To Our Residents, Family Members and Staff:

Update #53 | Dated: 6-29-21

Good Morning –

We hope that this letter finds you and your loved ones doing well. We know it has been quite a while since our last letter, which is a sign of how well we are doing in this latest phase of the pandemic.

With close to 100% of our residents vaccinated and near 50% of our staff we are all benefiting from the effectiveness of the vaccines in keeping us safe.

That said, the virus is still out there and is still making those who are unvaccinated sick. We were informed that a loved one who came to visit a fully vaccinated resident tested positive for the virus after falling ill this morning. Although the resident is vaccinated, he/she does qualify as primary contact per the Department of Public Health (DPH). With that, we will be following all DPH guidance, and that resident will quarantine for 14 days since their primary contact. We will monitor this resident closely and expect that the vaccine will keep him/her safe (as it has done since Christmas Eve of 2020).

If you should have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out. If you or any of your loved ones/friends that have not been vaccinated are now interested in receiving the vaccine let us know. We would love to vaccinate more people in our local community so that we can end this pandemic as soon as possible.

The Azalea Estates Partners and Management Team

To Our Residents, Family Members and Staff:

Update #59 | Dated: 12-30-21

Good Afternoon –

Cases of COVID-19 continue to rise across the state, with the state of Georgia setting a record for percent of tests returning positive for COVID these past 2 weeks. With that, we too at Azalea continue to have residents and staff test positive for the virus.

To ensure that we are doing all we can to keep our residents and staff safe during this latest surge, we are making a few necessary changes to our policies and procedures:

1. Dining in the main dining room will be suspended through January 6^th.
   1. All resident meals will be delivered to resident’s rooms
2. Residents will be asked to universally mask while participating in small group activities.
   1. Surgical masks will be provided by our staff as needed
3. Universal mask wearing for all staff members and all outside visitors.
4.  Suspending indoor/in residence visitations for any residents or visitors who are not considered “fully vaccinated”.
   1. Fully vaccinated is now defined as:
      1. It has been at least 14 days (2 weeks) but less than 6 months since the completion of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccination series,
      2. It has been at least 14 days (2 weeks) but less than 2 months since receiving a 1-dose vaccine,
      3. It has been more than 6 months since completion of a 2-dose vaccine series or 2 months since a 1-dose vaccine, but they have received a booster
         1. Please reach out to our community directly if you do not meet the above definition of fully vaccinated and we will coordinate with you on how to best meet with your loved one.

We also know that there has been a lot of conflicting information from the CDC and other government agencies over the past few days. In particular, the guidance for those quarantining after primary contact or if diagnosed with COVID. The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) as of 12/29 has adopted these new guidelines (as seen here) and we are adjusting or policies in kind. 

Moving forward our quarantine and sickness timelines for residents will both be 10 days.

• Quarantining for 10 days after primary contact with someone with known COVID-19
• Isolating for 10 days from either the first day of symptom onset or, if asymptomatic, a positive test result

We will continue to keep you updated as we traverse this latest pandemic challenge. We know that that it may feel as if we have gone backwards in our fight against this virus but with our access to the vaccine, our robust immunization program, the number of staff and residents who are fully vaccinated, our use of PPE and our proven policies and procedures, we have never been better prepared than we are now. As a team and family, we will beat this virus, again.

That said, please do not hesitate to reach out with any additional questions or concerns.

The Azalea Estates Partners and Management Team

To Our Residents, Family Members and Staff:

Update #58 | Dated: 12-17-21

Good Afternoon –

As you are most likely aware, from all the media coverage, we are seeing sharp increases in COVID cases both locally and nationally. This increase is mostly tied to the latest COVID variant as well as more people getting together around the holidays.

With that, Azalea Estates has also been impacted with 2 staff members testing positive this past week as part of our regular testing practices.

Both staff members have either very mild/cold like symptoms or no symptoms at all. That said, to ensure we do all we can to keep our residents and staff safe as well as social, we will be making a few changes to our policies and procedures considering these positive tests, through the end of the year.

 Those changes include:

1. Dining
   1. Dining for unvaccinated and/or those without a booster if due for a booster (more than 2 months since 2nd dose in a 2-dose vaccination regime) should be suspended for 14 days
2. Indoor Visitation
   1. Suspended for those residents/visitors who are unvaccinated and/or those without a booster if due for a booster
3. Outside Trips
   1. Non-medically necessary trips should be suspended for 14 days

With the holiday season in full swing, we wanted to be sure to remind everyone that although many of you are fully vaccinated and boosted, you should take the necessary precautions to remain safe during this latest surge.

Those precautions include:

• Wear a mask while indoors
• Wash your hands often
• If possible, try to avoid any unnecessary large gatherings.
  • If attending larger holiday parties with attendees from multiple households, look into trying to have those in attendance take at home rapid tests in the days prior to the get together.
• And of course, get vaccinated! We at Azalea Estates continue to offer regular vaccine clinics. If you or your loved one require the 1^st, 2^nd or booster dose please reach out to us directly so we can get your vaccine scheduled.

We will continue to keep you updated as we traverse this latest pandemic challenge. That said, please do not hesitate to reach out with any additional questions or concerns.

The Azalea Estates Partners and Management Team

To Our Residents, Family Members and Staff:

Update #57 | Dated: 9-17-21

Good Afternoon -

As we approach the end of the week, we wanted to send out a note regarding booster vaccines as well as update you on how things are going here at Azalea Estates.

At this time, the booster plan has yet to be approved by the CDC/FDA. The FDA Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is meeting today and then the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will be meeting later next week to review Pfizer’s recommendation for a booster. Once both of those committees review all the available data, they will issue their final recommendation to either move forward or continue to wait. After this process, we believe these committees will move quickly reviewing the data for Moderna and make a determination with a similar outcome to that of Pfizer’s application. As soon as we know more, we will reach out.

That said, Azalea and Sterling Estates continue to be the only senior living communities in the state of Georgia that are direct providers of the COVID-19 vaccine and will be ready to offer the booster vaccines once approved. With that, we have started to offer 3rd doses of the vaccine to those who qualify as immunocompromised. Thus far, we have already vaccinated 30 individuals at our clinic late last month.

For those who qualify as immunocompromised and are interested in getting the 3rd dose, we highly suggest that you speak with your primary care physician or specialist. Then please reach out to us so we can schedule you for one of our 3rd dose clinics in the coming weeks.

We also wanted to give you an update on life here at Azalea Estates. In the midst of this latest surge caused by the Delta variant, we remain open, and our residents continue to stay safe and social. Azalea Estates’ policies and procedures, our use of PPE and the high vaccination rate for our residents and staff have proven to be very effective even during this latest difficult time.  And although we wish that the positivity rates were going down faster across the state, we feel confident that we will be able to continue to keep our residents and staff safe while ensuring our residents remain engaged and fulfilled.

We look forward to seeing you at Azalea Estates and please do not hesitate to reach out with any additional questions or concerns.

The Azalea Estates Partners and Management Team

To Our Residents, Family Members and Staff:

Update #56 | Dated: 8-19-21

As many of you heard, the FDA along with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) have recommended a 3^rd dose of the COVID vaccine for those who are considered immunocompromised. More details regarding their recommendation and who is considered immunocompromised can be found here.

As the only senior living community in the state of Georgia to be a direct supplier of the vaccine, we are positioned to start administering those 3^rd doses immediately. With that, we will be hosting a clinic at Azalea Estates of Fayetteville for immunocompromised residents and staff members this Monday, August 23^rd.

For our residents who qualify, we will speak with them and/or their POAs on an individual basis over the coming days.  We highly suggest that those who qualify speak with their primary care physician or specialist and then decide on getting a 3^rd dose.

At this time, the CDC and FDA are recommending that those who are not immunosuppressed get a booster shot starting 8 months after their 2^nd dose (that release can be found here). At this time, this is just a recommendation, and we are waiting for the full approval for this booster plan from the FDA and CDC which should occur in the coming weeks. Once we receive that approval, Azalea Estates will be uniquely positioned to offer our residents, staff and their loved ones this booster dose.

Below are a few questions and answers regarding this 3^rd dose of the COVID vaccine:

Q: What is the difference between an “additional dose” and a “booster dose?”

·        An “additional dose” refers to people who are moderately to severely immunocompromised receiving an  additional dose of an mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna) at least 28 days after the completion of the initial mRNA COVID-19 vaccine series. This is because they may not have received adequate protection from their initial 2-dose vaccine series.

·        A “booster dose” is a supplemental vaccine dose given to people when the immune response to a primary vaccine series is likely to have waned over time. The CDC and FDA continue to review evidence and data as it is available and at this time the guidance is that individuals should receive a booster dose 8 months after the 2^nd dose of either Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. Once this guidance is fully approved a rollout for booster shots will be announced.

Q: Why only immunosuppressed people? What about people in long term care facilities, or those over 65?

·        Studies suggest some people with moderately to severely compromised immune systems don’t always build the same level of immunity after vaccination the way non-immunocompromised people do – and may benefit from an additional dose to make sure they have enough protection against COVID-19. In addition, small studies have found that among fully vaccinated people hospitalized with COVID-19, immunocompromised people accounted for a large proportion (40–44%) of those breakthrough cases even though they only make up about 3 percent of the adult population. These updated recommendations will help to potentially protect these individuals at a time when COVID-19 cases are on the rise.

Q: What about booster doses for the broader population? Are there new data supporting another dose in other groups?

·        At this time, additional doses are only recommended for people with moderately to severely compromised immune systems since they may not have received adequate protection from their original vaccine series.

·        The FDA and CDC are recommending that all individuals who received a Pfizer or Moderna full dose receive a booster shot 8 months after their 2^nd dose but that is subject to the FDA conducting an independent evaluation and the determination of the safety and effectiveness of a third dose of the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines and CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) issuing booster dose recommendations based on a thorough review of the evidence which has yet to occur. That said, we are preparing for the most likely outcome that it will be approved.

Q: Will providers accept anyone who says they’re immunocompromised to receive a third dose? Will people need to show a doctor’s note/prescription or other documentation?

·        Immunocompromised individuals may discuss with their health care provider whether getting an additional dose is appropriate for them. If their health care provider is not at a site administering vaccines, these individuals can self-attest and receive the additional dose wherever vaccines are offered. This will help ensure there are not additional barriers to access for this vulnerable population receiving a needed additional dose. CDC is providing further information regarding vaccine administration to immunocompromised individuals to states, pharmacies, health centers, and all vaccine providers.

Q: How long after completion of the initial vaccine series are you recommending the additional dose?

·        We’re recommending the additional dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine be administered at least 28 days after completing the initial two-dose mRNA COVID-19 vaccine series (such as for Pfizer and Moderna). The exact timing can be determined in consultation with a person’s healthcare provider to optimize both immunosuppressive treatments, as well response to vaccination.

Q: Can you mix and match the mRNA vaccines?

·        The additional dose should be the same vaccine product as the initial two-dose mRNA COVID-19 vaccine series (Pfizer or Moderna). If the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine product given for the first two doses is not available, the other mRNA COVID-19 vaccine product may be administered. A person should not receive more than three mRNA COVID-19 vaccine doses.

To Our Residents, Family Members and Staff:

Update #55 | Dated: 7-29-21

Good Morning –

We’ve been getting some questions about the rise of the Delta variant of the COVID virus; some are concerned that the world may regress to the early, scary days of the pandemic. Not to worry, as that is NOT the case here at Azalea Estates.

As we have done throughout the pandemic, we continue to partner with the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) to confirm we have all the latest data and guidance to ensure the safety of our residents, their loved ones and staff. Our policies and procedures including universal mask wearing for staff and visitors, mandatory/regular screening for staff and visitors, daily cleanings and routine testing for unvaccinated staff have and continue to keep our communities safe.

The Delta variant is creating what many are calling “the pandemic of the unvaccinated” which has caused the CDC to update their guidance for vaccinated individuals as there has been an increase in transmission of the virus across the country. That updated guidance can be found here and is in line with the current DPH Long Term Care guidance and conforms to Azalea’s current policies and procedures. 

That said, we wanted to remind each of you that although we continue to be uniquely suited to keep you and your loved ones Safe & Social amid the uncertainty of this latest phase of the pandemic, we must all continue to stay steadfast and diligent in following both Azalea and the DPH’s guidance. This includes: (1) when visiting, be sure to wear your mask (a surgical mask for those who are vaccinated and a KN-95 or above for those unvaccinated); and (2) make sure that you are screened prior to entering the building.

Also, please continue to make informed and safe decisions regarding travel and measure the risk your decisions can pose to those who are at risk (namely the elderly/immunocompromised). If you should have any questions or concerns about this latest phase of the pandemic and/or our policies and procedures, do not hesitate to reach out.

We’re proud of the track record we’ve established together thus far and remain confident that we will continue to help keep you and your loved ones Safe & Social here at Azalea Estates.

If anyone you know who has yet to be vaccinated and now has a desire to be so, please let us know as we continue to have ample supplies of the Moderna vaccine.

The Azalea Estates Partners and Management Team

To Our Residents, Family Members and Staff:

Update #54 | Dated: 6-29-21

Good Morning –

We hope that this letter finds you and your loved ones doing well. We know it has been quite a while since our last letter, which is a sign of how well we are doing in this latest phase of the pandemic.

With close to 100% of our residents vaccinated and near 50% of our staff we are all benefiting from the effectiveness of the vaccines in keeping us safe.

That said, the virus is still out there and is still making those who are unvaccinated sick. We were informed that a loved one who came to visit a fully vaccinated resident tested positive for the virus after falling ill this morning. Although the resident is vaccinated, he/she does qualify as primary contact per the Department of Public Health (DPH). With that, we will be following all DPH guidance, and that resident will quarantine for 14 days since their primary contact. We will monitor this resident closely and expect that the vaccine will keep him/her safe (as it has done since Christmas Eve of 2020).

If you should have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out. If you or any of your loved ones/friends that have not been vaccinated are now interested in receiving the vaccine let us know. We would love to vaccinate more people in our local community so that we can end this pandemic as soon as possible.

The Azalea Estates Partners and Management team

To Our Residents, Family Members and Staff:

Update #53 | Dated: 3-26-21

Good Afternoon –

We are excited to follow up on our last communication regarding our plan to continue to unwind our policies and procedures tied to our response to the pandemic. This past week the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) adopted the guidance that was previously released by both the CDC and CMS. This updated guidance for Long Term Care Facilities can be found here.

Based on this updated guidance and due to our successful vaccination program, we are now able to adopt the least restrictive policies as articulated by the DPH for those who are fully vaccinated. That said, this is not a complete return to the pre-pandemic world but is a renewal of what helps make Azalea Estates a unique community.

These updated policies and procedures summarized below (and detailed further here), are meant to relax many of our current policies/procedures while still ensuring we do what we can to keep those most at risk safe. These updated policies put much of the responsibility now on you and your loved ones as opposed to squarely on Azalea Estates. With that, please find a summary of these updates below: 

• Visitation Policies: We are moving from limited visitations to now supported visitations
  • Outdoor visits are still the preferred/safest visitation procedure
  • For those residents and their visitors who are fully vaccinated, visits can begin to take place in a resident’s apartment / cottage as opposed to our designated indoor meeting space. These visits will take place during our normal operating hours from 9am – 5pm, including weekends. We can only support visits during these hours at this time.
  • For those who are still unvaccinated, these visits will occur outdoors or in our designated indoor meeting area.
  • All visitors will continue to be screened prior to their visit; these screens will occur at our front desk. Proof of full vaccination (e.g., CDC vaccination card) should be provided and all visitors will be required to sign in.
• Off campus trips:
  • For vaccinated residents, non-essential or non-medical trips should be limited but are now possible. Families and loved ones of residents who would like to take their loved ones off campus should coordinate with the community.
  • For unvaccinated residents, off-site visits should continue to be limited to essential trips.
  • Azalea Estates will again offer off campus activities for our fully vaccinated residents. These will take place in appropriate settings: outside, small crowds and with the ability to maintain social distancing.

We couldn’t be more excited to have many of you back in our community. That said, if we do experience an outbreak of the virus or the situation changes in Cobb County, we will again have to review our policies and procedures and will likely be forced to return to our more limited posture.

Also, if you have yet to be fully vaccinated, we are planning on hosting an additional vaccine clinic at Sterling Estates of West Cobb on April 9^th. If you are interested in this clinic, please complete the survey found here.

We are looking forward to “turning the page” with each of you to this new and more vibrant chapter at Azalea Estates!

The Azalea Estates Partners and Management Team

To Our Residents, Family Members and Staff:

Update #52 | Dated: 3-12-21

Good Afternoon –

We have been looking forward to writing this letter for quite some time…sure you’re aware that the CDC and the Centers for Medicare/Medicaid Services (CMS) have started to update their guidance for those who are fully vaccinated as well as for Long Term Care (LTC) Communities. These policy updates are major milestones, marking the fact that the tide of this pandemic has officially turned, and we are well on our way towards better days. The theme of the updates from both of these organizations is now that there has been such a high degree of vaccine adoption within communities like Azalea Estates and the fact that the vaccine is proving to be so highly effective in keeping people safe, we can begin to ease many of the restrictions that have been in place since the pandemic came onto the scene a year ago.

• CDC’s updated guidance for fully vaccinated individuals can be found here
• CMS’ updated guidance on visitation can be found here

What does this mean for Azalea Estates?

In general, this updated guidance is just catching up with what we have been doing in our communities for months. Due to our track record of helping keep everyone safe, ample supplies of PPE, our progressive policies and procedures, our continued staff trainings, as well as our large number of indoor/outdoor spaces, we have been supporting these types activities way before most other organizations. These activities include essential, outdoor, and indoor visits, small group dining, and small activity / group gatherings to name a few. The fact we have already instituted policies and procedures that allow for these activities continues to highlight how advanced Azalea Estates has been as we have strived to keep our residents and staff safe as well as social.

That said, as we have done throughout the pandemic, we are required to follow the guidance from our local health authorities at both the state and county level. Although the state of Georgia has not updated their policies yet, we are confident that they will do so soon. Meaning, we are still required to follow Governor Kemp’s latest Executive orders issued on February 26^th renewing the state of emergency (currently expires 4/6/21) as well as the shelter in place order for LTC residents (currently expires 3/15/21) (orders can be found here and here). Once Governor Kemp’s guidance changes, we will follow up with those changes and how they impact our communities.

In summary, we are still in a place of status quo as we have been ahead in easing the restrictions the CDC and CMS addressed this week. As we are able to continue to relax additional policies, we will communicate those out to you as soon as possible…we hope and expect to be able to do so in the near future!

Azalea Estates Plan for “Expanding Our Ring of Inoculation”:

When we attained direct provider status for the vaccine last summer, we did so to ensure that our residents and staff had access to the vaccine as early as possible. With that, we were the first senior living community in the state to fully vaccinate our residents and staff. Further, we still remain the only senior living community in the state that is a direct provider of the vaccine.

Once that mission was completed, we went to the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) with a plan to continue to offer vaccine to those who need it most. We called this plan our “Expanding Ring of Inoculation” where we wanted to make sure that the loved ones and caretakers of our residents had early access to the vaccine as well. We did this with the hope that this early vaccination effort would lead to a return to “normal” sooner for those we serve in our communities.

In seeing the latest guidance from the CDC and CMS we feel confident that this plan is coming to fruition and will allow our residents and their loved ones/care takers to enjoy the eased restrictions (once they become official) that much earlier.

As of today, we have delivered over 2,500 doses of the Moderna vaccine placing us in the top 7% of the over 1,500 providers in the state of Georgia. We know we still have role to play in trying to end this pandemic as quickly as possible, and we look forward to continuing to do so.

“There are far, far better things ahead than anything we leave behind” – C.S. Lewis

The Azalea Estates Partners and Management Team

Click here to view past updates

What are you doing right now to prevent the spread of COVID-19?

• We have changed our visitor policy. No visitors are permitted in our community until further notice.
  • We will make limited exceptions in extreme or emergency cases. These must be expressly approved by the Executive Director. Anyone entering the community under these circumstances will be screened upon arrival.
  • Only essential health care providers, including home health, private duty, nursing services, physicians, physical therapy, and hospice staff will be granted access to the community once they have completed our entry screening procedures.
    • All of these caretakers will check in with the front desk, screened and will have their temperatures taken.
  • The assisted living building now only has one entrance as all secondary access points have been secured ensuring there is only one point of entry (still ensuring that the community meets all state safety codes).
  • Assisted Living residents are required to remain on community grounds, except for necessary medical care. And our Independent Residents are encouraged to limit their public exposure by staying on community grounds.
  • Deliveries of packages will be made outside the assisted living building and a staff member will accept them.

• We have changed our dining procedures.
  • To avoid close contact during meals, our main dining rooms will be closed for at least the next 2 weeks. Meals will be delivered to each resident moving forward.

• Any resident returning from a necessary medical appointment outside of the community will be required to stay in his/her apartment for 14 days upon their return and will be closely monitored.
• All residents are monitored daily for: fever or any other symptoms of the infection (body aches, dry cough, etc.).
• In following the guidance of our home health partners, all non-essential physical, occupational and speech therapies have been suspended at this time. These changes should also be communicated to you directly by your home health provider. Sterling will work directly with you and your loved one to offer necessary supports until those services resume.
• We have updated our activity plans and calendars to adjust for smaller group (under 10 people at a time) activities, more outdoor events, as well as utilize all available technology in order to ensure our residents remain safe but also engaged.
• We take all staff members’ temperatures 2x every day. If anyone has a fever or has cold-like symptoms, we do not allow them to

What happens if there is a confirmed case of the COVID-19 virus in the community?

• If there is a suspected or confirmed case, we will follow all CDC guidelines and work closely with the state and local departments of health. We continue to monitor all residents and staff members for illness and symptoms. If there are concerning conditions or symptoms to share about your loved one, rest assured that someone on the Sterling Estates team will contact you directly.
  • What this would look like:
  • Residents:
    • Residents must now remain in their apartments until further notice.
    • Residents’ temperatures will be taken twice a day.
    • We will continue to provide in-room meal services.
  • Staff:
    • All staff will wear a mask and gloves while in the community.
    • All companions will wear PPE (gloves, eye protection and mask) while providing care for our residents.
    • Staff members will receive symptom screenings two times a day, including a temperature check.

Will you tell me if there is a case of COVID-19 in our community?

• Yes. If we are made aware of a positive COVID-19 case by someone in your community, we will notify residents and their families.

Are you testing residents and staff for COVID-19?

• We know many of you are interested in making more COVID-19 tests available to members of our community. Local health officials are responsible for determining all COVID-19 testing protocols. We will continue to work with our county and state health departments. If they decide that broad testing is necessary and appropriate in a Sterling Estates community, we will fully support this effort and notify you that this is taking place.

Resident Illness

• How are you checking residents?
  • In assisted living and memory care, we are proactively monitoring the temperatures and symptoms of all residents. Residents in independent living are encouraged to contact the community care team to inquire about the symptoms to be looking for as well as ask about prevention best practices.
• What happens if a resident has symptoms?
  • We will assist and report to EMS any residents with cold-like or flu-like symptoms, including fever of more than 100.4°, coughing, or shortness of breath with contacting their physician for medical care.

Comments & Concerns

• Who do I call if I have a comment, concern, or complaint?
  • The first person you should call is your community’s executive director.
    • Fayetteville: Holly Woods 770-461-0039
    • East Cobb: Ann White 678-946-4445
    • West Cobb: Deana Harris 770-255-7000
  • We will respond to you as quickly as possible, but usually within 24 hours.

Community Entry

• Who is allowed in the community?
  • No visitors are permitted at Sterling Estates of West Cobb until further notice.
• What are your screening procedures for people entering the community?
  • There are no visitors allowed at this time. Our staff and Health care providers entering the community will be asked questions about possible cold-like symptoms, recent travel, and if they have been exposed to a known or suspected case of COVID-19 or work in another health care facility with a positive COVID-19 case. We also take everyone’s temperature to ensure they do not have a fever.
• Why are you closed to visitors?
  • As we monitor the spread of COVID-19 around the country, and understanding that this virus is most dangerous for seniors, we feel that an apartment quarantine is a necessary step toward keeping everyone safe.
• How long will this last?
  • The COVID-19 pandemic is an ever-evolving situation. We will lift the quarantine and restrictions when we feel it is safe to do so, and based on recommendations from agencies such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state departments of health.
• What are the exceptions to this policy?
  • We will make limited exceptions in extreme or emergency cases. These must be expressly approved by the community’s executive director. Anyone entering the community under these circumstances will be screened upon arrival.
• Will my private duty caregiver be allowed to enter the community?
  • Yes. Health care providers, including home health, private duty, nursing services, physicians, physical therapy, and hospice staff will be granted access to the community once they have completed our entry screening procedures.
• What if there is an emergency?
  • Emergency medical/fire services personnel are able to enter the community if needed. We will make limited exceptions in extreme or emergency cases for family members. These cases must be expressly approved by the community’s executive director. Anyone entering the community under these circumstances will be screened upon arrival.
• Can I visit with my loved ones outdoors but on the community grounds?
  • Because our communities are under quarantine and outside guests pose a risk of exposure to residents, we ask that you do not have in-person visits.
• Are there other ways that I can get to see my loved ones?
  • The dedicated teams at every community are equipped and ready to help facilitate phone call or even a virtual visit using services such as Apple FaceTime, Skype, or Zoom. We’d also love for you to send videos or other messages through community staff. Call and we will tell you how.
• Can I volunteer to help residents and the community?
  • Thank you for interest in sharing your time and talent with our residents. Because the safety of our residents and staff is our priority, we have placed all communities under quarantine and no visitors are allowed at this time. Please contact us via email our team will coordinate a way for you or your organization to help remotely.
  • We have already received many donated masks (over 200) from family members, staff and friends of the partners. These masks have been deployed for our staff to use along with their surgical masks. Thus allowing us to extend the useful life of our surgical masks.
    • That being said, if anyone else is interested in trying to make cloth masks to donate, instructions from the CDC can be found here. Please reach out directly to the community if you are able to help.

Resident Exit & Reentry

• Are residents allowed to leave?
  • We ask that you remain in the community in the interest of everyone’s safety. If you have an essential medical appointment, please let us know.
• Why are residents not allowed to leave their apartments if there is a confirmed case of COVID-19?
  • If there is a confirmed case of the COVID-19 virus with any of our residents or staff, as an added precaution to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our community, residents would be quarantined to their apartments for no less than 14 days since the first day of reported symptoms..
• Why are residents who live in cottages or freestanding homes not allowed into the building?
  • We are not monitoring the comings and goings of residents who live in cottages or freestanding homes. Therefore, we cannot allow them to enter the main community building.
• What happens if someone goes to the hospital and is ready to return to the community?
  • Residents who are returning from the hospital will be screened just like others who enter the community.
  • In following local and federal guidance anyone returning from a hospitalization will be under quarantine in their residence for 14 days.

Deliveries

• How do deliveries work?
  • Deliveries will be made outside the building and a staff member will accept them and take them to residents.
• Can I bring something to a resident?
  • Yes. We will follow our delivery procedure to have a staff member meet you at the entrance to accept your items and take them to the resident.

Personal Needs

• What if I need personal supplies? (Over-the-counter medications, soap, shampoo, etc.)
  • We recommend that a family member bring your items to the front of the community, where a staff member will accept them. We can help you set up an account with online grocery and pharmacy delivery services, such as Instacart, to order essentials.
  • We are also here to help, just let us know if we can pick anything up for you.
• Will the salon remain open?
  • No. The salon inside the community is temporarily closed.

Medical Needs

• How will I get to my doctors’ appointments?
  • We ask that you remain in the community in the interest of everyone’s safety. If you have an essential medical appointment, please let us know. We encourage you to use telemedicine if your physician offers that service.
• Can a family member pick me up for my doctors’ appointments?
  • We ask that you remain in the community in the interest of everyone’s safety. If you have an essential medical appointment, please let us know.
  • We are also here to help, just let us know if we can pick anything up for you.
• If I live in an independent living apartment, how do I pick up my prescriptions and over the counter medicines from the pharmacy?
  • We can help you set up an account with online grocery and pharmacy delivery services, such as Instacart, to order essentials
  • We are also here to help, just let us know if we can pick anything up for you.
• What if I need hospice care?
  • Health care providers, including home health, private duty, nursing services, physicians, physical therapy, and hospice staff will be granted access to the community once they have completed our entry screening procedures.

Dining

• How do meals work?
  • We will deliver all meals, snacks, and beverages to your apartment/cottage.

Staff

• How are staff screened?
  • We take all staff members’ temperatures every day. If anyone has a fever or has cold-like symptoms, we do not allow them to work until they are symptom-free.
  • We also screen all staff by asking the following questions:
    • Have you been out of the country? Which one(s)? ____________________
    • Have you been exposed to anyone with COVID-19 (Corona Virus)
    • Do you have a fever?
    • Have you been coughing?
    • Do you have any unusual muscle aches?
    • Are you experiencing any shortness of breath?
    • Do you have any loss of taste?
    • Where have you been outside of this building in the last 24hrs?

Dining

• To avoid close contact during meals, our main dining rooms will be closed

Community Life

• Our staff is committed to maintaining as much of a normal life in the community as possible with a few temporary exceptions:
  • We have eliminated all group outings.
  • All group gatherings, such as book clubs and religious services, will be hosted by our staff or held via virtual means.
  • Transportation services are limited to necessary medical appointments only.
  • The salon will be closed until further notice.
• We have updated our activity plans and calendars to adjust for smaller group (under 10 people at a time) activities, more outdoor events, as well as utilize all available technology in order to ensure our residents remain safe but also engaged.
  • We continue to offer programming for our residents: from activities that are conducted outside to those in our buildings where there is at least 6 feet of separation (we even have a separation stick we use to remind everyone what 6 feet looks like!). We know how important this type of engagement is to our community.
• We have updated our care plans to include inquiring / assisting calling a loved one in order to help families stay connected.
• We are encouraging the use of more video calling tools (i.e. Facetime) so that both our residents and their loved ones can connect on a more personal level as we take our social distancing procedures to heart. We have even setup Facetime support tables where residents can come, and our staff can assist in setting up calls.
• If you or your loved one needs any additional support on setting up video calls, please reach out to the community directly and we will help coordinate.

Wellness Center

• Moving forward the main wellness center is closed to independent residents.

Cottage Residents:

• We implore all cottage residents to heed this guidance and only leave the campus for essential services (as articulated above).
  1. Essential Services include grocery shopping, medical or pharmacy visits.
  2. With that, we would love to help out on these errands as we are able. Please reach out and schedule with us.
• Moving forward, we ask that you not enter: the main assisted living building, the Hampton building and Stratford building.
  1. Please reach out to both the wellness and activities teams to better define what you can do in your homes.
  2. We can also provide you with personal workout equipment so as to allow you to continue to exercise in your own cottage.
• We ask that you follow applicable social distancing measures when not in your cottage, which includes maintaining a minimum of 6 feet of separation from other people.
• We recommend that you do participate in outdoor activities where the necessary safety precautions have been taken into account, including:
  1. Outdoor exercise classes
  2. Outdoor walking groups
  3. Gardening (where additional personal hygiene stations have been added)
• Coming soon to channel 961 various activities including: wellness classes, movies, guided activities and more

Independent Apartment Residents:

• No visitors are permitted in our community until further notice.
• Limit group gatherings within the building to under 10 people and follow all social distancing guidance.
• Stratford residents should no longer enter the Hampton building and Hampton residents should no longer enter the Stratford building.
  • We will be adding work out equipment to the Stratford building.
• Only leave the campus for essential services (as articulated above).
• We ask that you follow applicable social distancing measures when not in your cottage, which includes maintaining a minimum of 6 feet of separation from other people.
• We recommend that you do participate in outdoor activities where the necessary safety precautions have been taken into account, including:
  1. Outdoor exercise classes
  2. Outdoor walking groups
  3. Gardening (where additional personal hygiene stations have been added)
• Coming soon to channel 961 various activities including: wellness classes, movies, guided activities and more.

Engagement in Memory Care Neighborhoods

Our approach to caring for people living with dementia has not changed in light of COVID-19. We have dementia experts on staff who remain focused on ensuring residents living with dementia are receiving quality care and attention. While this care and attention may look a little different during this time, we are doing our best to keep everyone safe.

Rest assured we will do our best to keep creativity and meaningful moments up and loneliness down!

At Azalea Estates, we focus on giving you proactive and thorough communication. As always, we will update you with any changes to life in the community. If you have any questions, please reach out to your community’s executive director by calling the community directly.

At Azalea Estates, we focus on giving you proactive and thorough communication. As always, we will update you with any changes to life in the community. If you have any questions, please reach out to your community’s executive director by calling the community directly.

Staff Precautions

• Our staff are trained in proper infectious disease precautions and procedures, including the proper use of protective equipment, cleaning, and hand washing. We also provide ongoing training in these areas to keep everyone up-to-date.
• We take all staff members’ temperature every day. If anyone has a fever or has cold-like symptoms, we do not allow them to work until they are symptom-free.
• We ask all staff members who are sick to stay home until they are well.

Support for Staff

We are taking steps to support our staff during this time so that they can focus on their health and on taking care of residents.

• In the event of school closures, we will pay for staff members' child care expenses if needed.
• If a staff member does not have health insurance, we will pay for their costs of visiting a physician or urgent care to be tested and rule out any contagious illness.
• We don't want an empty paid time off (PTO) balance to stand in the way of staff members taking the necessary time off to get well at home if they are sick. If a staff member's PTO balance is empty, we will continue to pay them while sick with a contagious illness.

Staff letters

FAQ on Cares Act: https://www.nytimes.com/article/coronavirus-stimulus-package-questions-answers.html