June 15, 2020
Dear Canterbury Residents, Employees, Family Members, Trustees, and Community Partners,
It’s been a few weeks since our last COVID-19 communication and I am thrilled to report that we have had no further corona virus cases.
On June 11th, Governor Kemp issued a new executive order that requires Sheltering in Place for all persons living in a nursing home or long-term care facility, including in-patient hospice, assisted living communities, personal care homes, intermediate care homes, community living arrangements, and community integration homes through June 30th. The Shelter in Place order also applies to those individuals who have chronic lung disease, moderate to severe asthma, severe heart disease, are immunocompromised, are classified with class III severe obesity, and those diagnosed with diabetes, liver disease, and persons with chronic kidney disease undergoing dialysis.
The order further clarifies that those individuals required to Shelter in Place shall not receive visitors except for those visitors providing medical services, support for activities of daily living, visitors providing necessary supplies and services, and end-of-life circumstances. To the extent possible, visitors should remain at a distance of six feet between themselves and the occupant of the home.
Though much of our city has reopened and many COVID-19 related restrictions have been removed, the virus remains a real threat and we must not let down our guard. Cases in Georgia have been increasing as they have been across the country. Until we have a proven vaccine, we must continue to adhere to the measures prescribed by the Department of Public Health, as well as the CDC, including wearing masks, practicing social distancing, and washing hands frequently. Our Nurse Practitioner and Director of Health Services, Regine Vincent, has made a video speaking to this issue and I encourage you to take a few moments to watch. The video can be found on the COVID-19 section of our website at www.canterburyccrc.org.
In compliance with the Shelter in Place order, our policy regarding no visitation in the Nursing Pavilion and Personal Care floors will remain in place through at least June 30th. As we announced in our last communication, visitors for Independent Living residents are being allowed in the gardens only, though individuals with underlying health conditions as indicated in the Governor’s executive order, should not be receiving visitors. Visitors must check in at the front desk to be screened and must be wearing a mask. No visitors will be allowed in without a mask. Because of limited supplies of PPE, we unfortunately cannot make masks available for visitors.
We are beginning to open amenities for our residents with restrictions and protocols in place to
ensure their safety. Our Wellness center, including the pool, are reopening this week and our Director of Hospitality is exploring options to safely resume communal dining. We will be implementing a new technology shortly to better screen those entering our building. Our goal is that with this new technology we will be better prepared to welcome visitors into our community in the near future. We will continue to monitor the landscape around us and will adjust our protocols, as needed, to best protect our community.
If you have any questions or concerns, you can reach me at 470.381.6790 or debimcneil@nullcanterburyccrc.org or to Julie Parker, Chief Operating Officer, at 404.201.7067 or at julieparker@nullcanterburyccrc.org.
Warmly,
Debi McNeil
President & CEO