challenges and weights to your coach each week. 

 

Be Well,

 

Maley W. Hunt

 

COO & Administrator

 

 

 

Update 5-10-2021

 

May 3, 2021

Dear Friends,

LiveWell Beautification Week: We are anxiously awaiting the delivery of some new chairs for our neighborhoods!  As we wait for the delivery, we want to enlist all of you to help us look at our neighborhoods with “Fresh Eyes” and call attention to how we can easily revitalize our physical plant for all who live, work, and visit here.  We have all done an amazing job emphasizing infection control and we are now at a place where we can do that AND re-commit to focusing on how our physical environments look each day.  I look forward to working together on this! 

PCR Testing Update, Check-in Process, and Bathroom Process:  As a reminder, if you are fully vaccinated you do NOT need to PCR test, starting this week. Please remember to wash or sanitize your hands and then complete the Accushield health screening process before you start your shift.  We will be working toward a self-sufficient check-in process and will audit completion of the temperature screening and health questions. The questions do change, so please read them each time. Finally, we will be stopping the use of Oxivir between bathroom usage and taking down the 10 minutes signs effective tomorrow.  With so many of our staff, residents, and visitors vaccinated we feel we can take this step forward, which will also help us with floor care in our beautification process!

Fitness Challenge Update:  I have exciting news to share, 98% of our challenge participants have reduced their BMI and body fat percentages so far, this is incredible!  Congratulations to this week’s weight loss winners: Terry Bingham lost 2.18% and Maritu Gonzalez lost .95%!  We included all ‘Fruits & Veggie Challenge’ participants and all ‘Extra Steps Challenge’ participants in a raffle and our winners are Maria Lugo Rogers and Lisa Butler!  The Week 8 Challenge is now posted on the staff portal which you can access hereand the password is staff1261.  Next week on the staff portal there will be a BONUS CHALLENGE. All participants who complete this challenge will be entered into a separate raffle for a $50 Amazon gift card! Good luck on the challenge and be sure to send your completed challenges and weights to your coach each week. 

Be Well,

Maley W. Hunt

COO & Administrator

 

Update 5-3-2021

 

May 3, 2021

Dear Friends,

Happy Mother’s Day to all LiveWell moms!  Whether your children are grown, young, soon to arrive, still a dream, or furry in nature, I wish you all a week filled with friendship and health. Friendship and health were the founding principles of this day over 100 years ago.  I am in awe of the strength I see from so many of our moms; you are tremendously caring and thoughtful individuals to your own families and to our LiveWell tribe and for that I am so thankful.

New Tribe Members: Please join me in welcoming Jessica Lindsay, a new addition to our nursing team on nights and Charm Smith, our new B-Side Social Work Co-Lead.  If you see some new faces, please introduce yourself and help them feel at home!

Nursing Recognition Week: We will be recognizing our incredible nurses this week!  This team ensures LiveWell is supported 24/7/365 and is made up of some of the most compassionate, strong, and holistic people I have ever met.  We are so fortunate to have these nurses on our team.  Thank you for all you do every week as we recognize all your effort on this special week!

LiveWell Scholarship Programs: Two generous families whose relatives lived with us offer scholarships to support furthering your education. The Kate Dryfe Achievement Award is a $2,000 award that is given to one employee pursing continuing education that will benefit our work at LiveWell (any field).  The Josephine Crochetiere Nursing Scholarship is a $3,000 award that is given to one employee pursing a degree in nursing. Applications for both awards are available in the front lobby with a due date of May 31, 2021.  In addition to these scholarship awards, there is the ongoing LiveWell Partner in Education Program which has loan and reimbursement options to support your continuing education; there will be information on this in the lobby as well.

PCR Testing Update and PPE Level:  Last week the Connecticut Department of Public Health updated guidance that fully vaccinated staff members no longer need to PCR test weekly when not in an exposure window.  Starting Sunday, May 9^th, 2021 only people who are not yet fully vaccinated will PCR test on their first shift of the week and they will also continue to rapid test before each shift.  The supplies will be kept in the same location for those who still need to test.

The current PPE levels are posted at the front desk and by the front door and they will be continually updated to have the most up to date information.  As of today, fully vaccinated team members may wear a surgical mask and shield when in resident areas.  Not yet vaccinated team members will wear an N95 and shield.  We are working toward the removal of shields in the warmer months and anticipate this will occur after our resident vaccination clinic later this month, more to come, we hear you!

Fitness Challenge Update: Congratulations to this week’s weight loss winners: Maritu Gonzalez lost 4.18% and Kami Leszczyk lost 0.99%!  We included all ‘Healthy Lifestyle Challenge’ participants and all ‘Extra Steps Challenge’ participants in a raffle and our winners are John Arnott and Fior Pagan!  The Week 7 Challenge is now posted on the staff portal and if you did not get a journal yet to help with this week’s challenge, please stop by the front office!  The challenge is outlined on the staff portal which you can access here and the password is staff1261.  Good luck on the challenge and be sure to send your completed challenges and weights to your coach each week. 

Be Well,

Maley W. Hunt

COO & Administrator

 

Update 4-26-2021

Maley’s Monday Memo

 

April 26, 2021

Dear Friends,

Thank you for all your tremendous work this week.  I am encouraged by your feedback on our “Fresh Start Circles” happening in the Art Room, many of you have expressed how the sessions are beneficial and recognize them as the start of our growth and recovery.  The warmer weather is welcoming us to have greater connection throughout the spring and summer.  Team recognition events are such a refreshing way to reconnect and practice gratitude for all teams.  Join me in embracing more connection and more moments filled with gratitude and joy with each passing week!

Administrative Professionals Recognition Week: We will be recognizing our phenomenal administrative professionals this week. This group spans several departments and consistently boosts the capacity of our teams through their talent for organization, compassion, and commitment to LiveWell. Please join us in recognizing all they do for our teams and our elders. 

PPE and Testing Updates:  We continue to have no residents test positive for COVID-19.  If the results of staff and residents continue to be negative, this week will be the last week of resident testing.  As a reminder, ALL staff, regardless of vaccination status, must PCR test their first shift of the week. All staff who are yet to be fully vaccinated need to rapid test at the start of each shift.  Our current PPE levels are the same on ALL neighborhoods, for ALL staff: N95 masks and shields in resident areas.  In administrative areas, if you are fully vaccinated, a KN95 mask is the appropriate level of PPE.  We will be back in touch after the resident testing results return this week with any PPE and family visiting updates.  Additionally, we will be posting the current PPE and testing levels in the lobby for ease of update.  These parameters can change daily as we try our best to keep all who live, work, and visit as safe as possible.  Thank you in advance for your curiosity and flexibility as we continually evolve our practices.

Communication Preferences: It is so important that all of you feel well communicated with and have the most up to date information, whether it is around precaution levels on your neighborhood, family visit guidelines, staff events, etc.  Some current modes for communication include this weekly memo, daily huddles, and neighborhood communication books.  I encourage you to share with your supervisor, co-leads, charge nurse, me, etc. what methods are working well for you, when you feel ‘in the know,’ and when you may feel ‘out of the loop.’  We will start this organically and see what feedback we get.  If we need to do a more formal communication assessment, I am fully committed to do so!

Fitness Challenge Update: Congratulations to this week’s weight loss winners: Grace Czernecka lost 1.48% and Gracey Siedlecka lost 1.92%!  We included all ‘Mindful Connection Challenge’ participants and all ‘Extra Steps Challenge’ participants in a raffle and our winners are Ellyn Hobbs and Chelsea Block!  Week 6 is our halfway point, and it is time for the BMI/Body Fat Percentage check-in.  Diane Decker will be in the first-floor core on Wednesday, April 28^th from 11a to 12:30p and 3p to 4p to help you calculate these biometrics.  The Week 7 challenge is now posted on the staff portal and Diane will have a small gift to help you with this week’s challenge which you can access here and the password is staff1261.  Good luck on the challenge and be sure to send your completed challenges and weights to your coach each week.  

Be Well,

Maley W. Hunt

COO & Administrator

 

Update 4-19-2021

Maley’s Monday Memo

 

April 19, 2021

Dear Friends,

I am excited to share that even though we are in an ‘exposed’ status on three of our neighborhoods that we currently have no residents with symptoms, nor have we had a resident test positive. We will be conducting two more weeks of resident testing with the hope to conclude our ‘exposed’ status at the end of next week. Thank you all for your flexibility in increased precaution levels, rapid testing for all team members working with residents, and facilitating more compassionate care visits for our elders. Watching you all mobilize quickly and come together as a tribe never ceases to amaze me. Keep up the amazing work!

Therapy Recognition Week: We will be recognizing our wonderful therapists this week that work in occupational, physical, and speech therapy. This special group brings their individual talents and expertise to enhance our resident’s well-being day in and day out. Please take a minute to share your appreciation for all of their amazing work.

RN Referral Bonus: Do you know of an RN that you would enjoy working with and is looking for a new opportunity? Refer them to Anne McCarty! We are increasing our referral bonus for RNs from now thru May 31st to $750 for referring a full or part time RN. There are open positions on both nights and days. The $750 will be paid in two installments after the RN has worked 3-months and 6-months.

Vaccine Update: As of today, we now have over 92% of our staff vaccinated or committed to be vaccinated in the coming weeks; a 7% improvement from last week! This participation is a testament to our tribe’s shared set of values to ‘Practice Listening’ and to ‘Practice Reflection.’ Throughout this pandemic, all of you have worked for the collective good and supported each other. This push to increase our vaccination rate is no different and each person has stepped up to do their part, thank you. 

Fitness Challenge Update: Congratulations to this week’s weight loss winners: Rita Bergstrand lost 1.24% and Kasia Stelmaszek lost 1.20%! We included all ‘Week 4, Steps Challenge’ participants in a raffle and our winners are Patty Richard and Agnes Piendak! The Week 5 challenge is now posted on the staff portal which you can access here and the password is staff1261. Good luck on the challenge and be sure to send your completed challenges and weights to your coach each week.

Be Well,

Maley W. Hunt

COO & Administrator

 

Update 4-12-2021

Maley’s Monday Memo

April 12, 2021

Ramadan Kareem!

The evening of Monday April 12th marks the beginning of Ramadan, one of the five pillars of Islam and the holiest months of the year for Muslims worldwide. During this sacred month Muslims will be fasting, not eating or drinking, from sunrise to sunset and will be taking the time to slow down, introspect, and work on their spiritual pathway to get closer to God. The holy month brings opportunities to give to the needy, practice gratitude, and continue to nurture a deep appreciation for our families, the struggles we all have that make us stronger, and blessings which are bountiful when we take the time to notice them. 

These themes connect closely with our goals of coming together as a LiveWell community and continuing our healing and recovery process from COVID, something even harder to do when we have 3 exposed neighborhoods currently (1A, 1B, and 2A).  I want to applaud all of you for your resilience this week in stepping up quickly with these new exposures.  From extra rapid and PCR testing to increased PPE and family phone calls to a reduction in family visits, I see the toll these exposures take on all who work, live, and visit here. While I am extremely grateful for our team and how we rise to the occasion to promote safety, I am equally sorry that we are in this position and want to call attention to how we got here.

COVID Exposure and Infection Control: In the last week we have had 4 unvaccinated staff members test positive for COVID-19.  One tested positive while travelling and did not expose any residents or co-workers.  The other three all worked on a neighborhood within two days of testing positive, triggering us to increase PPE usage and have all staff back in N95 masks.  If you work on the 1A, 1B, or 2A neighborhoods you should be focusing on keeping elders in their rooms, wearing masks, and socially distancing.  All staff in these neighborhoods will be wearing gowns that are to be changed after each resident encounter, in addition to an N95 mask and shield.

I am also disappointed to report that we have two additional staff members that will need to quarantine for 14-days because they went for a walk, without masks, with one of the now positive staff members.  I want to make it abundantly clear, even if you are vaccinated you should NOT be with co-workers without a mask.  Weather it is in the car, going for a walk, etc.  We cannot have staff expose each other, it is not practicing good infection control, it is in direct violation of our protocols, and it is crippling our team to have so many people out at one time. 

I recognize that this is not where any of us wanted to be at this point.  I am with you in that.  It is with these recent events and numerous conversations with other long term care providers, families, and our own team that we will be encouraging every staff member who is not yet vaccinated to create an individualized vaccination plan.  More individualized information will be going out to the not yet vaccinated team members starting today.  Our goal is still to get as close to 100% of our team vaccinated as possible and we want to work collaboratively with our teams to create a plan for this to be successful.

Copper Beech ‘Fresh Start’ Sessions: Even though we had to take a step back in terms of exposure this week, it does not mean we need to step back from our recovery.  Please see the flyer on the staff portal for upcoming small group sessions with Copper Beech.  Personally, I am very much looking forward to participating in one of these sessions as I recognize the toll that this year has taken on me and am craving a fresh perspective on knowing that when we face challenges like this year that even with stress, frustration, and grief, there are compliments of growth, discovery, and the opportunity for new beginnings.

Fitness Challenge Update: Congratulations to this week’s weight loss winners: Maritu Gonzalez lost 2.84% and Kristina Tighe lost 1.04%!  We included all ‘Week 3, Meditation Challenge’ participants and ‘Week 3, 10,000 Steps Bonus Challenge’ participants in a raffle and our winners are Melanie Ruiz and Lucy Grenier!  The Week 4 challenge is now posted on the staff portal which you can access here and the password is staff1261.  Good luck on the challenge and be sure to send your completed challenges and weights to your coach each week. 

Be Well,

Maley W. Hunt
COO & Administrator

Update 4-5-2021

Maley’s Monday Memo

April 5, 2021

Dear Friends,

Thank you to everyone who made this weekend’s extra visits a success.  Seeing all our neighborhoods and departments working seamlessly to facilitate so many visits for our elders was incredible.  I am so excited for the direction we are heading with greater family presence on campus!  Additional thanks to the dining team for providing all elders and employees with a special holiday meal, our enjoyment is their extra effort and for that we say thank you!

COVID Recovery Sessions: Over the last year COVID has brought us all different experiences including separation, stress, constant change, and trauma.  To help us all recover and reconnect, we will be having Copper Beech, an organization some of you may be familiar with from previous collaborations, come to LiveWell to hold sessions for all employees around COVID recovery through the lens of focusing on wellbeing, resilience, and stress management.  Copper Beech is an organization that, “helps people cultivate mindfulness, compassion, and resilience so we can reconnect with the things that matter most.”  It is our goal to have these sessions scheduled in the coming weeks.  Please be on the lookout for more information on dates, what to expect, and how to participate!

Fitness Challenge Update: Congratulations to this week’s weight loss winners: Kasia Stelmaszek lost 1.99% and Jacky Clark lost 1.92%!  We included all ‘Week 2, Healthy Snack Challenge’ participants in a raffle and our winners are Dorothy Powell and Yvonne McClain!  The Week 3 challenge is now posted on the staff portal which you can access here and the password is staff1261.  Good luck on the challenge and be sure to send your completed challenges and weights to your coach each week.  If you have questions on who your coach is or would like to still sign up, reach out to Kristina Tighe by emailing ktighe@livewell.org.

Be Well,

Maley W. Hunt
COO & Administrator

Update 3-29-2021

Maley’s Monday Memo

March 29, 2021

Dear Friends,

Thank you for all your effort to make family visits successful.  The reunions this week have been fabulous and the regularity of visits for some of our elders is helping people feel more connected, regain a sense of normalcy, and continue to recover from the last year that brought so much separation. This is an important week in many faiths with people celebrating Passover, Mid-Sha’ban and Easter.  These celebrations offer us a time to pause and reflect on our blessings.  They each offer messages of deliverance, renewal, new beginnings, and an abiding hope and faith for humanity.  These are all wonderful messages as we begin to see a light emerging at the end of pandemic tunnel!

National Social Work Month: March is the month to recognize our social workers. They strive every day to improve the well-being of our community of residents, family members, and staff. Their positive influence on our mental and emotional well-being is why we say “Thank you!” this month!

Fitness Challenge Update: Congratulations to this week’s weight loss winners: Corrin Campbell lost 3.68% and Gracey Siedlecka lost 3.41%!  We have 57 staff in the challenge and 43 completed our first week challenge of getting 10,000 steps one day last week.  We included all 43 ‘Week 1 Challenge’ participants in a raffle and our winners are Brittany Mariani and Salli Klimkowski!  The Week 2 challenge is now posted on the staff portal which you can access here and the password is staff1261.  Good luck on the challenge and be sure to send your completed challenges and weights to your coach each week.  If you have questions on who your coach is or would like to still sign up, reach out to Kristina Tighe by emailing ktighe@livewell.org.

Team Member Update: Ian MacDonald is moving on to a new opportunity and will be working as a counselor in Dr. Harry Morgan’s practice. His last day as the B-Side Neighborhood Social Work Co-Lead will be Friday, April 2, 2021.  Ian recounts his time here as an honor and privilege to be a part this team through this challenging time. He is so appreciative of connections made with all of you. I hope you will join me in wishing Ian success in his new role which will keep him closely connected to LiveWell. So, it isn’t goodbye, it’s “See you soon!”

Travel Update: As you all continue to take vacations, recharging and reconnecting, I want to let you know that CT has removed the travel ban.  Currently, we feel like the biggest risks are who you are with and how you practice infection control in those situations.  We will be updating our screening questions to remove the travel-based questions and will focus on direct/indirect exposures and your own personal symptoms.  Remember if you have ANY symptoms (ie. Cough, stuffed nose, fever, etc.), even if you are vaccinated, you should stay home while we test you for COVID -19 and continue to focus on mask wearing and good hand hygiene.  Please travel safely, track how you are feeling, and ask if you need PPE to support you or your family’s safety!

Be Well,

Maley W. Hunt
COO & Administrator

Update 3-22-2021

Maley’s Monday Memo
March 22, 2021

March 22, 2021

Dear Friends,

I would like to commemorate today as a big step in our COVID recovery month with our first in person orientation in over a year!  We have 5 new tribe members starting today, please join me in welcoming: Christine Sampson as our Director of Clinical Advancement, Kelly Deal as an RN Supervisor and 1A Charge Nurse, Genesis Segura as a CNA on 1A, Amy Kabel as a CNA on 2B, and Tyler Cihal as a CNA on 1A!  Below are some updates for this week at LiveWell:

Fitness Challenge: This weather is so energizing for our Fitness Challenge kick off week!  Thank you to those who are joining in on the fun competition to get in better shape and focus on wellness.  If you are curious what the challenge is like, for example, this week’s challenge is getting 10,000 steps at least 1 day this week.  You can still sign up to participate and forms to sign up are in the lobby. 

Uniforms, Cell Phones, & Ear Buds:  During COVID we took some steps to be more comfortable and now we are ready to remember and reinforce our personal appearance policies.  Each department will be doing in-services on the specific dress code based on your role at LiveWell and if you have specific questions please connect with your co-leads or supervisor.  Additionally, please be mindful of cell phone and ear bud use while at work.  Cell phones and ear buds are only to be used on break.  Thank you in advance for helping us remember our policies and hold each other accountable.

Family Visits: Starting this week we are expanding visits to 5 days per week for skilled nursing (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday) and 7 days per week for assisted living.  There will be a Visitation Guide that will come out for all of you and our families this week so that everyone has the same information.  The biggest change is that family members who are fully vaccinated may now come up to the neighborhoods to bring their relative to one of our visiting areas (outdoors, lobby tables, coffee room, or reflections room) and that assisted living families will be able to visit in resident apartments. 

We all need to help promote social distancing on campus.  Families can be closer than 6-feet with the person they are visiting, they may not be within 6-feet of other residents or visitors.  I recognize that this will be hard as you will be both meeting new families and want to greet them, and you will be having reunions with families you have not seen in over a year.  Help us practice good infection control by keeping your distance in these situations, especially if you are unvaccinated.  Additionally, we need to be mindful that there will be more people around the building, so please look with fresh eyes and help us make those small adjustments for the cleanest most welcoming environments possible!

Thank you everyone and have a fabulous week,

Maley

Update 3-15-2021

Maley’s Monday Memo
March 15, 2021

Dear Team,

It was incredible to see so many of you out walking last week and now winter is back for a few days… I look forward to the warmer weather and the longer days!  We were so excited to update a few things last week to continue our path of recovery:

 Surgical Masks are Back – For those who are fully vaccinated you may choose to wear a surgical mask or KN95 mask.  Both will be stocked in the front vestibule.  If you are not vaccinated or partially vaccinated, you will continue to wear an N95 mask.  They will be stocked weekly on Wednesdays and if you have any supply concerns please reach out to Kristina Tighe, ktighe@livewell.org.  All employees will continue to wear shields.

Water Stations are Ready for Use – In an effort to return to being eco-friendly and sustainable we were able to have all our water filling stations serviced!  We will be phasing out the use of plastic water bottles so please plan on bringing a bottle from home and start using the stations located in the coffee room, outside the Stolba Center, the 1st floor employee break room, or by the 2nd floor core!

Fitness & Biggest Loser Sign Ups Open – Forms to participate in this year’s Fitness Challenge/Biggest Loser competition are available in the lobby.  We encourage you to participate in one or both challenges to get fit and focus on your own well-being as we move into spring.  There will be weight loss challenges, activity participation challenges, recipe participation challenges, truly something for everyone!

Vaccine Update – There are a few of us that have one dose and are looking to get the second dose.  Unfortunately, the “Clean Up Clinics” we were expecting have yet to be scheduled.  We are in constant contact with both CT Department of Public Health and Omnicare on how to get second doses for staff and residents.  For those who got one dose, you will need the second Pfizer dose, you may have luck scheduling something via the CVS website; we will also be back in touch on next steps!

Below are some links that you can use for yourself or if you are trying to sign up friends/family:

• State of CT or via phone at 877.918.2224
• CVS (Potentially an option to get the 2nd Pfizer dose!)
• Walgreens
• UCONN or via phone at 860.679.5589
• Hartford HealthCare or via phone at 860.827.7690

Thank you for all you do every day for our elders, our teams, and LiveWell as a whole.  Here is to more walks and warmth in the coming weeks!

Be well,

Maley

Update 3-12-2021

March 12, 2021

Dear Team,

Congratulations! We are so excited to be able to recognize your hard work throughout the winter with another bonus.  We want to take a moment to outline the bonus that you are receiving today March 12, 2021. 

These lump sum incentive payments are based on hours worked between November 1, 2020 and March 6, 2021.  Hourly employees who worked on average more than 27.5 hours per week throughout this time period will receive a total award of $500.  Hourly employees who worked on average 10 to 27.5 hours per week will receive a total award of $250.

Some of you received an initial payout of this bonus on February 26, 2021.  If you received a bonus payment on February 26, 2021, and it was less than your eligible award, you will receive the balance today that will bring you up to either $250 or $500 (depending on the hours you worked). If you did not receive any bonus on February 26, 2021, then you will receive the full amount of the $250 or $500 (depending on the hours you worked).

As with any paycheck, taxes and 401(k) elected contributions are deducted from gross pay.  If you have any additional questions you can reach out to Anne McCarty or Jacky Clark. Thank you again for all that you have done and continue to do to support the well-being of the people who live with us.

Thank you,

 

Michael Smith                       Maley Hunt
President and CEO              COO – Residential Living and Administrator

Update 2-8-2021

Maley’s Monday Memo
February 8, 2021

Dear Team,

What a way to start the week, more snow and Super Bowl Sunday!  Thank you to everyone that braved the conditions to make it to work. I continue to be so impressed with everyone’s dedication to LiveWell and the team mentality in how you approach your work.  The way I see it, the LiveWell team is full of MVPs and we are exceptionally lucky to have you. Take a look at our team being featured in the CT Top Workplaces article from this weekend: (CLICK LINK HERE). Thanks so much to Anne McCarty for taking the interview with the Hartford Courant for this chance to feature the amazing workplace culture that you contribute to!
 
Infection Control 
I am excited to share that we are working our way out of our outbreak on our skilled nursing neighborhoods. We again had no residents test positive last week and all residents who had COVID are now considered recovered!  Both second floor neighborhoods are now off precautions, meaning no gowns and that the core doors may be used to enter the neighborhood for dining, maintenance, etc.  We are hopeful to have the first floor neighborhoods off of precautions later this week so please be extra diligent on reading signs and attending huddles with your teams to get the latest information on levels of precaution.

Unfortunately, we do have one staff member who tested positive from our assisted living neighborhood.  Based on timing we believe the risk to the residents is very low, however we are increasing social distancing and rapid testing our assisted living residents daily. 

Family Visits
We were planning to resume socially distanced visits for families this Sunday, however we will now wait until February 23^rd to tentatively resume these visits.  We will continue to offer compassionate visits to our skilled nursing residents, including some special visits on February 14^th for residents who have spouses.  More to come as we get closer to resuming these visits for our families!

Final Vaccination Clinic
The third and final vaccination clinic will be on Friday, February 19^th.  We did receive guidance that you can get your first dose at the third clinic if we make a plan for you to get your second dose in the community.  Please email me or Anne McCarty, amccarty@livewell.org if you would like to get your first dose at this clinic.  If you are scheduled to get your second dose, Kristina Tighe will be following up with more information this week!

Feedback
Thank you to everyone that replied to the last email and for those who reach out each week.  I will be increasing rounding again as precaution levels change and look forward to seeing and hearing from more of you soon!  Please email me anytime by replying to this email (it goes directly to me) or at mhunt@livewell.org. 

Be well,

Maley

Update 2-1-2021

Maley’s Monday Memo
February 1, 2021

Dear Team,

I was so excited to receive positive feedback from you on the memo from last week!  I am also excited to continue to improve our communication and feedback loops for the whole LiveWell team. 
 
Black History Month
Today marks the start of Black History Month, a month designated to share, learn, celebrate, and understand the prolific impact of black culture on society.  This year I want to focus on learning more about what black history month means to our team.  What are things that we can do now and all year long to celebrate diversity and inclusion?  What does Black History Month mean to you?  I encourage you to reply and share ways that we can continue to celebrate and learn throughout February!  

When I came to LiveWell I knew I wanted to be a part of an organization where the team helped me step outside my comfort zone.  I chose to be a part of a team where I knew I could learn and gain greater perspective and appreciation for cultures other than my own.  Thank you for igniting my curiosity and for being the team that helps to keep all of us learning and growing.  I look forward to hearing from you and having conversations with you this month and every month about these important topics.

Vaccine Protection and Percentage of Participation
This is an especially exciting week as many of us received our second dose of the vaccine on Friday and we are well on our way to 95% protection from COVID.  With that, I want to remind all of you that at this point, if you have any symptoms, please report them.  Any vaccine side effects should be gone by now and while we may have internal protection from the vaccine, nothing is 100% effective and community cases are still very high!  

I am thrilled to share that 99% of our residents have received both doses of the vaccine and about 85% of staff. We are hoping just 8 more staff members will change their minds and get vaccinated to bring us to 90% of staff vaccinated and a bonus for all who participated!  Everyone should feel proud of our collective efforts; 90% of the people who live and work at LiveWell are now vaccinated.  This puts us in great shape to keep the virus at bay should anyone become infected.  

COVID Containment Bonuses
We will be reaching out to each neighborhood about the COVID containment bonuses and what the amounts will be.  As previously mentioned, these bonuses will be for eligible employees who participated in the vaccination program.  We are so incredibly proud of the work that all our care teams have done to keep our residents safe and to help our residents recover.  Please check your communication books on each neighborhood later this week for more information!

Family Feedback
I wanted to share some excerpts from families about all the wonderful work that is being done:

“There is no place I would rather have my sister, [on 2B], or my mother, [on 1B]. I feel they are in the best hands with amazingly caring, even loving people around them.” [B-side Family]

“Thank you so much.  I cannot begin to express how much we appreciate all the love and care our mom received at LiveWell.” [1B Family]

“Our families and we are blessed to be the recipients of your loving care!” [2A Family]

Thank you to all departments and neighborhoods for being here to support our elders, even in this very New England weather!  You are noticed, appreciated, and celebrated.

Be well,

Maley

Update 1-25-2021

Maley’s Monday Memo
January 25, 2021

Dear Team,
You have all been doing an amazing job with infection control throughout this outbreak.  In the last three weeks, we have been able to contain outbreaks on the 1A and 2B neighborhoods and remain outbreak free on 2A and AL.  This containment is a testament to EVERY individual’s commitment to staying home when experiencing symptoms or exposure and the neighborhood’s support of social distancing, hand hygiene, and mask wearing for our elders.

Furthermore, 1B can say that they no longer have any elders shedding COVID on their neighborhood!  These are all tremendous successes, sharply contrasted with tremendous exhaustion, loss, and isolation. This success is not coming without sacrifice.  I see it on all of you, and for that I am eternally grateful.

As we work our way to the other side of this outbreak and to our next vaccination clinic this Friday, I am reminded by all of you that there is hope, courage, and stamina still to be had.  How can we as a team look to heal, grow, and be reminded of our LiveWell values as we come back together?  I hear that you would like more concise, consistent communication.  I hear that you would like emotional support and team building.  I hear that you would like to know ‘the why’ behind changes and evolutions in our practices.  All of these are insights that you have shared with me in huddles and rounding, and all are things I am committed to finding solutions to with your help and with the help of our leaders.  

The first step forward is to craft a standard weekly communication that you will get in your most used email inbox each week.  We will be using MailChimp to help us deliver these “Monday Memos” which will focus on what is upcoming that week, leadership lessons and team member spotlights from different voices, and remind us of our Good Gardening Values (if these are new to you… more to come!). Please let us know if you are not receiving these emails as you may need to add MailChimp as a ‘safe sender’ for that email account.  While there is an option to unsubscribe from these emails, I urge you to look forward to these memos as I commit to getting you the most important information and share different voices and perspectives each week.  The memo is being sent to the preferred email address you have shared with us. If there is a different email address you would like us to use, please reply to this email with your preferred email address.  

Please let me know any topics you are interested in, team members you would like to hear from, and any ways that you would like to be involved in this communication.  While this is ‘another email’ I am hopeful it can be a jumping off point for us to grow and come together as a team.  Keep your eyes peeled for more information soon and I look forward to growing this communication with your feedback so that it meets your needs, you feel heard, and you feel represented!

Be well,

Maley

Update 1-19-2021

January 19, 2021

Dear Team,
We are coming up on our second vaccination clinic on Friday, January 29th. Vaccinations are one of the most significant protections we have against COVID-19. We want to protect the health of everyone who works and lives with us. I am excited to share that we have one of the highest rates of vaccination in Connecticut thus far and that is a testament to your commitment to keep COVID out of our tribe. Ninety-nine percent of our residents received their first dose of the vaccine and about 80% of our staff are on the path or being vaccinated against COVID-19. Thank you to everyone for helping us work toward this monumental goal!

Since March we have all been wearing masks, face shields, and other PPE. We have socially distanced. We have made sacrifices that we thought would keep our elders safe, however, COVID-19 was still able to get in. No other provider in CT had tighter controls than LiveWell. The virus showed that it can defeat even the best planning. It infected over 30 of our elders, and nine passed away. None of us wanted this. The vaccine can help this from happening again.

I see your dedication to the unique vulnerability of LiveWell’s residents and your efforts to combat the challenges of social distancing and mask wearing for them. Most of our residents are not able to protect themselves or one another from this deadly virus, they require a dedicated tribe that ensures the highest level of protection, something I have seen you take to heart month after month. This vaccine is an answer to all your hard work and dedication.
Below are some benefits we are adding. Each should reinforce our belief in the significant role vaccines will have in protecting you, your family, and the lives of the vulnerable adults serve. Please reach out to me or Anne McCarty with any questions on these benefits or practices.

COVID VACCINATION BONUS
When 90% of our team receives the vaccine, there will be a $250 bonus for all of those who participated in helping us reach this monumental goal!

COVID SICK AND EXPOSURE PAY
On December 31, 2020, the provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act COVID sick pay expired. LiveWell is voluntarily continuing this important benefit of up to 80 hours of sick leave when our staff must be out due to COVID diagnosis, exposures, or symptoms. This benefit will be continued for employees who choose to receive the two doses of the COVID vaccine. The original benefit was rolled out before vaccines were available. Thankfully, there are effective vaccines that can keep our employees safe. This COVID sick pay, if not already used, will be available to those members of our team who are doing everything in their power to stay safe from this virus – this must include receiving both doses of the COVID vaccine.

PREPARATION FOR THE JANUARY 29TH CLINIC
We will need to do the same paperwork again, including copying insurance cards. Stations will be in the lobby and on the B-side neighborhoods starting Wednesday, January 20th. If you have insurance through LiveWell, we will print out your insurance card so you will not need to make a copy. Please have your paperwork turned in by Sunday, January 24th.

THANK YOU FOR SAVING LIVES
Thank you to everyone who has stepped up to protect the vulnerable adults we serve. Your leadership has been an example to others at LiveWell who have changed their minds and plan to receive their first dose at this next clinic. The LiveWell tribe has been setting the standards for safety throughout this pandemic, and your level of participation in our vaccination clinics is just the most recent example of good people working together to do great things.
Choosing to get this vaccine is choosing to join us on the path of ensuring that we are the safest possible caregivers for our residents. We want you all to have the information you need to make this choice towards safety and hope. Anne McCarty will be reaching out to those of you who did not participate in our first clinic. If you are in this group, I urge you to join your teammates in choosing to receive the vaccine, each one of us can make a big difference in helping to save lives.

Be well,
Maley W. Hunt
Chief Operating Officer

 

Update 1-17-2021

Letter to All LiveWell Team Members

January 17, 2021

Dear Team,
At the end of last week, we learned that two residents on the 2B neighborhood have COVID-19. As such, the PPE infection control practices on 2B must be extended for at least 14 days. I know it is hard to share in the burden that we are the people spreading this virus to those that we are trying so hard to protect, but sadly, that is the case. The individual decisions and actions we make over the next few weeks could save residents’ lives or potentially contribute to their death, something I know many of us have shared as a fear throughout this pandemic.

The next few weeks are going to be important. It is heartening to share that 80% of staff and 99% of residents received their first dose of the vaccine. However, please know the vaccine is NOT FULLY EFFECTIVE until one week after your second dose. For most of us that will be on or around February 5th, and for some that will not be until February 26th. It is just as important now, as it has been since March, to share ANY symptoms that you are experiencing. Many of our staff that are testing positive are starting with a symptom as simple as a runny nose. No matter how minor you believe a symptom to be, you must report ANY/ALL symptoms BEFORE coming in for your shift, even if you believe there is a rational explanation for your symptoms.

Your commitment to maintain safe practices outside of work is critical. We recognize and appreciate the necessary safe practices that need to be maintained by those that live with you as well. If anyone who you live with has any symptoms, please let us know BEFORE coming in for your shift. Not sharing your symptoms or symptoms of those you are in close contact with may endanger the lives of the people we are trying to protect.

We must ensure the highest level of protection for our residents. We need to keep up our amazing work on hand hygiene, disinfecting all surfaces, and reinforce the necessity of helping our residents wear masks and staying socially distanced. If you are a member of our care teams on the neighborhoods, you MUST put a mask on elders anytime you are within 6-feet of them to perform care and you MUST immediately redirect any resident that is going within 6 feet of another resident. There are NO EXCEPTIONS to a resident not wearing a mask during care, unless a nurse has specified a greater safety concern for that resident.

This week I will be joining huddles via Zoom and/or FaceTime so I can hear from you directly and see as many people as possible. If you have questions, ideas, or suggestions about the vaccine, any of our infection control practices, or personal symptoms/exposure situations, please talk to me, Anne McCarty, or Jenn Terray. We are here to support you. While we may not be rounding the same way we were before this outbreak, we still want to have important conversations with you that will keep us and those we care for safe. Thank you for your dedication and continued resolve to prevent and contain the spread of this deadly virus.

Be well,
Maley W. Hunt

 

Update 1-4-2021

 

January 4, 2021

Dear Friends,

We are creating a new bonus rewards program for 2021.  Please read on…

I realize that many people are happy to see 2020 behind us.  That said, there are many things about this past year for which I am grateful.  One of them is our extraordinary staff.  Throughout this past year you demonstrated a commitment to each other, to our residents, and to their families.  With resolve, creativity, and tenacity we created and adapted plans, and committed resources to work together as a tribe to keep this virus from reaching our residents.  We succeeded at this for 280 days: longer than any other provider of our size in Connecticut. 

Since this pandemic started in March, LiveWell has constantly set the standard by which excellence can be measured. We were the first aging services provider in the state to establish health screening for all staff and visitors, the first to provide universal masks and face shields to all staff, we created the first and most expansive use of negative pressure, we created the first daily rapid testing program, and we were among a small number of providers to reward their staff for keeping their residents COVID Free.  These were tactical steps that we took to protect you, your families, and our residents. 

We believed strongly in creating a program that would financially reward our collective teamwork as a tribe working together to achieve one result: Keeping the people who live with us from getting COVID-19.  The first part of this program worked very well.  Despite having two direct staff infected (both through family contact), we kept this virus from affecting our residents.  In June, we tripled the bonus we originally offered.

We anticipated that the fall and winter holidays would increase the risk of our staff contracting this virus and potentially spreading it to each other and our residents.  So, we started the first and only daily rapid testing program in a Connecticut nursing home at a cost of about $30,000 per week.  We outfitted direct staff with a new N95 respirator every day, a preventive safety measure that only a few progressive providers are doing as N95s cost up to 3,500% more than a surgical mask. 

We also created a new bonus program.  Unfortunately, eight of our staff developed COVID-19, and another twelve were exposed (mostly from their extended family members) before our first resident contracted the virus on December 6, 2020.  While this second bonus program did not succeed as we had hoped, like everything with this virus, we are quickly shifting and adapting to create a new rewards program.  This new rewards program is designed to keep the people who live and work with us safer than any other provider in the State. 

We must now shift our attention to the next phase of the fight and the new resources that will aid us in our quest to keep you and our residents safe.  Our new team goal is to educate our staff about the vaccine and to have at least 90% of our staff receive both doses of the vaccine.  The majority of our staff have already completed their paperwork (found in the lobby) to receive their first vaccination on Friday, January 8^th.

New Rewards Program

When we reach the goal of at least 90% of our staff having received both doses of the vaccination, all of the staff who helped us to reach this goal will receive a bonus of $250. This must be accomplished by February 19, 2021. If we reach 95% participation in our vaccination efforts, the bonus paid to each participant will be increased to $300. For the purposes of this bonus, participants will include those who receive the vaccine. 

We typically have 90% of our staff receive their flu vaccine each year, so our team has already demonstrated their ability to work together to keep each other and our residents safe.  Please make sure that you get educated about the vaccine and that you complete the paperwork to register for this Friday’s clinic.

The vaccine is designed to provide optimal protection two weeks after your second dose.  Please do not begin to let down your guard because we test you daily, provide you an N95 respirator or a vaccine.  This is a dangerous virus.  There are several obvious measures you can continue to take to keep yourself and those around you safe:

• Wash your hands more frequently than you think you need to
• If you ever touch your mask, wash/sanitize your hands immediately
• Do not eat in the same room, at the same time, with any other employee
• Do not walk with or stand near any other employee when you are not wearing a mask indoors or outdoors
• Be patient, postpone visits with friends or extended family for at least the next 6 weeks (many of our staff have contracted COVID from family that do not live with them)
• Do not eat in a restaurant
• Do not be near anyone without a mask

I cannot stress the importance of keeping your focus for the next six weeks.  We will get through this working together with all of us doing our part.  I have no doubt in our resolve and resilience.  We are now 12 days from the day our last resident tested positive for COVID.  This is very encouraging news. The staff on 2B have done a remarkable job of halting the spread of this virus.  The staff on 1B have been doing an equally beautiful job helping those who got sick with COVID to recuperate, or to be present with them as they died. The staff on 1A, 2A, and Assisted Living continue to maintain COVID-free neighborhoods and we celebrate them too.

Thank you for doing your part to stop this virus from harming each other, our families, and our residents.  You are amazing people.  Please continue to be the leaders you are, setting an example for others to follow.

Be Well,

Michael J. Smith

President & CEO 

 

Update 12-29-2020

December 29, 2020

Dear Friends,

Today we bring you news of no new positive cases, four recovered residents, with four more close behind and updates on our vaccination plans!

Our initial vaccination clinic date is set for January 8^th, 2021 and the Pfizer vaccine will be administered by CVS pharmacy.  The vaccination team will be administering vaccinations at LiveWell for our residents and our staff simultaneously over the course of six hours.  Staff will receive their vaccines in a centralized location and residents will receive their vaccination on their neighborhoods.  The vaccine is two doses, and the second dose is scheduled for January 29^th, 2021. 

One of the most frequently asked questions we are receiving is regarding one’s ability to get the vaccine if they have recently tested positive for COVID-19.  The answer is, yes, a person can receive the vaccine when they are out of the quarantine window (10 days from a positive PCR test) and are not symptomatic. If they are unable or ineligible for the first dose on January 8^th, the first dose will also be offered on January 29^th, with a follow up three weeks later in February. Attached you will find a fact sheet regarding the Pfizer vaccine. 

In order to prepare for the vaccine, we have consent forms that need to be completed.  We are going to be creating ways for you to complete your consent form while you are at LiveWell.  If you are working on 1B or 2B we will have forms on the neighborhoods, for all others, the forms will be in the lobby.  Please complete your consent form during your next scheduled shift or stop in to LiveWell if you are not scheduled before this Friday.  Our goal is to have all consents completed by Friday, January 1, 2021.  Please have your insurance card ready to be copied on the day you fill out your consent. A copy of the form is provided here for you to review at home or with your medical provider.  It is important that the originals remain at LiveWell as they are triplicate forms that will help our vaccination process go smoother and we cannot request more at this time. 

It is our request that all employees choose to receive the vaccine, if there is a medical reason why you are unable to do so, please let us know immediately.  Please reach out to Anne McCarty with your individual questions.  Additionally, please know that while we will be collecting insurance information for the vaccine, you will not be responsible for any of the costs associated with the vaccine or its administration. 

We will be scheduling appointment times for all staff to receive their vaccination.  Your time will be communicated to you early next week.  It is crucial that you hold January 8^th open and be available.  We will not have flexibility to move people around as our goal is to administer over 300 vaccines in six hours.

We are excited to be able to offer this on site for all our staff and residents at the same time.  Thank you in advance for helping us collect the necessary information for our vaccine administration and reaching out with any questions or concerns in advance of January 8^th so we can address them in a timely manner.

Be well,

 

Maley W. Hunt               Michael J. Smith

COO Residential Living        President, CEO

 

Enclosures: Fact Sheet for Recipients and Caregivers, COVID Vaccine Intake Consent Form

Update 12-28-2020

December 28, 2020

Dear Friends,

There is a truth that this pandemic reinforces: Life is hard, really hard. An equally important truth is that the difficulties we are facing call forth the skills of the heart – kindness, bravery, selfless-love, trust, and patience.

I witness kindness in nurses who shift their schedules, work longer days, and pick up more to cover for their colleagues who are sick with this virus and cannot work. I appreciate these skills in the nurses and other administrative staff who are sick at home with COVID-19 and yet continue to call physicians and families to support our residents. We continue to appreciate the kindness that our kitchen crew shares each day in creating meals for everyone.

I am in awe of the bravery of a team of CNAs and housekeepers not pausing to question their resolve when they arrive at work at 5:40am, realizing for the first time that they must now enter their familiar neighborhood through an unfamiliar back entrance, wear a respirator and surgical gowns to protect themselves and others from this unwelcomed wicked virus.

I am over-powered by the selfless-love and trust expressed in the letters I receive from families; especially the recent letters of encouragement and appreciation I received from a spouse who lost their soul mate just 60 years short of their first blind date, and a daughter who will forever miss her father on Christmas.

We have all practiced more patience and resilience then we thought we had in us. Our maintenance and operations crew have exercised these skills as we shift their routines daily and ask them to create negative pressure resources that have helped halt the spread of this virus.

We appreciate the patience, dedication and acceptance that CNAs working on non-exposed neighborhoods have demonstrated. Having staff with COVID-19 and others who have been exposed, we are living through the temporary strain of working with less people than we normally do. The alternative of permitting staff to work, even when they may only have minimal risk of being COVID positive could be far worse. Thank you all for your patience and understanding. Please know that no matter how hard life becomes because of this pandemic it continues to summon the skills of the heart.

Today, I can thankfully share, that for the past five days, we have no new cases of COVID-19 and there are no new residents with symptoms. I want to call out the exceptional work being done to contain this virus on 2B. In the ten days since the first resident with COVID-19 was identified on the 2B neighborhood, there have been only three other cases from that neighborhood. I also wish to acknowledge the incredibly heroic and compassionate work of the 1B neighborhood. They have been present to support three residents who died and provide comfort and meaningful connection to their families. They have also encouraged each other, and the full recovery of eight residents and more soon to come.
There are so many amazing people at LiveWell who are rising to the occasion to help under less than optimal circumstances and equally amazing people who write to share that they pray for us. Thank you all for showing that when life gets hard, the skills of the heart can lead us forward.

Be Well,

Michael J. Smith
President & CEO

Update 12-24-2020

December 24, 2020

Dear Friends,

We are in awe of the ability of so many people who are a part of our LiveWell tribe to remain open hearted during this difficult journey. Every day it is proven to us that our open hearts are vast enough to hold space for a spouse struggling with loss, a family troubled with anxiety, and a partner whose prayers for recovery are answered.

Our LiveWell tribe has been through so much this year. Each of you has made sacrifices out of concern for others. Your dedication and selflessness allowed us to keep so many safe for so long. Now, with this virus impacting the lives of the people who live and work here, you continue to draw from a well of strength and compassion.

Yesterday marked the passing of a dear man whom many loved, the restored health of staff who will soon return to help fight the virus that attacked them, and preparations for residents who are recuperating to make their next move forward.

Each day we witness the spirit of people who, in spite of doubting their own capacity in small ways, find the resilience to breathe and move forward.

There are many things that will make this season, and the ways we traditionally celebrate it, feel incomplete and different from other years. Yet there is one thing that will remain the same. Love. It is far more powerful than fear. It binds and connects us. And it is what continues to shape the story of who we are and who we are becoming. We hope that remembering this will continue to give each of us the capacity to remain open hearted.

Thank you for being the amazing person you are, for the work you do, and for choosing to be a member of this LiveWell tribe.

Merry Christmas,

Michael J. Smith, President & CEO

Maley Hunt, COO & Administrator

Update 12-11-2020

December 11, 2020

Dear Friends,

The gravity of events here at LiveWell in the past 24 hours weigh heavily on all our hearts. This morning we received all of the results for Wednesday’s molecular PCR tests. All of the residents who live in the assisted living and skilled care neighborhoods are negative for COVID with the exception of the resident on neighborhood 1B. We are caring for and supporting this resident and implementing more measures to protect and monitor the safety of all other residents and staff.

Today, we moved this resident to the temporary COVID care unit located in the Stolba Adult Day Center. This will provide more recuperative space for this resident and a greater level of safety and separation from the other residential areas of LiveWell. This area has a designated staff and negative pressure. All staff will now eat lunch on the neighborhoods or if you do not work on the neighborhoods in the break room, coffee room, or reflection rooms.

We increased precautions on the 1B neighborhood where this resident was living prior to yesterday. We are encouraging all residents on this neighborhood to remain in their rooms. We have also instituted droplet and contact precautions for the care of all residents who live on this neighborhood. This means that staff must don and doff new isolation gowns/gloves in between the care of each resident.

We will be administering daily rapid antigen tests on all residents on this neighborhood. This morning we completed our second day of daily rapid testing on the 1B neighborhood and again all residents tested negative. In addition to monitoring temperatures, oxygen saturation levels, and fluids we are now conducting respiratory assessments four times per day for these residents. All of these assessments will provide data to help us make good decisions to keep people safe and support good health.

We will continue to monitor the health and safety of all other residents on all other neighborhoods and encourage their social distancing. We will administer molecular PCR test for all residents next Tuesday morning. If we have any concerns about the health of any resident prior to Tuesday, we will administer a rapid antigen test and individual molecular PCR test. We will also continue to administer rapid antigen tests to all staff daily.

I am proud to see how we have quickly adapted to this situation both emotionally and physically. We have come so far over the past ten months and we have dedicated the utmost resources to outmaneuver this virus. The fact this is happening when we are within sight of being able to administer vaccines adds a heaviness to our hearts.

It is not lost on me that this news comes at a time when our days feel shorter and darker. I also appreciate that at this time of year, multiple faith traditions invite us to pause, make space, and celebrate the light, hope, and love that can enter our lives, especially in the darkest of times. Please know that families have been sharing words of encouragement and their prayers for our LiveWell tribe. I deeply appreciate the dedication, care, and support that you endlessly show to our elders and one another. Please continue to stay vigilant and safe.

Be Well & God Bless,

Michael J. Smith
President & CEO

Update 11-24-2020

November 24, 2020

Dear Friends,

WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC AS A TEAM!

It is your responsibility to keep us safe by:
• Alerting your supervisor or Anne McCarty the MOMENT you know you were in contact with someone who has developed any symptoms, is being tested for COVID, or has tested positive for COVID. Do not wait until they get their results to tell us.
• Seeing as few people as possible during this wave of the pandemic.
• Answering the screening questions in the lobby honestly every time. These questions may change so please be sure to read them thoroughly each day.
• Letting your supervisor know immediately if you see or hear something that doesn’t align with our safety practices.

PLEASE KEEP EACH OTHER SAFE AND IN YOUR PRAYERS!
Recently we have become aware of three instances of staff getting COVID from their own family members. Some of these staff have caused other staff to be sent home and as a result they must quarantine from their own families. The daily cases are higher than the cases during the first wave of this pandemic. We have also recently learned that some of our staff have had relatives die from COVID. Nothing could be more serious.

YOUR RISK OF EXPOSURE IS HIGHER THAN IT HAS EVER BEEN!
We are not exaggerating when we share that the risk of gathering with family or friends is not worth spreading this disease or potentially sending a relative into quarantine, the hospital, or the funeral home. Do NOT gather with friends or family.

It is not lost on us that this this bleak warning comes at a time that we all typically gather with family and friends to reflect on and share our blessings. To be clear: YOU are our greatest blessing and your safety is our top priority. At LiveWell we will stop at nothing to keep you healthy and safe… even if it means offering unpopular advice.

We hope that you and your family have a safe and reflective Thanksgiving. As you adapt your traditions this year, may you find new ways to practice gratitude. We offer the following words taken from LiveWell’s Good Gardening Values drafted: “Take time to recognize each person unique gifts, to share appreciation and to celebrate the goodness that surrounds us.”

Now is not the time to let your guard down; it is the time to be on even higher alert. We are thankful for your diligence so far and we thank you in advance for keeping it up!

God Bless, Be Safe & Happy Thanksgiving,
Michael & Maley

Update 11-20-2020

November 19, 2020

Hello LiveWell Tribe,

I want to thank each and every one of you for the tremendous work you have done up to this point!  It has been a herculean task to keep our residents COVID free.  Unfortunately, I fear the worst has not yet passed.  We are going into the holidays with record high daily cases, with deaths and hospitalizations following in the wake.  Nationally, only 1% of all people live in nursing homes, yet 40% of all COVID-19 deaths are nursing home residents.  In Connecticut nursing homes and assisted livings, there are 14 dead CNAs, 492 dead assisted living residents, and 2,987 dead nursing home residents as a result of COVID-19.  These numbers are staggering and should cause us all to pause and reflect how our individual actions and choices can contribute to or prevent the continuing spread and rising death toll. 

Currently, the number one way people are contracting COVID-19 is in their own home.  We need you to pause seeing people outside of the people who live in your home.  Small Thanksgiving gatherings will be a top way of spreading COVID-19 and testing before visiting each other is not a good infection control method.  Without visitors at LiveWell at this time, if one of our residents contracts this disease, it will be from one of us.  See some tips here on how to stay safe this holiday: https://directorsblog.nih.gov/2020/11/12/planning-your-holidays-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/

This week we resumed some of our best practices and will continue to add extra layers of protection in the coming weeks.  All of the below strategies and changes are meant to heighten awareness, reduce risk, and keep us and our elders as safe as we possibly can.  One of our top priorities is to continue to support your safety. This tribe is the biggest strength that LiveWell has and we recognize the enormous pressure felt as the rates of infection in the community continue to rise.  We want to help you be aware of the risks you take and infection control you practice while at work and home while celebrating our success along the way.

COVID Free Bonus Pay

• $1/hour extra for all hourly staff for 13-weeks if we keep all residents COVID-19 free through this second wave of the pandemic.
• The biggest way you can impact this is by what you do outside of work, especially through the holidays. Take the time to pause and think about the choices you make outside of LiveWell and how those choices will impact our elders. That one extra person at the Thanksgiving table could be the difference.

No off-campus breaks and no meal deliveries to campus

• Meals will be provided in the Stolba Center for all staff or you may bring in food with you when you start your day. Menus will be shared weekly.

Staff may not work at two locations

• Opportunities for more hours will be available if you need more hours to only commit to working at LiveWell. (They may not be in the same role as your standard hours.) Reach out to Anne McCarty or Jacky Clark to figure out your individualized plan if you work two jobs.

Added employee testing

• All staff will be rapid tested each shift (in addition to weekly PCR testing with Griffin). More information and training to follow.

Thank you for your on-going support and commitment to LiveWell and our science-plus approach to this pandemic.  It has kept us safe thus far and we plan to keep doing the absolute most to support you and keep our elders safe.  Please be alert and aware of the part you play in keeping everyone safe.

Be well,

Maley

Update 11-6-2020

November 6, 2020

Dear Friends,

As a newer member of the LiveWell tribe I continue to be amazingly impressed with the team here and cannot stop emphasizing the immense pride I feel to be here, something I hope you all feel too. Now more than ever, LiveWell’s excellence is shining brightly through our handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. LiveWell continues to be the only combined nursing home and assisted living in Connecticut with no resident cases, all thanks to you! Your success is celebrated by our Department of Public Health. They were particularly impressed with our ability to keep all residents COVID-free despite having a few positive cases among staff. This demonstrates your commitment and unwavering dedication to infection prevention and caution while at work and at home. We want to celebrate your hard work up to this point and emphasize some things that, while routine at LiveWell, are still yet to be adopted or perfected by others.

Extra-Effort & COVID Free Bonus: Starting on November 15, 2020 we will be initiating a 13-week bonus program as we navigate the height of this second wave of the pandemic. This bonus will cover the period from November 15, 2020 to February 13, 2021. The amount of this bonus will be equal to $1.00 for every hour worked during this period, if our residents remain COVID free. For example, if an employee works 40 hours per week for 13 weeks, they would earn a bonus of over $500.
Our resident’s lives depend on the actions you and other members of our tribe will take over the next several months. We already know that you take this responsibility very seriously. This bonus is offered with the recognition that you hold yourself and your colleagues to the highest safety standards to protect our residents. If a resident does test positive, the amount of the bonus program will be re-evaluated. We are, however, confident in your ability to continue to keep those who work and live here safe.
Some of the best ways to help keep our residents COVID free are:
• Test weekly at LiveWell: Weekly testing for all staff is mandatory and should be completed your first shift of the week. Testing is available Sunday through Thursday, please do not wait until Friday to test. If you only work on Fridays and Saturdays, you must come in earlier in the week to test. If you are off for a week, you should still come in and test for the safety of you and your family!
• Keep your circles small through the holidays: Gather with people in your immediate household and forgo inviting others in or going to other’s homes.
• Wear your mask and shield: Wearing your mask and face shield are required in the building and are highly encouraged everywhere on campus. If you are walking with a co-worker outside, wearing your mask is required. If you must be in a car with a co-worker, wear your mask. If you need masks for home, please ask and we would be happy to provide you some!
• Wash your hands: It seems self-explanatory, but good hand hygiene is paramount to keeping our staff and residents safe. Every time you touch your mask or shield, wash your hands. Every time you come in contact with a high touch surface (hand railings, elevator buttons, nurse’s station, etc.), wash your hands. Every time you are working with residents, wash your hands.

PTO Cash Out: We understand that with limited travel and activities outside of work, and needs at LiveWell during this pandemic, many of you have not used all your PTO time this year. While we want to encourage you to take well-being days where you can be home, without a mask on, we also want to give you the option to cash out some of your PTO. You may cash out a total of two weeks of PTO in 2020. People with PTO balances eligible for cash out will be receiving more information from Jacky Clark in the coming weeks. The cash out will occur on December 11, 2020.

Thanksgiving Pies: Our tradition of sharing an apple or pumpkin pie the week of Thanksgiving will continue! We will hand out pies on Tuesday (11/24) and Wednesday (11/25) before Thanksgiving, and with smaller circles this year, there will be more pie for you, so get those Motion steps in early this month!

I am so thankful to have a team as dedicated as all of you. We would not be where we are today without your attention to detail and hyper-awareness on what is safe/unsafe during this pandemic. Thank you in advance for continuing to keep it up and doubling down as we navigate through this very unique holiday season. Please know that we are here to support you during this pandemic. We are committed to keeping all of our LiveWell tribe safe while celebrating and rewarding our successes along the way!

Stay healthy and diligent,
Maley

Update 10-23-2020

October 23, 2020

Dear LiveWell Team,

This morning we received the good news that after three weeks of testing, all our residents continue to remain COVID-Free. We balance this good news with the fact that we also learned from our lab partner that a new staff member tested positive for COVID-19. This week’s negative test results for all residents are encouraging, especially since we collected the staff member’s swab on Tuesday, prior to testing all residents on Wednesday. None of our residents show any signs or symptoms of COVID and we will continue to monitor everyone’s health.

The new person who tested positive, like the previous staff member, is asymptomatic.  Neither of them had contact with one another, so we have no cause to believe that these cases are related.  We want to wish this staff member well and support their recovery during this time.  By having another positive staff test it triggers us to continue weekly testing for all residents and staff, and to maintain our pause on in-person family visits for the next two weeks. 

Over the last 6-months, LiveWell has traveled a path of keeping this virus away from our residents. As the cases in Southington and surrounding towns continue to increase, we all have a part to play.  Now is the time to be proactive and diligent.  By continuing to adapt our routines, together we ensure this increase in cases does not continue to grow in our communities. Please, be cautious and consistent in your personal infection prevention strategies while outside of work.

Be well and reach out with questions and concerns,

Maley

 

Update 10-16-2020

October 16, 2020

Dear LiveWell Team,
We are excited to be able to share that our second round of resident testing went extremely well this week thanks to the collaboration between our team and the Griffin testing team. All resident results are negative; we will test them one more time next week to hopefully conclude our 14-days of surveillance testing. The success we are having in the testing and have had throughout the pandemic is a testament to your commitment to safety and caution while at work and at home.

The success LiveWell has had thus far is rare, in both Connecticut and nationally. Nursing homes are still having outbreaks and cases in Connecticut are on the rise (see print out on lobby desk). The rates in the state are back where they were in March. The number of cases has increased 4 to 5 times from what we were seeing in the summer months. This makes a huge difference in the number of people contagious and the number of people hospitalized. There are currently 191 people hospitalized across the state and have been upwards of 300 new cases daily this week.

It is important now more than ever for LiveWell to keep our “science-plus” mentality of going above what is recommended to keep people as safe as possible. With that in mind, we ask if you are working a second job, in any capacity, please reach out to Jacky Clark or Anne McCarty so that we can evaluate the necessary precautions to ensure LiveWell and you are at the lowest risk possible. Additionally, if you did work two jobs and are still on pause from one, please reach out with any questions or concerns.

Where we spend our time outside of LiveWell is critical to our continued success, which includes the upcoming holiday season, starting with Halloween at the end of this month. We encourage you to minimize the number of people you spend time with and to minimize indoor gatherings, as these present a huge risk. The safest way to connect is virtually. If you must see people, wear masks and stay 6-feet apart. Please be mindful of the states on the CT Travel Advisory List; the latest version is always posted on the front desk. There are now 36 states on the travel advisory (see map on flip side). LiveWell will not be allowing staff to ‘test out’ of quarantining if you travel to one of those states or travel by plane. If you do go to a red state or fly, we will ask you to quarantine for 4-days upon return and then get a PCR COVID-19 test done at a location other than LiveWell and receive a negative result before returning to work. Please let Anne McCarty know in advance of your travel.

We are incredibly thankful for the sacrifices you and your family have made to keep LiveWell safe. Please let us now if there are additional ways we can help you and your family such as providing masks or access to cleaning supplies. We want to do our part as you support this team and our elders.

Be well and reach out with questions and concerns,

Maley

 

Update 10-9-2020

October 9, 2020

Dear Friends,

I am very pleased to share the great news that all of our residents continue to be COVID-FREE! We tested all of the people who live and work here, and all test results are negative. We also re-tested the staff member who tested positive. We used both a molecular PCR test and a rapid antigen test; both results were negative. Our teammate remains at home in fine health with no symptoms and no direct tracing to someone with confirmed COVID-19.

We will continue to exercise caution and to assess and mitigate potential risks. As I shared in my last letter, we tested all staff and all residents on 10/7. With best practice as our guide, we will continue to perform these molecular PCR tests for residents and staff on 10/14 and 10/21. This pattern of testing is recommended by the CDC and is required by the Department of Public Health, as is a pause for all in-person campus visits until we receive the results back from the swabs collected on 10/21. We anticipate reinitiating in-person campus visits on 10/24.

We will keep you updated on the status of testing as we learn more in the next 14 days. Thank you for your flexibility over the next two weeks. You continue to do an amazing job of protecting each other and everyone who lives here. The use of face masks, face shields and frequent hand washing makes a big difference. Keep up the great work!

Be well,

 Michael J. Smith
President & CEO

 

Update 10-7-2020

October 7, 2020

Dear Friends,

I hope that this letter finds you well. As many of you know, we have exceeded state requirements regarding staff testing and chose to test all of our employees weekly for the past 19 weeks. We believe that this practice enables us to detect any asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic staff as soon as practicably possible. Unfortunately, we learned yesterday evening that an employee who worked on Monday, October 5th, who has no symptoms of COVID-19, tested positive for COVID-19. This employee did not work October 6th. Despite their lack of symptoms, this employee will quarantine at home. Please join me in extending our support and best wishes for continued good health for our teammate.

Currently, none of our residents are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19. We immediately performed a rapid test all of the residents that this employee had direct care contact with over the past week. All of these residents are healthy and tested negative for COVID-19. We will be collecting swabs from all of our residents today and will send them out to the laboratory for thorough testing. We also plan to complete all staff testing today. We will share the results as soon as we have them.

This situation underscores the necessity of wearing a face mask and face shield. We took this safety measure precisely to mitigate the risk of an asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic staff member providing care. The use of a face mask with a face shield and effective hand hygiene have kept our residents safe thus far and we anticipate that this will continue to be the case. You all are doing a great job with this! Please keep up the good work. The small steps you take each day, make a BIG difference in keeping each other and our residents safe from this virus that has taken the lives of over 3,000 people in places like ours.

Out of an abundance of caution, we are restricting visits on the campus until we receive results back from our laboratory partners. Please also continue to exercise caution and remain socially distant from each other when you are on breaks. As this situation illustrates, a teammate of yours may look perfectly healthy to you and may also present a big risk to you if you are near them without a mask, driving to get food, walking to and from the building, or taking a walk together.

We are all partners in protecting each other during these challenging times. While this is unfortunate news to share, it is not improbable given that our staff, like other members of our broader community, are facing increased risks of exposure as COVID-19 cases rise in Connecticut. The number of daily cases in Connecticut has now increased to levels that are on par with those in the middle of March. We hope that our vigorous approach to source control and weekly testing will continue to protect our residents and staff.

I hope that as we receive this news, that all of us may pause and examine our routines and take more steps to limit our exposure to this virus and to other people. Please be safe. There is a risk that the number of cases in Connecticut will continue to increase as we are now in phase three of the state’s re-opening, many schools remain open to students and we are entering flu season. We will be offing more guidance and support to keep you and your families healthy. We will also offer more guidance on what to do if you, or family members who live with you, experiences illness or exposure to someone with COVID-19.

I have no doubt that we will continue our outstanding efforts to look out for one another and to keep each other safe. I feel blessed to work with people who realize that we are all in the same boat and who show respect for one another. Please continue to make great choices inside and outside of LiveWell that will keep you and others safe. Thank you for your confidence and support.

Be Well,

Michael J. Smith
President & CEO

 

Update 9-30-2020

Dear Friends and LiveWell Colleagues,

Please be aware we have shifted the ‘Outdoor Courtyard Family Visits’ to inside due the beautiful changing New England weather. They have made such a difference for the residents we love to be able to connect in person to their family on a regular basis. Thank you all for the many, many people involved every week to make these safe and joyful!! It DOES take a village.

We will offer indoor visits for families from Tuesday through Saturday. 10 am-10:30am, 11am-11:30am, 1:30pm-2:00pm and 4:00pm -4:30pm. We will continue to follow all of the safety practices and guidelines for limiting COVID exposure from families including testing and PPE. They will continue to use the online platform for signing up.

THE ASK:
I would like to ask all of our community to be aware that families are visiting in the lobby at the above times and to be sensitive to the emotional nature visiting may have.
1. If you are entering or leaving while visits are occurring, please be respectful and quiet during your check in.
2. Think about heading out for a Dunkin run or food in between visits to limit the traffic in the lobby during that half an hour.
3. If you are entering the lobby for pharmacy pick up or other LiveWell business, please be sensitive to the visits happening.

 

Thank you all SO much for all of the preparations you support so that the person is shining and beautiful, looking their best when they are brought into the lobby for their visit. Thank you also for supporting all of the virtual visits where the family is not able to be here. Please share the information in this email with colleagues and friends who may not regularly check their LiveWell emails.

In gratitude,
Jenna

 

Update 8-15-2020

August 15, 2020

Dear Friends,

I want you to know that you are always creating such a positive reputation for LiveWell, especially during this pandemic.  It is a joy to greet each of you in the morning, coming and going, witnessing the amazing people who have created and who sustain our reputation.

There is deep interest on the part of others to better understand how we have kept COVID out of LiveWell.  Hearing of our success, two legislative committees in Connecticut asked us to share our approaches.  The Governor and the independent counsel he appointed to examine what did and did not go well in nursing homes has also sought our guidance.  I shared with each of these groups the extraordinary and unified commitment of our staff.  I hope that you continue to feel proud that you are leading the way and are an example for our field.

I look forward to meeting with all of you in September to share more about raises and our future plans for renovations and expansion of our resources to serve older adults.  LiveWell’s plans for the future will bring opportunities for growth for both our staff and residents.

I am very pleased to announce that we have hired Maley Hunt to join LiveWell as our Chief Operating Officer/Administrator.  Maley participated in a ten-hour marathon day of interviews with us on July 28^th.  She had the opportunity to interview with 35 staff and meet other staff and residents throughout the day.  She is very excited to join our team and is committed to getting to know staff and residents.  I hope you will join me in welcoming her to our tribe on September 8^th.

It pleases me to witness that our commitment to each other has only strengthened during the past six months of this pandemic.  It is easy to say, “we are in this together”, it is harder to live this commitment.  I hope that those of you who may be needing additional cash during these challenging times are taking advantage of the opportunity to cash out your PTO benefits at the end of August.  For those of you with school age children, this upcoming school year presents new challenges.  We want to help you and your children to stay safe.  We are preparing back-to-school PPE packages that contain facemasks, face shields (that can be trimmed to fit), and hand sanitizer.  We will begin to distribute these back-to-school PPE packages the week of August 24^th.   If there is something more we can do to help relieve any back-to-school anxiety or to help keep you and your families stay safe please let us know.

Thank you for all that you continue to do for each other and all who live with us.

Be Well,

 
Michael J. Smith
President & CEO

 

 

 

 

 

Update 7-24-2020

July 24, 2020

 

Dear Friends,

As I look back over the past 139 days since we first began taking everyone’s temperature in our lobby, I am in awe of all that we have accomplished together.  As many of you have remarked, LiveWell has been one of the safest places to be during this pandemic.  Your commitment to keep this virus out has been unshakable and we will need to continue our resolve as it is not going away. 

You are doing an amazing job!  Please know that you continue to have my appreciation and admiration.  Because of this, and all that you normally do, I am very excited to share that, in addition to the bonuses we just distributed, we have another raise planned and another opportunity to cash out PTO.  Please read on to learn more about these and other important topics.

TESTING

We were out ahead of our peers in staff testing. In fact, LiveWell was the first provider in Connecticut to have met the State’s testing requirements (having no positive resident or staff cases for 14 days).  Having met this threshold on July 2^nd, we are no longer required to conduct weekly testing of our residents and staff.  However, after many thoughtful conversations with our staff and leadership team we have decided to maintain testing at least until the end of August.  Your safety and wellbeing remain our priority.  We hope this will continue to provide all of you with peace of mind.

Weekly testing will continue on Monday and Tuesday at 7:00am–9:30am and 2:00pm–4:00pm and Wednesday at 7:00am – 9:30am.

PLEASE REMAIN FOCUSED

Sadly, there are other organizations who, like us, kept all of their residents COVID-Free until recently.  After over four months of really hard work keeping all residents COVID-Free, this CT provider had seven resident COVID-19 cases practically overnight.  They had stopped testing their staff.  A staff member who unknowingly had COVID-19 and was asymptomatic infected most of the residents on their assignment.  This is a sobering reminder of the importance of ensuring that your face mask needs to stay over your nose and mouth at all times even with our warm summer weather.

FAMILY TESTING

We also recently detected, through our testing protocols, that a family member who was intending to visit, was positive for COVID-19 and asymptomatic.  Sadly, her infant daughter also subsequently tested positive.  We are not required to test family members.  This is a measure of additional precaution and safety that we chose to exercise.  Based on this one test result, we feel it has been useful in our fight to keep COVID-19 from infecting or residents and staff.  In this case it may also prove useful in helping to keep a young family safe.

TAKE TIME TO REJUVENATE

While the number of COVID-19 cases in Connecticut remains low please consider seizing the moment to pause, rejuvenate, and use some paid time off.  Our weekly use of paid time off has surged from an average of 5% during the months of March through mid-June to 20% during the past four weeks.  The pent-up demand for time to relax is like a pressure valve being released.  This release is necessary and yet it also creates additional challenges to staff to our expectations.  Like all pressures we have experienced this year, we need to navigate through this vacation surge with compassion and a shared commitment to each other. 

RESTRICTED TRAVEL

As you are planning time off, please exercise caution.  Almost two-thirds of US states are experiencing surges in COVID-19 cases.  Pursuant to Governor Lamont’s Executive Order No. 7III, anyone traveling into Connecticut from a list of 31 restricted states must self-quarantine for a 14-day period from the time of last contact within the identified state. In addition, anyone entering from one of the identified states must fill out a travel health form upon arrival. For a list of the effected states please visit this link.

We strongly encourage you NOT to travel to any of these states.  If you have an emergency that and need to travel to any of these states, you are required to inform Anne McCarty.  If you are travelling anywhere outside of Connecticut please let Anne McCarty know as this list of effected states changes daily. 

SEARCH FOR A NEW CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

As most of you know, Trish Bowen announced in May that she regrettably needed to step out of her role as our COO.  We have been conducting a search for a new COO.  We are excited to bring a prospective candidate to LiveWell for an on-site interview next Tuesday.  This candidate will be on site for the whole day touring and meeting with different groups of staff.  Please pass along any questions or areas of inquiry to Anne or Jacky.  We hope that anyone working on Tuesday will have the opportunity to meet this candidate.

CASH OUT OF PTO

We will be offering the opportunity to cash out a week of PTO at the end of August.  Please see Jacky Clark to complete a cash out form by August 21, if you wish to cash out time.

ON-CALL SCHEDULES

We have received thoughtful suggestions about adapting our nurse and care partner on-call system and bonus structure.  We are exploring these options and plan to share more information to nurses and care partners soon.

RAISES

Given the extraordinary nature of the pandemic in March-June, we were fortunate enough to have extra one-time financial support from the federal and state government to fund the bonuses we distributed.  I am delighted that in addition to these bonuses we are in a position to make a raise that is permanent.  Retention and expansion of our team is vital to our success.  I will be holding meetings with all staff in September to outline our next raise, and to share our outlook for the next year.  I have no doubt that our team will continue to support each another as we keep navigating life with coronavirus. 

THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON NURSING FACILITIES

Here is a link to a list of all nursing facilities in Connecticut and the number of elders that contracted and died from COVID-19. You will see that the loss of life in these other facilities is large – over 2,850 people.  This is beyond sad, as both residents and staff died in these organizations that navigated this pandemic without the same level of creativity, tenacity, resourcefulness, teamwork and leadership that LiveWell demonstrated.  In addition to treating people or dealing with the aftermath of death and sickness, many of these providers are struggling to exist financially.

MOVING FORWARD

We have not only shown resolve and resilience, LiveWell is positioned to create a new normal; reimaging and redesigning more opportunities to engage and empower people living with cognitive changes.  Our future looks very bright. 

I look forward to sharing more in September.

 

Be well,

Michael J. Smith

President and CEO

 

 

 

 

 

Update 6-26-2020

 

Staff Testing for the Week of June 28th

Tuesday, June 30th
7:00am – 9:00am & 2:00pm – 4:00pm

Wednesday, July 1st
7:00am – 9:00am & 2:00pm – 4:00pm

If you are not able to come in these times, please see
your supervisor. Overnight staff will be tested
with the supervisor.

Update 6-23-2020

 

Staff Testing This Week
Tests will now be performed by swabbing your own nose and only need to be inserted into the inside edge of your nose. Instructions will be available at time of testing.

Wednesday, June 24th
10:00am – 11:30am & 2:00pm – 4:00pm

Thursday, June 25th
10:00am – 11:30am & 2:00pm – 4:00pm

Overnight staff will be tested with the supervisor

If you are not able to come at any of these times, please let us know.

Thank you,

Anne

Update 6-16-2020

June 15, 2020

Dear Friends,

We all have journeyed through something remarkable. Together, you have been unshakeable in pursuing a unified goal to keep COVID-19 out. You have shown concern for each other’s wellbeing by caring for yourselves, your families and our residents. At a time when our nation needed to retreat to protect themselves and others, you stepped forward with courage to serve. I will never be capable of finding the right words to accurately express my gratitude for the trust you had in each other and LiveWell to navigate through this pandemic.

Throughout this pandemic I have communicated weekly to families and staff, outlining our actions and sharing stories about our LiveWell ‘Tribe’. Trusting each other, looking out for one another, demonstrating courage, knowing why we do what we do, and pursing a unified common cause are the very definitions of a Tribe. I am proud to be a member of this tribe!

On June 18th – CNA Day, we will have much to celebrate! We will distribute our bonus checks that day. Based on your truly remarkable efforts I have decided to triple the bonus for all 13 weeks. Congratulations! For those who work 40 hours/week this bonus will be over $1,500.

This celebration will bring other transitions. We will have a food truck here for all staff to enjoy (that’s right, other humans delivering food we can eat)! After the 18th you may, with extreme caution, leave the campus for meal breaks or have food delivered. The food truck will mark the end of daily staff meals that our friends in the kitchen have prepared for the past two months. The LiveWell Market will also see its last day on June 18th. We estimate that we served almost 8,000 meals and bagged over 300 grocery orders. Thank you to the kitchen team for all of the food and groceries; you kept us all well-nourished and safe!

This disease has not stopped spreading in the community. At present there are still approximately 200 new cases of COVID-19 and 15 deaths reported each day in Connecticut. We need your continued cooperation to keep COVID-19 out of LiveWell. Please continue to wear a face mask in public and refrain from social situations that are considered high risk, like eating inside of restaurants and participating in social gatherings of more than 10 people. If our tribe is able to maintain our COVID-Free status, we plan to stop the use of the face shields on July 2, 2020. Thank you for accepting the challenge of wearing these uncomfortable yet potentially life saving shields. You have been amazing!

After three months of physically separating families from their relatives at LiveWell, June 21st, the longest day of the year and Father’s Day, we will begin to reunite families. Garden visits will take place in our outdoor courtyards in designated places at designated times. Family members are so appreciative of the work you have been doing and of their ability to return to campus.
I hope that you beam with pride for what you have accomplished, and for how, as a tribe, you have grown stronger by caring for your neighbors as you would want them to care for you.

Thank You & Be Well,

Michael J. Smith
President & CEO

Update 6-16-2020

COVID-19 testing for this week is as follows:

Wednesday, June 17–6:45am—9:30am
Thursday, June 18- 2 pm-4pm

All staff should make every effort to be tested. If you were away last week or missed testing you must make it in this week.

Thanks so much. Anne

Update 6-9-2020

Good afternoon –

A reminder that our weekly COVID-19 testing for staff will take place in our lobby this week on the following dates and times:

Wednesday, June 10 6:45 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Thursday, June 11 6:45 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. and 2:00p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

If you are not working on either of these days, please stop by during these times for your test. Since most of you were tested last week, no online registration is required.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Anne M. McCarty

Update 6-5-2020

June 3, 2020

Dear Friends,

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. You beat the odds. Not only did you keep all of our residents in skilled and assisted living COVID FREE, every one of our employees on our residential team is COVID FREE!

This is beyond remarkable. Our tribe, together, kept our elders safe and we kept each other safe. To the best of my knowledge, there are only three other providers in Connecticut who have accomplished this, of them, LiveWell serves the greatest number of vulnerable older adults and has the most employees that have remained COVID FREE!

This is a testament to the personal commitment that each of you took to protect yourselves, your families, each other, and our residents. I am extremely proud of you and the sacrifices you have made over the past three months. LiveWell is nothing without our tribe. Please extend my appreciation to your families as well. This period of time has not been easy for any of us or our families. Let’s pause and reflect on the support and understanding that we have received from the people who love us and encourage us.

Per the Governor’s last executive order, all staff in every skilled nursing facility and assisted living must be tested for COVID-19 weekly. I know these tests are uncomfortable, but we will get through them together. Next week we will test all staff again on Wednesday and Thursday between 6:45am-9:45am and 2:00pm-4:00pm.
Your resilience and tenacity during this COVID-19 pandemic kept our tribe together and made us stronger. Each of you have been beacons of light in a dark chapter of our world. Unfortunately the murder of George Floyd is part of a longer standing deadly pandemic that adds to the darkness of our days: racism. The COVID-19 pandemic has bought our community together to support one another. May we continue to cast our light and love in dark places.
In a world where too many people shrink from the responsibility of seeing our common humanity, valuing differences and building a supportive tribe, you have shown that concern for one another, and loving and protecting your neighbor is a powerful path to making our world a better place. I hope that we will always commit to making LiveWell a safe place for our tribe to flourish.

I look forward to celebrating your successes with you again on June 18th – CNA Appreciation Day. As a part of that celebration we plan to distribute bonuses that day. While we have so much to celebrate, I hope you will join me in pausing to honor people who have lost their lives, who continue to fight for their lives, who fight injustice, and for the pain that so many people in our country are feeling now. All of us who are a part of this LiveWell tribe have much to be grateful for. Thank you for your continued trust and support.

Be well,
Michael J. Smith
President & CEO

Update 6-2-2020

Last Friday after testing all of the people who live in our all neighborhoods (assisted living and skilled care) we shared that everyone was COVID FREE!  This confirmed that the only way that our residents will come in contact with this contagious virus is through LiveWell employees.  We remain the largest provider without COVID.

To this end, our next strategy to remain COVID free is to perform weekly testing of all LiveWell employees beginning tomorrow, Wednesday, June 3^rd.

As you may be aware, last evening our Governor released an Executive order for Mandatory COVID-19 Testing for Staff Skilled Nursing Home Facilities and Assisted Living Services Agencies, beginning no later than the week starting June 14, 2020…Once again LiveWell will be ahead of the majority of providers as we have secured a partner to perform the testing with DOC Medical Group.

DOC Medical Group will be performing the test at LIveWell in the office off the lobby across from where you are currently washing your hands.  The time of testing for this week will be Wednesday, June 3 from 6:45am-9:45am and 2:00pm-4:00pm.  The nurses and care partners will be the first round and then housekeeping, dietary, operations, and administration will rotate through testing.  Laurah Michael’s will be working to orchestrate the flow of testing.  If you are not working on Wednesday but can come into work that would be much appreciated.

The test that will be performed is a nasal swab that is quick and painless and may only result in a sneeze. The results will be available within approx. 15 minutes.  If you have tested positive you will be notified immediately.   If you are positive, you will likely be asymptomatic and will need to remain home for 10 days. Anne McCarty will be in touch is you are positive about how to pay you while you are out of work.

All staff will need to register on the Docs Med group portal before their first test. This will only need to be done the first time tested. You will also need to bring a photo ID and your  insurance card to the test. No payment will be required and although we take insurance information, you will not be responsible for payment.

Please click here for registration instructions.

After that, please click here to open the registeration portal in a separate browser window.

Update 5-29-2020

 

May 29, 2020

Dear Friends,

In every letter I have written over the past 12 weeks I have detailed our proactive, deliberate and thorough efforts to keep all the people who live with us COVID FREE. You have all dug deep and demonstrated your grit and resilience to meet a never-ending daily stream of challenges; responding and adapting to rapidly changing information, expanded workloads, and shifting routines.

Over the past three months we devised a strategy to run a marathon at the pace of a sprint. The only way to succeed at such a challenge was to run this sprinting marathon as a relay race. Each member of our tribe would have a relay partner to pass the baton to, allowing other members to catch their breath and prepare themselves for the next leg of the race. It has been critically important during the past three months, to pause, reflect and appreciate each other’s efforts in this race. Your belief in each other and support for each other has felt more important than ever. I asked much of you and I have never been prouder of you than I am now.

After testing all of the people who live in our neighborhoods (assisted living and skilled care) we can definitively share that everyone is COVID FREE! This is beyond impressive.

It feels like an important triumph when courage and optimism prevail over fear and seemingly impossible odds. We have been battling a pernicious and fatal virus. There could be no group of people at greater risk for getting and quickly spreading COVID-19, than 133 older adults, all of whom have dementia, a roommate, multiple co-morbidities, and an inconsistent awareness to practice social distancing. Our tribe, together, keep our elders safe. This accomplishment is further punctuated when we pause, and grasp, that there are only a handful out of 210 providers in Connecticut who have accomplished this, and that LiveWell serves the greatest number of older adults that have remained COVID FREE.

Our important work is not over. We will continue our vigilance, expand our testing and begin to plan phases for reuniting our community. This virus has not released its grip on older adults. But for now, let’s pause and appreciate that all of our sacrifices have saved lives. Great work and Congratulations! Thank you for all that you have done and continue to do.

Thank you & Be Well,

Michael J. Smith
President & CEO

Update 5-21-2020

May 20, 2020

Dear Friends,

You have done an amazing job protecting the health of the older adults who live with us and adapting to the challenges that this crisis has required of us. I hope that you feel a sense of pride that our combined efforts have literally saved lives. In Connecticut, over 3,500 people have died of COVID-19, 2,300 of them lived in nursing homes or assisted living settings. There are also almost 9,000 residents in these settings that have suffered or are suffering the effects of COVID-19, many fighting to live. These are sobering statistics.

By our estimates, we are now the only provider of both skilled nursing and assisted living care that remains COVID-19 Free. We are also the largest skilled nursing provider who remains COVID-19 Free. This is remarkable, as more employees, residents, and varied levels of care each create more risk of spreading this virus.

It is important that we pause and appreciate your important role in this success. Selfless people who save lives are heroes! I hope we have found ways to continually share our appreciation through our words and actions. I also want to share an update on our bonus program.

BONUS PROGRAM
As I previously shared, we created a one-time performance award: $1 for every hour worked from March 15, 2020 to June 13, 2020; doubled if our residents remain free of COVID-19 for the duration of this period.

In recognition of all that has been accomplished thus far, we will guarantee the doubling of the bonus for the first nine weeks; March 15th – May 16th. Further, we will TRIPLE the bonus to $3 for every hour worked from May 17th – June 13th if our resident’s remain COVID-19 free.

For staff who average 40 hours per week the total bonus would reach $1,200. All bonuses will be paid on June 20th, after the performance award period ends.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO BE CAUTIOUS
As of today more parts of our community are reopening. There will be numerous temptations to revisit past routines and reconnect with people you have been keeping at a distance. Please resist, we need a healthy team and we need you! Please continue to take care of yourself and isolate so you can take care of others. This means avoiding even small family/social gatherings and restaurants, not purchasing coffee daily or going out for food during your shift. We have asked that you bring less with you to work, clean your phone when you arrive, keep a mask and face shield on at all times and to eat by yourself. The wearing of facemasks and face shields, with constant hand hygiene, is our greatest weapon, and our protection, in this fight to remain COVID-19 free. Every small modification you make saves lives. We are increasing the bonus to reflect the importance of following these practices.

THANK YOU
Our collective efforts to keep each other safe go a long way and we are excited to share this bonus to show our appreciation. You continue to demonstrate resilience and grace under pressure. All of our hard work is saving lives. Navigating this pandemic has required all of us to adapt and transform. I appreciate your personal sacrifices of comfort with wearing face masks and face shields and letting go of past personal routines. If an individual employee demonstrates an unwillingness to adapt to reasonable requests and places other staff/residents at risk, that individual employee will risk losing their bonus.

PTO CASH-OUT
I have closely monitored the weekly payroll hours for 10 weeks prior to and after Connecticut’s first COVID-19 case. On average our weekly hours worked post COVID-19 have increased by approximately 30-50 hours per week. Analyzing payroll reports, there is also a minimal change in weekly overtime or the use of paid time off. We appreciate all of the commitments you are making. We want you to use your paid time off to replenish, and we also recognize that normal vacation plans have been and will continue to be disrupted by this crisis.

In recognition of this, we will offer the opportunity for all hourly staff to cash out up to one week of PTO in August. We also anticipate offering an additional time to cash-out PTO in December. I will share more about these cash-out options in the near future.

Thank You & Be Well,

Michael J. Smith
President & CEO

Update 5-6-2020

HAPPY NURSES DAY!

We cannot think of a more perfect time to celebrate the importance of our nurses!
Today is National Nurse’s Day and it begins National Nurses Week!

On Tuesday, May 12 we will celebrate our nurses with a special meal for everyone. We also will have a special surprise for everyone on May 12th. Although we can’t gather in our usual way, we want to recognize the gifts of compassion, empathy, trust and courage that our nurses share with us and the people who live at LiveWell. Thank you nurses for sharing your gifts every day!

March and April were months that drew our attention to COVID prevention. We all know how important that has been and continues to be, however, we did not have an opportunity to recognize some other special groups of staff in early spring. March was a month to celebrate our Social Workers, and April our Occupational Therapists and Administrative Professionals. Please take a moment during your day and thank all of these special people for all they do at LiveWell.

With gratitude,

Anne

Update 4-29-2020

April 29, 2020

Dear Friends,

It has been, and it will continue to be, our priority to identify and mitigate risks that increase the probability that our staff or our residents are exposed to or contract COVID-19. I hope that you all can appreciate the extraordinary lengths that we have taken to limit the potential spread of this virus to our residents and to one another.

Projections created by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) indicate that it would be highly improbable to prevent all of our employees, their close family members and all of our residents from contracting COVID-19. Thankfully, all of our residents remain COVID-19 free! However, statistically speaking, anywhere from 33.3% – 50.0% of our staff at LiveWell may have already developed or may in the future develop COVID-19 (this includes asymptomatic cases).

We now know from recent studies that a significant portion of individuals with COVID-19 are asymptomatic, meaning they lack symptoms, and that even those who eventually develop symptoms can transmit the virus to others before they show symptoms. This means that the virus can spread between people who do not exhibit symptoms, and who are less than six feet apart and are just casually talking. This is why we enforced, very early in this pandemic, that all staff wear masks at LiveWell.

PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF COVID-19
If worn properly, a mask is meant to help block large-particle droplets, splashes, sprays, or splatter that may contain viruses like COVID-19, keeping them from reaching another person’s mouth or nose. Masks also help reduce exposure of your saliva and respiratory secretions to others. The use of a mask together with good social distancing practices and good hand hygiene is among the highest precautions staff can take if they are unknowingly COVID-19 positive and asymptomatic. We have instituted these measures for all staff while they are in the building. These measures reduce the possibility that staff who are asymptomatic can unknowingly spread COVID-19 to others.

Despite practicing good infection prevention, there are a number of staff members who likely have already unknowingly contracted COVID-19 and never exhibited symptoms. Some staff may have experienced symptoms but were never tested, some may have had symptoms and received a negative COVID-19 test result, and others have had symptoms and received a positive COVID-19 test result. We have experienced all of these situations. It is also important to remember that not all test results may be accurate.

Regardless of COVID-19 test results, we are using the highest standard of practice to respond to staff that experience symptoms. We are treating every staff illness that fits the symptoms of COVID-19 as a presumptive positive case. These staff are required to stay at home for at least seven days, and at least 72 hours from their last symptom after discontinuing any medications to treat their symptoms.

FOCUSING ON AREAS OF RISK
Because all staff are required to keep their masks on, practice social distancing and good hand hygiene, we believe there is an extremely low probability that our staff may transmit COVID-19 to residents or other staff. There are however, two areas at LiveWell where our staff are at a higher risk for sharing this virus.

The first area is the lobby; particularly when staff enter the building together and are waiting to receive a mask. It is critically important to practice good social distancing in the lobby as you enter or exit the building. Please keep in mind that you should not walk with colleagues outside the building without a mask. The second area is the Stolba Center. The Stolba Center was re-designated as an area for staff to eat their meals. This room provides ample space for staff to remove their mask and remain 6 feet apart from other staff to eat their meals. Staff should eat at each table alone and remain greater than 6 feet apart from each other. You should only have your mask off to eat and must put your mask on if you get up from the table. When you finish eating, you must immediately replace your mask, and disinfect the table or area where you ate your meal.

POTENTIAL EXPOSURE
If we have a staff member who tests positive for COVID-19 or who we presume to be positive (even with a negative test result), we will investigate who may have had prolonged contact with them. Prolonged contact is defined by the CDC as having direct, UNMASKED exposure of less than 6 feet, for more that 20 minutes with someone who tested positive or is presumed COVID-19 positive. Based on CDC guidelines we will focus on the 48 hours prior to the time the presumed positive staff member exhibited their first symptom. This will help us to determine who may have had prolonged contact with a staff member who tests positive or is presumed positive COVID-19. Anyone who may have had prolonged contact will be considered to be potentially exposed.

This guidance on potential exposures also applies to prolonged contact that any of our staff may have outside of LiveWell, within their family or in the community. If you feel you may have had prolonged contact with anyone at Livewell or outside of LiveWell you must report this immediately. Again: Prolonged contact is defined by the CDC as having direct, UNMASKED exposure of less than 6 feet, for more that 20 minutes with someone who tested positive or is presumed COVID-19 positive. COVID-19 symptoms include: fever (greater than or equal to 100.4F), cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, respiratory distress, increased confusion or change in mental status, signs of cyanosis, chills, achiness, general malaise, sore throat, GI symptoms (nausea, diarrhea), conjunctivitis (pink eye), and inability to taste or smell.
The CDC and the Connecticut Department of Public Health both offer guidance on what to do with a health care staff member who has been potentially exposed. They both recommend that these staff may continue to work provided that they are asymptomatic. They further recommend placing a mask on a potentially exposed staff and monitoring their symptoms for 14 days. We appreciate that both groups believe that this is an acceptable practice.

LIVEWELL RESPONSE
We however will navigate these situations with a higher standard of precaution. Out of an abundance of caution we will test potentially exposed people for COVID-19, regardless of whether or not they are experiencing any symptoms. We will keep these employees out of work, monitor their health, and (in consultation with our medical team) return them to work when we believe they present minimal risk to others.

When staff return from an episode of being at home, because they were presumptive positive, positive for COVID-19, or were potentially exposed, they will resume the same level of precautions that all employees are using: wearing a mask (all of the time) and practicing good social distancing and hand hygiene. These individuals will be asked to exercise caution when they are near other staff that do not have their masks on.

I hope this information helps you to appreciate how we are addressing situations if our staff test positive, test negative, may be presumed to be positive, or may have had potential exposure to another staff member that tested positive or is presumed to be positive.

SHARED RESPONSIBILITY
We have a mutual responsibility to help each other uphold our safety precautions. Your mask should be covering your mouth and nose at all times except when you are eating. No exceptions! Please speak up if you see unnecessary risks that members of our LiveWell team are taking or you believe that members of our team could reach for a higher level of safe practice. We want to partner to mitigate any risk that might help keep our residents and staff healthy and safe. We can’t mitigate risks that we do not see or hear.

We have an amazing team and all of you are doing such a great job to keep this virus from affecting our residents. It matters that you pay attention to a lot of little details, all of time. It is not an understatement that your actions could be saving someone’s life. At some point in time, we will recognize that many of us have had this virus. Statistically, 85% of people with COVID-19 will only experience a minor symptom without a fever. I hope we will all take pride, that together as a team, we will have prevented our residents from getting this virus from us, and that we will have kept each other safe!

If I can help in answering any questions you may about any of our practices, please ask.

Thank You & Be Well,

Michael J. Smith
President & CEO

Update 4-27-2020

April 26, 2020

Dear Friends,

A week ago a violent rainstorm with wind gusts of 70 mph shook our building and uprooted our sign in the front yard. The sign was knocked down, but not our determination or our spirit. Thankfully, LiveWell remains resilient, strong and our residents are COVID free!

We count our blessings as the number of COVID cases in Connecticut nursing homes is now likely over 4,500 in over 140 nursing homes. We remain in the minority of healthcare providers in Connecticut to remain COVID free. This is a credit to the speed, vigilance, and comprehensive efforts of our team. We anticipated and implemented creative, insightful, and progressive measures very early. We are continuing to expand our efforts to keep this virus out of LiveWell.

These are difficult and trying times. I am sure that you are hearing troubling and disturbing stories in the news about COVID and nursing homes. Our amazing LiveWell tribe is not shrinking in an impulse of self-protection, rather you are the living embodiment of compassion and servant leadership. I deeply appreciate all of you!

Here are some of the important areas that have our focus and attention:

UPHOLDING QUALITY & STAFFING
We have examined our direct care nursing hours for the six weeks before and the six weeks after Connecticut’s first COVID case. We had the highest direct care nursing hours per resident per day in Connecticut before the Coronavirus Pandemic. I thought you would like to know that our direct care nursing hours have increased since Connecticut reported its first case of COVID. This is not the direction that other healthcare providers are experiencing.

We expanded the availability of PTO for our staff related to the Coronavirus. Our overtime hours are consistent with historical levels and we have seen no dramatic increased use of PTO. Thank you for your commitment to each other and our residents. You are doing an amazing job!

PROTECTING THE SAFETY OF STAFF AND RESIDENTS
It has taken a fair amount of human effort, financial resources and creativity to locate and purchase an arsenal of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). PPE is used to keep you and our residents safe and to reduce the spread of any infections. Our systems are well organized and we believe we have an adequate supply of PPE.

PPE supplies are in high demand and in low or non-existent supply. Gowns that previously sold for 60 – 80 cents per piece are now selling for between $6-$8 per gown. Most PPE supplies are now marked up between 1,000 and 6,000 percent. We are continuing our hard work to procure these supplies regardless of the cost. We are conducting daily response preparedness training with our staff and we are confident in your abilities.

SHARING OUR APPRECIATION
We are here to help in any way we can. Our goal is to take care of the people who are taking care of the those who live here. We are focusing additional efforts to share our appreciation and to reduce your potential risk of contracting this virus. We are providing masks to share with your own family members. Please ask for masks in the lobby if you need them.

We are focused on reducing the number of times that you need to venture outside your home. We will continue to provide three meals daily at LiveWell for our team and we launched the LiveWell Marketplace. You can shop for milk and eggs, meat and cheese, fruits and vegetables, and breads and grains. We have 60-70 items that you can order and pick up twice a week (Tuesday and Friday). Let us know if there is something you need that isn’t on the list, and we will try to get it. We hope this is a way we can share our appreciation and minimize your potential contact with COVID in the outside community. We are not aware of any other healthcare providers who are doing this.

SNAP BENEFITS
If you are currently a recipient of the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), I encourage you to participate in the LiveWell Marketplace. Although you will not be able to use your EBT card for the purchases made through the LiveWell Marketplace, we will provide at least $50 of free fresh food per month if you currently receive SNAP benefits. This way you can get groceries for free and retain your EBT credits until after this pandemic recedes. Please see Jacky Clark or Anne McCarty if you would like to receive this benefit. All information they receive will remain confidential.

SMALL SACRIFICES MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE
We have asked you to stop old routines of purchasing coffee daily or going out for food during your shift. We have asked that you bring less with you to work, clean your phone when you arrive, keep a mask on at all times and to eat by yourself. Every small modification you make has a huge potential to save lives.

While we cannot monitor your every action or prevent you from taking risks, like getting coffee or leaving to pick up food, we can remove you from the list of eligible participants in our COVID free bonus program. If you demonstrate an unwillingness to adapt to reasonable requests, we will reserve the right to not offer you the same bonus that others who are making small changes in their routines will receive. Our collective efforts to keep each other safe will go a long way and we will be delighted to share a bonus to show our appreciation with those who are being attentive and making small sacrifices.

PRACTICING CONNECTEDNESS
We are piloting a new app called Sherish. We believe this app will support ongoing communication, connection and engagement between residents, their relatives and you. The Sherish app will allow families to share photos and recorded messages with residents and for us to share photos and recorded messages with resident’s families. We hope this will be another opportunity to connect and engage with one another. Last week, I received a message from two of our residents in Assisted Living. They reported to me that they are participating in on-line college courses at Quinnipiac University. They were guest lecturing on the subject of living with dementia. This kind of learning and connecting is remarkable in its own right, but it feels especially spectacular given the chasm of distance that we are all feeling now.

FAMILY SUPPORT
Families continue to write and share their appreciation for all that you are doing. They recognize your hard work and want to share their thanks. As many of you know LiveWell is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. This week we launched the LiveWell iCare Fund. This fund will be used to sustain our efforts to support staff and help shoulder the unprecedented cost of keeping this virus out of LiveWell.

WHERE WE ARE NOW
We all look forward to having this virus subside. However, for now, we are about to reach the high tide mark of this pandemic. I will never be able to accurately communicate the level of intensity that each day has brought since the beginning of March at LiveWell.

I hope that each of you are finding resources that offer perspective, wisdom, and the opportunity to increase your resilience. I have personally drawn strength from wisdom traditions and the stories that flow from them. At present, I’m feeling a kinship with Noah. Like Noah, we must work with speed and clear determination to achieve a daunting task. We must also recognize that even with the highest level of preparedness, we need to listen, observe, and trust in the abundance of good that surrounds and guides us. Last week I was in awe as I listened to a beautiful prayer offered by Lelieth Mangal, one of our care partners. She prayed aloud in our lobby as her colleagues joined her to start their day at dawn.

I am humbled when I witness that our natural instinct for fear stands alongside our boundless capacity for courage. I am not completely sure where each of us finds the strength to do the work that is asked of us. That said, I feel blessed that my body is healthy and is continually replenished. I am always gently reminded of remarkable talents of this tribe of beautiful people at LiveWell.

I know and trust that the tide of Coronavirus will recede. Peace will be present in our hearts and our feet will again find the ground. Until then, may we draw strength from one another. Thank you for your trust in us.

Thank You & Be Well,

Michael J. Smith
President & CEO

Update 4-13-2020

 

April 12, 2020

Dear Friends,

As I write this it is Easter at LiveWell.  I am witnessing beautiful acts of loving kindness, singing, praying, and time spent connecting the people who live here with their families who miss them. Please know, that even though we all are not be able to celebrate Passover, Easter or Ramadan together with our families in the typical fashion this year, the important themes of feeling the weight of circumstances beyond our control and being buoyed by the faith and hope of renewal are present in our daily practice here. It is a privilege to witness so many nurses, nursing assistants, therapists, those who clean and those who cook, each of them offering their own ministry of loving service.  You all are amazing!

The next several weeks will likely bring added challenges as Connecticut reaches its peak in cases of COVID-19.  I continue to be delighted to share that we remain COVID-19 free at LiveWell.  In the past 36 days we have shifted the energy of our commitments to keeping this virus out of our building and to keeping the people who live and work with us healthy.  Our collective efforts are succeeding!  We are now in a minority of nursing homes in Connecticut that do not have this virus.  Please keep it up so we can share a nice big bonus with those who work on our neighborhoods or prepare meals!  Here are some things we want to do to help you continue to remain COVID-19 free.

Daily Meals

To share our appreciation and to help keep this virus out of LiveWell we will offering daily meals on every shift for the next two weeks.  Each week we will post the meals we intend to prepare for staff.  We will also expand our coffee offerings.  You can get this food for free provided that you do not leave the campus during your shift.

No Food Deliveries and No Takeout Pick-Ups

Every encounter you have with someone in public over the next several weeks is an encounter that you potentially risk getting and spreading COVID-19.  During this time, you will not be allowed to leave the campus during your shift to get food or beverages and return to work.  Deliveries of food are also not allowed on campus during this time.  We know this is a shift for some staff and we ask for your patience and cooperation.  These measures are being taken to protect your health and the health of the people who work with you and live here.

LiveWell Quick Market

We are investigating the possibility of offering staff the ability to order from a limited list of groceries each week.  If this will reduce the number of trips to the grocery store for the next several weeks we want to help. Look for order forms on the mask table in the lobby.

Safety Tip of the Day

You are our best source of great ideas to help keep each other safe during this pandemic.  Please share your ideas and suggestions to practice infection prevention here at LiveWell, or at home.  Each day we will pick a suggestion and share that idea with others in the lobby.  If your idea involves an additional practice that we can implement at LiveWell, we will start that new practice.  We have already received great suggestions.  Thank you Lourdes Cabrera, for suggesting that we remove sofas.  Thank you Laura Lavin, for suggesting that during the day one roommate remain in their room while the other is out of their room.  Anyone who offers a suggestion/idea that is selected will receive a gift certificate.  Please share your ideas in a box provided in the lobby or email your idea to: info@livewell.org

Masks for Your Family

Your family should be following the ‘Stay Safe, Stay Home’ guidance. The CDC recommends wearing cloth masks in public setting where social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, like at grocery stories and pharmacies.  If you need a cloth mask for a relative that lives with you, please ask for one.  We want you and your family to be safe.  No one should be in public without a mask.

We Can Do This

Thank you for your heightened awareness, for your cooperation, for being alert, and for your patience.  We have your back and you have our appreciation.  All of us together are strong.

 

Be Well,

Michael J. Smith

President & CEO

Update 4-8-2020

 

April 7, 2020

Dear Friends & Colleagues,

There are points in our lives when the gravity of circumstances shifts our routines.  It is perhaps critically important, during these moments, to pause, reflect and appreciate the people who surround you.  Thank you for all that you are doing!  I am buoyed by the resilience of the people at LiveWell.  In times like this, there is a higher probability that fear or the lack of surety are more likely to hijack our wiser instincts.  Please continue to dig deep and take care of yourself to maintain your mental fortitude. 

I am witnessing your ability to adapt each day to rapidly changing information, expanded workloads, and shifting schedules.  Our belief in each other and support of one another is critical now.  Much has been asked of you, and in the coming weeks more will be required of each of us. I have confidence in you, and your ability to master the challenges ahead.

In the past 31 days we have shifted the energy of our commitments to keeping this virus out of our building and to keeping the people who live and work with us healthy.  This has changed our individual and collective routines inside and outside of this building.  These efforts are succeeding!  I hope you appreciate how impressive these results are.

What we have learned so far

The coronavirus is now present in approximately 80 nursing homes in Connecticut and there are over 500 confirmed COVID-19 cases in nursing homes. These cases in nursing homes are increasing at a rate of 30% – 35% a day. If Connecticut follows the trends in other parts of our country and the world, there will be a sharp rise in cases in the next 21 days, peaking at the end of April.

The next 21 days are critical

Our individual and collective efforts in the next 21 days demand incredible focus. I will need all of you to be hyper focused on reducing the risk of personal exposure to this virus inside and outside of LiveWell. 

Inside of LiveWell

We will provide surgical/procedural masks to all staff whose primary location of their work is on the neighborhoods. You will be provided with a fresh surgical/procedural mask each day as you enter the building.  All other staff (dietary and administrative) will continue to wear the cloth masks with filters that we have provided (please continue to wear and wash them as we have guided).  When approaching the LiveWell entrance, at the beginning of your shift, please stay 6 feet away from each other. As you reach the lobby immediately secure your mask to your face and pinch the metal nose piece.  Adjust the surgical/procedural mask so that there are no loose areas between your face and the mask.

If your cloth mask is sliding down your nose, please consider unknotting the ear elastics and securing the elastics behind your head (not your ears) using a paperclip.  This great idea comes from Leigh-Anne D’Adarrio, our new medical records secretary (Thank You Leigh-Anne).

Keep your mask on in the building except for eating your meals.  There should be no food on any neighborhood.  All meal breaks should be in the Stolba Center.  When you take meal breaks make sure you are at least 6 feet from others. 

Wipe down surfaces that are frequently touched and practice frequent hand hygiene.  Familiarize yourself with all of the levels of precautions that may be used in the next 21 days.  Work with a partner to help each other remember how and where to don (put on) and doff (take off) PPE. 

Outside of LiveWell

The outside community will experience a sharp increase in the spread of this virus in the next three weeks. 

Please minimize physical contact with others outside of work. Many of us have already limited our physical contact outside of work to our family and occasional trips to the grocery.  I realize that some of you are also limiting physical contact with extended family, having groceries delivered and asking family members in your house to limit their movements outside of your home.  Please examine your routines and consider additional modifications you might make over the next 21 days.

The CDC recommends wearing cloth masks in public setting where social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, like at grocery stories and pharmacies.  Save the cloth mask we have given you. You are welcome to wear it outside of LiveWell, provided that you wash it before re-entering LiveWell. If you need a cloth mask for a relative that lives with, you please ask for one.  We want you and your family to be safe.  No one should be in a store without a mask.

Please consider washing all of your clothes when you return home.  Limit the clothing that you wear to LiveWell to only items that can be washed daily.  This includes jackets and outer garments.  Please limit the number of items you bring with you to work.  Bring in only the essentials.  Keep handbags and purses at home.  Anything you carry in and out of the building should be viewed as an item that may transmit this virus.

Avoid leaving LiveWell during your shift to pick up food, as even this limited connection with the outside community during your shift creates considerable risk of being in contact with someone who could spread the virus.

We have your Back

I hope we have demonstrated through our immediate and decisive steps that your safety and the safety of our residents is our top priority.  The State of Connecticut Department of Public Health just put into place safety precautions for nursing homes that are not even as strong as measures we have had in place for three weeks.  Safety measures we put in place over four weeks ago were just rolled out at large and small hospital systems a week ago.

We have taken extreme precautions by creating seven rooms at LiveWell that now are designated as temporary negative pressure isolation rooms. You will notice that there are HEPA filtering negative air flow machines in all of our temporary isolation rooms.  These devices will provide added protection for the staff that are providing care in these rooms.  We are not aware of any other nursing home in CT that has moved to these lengths to create safe spaces. 

As I am sure you are aware, there is a dramatic shortage in our Country and State of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).  Despite this shortage, we have secured these vital supplies to protect you.  If you ever notice anything about the quality of our PPE or the processes that we are using that you believe places you or anyone at risk, please speak up immediately.  We share this responsibility to protect each other.  We will be doing more training in the coming weeks on our precautions and the proper donning and doffing of PPE.

You Have Our Appreciation

I recognize that these times are not normal.  I hope we show our appreciation for your commitment throughout the year in different ways.  At this particular time, we want to find additional ways to share our thanks and appreciation for your commitment to each other and our residents.  We are creating a bonus program and expanding our paid time off benefits for individuals who are personally impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

All staff that are in direct contact with our residents on our neighborhoods or prepare their food (nursing, therapy, dietary, housekeeping and operations) will receive a bonus from LiveWell during this outbreak in Connecticut.  This bonus will cover the period of time from March 15, 2020 to June 13, 2020 or earlier if this outbreak in Connecticut subsides before June 13, 2020.  The amount of this bonus will be equal to $1 for every hour worked during this period.  Assuming an employee works 40 hours per week for 13 weeks, this employee would earn a bonus greater than $500.  If our residents remain free of COVID-19 for the duration of this period, everyone’s bonus will be doubled.  This means we all need to take personal responsibility and to hold each other accountable.

I also wish to share that we will provide up to two weeks of pay if you or someone you care for is unable to come to work because of COVID-19 symptoms or a requirement that you stay home because of COVID-19.  We will also pay up to 2/3 of your pay for up to two weeks if you need to take time to support your children that are home from school.  This time is in addition to your regular paid time off.  If you have questions about this please ask Anne McCarty.

If any of you feel the need for additional support, please allow us to help. This help may take the form of no interest loans, or support from our counseling and HR team.  Please do not hesitate to access help.

Together we are strong

We are already so far ahead in our efforts to limit the spread of this virus.  You are amazing individuals and even more awesome together.  I will be asking more of you and at the same time I will encourage you to take the time that each of you needs.  We can accomplish both, have each other’s back, and share our appreciation for one another!

Thank you as always for rising to the challenge with dedication and love,

Michael J. Smith

President & CEO

 

Update 4-1-2020

WELLNESS WEDNESDAY

 

Hi all,

 Welcome to a new weekly feature called Wellness Wednesday.

 Every week, I will send a small collection of tidbits to support and encourage you. I hope you find this helpful. You can find these notes, as well as other resources to support wellness, on the LiveWell website staff portal (password: staff1261).

 Have about 8 minutes? Here’s a good piece from the Harvard Business Review: What Your Coworkers Need Right Now Is Compassion 

• And if you have 5 minutes: A psychologist’s science-based tips for emotional resilience during the coronavirus crisis by Jelena Kecmanovic of the Washington Post

 She suggests that how we respond to the coronavirus situation can preserve our psychological well-being and offers the following science-based approaches:

 Accept negative emotions – Acknowledge that a lot of anxious thoughts and emotions will show up during this time. Accept them rather than trying to push them away or escape them.

 Create new routines – Although many people escape from reality by Netflix binging, cookie indulging or marathon Fortnite playing, be mindful of over-relying on distraction strategies.

 Reinvent self-care – Science has shown that exercise, good nutrition and socializing are directly linked to our emotional well-being, so now is the time to get creative.

 Reflect, relate and reframe – Find ways to deepen relationships with the people in our household and beyond. 

 Be well and … wash your hands ?

 Katy

 

Update 3-26-2020

 

To: Benefit ELIGIBLE Employees – This is for anyone who is Full-Time (even if you do not carry our medical insurance)

As we navigate this continuously evolving coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, we want to remind you of our commitment to make you aware of some of the employee resources available to you. 

If you haven’t started using HealthJoy, you are missing out.  HealthJoy was introduced to employees in January and so far, many of you have taken advantage of their services.  HealthJoy is a mobile app or for those of you who don’t have a smart phone you can call HealthJoy directly using the number below.  HealthJoy provides a single source for all your benefits with personalized guidance and support, helping you navigate the healthcare system with confidence and ease. HealthJoy’s concierge team is always available to answer complicated healthcare questions. They can find in-network doctors, identify lower-cost pharmacies, and point members to virtual care (telemedicine services).  For a quick video on HealthJoy’s services you can click here: https://healthjoy.wistia.com/medias/hr26p01tg6

Virtual Care: Simple, Convenient and Extremely Cost Effective!  – Now $0 cost!

HealthJoy is an easy and trusted way for you to request visits with board-certified medical providers on demand for minor illnesses and injuries.  Get the care you need, when and where you need it by using the Healthjoy app 24/7/365 or by calling HealthJoy at 877-500-3212.  HealthJoy’s virtual care program can assist you with: colds, flu, sore throat, sinus infections, bug bites, poison ivy and more!

New!: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic we have now implemented a $0 copay/fee for telemedicine services for all employees!

If you don’t know how to request a virtual visit on your smartphone you may visit the “How To” video here: https://healthjoy.wistia.com/medias/s08kua2k6d

 

If you have not yet activated HealthJoy on your mobile device all you need to do is find your activation email that was sent by groups@healthjoy.com and click the activation link to get started.

If you are trying to figure out how to activate your account, watch the “How to Download HealthJoy” video here: https://healthjoy.wistia.com/medias/gi7lz5r305

 

No smart phone? No problem! The HealthJoy team can be reached at 877-500-3212 or via e-mail at groups@healthjoy.com.

 

Update 3-24-2020

 

General Overview: COVID-19

1. How COVID-19 is spread?

• The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person
  • Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
  • If you stand within 6 feet of a person who has COVID-19, and he or she sprays droplets in the air by coughing, sneezing, brushing his/her teeth, singing, or talking, and those droplets go directly into your mouth or nose or are possibly be inhaled into your lungs.
• The virus may spread from contact with contaminated surfaces or objects
  • It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes.

2. Can someone spread the virus without being sick?

People are thought to be most contagious when they are most symptomatic (the sickest).

• Some spread is possible before people show symptoms; there have been reports of this occurring with COVID-19. This is not the main way it is spread (see person-to-person spread above)

3. General guidance for all staff to prevent the spread of the COVID-19

Proper hand washing has been identified as the first line of defense to prevent the spread of COVID-19

• • Hand hygiene should be done when entering/leaving the building, before and after hands on care, before and after eating, after using the bathroom, before applying PPE and after removing PPE and anytime hands may be soiled AT A MINIMUM.
  • Hand washing process: Turn water on to acceptable temperature. Wet hands and apply soap.  Lather and scrub hands for AT LEAST 20 seconds making sure every area is washing including nail beds.  Rinse with hands pointed downward into sink. Leave water running and dry hands with paper towels.  Then turn faucet off with paper towel and open door to bathroom with paper towel before throwing away.
  • Alcohol-based hand gel: Apply a dime size amount of gel/sanitizer to hands. Rub hands together making sure all areas are covered. Continue to rub hands together until the gel/sanitizer is completely dry. While gel/sanitizer is an acceptable form of hand hygiene, washing hands with soap and water should be performed as much as possible.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

When caring for a person on precautions, other PPE is necessary.  See Education on PPE.

Update 3-24-2020

 

Novel Pathogens- Instructions for PPE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ww0Rf079MZ4

Update 3-23-2020

March 23, 2020

Dear Colleagues,

Thank you for all you are doing every day to support our residents, families and each other during the coronavirus pandemic. We have been progressive and vigilant in our important work to keep this virus out of LiveWell. On Saturday 3/21 we expanded these efforts.

COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, is classified by the World Health Organization as a pandemic. That means the disease no longer constitutes just an outbreak or even an epidemic. Symptoms of this disease take an average of five to six days to appear, so it’s easy to spread well before the carrier notices that they are feeling sick. Many people in the community are spreading it while going about their daily lives. Many of these individuals may be silent spreaders. Silent spreaders are most likely transmitting this disease through respiratory droplets expelled through the mouth or nose.
To prevent the spread of the virus at LiveWell, we are taking another proactive step to make sure that everyone who enters our building wears something over their mouth and nose. This new practice will be in addition to the health screens already in place. It is important to clarify that the Center for Disease Control (CDC) does not recommend that the general public wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) masks as a practice to keep an asymptomatic wearer of the mask safe from COVID-19 exposure in public. They do however recommend that a mask should be worn by asymptomatic Health Care Providers (HCP) to contain the respiratory droplets of the HCP.

On Saturday 3/21/20 we distributed surgical face masks to direct care staff, or staff that spend time close to residents or in residents’ rooms. There are not enough surgical masks available to mask all HCP as a precautionary measure at LiveWell or any other healthcare provider. However, LiveWell took steps to secure washable cloth masks. They will be used by all staff as a preventative approach to contain respiratory droplets by all who wear them.
These washable masks have a disposable filter. The filter can be used for up to a week. Staff will be provided with a replacement filter weekly. See the attached page that describes the use of cloth masks during COVID-19 pandemic.

The washable masks are not to be used in substitute for situations that require PPE masks.
We have a supply of surgical masks and N95 respiratory masks to respond to situations that would require them; including but not limited to suspected, presumptive or confirmed cases of COVID-19. Each day we continue our efforts to secure more of these vital supplies should we need them. Please know that we will continue to train staff on the appropriate use of all PPE.

It is important to stress that the use of washable masks is a precautionary measure to minimize the potential spread of respiratory droplets from HCP. The use of the washable masks allows us to preserve our N95 and surgical procedure masks. The washable masks are not designed to prevent spread of confirmed COVID-19, but they can preventatively restrict droplets of the wearer. They do not eliminate the need for all of us to continue to be vigilant, using good infection control practices inside and outside of LiveWell. Please continue to wash your hands frequently and to wash surfaces that are frequently touched. Please practice social distancing, stay safe and stay home if you are not at work.

In our effort to keep the virus outside of our building, our job is to work at the highest level of precaution. The solution of providing washable masks to all staff goes above and beyond current standard practice in long term care settings. In other words, not all providers are requiring this precautionary measure. Expect additional communication and infection control training in the coming days. Any questions related to the use of these masks or other PPE masks or infection control practices may be directed to Jenn Terray and/or Laurah Michaels.

Thank you for your diligence with this important step to maintain health and safety for all.

Be Well,

Michael J. Smith
President & CEO

Update 3-23-2020

 

Cloth Mask Use During COVID-19 Pandemic

Masks are being provided to protect the residents at LiveWell. Wearing masks will also protect your co-workers. Silent spreaders are people who may have no symptoms of COVID-19 but can be spreading the virus through droplets in the air. By all staff wearing masks, we have a better chance of keeping the people who live and work here healthy and safe.

• Staff will receive their mask and filter when they enter the building at the health screen station in the front lobby. Masks will be labeled with sharpie (Last name, first initial).

• New filters will be distributed at the beginning of each week. Discard the plastic wrapper on the filter and place the filter in the inside pocket of the mask.

• Staff will be given three paper bags. One labeled “soiled,” one labeled “clean,” and one labeled “filter.”

• Masks are to be kept on throughout the duration of your shift. Make sure your mask is covering your mouth and nose. Place ear loop around each ear. If the ear loops are too loose, tie a knot on each loop to make it fit perfectly. You may remove your mask at the health screen station in the front lobby before leaving the building.

• After removing mask from your face, place it in your paper bag labeled “soiled” and perform hand hygiene.

• Each mask has a filter. After performing hand hygiene, remove, but do not discard the filter. This filter should last one week. Place the filter in the bag marked filter. Do NOT wash the filter.

• Wash your mask daily. Machine wash up to 200F (95C) degrees or hand wash in hot water and air dry. Perform hand hygiene and re-insert the filter into the clean pouch of the dry cloth mask. Bring the mask and filter back to work in the bag labeled “clean.”

• If you are providing care for a resident on precautions this mask is NOT to be worn in their room. Take off your cloth mask and place it in your pocket. You then will wear a disposable PPE mask from the precaution cart and enter the resident’s room to provide care. Before leaving the room, remove the disposable PPE mask just worn and throw it into the trash. Perform hand hygiene and then re-apply cloth mask from your pocket.

• The masks should only be removed when eating outside of resident areas and after you leave the building. You may remove your mask briefly at the nursing desk to drink fluids if there are no residents or staff within 6 feet. Each time you remove the mask from your face perform hand hygiene.

• Cloth masks will be re-used for as long as possible. A mask will be replaced if it is damaged.

Update 3-23-2020

Dear Staff,

In an effort to conserve paper products, please bring in your own reusable coffee cup, or use our ceramic ones located in the coffee room. Due to high demand, our distributor was not able to fulfill our order of paper products. Until further notice, we will not be able to provide paper cups for tea and coffee.

REMEMBER: Our most recent staff gift, the LiveWell tumblers, do hold both hot and cold beverages!

Update 3-22-2020

We have temporarily re-designated the Stolba Center (Upstairs ADC space) as our staff break room. This much larger room will provide the necessary space for all staff to have their breaks and still follow recommendations to practice physically safe distancing. For all of our heroes in the building, there are girl scout cookies in the coffee room, compliments of the Girl Scouts of America (Thank you Trish Bowen for getting over 200 boxes donated)! Please help yourself to a box. Please remember that we will provide sandwiches for everyone on Wednesday. Thank you all for your help.

Update 3-20-2020

March 20, 2020

Dear Friends,

I am grateful for all that you are doing! We are living in unprecedented and uncertain times. With each day we search to find comfort; holding on to some routine or something familiar. The familiar that I have found comfort in is YOU!

Mr. Rogers often shared that when he was a boy and would see scary things in the news, his mother would say “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”

It’s clear that when things get scary and uncertain, people will feel a mixture of emotions like anger, fear, or anxiety. What is also extremely clear to me and I hope to you, is that Loving through the act of Helping is a powerful source of comfort and reassurance, particularly in the midst of uncertain times.

We all need help from one another. Here are some ways we hope to help. If you have a spouse who is out of work or losing income, or if you find yourself in need of support for kids at home, please come talk to Anne McCarty or me. We will find some help.

Starting this Wednesday, we will be making individually wrapped sandwiches each week to replace soup/salad. We will also be temporarily shifting the Stolba Center into our break room. This much larger room will provide the necessary space for all staff to have their breaks and still follow recommendations to practice physically safe distancing. We will also share fresh fruit periodically.

With each new challenge this crisis brings, all of us are navigating a new normal. Beginning next week, we will have a LiveWell social worker available to speak to any staff member. Dan Belonick will be a new resource in addition to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP). To schedule a time for a phone or video conference with Dan, contact Jacky Clark 860-628-3023 and ask Anne McCarty about the EAP.

I am proud to witness the progressive, thoughtful and compassionate approach that each of you are taking to help. Loving and helping will guide us through this! We are so fortunate to have you and never underestimate that you are a source of comfort for others. Be well.

Thank you,

Michael Smith

Update 3-13-2020

Update on COVID-19
Prevention and Information at LiveWell

• Email – Effective today, all staff have the responsibility to look at their email every day they work. To make this as quick and easy as possible, an icon for your LiveWell email is now available on your computer desktop. Just click the icon, then login using your full email address and regular computer password. Then click Outlook. All staff should check their email sometime during every workday. This is important now and going forward.

• Planning for childcare – Please make every effort to plan childcare if there is a school closing in your town. If concerned about your schedule, please reach out to the scheduler for your department, Jacky Clark or Anne McCarty to explore solutions.

• No food deliveries – In alignment with our no visitor policy we ask that you do not have food delivered to LiveWell until further notice. Please bring your own or you can go out and purchase.

• Social Media – With heightened news and social media coverage around COVID-19, please note that our media relations policy is that only LiveWell’s President, Michael Smith is authorized to share information on behalf of our organization. False or incorrect information provided or posted on social media can confuse and mislead the public at a time when clear communication is essential to the safety of residents, staff, and visitors.

• Questions – To check updates when you are home, you can visit our website at www.livewell.org and login to our staff portal. The password is staff1261

Update 3-12-2020

Dear Staff,

This is an update on steps we are taking to ensure that you and residents stay safe and healthy as we guard against the COVID-19 (the new Coronavirus).   

Thank you for your cooperation in using the main entrance when you enter and leave the building. We will continue to conduct daily health screenings of every staff member including a temperature check and questionnaire.  We are currently following the guidelines below, which are subject to change as guidance is provided from the Center for Disease Control and our local and state health departments: 

You must stay home if:   

• You or someone close to you has been exposed to COVID-19 virus. 
• You have respiratory symptoms (cough, sneezing, sore throat, runny nose, fever, and/or shortness of breath).  

You must notify us and wear a mask if: 

• A family member or person that you are in close contact with has symptoms of respiratory illness (cough, sneezing, sore throat, runny nose, fever, and/or shortness of breath).  
• You or a family member has traveled by plane or public transportation over the past two weeks.

Based on industry wide recommendations:

• We ask that you consider changing plans for travel out of state or internationally. In addition, consider refraining from gathering for events of over 100 people. 

If you begin to exhibit symptoms at work:

• If you begin to exhibit symptoms of respiratory illness (cough, sneezing, sore throat, runny nose, fever, and/or shortness of breath) please notify the supervisor immediately and you should return home.

 

For important updates about steps we are taking to keep those who live and work here safe and healthy: 

• Check your LiveWell email daily.
• Visit the new Staff Portal on the LiveWell website https://livewell.org/staff-portal/ 

Your portal password is: staff1261

• Check the digital board inside the breakroom.   

We welcome your questions and/or concerns and appreciate your continued dedication to communication.

Sincerely,

Michael Smith
President and CEO

Update 3-11-2020

Dear Staff,

This is an update on steps we are taking to ensure that you and residents stay safe and healthy as we guard against the COVID-19 (the new Coronavirus).   

Thank you for your cooperation in using the main entrance when you enter and leave the building. We will continue to conduct daily health screenings of every staff member including a temperature check and questionnaire.  We are currently following the guidelines below, which are subject to change as guidance is provided from the Center for Disease Control and our local and state health departments: 

You must stay home if:   

• You or someone close to you has been exposed to COVID-19 virus. 
• You have respiratory symptoms (cough, sneezing, sore throat, runny nose, fever, and/or shortness of breath).  

You must notify us and wear a mask if: 

• A family member or person that you are in close contact with has symptoms of respiratory illness (cough, sneezing, sore throat, runny nose, fever, and/or shortness of breath).  
• You or a family member has traveled by plane or public transportation over the past two weeks.

Based on industry wide recommendations:

• We ask that you consider changing plans for travel out of state or internationally. In addition, consider refraining from gathering for events of over 100 people. 

If you begin to exhibit symptoms at work:

• If you begin to exhibit symptoms of respiratory illness (cough, sneezing, sore throat, runny nose, fever, and/or shortness of breath) please notify the supervisor immediately and you should return home.

 

For important updates about steps we are taking to keep those who live and work here safe and healthy: 

• Check your LiveWell email daily.
• Visit the new Staff Portal on the LiveWell website https://livewell.org/staff-portal/ 

Your portal password is: staff1261

• Check the digital board inside the breakroom.   

We welcome your questions and/or concerns and appreciate your continued dedication to communication.

Sincerely,

Michael Smith
President and CEO

Update 3-9-2020

 

Dear Friends,

As you know, LiveWell is taking steps to ensure our staff and residents stay safe and healthy as we prepare for COVID-19 (the new Coronavirus). Last week we asked you to help by taking simple actions like staying home if you are sick, washing your hands frequently and notifying us if you develop respiratory symptoms while at work. We are grateful for your efforts and ask you to continue to take these very important and critical measures.

Beginning tonight with the 11 pm – 7 am shift, we are asking all staff to enter the building through the front doors into our main lobby. The staff entrance by the kitchen will no longer be accessible for entry into the building – nor will you be able to enter the building through any other door other than the front entrance. And beginning tomorrow morning, Monday, March 9th, all staff must stop in the lobby for a brief health check before punching in and starting work. This health check is a very simple check to ensure we all stay as safe and healthy as possible. We will be also be conducting similar checks with visitors who walk through our doors.

We will provide more details this week on all the steps we are taking to ensure a safe and healthy environment for you and our residents at LiveWell. Those measures will include new procedures and guidelines for visitors, including family, friends, volunteers, vendors and clinical partners like our physicians, xray technicians and clinical lab partners. In the meantime, if you have questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to Anne McCarty, Jenn T, Trish, Eileen or Laurah Michaels. Your feedback is welcome and critically important to us!

Thank you and have a good night.

With gratitude,
Trish

Patricia Bowen, JD, LMSW, LNHA
Chief Operations Officer – Residential Living

Update 3-4-2020

 

March 4, 2020

Dear Friends:

We know some of you may be concerned about the spread of COVID-19 (the new coronavirus) being reported in the media and how it may impact us here at LiveWell. Ensuring our staff and residents are in a safe and healthy environment is our greatest priority. At this time we don’t have any known cases on our campus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have recommended a variety of steps that we are implementing to help reduce the potential for the virus to enter our building. However, we need your help in battling COVID-19. Below are some examples of how you can help protect yourselves and our residents, as well as prevent the spread throughout the community.

1. Sick employees should stay home. We request that you stay home if you have any symptoms of respiratory illness. Those symptoms include cough, fever, sore throat, runny nose, and/or shortness of breath.
2. Notify us if you develop respiratory symptoms while at work. These include cough, fever, sore throat, runny nose, and/or shortness of breath.
3. Practice proper hand washing hygiene. All employees should wash their hands before and after interaction with residents. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60-95% alcohol or wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Soap and water should be used if hands are visibly dirty.
4. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. Please review the CDC’s information on coughing and sneezing etiquette.
5. Perform routine environmental cleaning. Routinely clean all frequently touched surfaces in the workplace, such as workstations, countertops, and doorknobs. Use the cleaning agents that are usually used in these areas and follow the directions on the label. No special cleaning is necessary for COVID-19.
6. If you have had any exposure, either by travel or spending time with someone that has traveled to locations with known outbreaks, please contact Anne McCarty immediately.

You all have beautiful relationships with our residents, and we are grateful for the compassionate physical touch that you share with them. Please be judicious with your physical contact during this time. This virus has an incubation period of 2-14 days. This means that someone may have COVID-19 without exhibiting signs and symptoms and may unknowingly spread the virus through touch.

LiveWell is following the recommendations of the CDC on using basic contact precautions to prevent the spread which includes wearing gowns, facemasks and gloves when interacting with residents who are sick as we always do. We also are staying up to date with the CDC recommendations as they are updated. In addition, we are in close contact with the local and state health department and are following their guidance. We are posting signs on our entryway doors to notify visitors of the symptoms of COVID-19 and request that they not enter the building if they are experiencing these symptoms.

If you work for another healthcare provider in addition to LiveWell, please share the name(s) of the other provider with Anne McCarty or Jacky Clark. If there are cases of COVID-19 in other locations, we want to make sure that we are minimizing the risk of spreading it to our location. Please also notify Anne McCarty if anyone you are in close contact with is exhibiting the above signs or symptoms of COVID-19.

We will notify you if any residents or staff are diagnosed with COVID-19. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact Trish Bowen, Jenn Terray, Laurah Michaels or Anne McCarty.

For additional information, please visit the CDC’s coronavirus disease information page.

Sincerely,

Michael Smith
President & CEO