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​What these senior living operators did to get through pandemic COVID-free
Kimberly Bonvissuto

Remaining COVID-free during a global pandemic, according to the leader of a Wichita, KS, assisted living community, took a group effort of strict adherence to infection prevention protocols.

Prairie Homestead Assisted Living credits the community’s zero COVID-19 cases over the past year to staff members and residents meticulously wearing masks and following social distancing and sanitation best practices, as well as sticking to quarantine measures for new residents or anyone who left the community and then came back. Also, staff members, visitors and anyone else who entered the building completed a COVID screening questionnaire and was asked to take a rapid COVID-19 antigen test.

“We locked the doors — pretty much no one in or out except for the employees, unless it was medically necessary,” Yvonne Loftis, director of sales and marketing, told McKnight’s Senior Living. Staff members continue to be tested weekly, and visitor testing is ongoing. 

With 17 residents, the community kept up many of its activities — including exercise, bingo, Bible studies and hymnal sing-alongs — to try to maintain everyone’s physical, mental and spiritual health. Skyping and courtyard visits with family members were added as community spread decreased, and scheduled indoor visits now are available.

Loftis credits the actions taken by staff members with keeping coronavirus out of the community.
“A big part of what kept / keeps us safe is not only what our staff is doing while at the facility, but also what they are doing once they go home,” she said. “The staff have been very responsible with what they are choosing to do outside of work to not bring anything back to our residents.”

All Prairie Homestead residents now are vaccinated, and 75% to 80% of staff members are vaccinated. 
Loftis said the past year has been a long journey with much learning. “For the most part, we try to take it one day at a time,” she said.

Sigh of relief Washington Manor Personal Care Home in Butler, PA, also is breathing a sigh of relief after the community’s 25 residents received their second vaccine doses recently. Like Prairie Homestead, Washington Manor also remained COVID-free throughout the pandemic.

Facility owner John Dougherty told KDKA in Pittsburgh that he went above and beyond buying cleaning supplies and masks in January and February 2020, “hoping a vaccine got there before the worst comes.”
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With a bit of luck and the diligence of his staff, he said, the senior living community “kept it from getting through the front door.” Staff members also made sacrifices in their own lives to ensure that they were not bringing the virus into the community, Dougherty said. 


Click here to reference the McKnights publication:  https://www.mcknightsseniorliving.com/home/news/what-these-senior-living-operators-did-to-get-through-pandemic-covid-free/
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Article by: Sam Montero
Posted: Mar 22, 2021 / 10:23 PM CDT / Updated: Mar 22, 2021 / 10:23 PM CDT
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Prairie Homestead Assisted Living Facility has made it through the pandemic without a single COVID-19 case.
Brenda Janda, the Executive Director of Prairie Homestead said, “We have been COVID free for a year, but we are still testing, we’re testing weekly.” 
Janda attributes the facility’s success to staff and residents who have been meticulously following COVID-19 protocols. There has been an emphasis on mask-wearing, social distancing, and sanitation.
‘Happy tears,’ Family reunites after one year in COVID isolation “You can’t see COVID and so, you know, somebody can come in and not even know they have it,” said Janda.
Staff gets tested once a week and the team tests every single person that walks through the door. Visitors are allowed, but must practice social distancing and wear masks at all times.
Helen Emrich has been a resident at Prairie Homestead for five years and said she appreciates how serious the staff has taken COVID-19 protocols. “I don’t mind being quarantined because at least we’ve not had any, and I’m so grateful,” she said.
After a year in lockdown, families able to reunite at northeast Kansas nursing home Emrich said the most difficult part has been being away from her family but she is willing to stick it out to the end of the pandemic. “I can handle it,” she said.


The full news video and interview with Executive Director, Brenda Janda can be viewed here:
https://www.ksn.com/news/local/one-wichita-assisted-living-facility-reported-no-covid-19-cases-in-a-year/

This has certainly been a scary year when it comes to senior citizens' health. In this age of Coronavirus, a lot of people have been focused on seniors’ physical wellness, but the truth is that this age group’s mental health is at risk as well*. Many older adults have been separated from family and friends for months, and because the pandemic shows no signs of slowing down, they aren’t sure when they’ll be able to reunite with their loved ones.

I think it’s more important than ever to show senior citizens our support, especially when it comes to giving them the resources they need to take care of their own mental health or that of a loved one. In that spirit, below is a list of information I’ve put together that I hope will offer some hope to your site’s readers. 

Warning Signs of Depression in a Family Member
https://www.rehabsolution.org/warning-signs-of-depression-in-a-family-member/

Indoor Activities for Seniors in Isolation
https://www.harborlifesettlements.com/indoor-activities-seniors-in-isolation/

Benefits of Pet Therapy for Seniors
https://www.leisurecare.com/resources/pet-therapy-benefits-for-seniors/

At-Home Services that Can Help Senior Veterans
https://www.homeadvisor.com/r/home-services-that-help-senior-veterans/

Helping Seniors Stay Engaged During COVID-19
https://inspirseniorliving.com/helping-seniors-stay-engaged-during-covid-19

9 Tips to Help Seniors Sleep Better
https://carebuildersathome.com/9-tips-to-help-seniors-sleep-better/

Grief and COVID-19: Mourning our bygone lives
https://www.apa.org/news/apa/2020/04/grief-covid-19

Effective Stress Management Activities for Seniors
https://bluemoonseniorcounseling.com/effective-stress-management-activities-for-seniors/

Thanks,
Millie Jones
Senior Wellness Info



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During this time of COVID concern, senior living campuses have continued their focus on the well-being of seniors.  Enjoy this video and let us know if you have questions about how you can be a part of our senior living family.

​https://vimeo.com/417801191

KHF ANNOUNCES GRANT RECIPIENTS FOR 2020 IMPACT AND CAPACITY GRANTS – COVID-19May 13, 2020

MEDIA CONTACTKristi Zukovich, kzukovich@khf.org, 316-491-8419WICHITA, Kan. – The Kansas Health Foundation recently announced the grant recipients for the 2020 Impact and Capacity Grants (ICG) Initiative. The ICG Initiative provides one-year grants of up to $25,000 for nonprofits mission-aligned with KHF, focused on COVID-19 response and recovery. There were 91 grants awarded to nonprofit, faith-based and government organizations, totaling more than $2 million.
“The KHF board embraced the opportunity to repurpose these funds to quickly react to the impact COVID-19 is having on our state,” said Matt Allen, chair of the KHF Board of Directors. “These funds will assist organizations as they respond to Kansans in need and provide core operations support to sustain their organizations during these uniquely difficult financial times.”
Prompted by the urgent need to respond to the COVID-19 crisis, KHF advanced the application launch date, and due to overwhelming response, closed the initiative within two weeks. KHF fielded 477 funding proposals from organizations across the state.
“This surge of requests for COVID-19 assistance demonstrates clearly that Kansans are experiencing overwhelming need as we grapple with this unprecedented crisis,” said Reggie Robinson, KHF president and CEO. “We’re proud to support these vital organizations as they continue to serve their clients and communities.”
To date, KHF has authorized more than $16.3 million to support emergency COVID-19 response and recovery efforts across Kansas.
The following organizations are 2020 ICG recipients (divided by region served):
STATEWIDE:
American Cancer Society – $25,000
American Red Cross South Central and Southeast Kansas – $25,000
Central Kansas Foundation for Alcohol and Chemical Dependency – $25,000
Child Start – $14,400
Children’s Mercy Hospital – $25,000
Great Plains Development – $25,000
Kansas Association of Local Health Departments – $22,000
Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters – $25,000
Passageways – $25,000
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Wichita – $25,000
Saint Francis Community Services – $25,000
NORTH CENTRAL:
Central Kansas Mental Health Center – $25,000
Cloud County Health Center – $25,000
Ellsworth County Medical Center – $25,000
Great Plains of Republic County dba Republic County Hospital – $22,489
Lincoln Carnegie Library – $550
Sunporch of Smith Center – $25,000
USD 435, Abilene School District – $10,000
NORTHEAST:
AdventHealth Foundation Shawnee Mission – $25,000
American Stroke Foundation – $25,000
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City – $25,000
Choice Health Services – $25,000
City of Paola – $3,000
Colonial Presbyterian Church – $14,175
Delivering Change – $25,000
Douglas County CASA Program – $23,400
Douglas County Dental Clinic – $25,000
Elizabeth Layton Center – $25,000
Evergreen Living Innovations – $25,000
Family Promise of Lawrence – $15,000
Friends of Johnson County Developmental Support – $15,000
Gilda’s Club Kansas City 20 – $5,850
Giving the Basics – $25,000
Goodwill of Western Missouri & Eastern Kansas – $25,000
Greater Manhattan Community Foundation – $9,260
Johnson County Developmental Supports – $25,000
Lawrence Schools Foundation – $25,000
Medical Missions Foundation – $25,000
Midland Care Connection – $25,000
Nemaha Valley Community Hospital – $21,000
Sent – $25,000
St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church – $25,000
TDC Learning Centers – $15,000
The Willow Domestic Violence Center – $20,000
USD 380, Vermillion – $10,000
Van Go – $25,000
Women’s Community Y – $5,000
Wyandot Center for Community Behavioral Healthcare – $25,000
NORTHWEST:
Cheyenne County Village – $25,000
High Plains Mental Health Center – $22,496
Phillipsburg Child Care Center – $25,000
Rooks County Senior Services dba Redbud Village – $25,000
Sherman County Health Department – $10,000
Thomas County Health Department – $18,820
Wallace County Community Care Center – $20,450
SOUTH CENTRAL:
American Baptist Estates dba Prairie Homestead – $25,000
Anthony Community Care Center – $25,000
Barton County – $25,000
Derby Community Foundation – $10,000
Envision Foundation – $25,000
Family Promise of Great Wichita – $25,000
First Metropolitan Community Church of Kansas – $25,000
Guadalupe Clinic – $25,000
Horizons Mental Health Center – $24,742
Hospital District #6 of Harper County, Kansas – $25,000
ICT SOS – $25,000
Independent Living Resource Center – $25,000
Joyfulhouse – $25,000
Kansas Elks Training Center for the Handicapped – $25,000
Kansas Hispanic Education & Development Foundation – $25,000
Kansas State Research and Extension – Barber County – $25,000
Main Street Ministries – $25,000
Mayflower Clinic – $25,000
McPherson County Health Department – $25,000
Mirror – $25,000
Starkey – $25,000
Union Rescue Mission of Wichita – $25,000
United Way of McPherson County – $25,000
United Way of Reno County – $25,000
Village League – $25,000
Wichita Family Crisis Center – $17,000
SOUTHEAST:
Community Mental Health Center of Crawford County – $25,000
Crawford County Health Department – $25,000
S.E.K. Multi-County Health Department – $25,000
Spring River Mental Health & Wellness – $25,000
St. Patrick Catholic School – $16,800
SOUTHWEST:
Iroquois Center for Human Development – $25,000
Kansas Senior Living – $25,000
The Salvation Army of Dodge City – $25,000
Western Kansas Child Advocacy Center – $25,000
Young Men’s Christian Association of Southwest Kansas – $25,000
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ABOUT THE KANSAS HEALTH FOUNDATIONThe Kansas Health Foundation is based in Wichita, but statewide in its focus. With a mission to improve the health of all Kansans, KHF envisions a culture in which every Kansan can make healthy choices where they live, work and play. To achieve this, KHF focuses its work in four impact areas: access to affordable health care, healthy behaviors, civic and community engagement and educational attainment. During its history, KHF has provided more than $500 million in grants to Kansas communities and organizations, and looks forward to working toward its mission and vision for many years to come.