Oppose NY A.286/S.1997 – Act Now

Dear Friend of Ives Hill,

This week, bill A.286 (Gunther) was added to the New York State Assembly Debate list. If the Assembly chooses to take up the debate list, this bill threatens to be passed in the Assembly. Due to the pandemic and associated healthcare staffing crisis, the health and well-being of our most vulnerable NY State residents are at risk due to years of chronic underfunding and lack of state support during a once-in-a-century pandemic. We ask you again to come alongside us and advocate for the seniors we serve.

What the bill does. A.286/S.1997 would increase penalties on providers for requiring mandatory overtime of nurses. This bill proposes civil penalties of up-to $1,000 for a first violation, $2,000 for a second violation, or $3,000 for a third or subsequent violation. The employee shall receive an additional fifteen percent of the overtime payment from the employer for each violation as damages.

How does this affect Ives Hill?

Ives Hill is committed to providing comfort and care to each resident we serve. While we do not mandate overtime on a regular basis for our nursing staff, and often staff volunteer to cover if needed in critical events, there are extreme circumstances when this may become necessary such as crisis events including weather-related issues or extreme staffing shortage circumstances due to mass call-offs or casualty events. This has always been a part of our emergency policies and procedures. This proposed bill places nursing homes in an impossible position due to the need to comply with the new laws on nursing home staffing hours. With this bill, most nursing homes across the state will be required to choose between being penalized for not reaching the nurse hours requirement, or being penalized for having to use mandatory overtime in order to comply with the nurse hours law. This mandate could force nursing homes throughout New York State to face large fines if not in compliance, discontinue admissions, close units, or even be forced to sell, or close their doors permanently.

What does this mean for my loved one?

We are committed to the health and safety of both our staff and residents. Our dedicated staff already do so much and work so hard for our residents during a standard work week. The last thing we want to do is require overtime of our existing nurses. However, to remain in compliance with the newly passed staffing requirement minimums, and in the event that our residents’ needs require our organization use mandatory overtime to provide critical care and service, we should not be penalized for doing so.

How can I help?

The solution to reducing nurse overtime is to provide better Medicaid reimbursement to allow for more competitive salaries, and more investment in training new nurses. The answer is not to impose more penalties.

PLEASE CALL YOUR STATE ASSEMBLY MEMBER NOW to oppose A.286 (Gunther) when it comes up for a vote on the Assembly Floor. After you place a call to your Assembly Member’s Office, please also send this digital advocacy letter to your Assembly Member, Senator and the Governor. Find your Assembly Member’s phone number here.

Again, we share this information so you can understand our commitment to those we serve. We are happy to answer any questions you might have. Please contact Sallie Williams, Vice President of Advancement at advocacy@heritage1886.org for more information or to share your concerns.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support for Ives Hill and our greatest generation, our seniors.

Two Proposed Bills – Act Now

Friends of Ives Hill, we reach out to you today to again share updates in how recent legislation concerns in New York State continue to impact those we serve. Two bills have been proposed in New York State that will directly impact assisted living communities, including Heritage if passed.

What are the bills?

• 196 (Gottfried)/S.1576 (Rivera), is a proposed bill potentially severe impacts. If passed would impose new costly and potentially devastating requirements and penalties for organizations, including Heritage, who provided assisted living services to seniors. The bill increases the potential penalties for assisted care facilities (ACF) violations from $1,000 to $2,000 per violation per day – or $3,000 for a repeat violation. ACFs are already struggling under the weight of regulations, with COVID-19 almost daily introducing new challenges, risks, mandates, costs, and severe penalties. The Department of Health (DOH) already works to issue fines at their discretion when warranted, and this increase is unreasonable – the bill removes that flexibility. For example, ACFs have been required to submit a daily COVID-19 report to the DOH. They receive a violation if it is submitted even a few minutes late; and yet, there are so many reasons why staff are being pulled in many different directions leading to a late submission, including most importantly, the top priority for all of us – resident care.
• Another bill, has advanced to the Senate Finance committee. Bill 9575 (Solages)/S.1593 (Rivera), would allow ACFs to directly employ licensed practical nurses (LPNs) or registered nurses (RNs) to provide care is assisted living communities, including Heritage. The passing of this bill could help us provide additional, and often much-needed, care to our assisted living residents as they continue to live vibrant lives in the place they call home.

What does this mean for Ives Hill?

At Heritage, we remain committed to providing care that meets, and often exceeds, all standards provided by NYS, and continue to do so. Increasing the fines to care communities—with the maximum potential fine per violation per day rising to $3,000 – will be devastating for many organizations, including Heritage, and could lead to driving up the cost of care for residents, reduced admissions, or being forced to close their doors permanently and forcing residents to move to a skilled nursing community.

Additionally, allowing RNs and LPNs to provide care in assisted living communities will allow many organizations, including Heritage to provide additional, and often much-needed, care to our assisted living residents as they continue to live vibrant lives in the only place they call home.

How can I help?

Click HERE to let your elected representative know you oppose A.196/S.1576, which imposes increased fines on assisted living communities.

Click HERE to let your elected representative know you support passing A.9575/S.1593 and let them know what positive impact passing the bill will have for the seniors we serve.

Again, we share this information so you can understand our commitment to those we serve, we are happy to answer any questions you might have. Please contact Sallie Williams, Vice President of Advancement at advocacy@heritage1886.org for more information or to share your concerns.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support for Heritage and our greatest generation, our seniors.

How You Can Advocate With Us

Dear Friend of Heritage,

We reach out to you today to again share updates in how recent staffing mandates and budget concerns in New York State continue to impact nursing homes and those we serve.

The Background

As you know, a recent state New York State mandate regarding staffing was to go into effect on Jan. 1, 2022, requiring that nursing homes provide a quarterly average of 3.5 hours per resident per day of overall nursing services (which is comprised of registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and aides). However, the Governor had, through Executive Order, delayed penalties for failure to meet the standards due to the current workforce shortage that is being felt throughout the healthcare system in the state.

On March 31, the Governor issued an updated Executive Order which continued a “statewide disaster emergency due to healthcare staffing shortages” in light of “severe understaffing in hospitals and other healthcare facilities” that is “expected to continue to affect the ability to provide critical care and to adequately serve vulnerable populations.” The order did not, however, continue the delay of penalties on nursing homes for failure to meet staffing mandates. As a result, the mandate took effect on April 1st, 2022. It is perplexing that the current health care staffing crisis is being recognized throughout the health care system, except in nursing homes.

What is Heritage doing to handle the situations presented by this mandate?

We want to assure you that, at Heritage, staffing has always been the top priority to us. We would like nothing more than to have enough staff to meet or exceed the mandates outlined in law. Our nurses and aides are fundamental to the high-quality care we are committed to providing. Unfortunately, there is a very serious workforce shortage right now, and despite ongoing efforts over the years, it has become harder and harder to recruit and retain staff. An analysis of the federal data discovered that 80.4% of nursing homes in the state would not be in compliance with this new mandate. Unfortunately, staffing shortages have grown since the time that data was collected, suggesting that even fewer will be able to comply today. Estimates indicate that 12,000 nurses and aides are needed, with over 9,000 needed immediately, to comply with the mandate.

There are other factors that contribute to this workforce shortage, and the pandemic has taken a particular toll on the healthcare workforce. But the state’s severely outdated Medicaid rate makes it particularly difficult for us to compete with other settings for the staff we need. Medicaid pays for nearly three quarters of all nursing homes resident days in the state, and is among the worst in the nation when payment is compared to costs. We are at the mercy of the state’s Medicaid rates, and it is not realistic to expect that private pay residents should shoulder the entire Medicaid shortfall.

Unfortunately, the consequence of failing to meet the staffing mandate is significant financial penalties, which will actually make it harder for us to pay higher wages and recruit people to work in our nursing homes. We felt it important that you understand that the promise of this mandate is a false one. Until we can recruit more staff, we cannot be in compliance, despite the state’s decision to begin penalizing homes that cannot meet the requirement.

What does this mean for you and your loved one?

We are committed to providing high-quality care. We will continue to work to recruit more staff, and we will work to ensure that the staff we have—who have been working so hard, particularly over the last two years, stay with us. We may need to make some hard decisions. We may need to stop taking new admissions. Our decisions will be guided by our mission to provide quality care and meet the requirements of the state mandate.

What can you do to help?

1. First and foremost, please understand that we have been working tirelessly to recruit and retain workers, well before this mandate.

2. You can help us find good people! If you know people that you think may want to work with us, send them our way or have them apply directly on our Careers Page.

3. Make your voice heard. You can also contact your state legislators and Governor Hochul to let them know that nursing homes are in desperate need of state funding to recruit and retain more workers. You can find information on how to contact your representative on our Advocacy Page. Every voice matters.

Again, we share this information so you can understand our commitment to increasing our staff, since quality care is our shared priority. We will keep you informed regarding our progress as it relates to meeting this mandate, and we are happy to answer any questions you might have. Please contact Sallie Williams, Vice President of Advancement at advocacy@heritage1886.org for more information or to share your concerns.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support for Heritage and the seniors we serve.

COVID-19 Delta Variant Update

Dear Friend of Heritage,

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect people of all ages. Recently, the nation has experienced an increase in the number of COVID-19 positive cases, with the entrance of the new Delta COVID-19 variant. Heritage has always been committed to putting the safety and well-being of those who we both serve and employ, as our top priority. During these challenging times, our entire team is working tirelessly to ensure the safety of your loved one. I cannot begin to thank our staff for all they have done to help our residents and their loved ones. They continue to again and again rise to the occasion, offering help whenever, and wherever, it is needed. They have my undying gratitude and truly are the reason we are #HeritageStrong.

As our teams continue to protect each senior who calls a Heritage community home from this unprecedented illness, I want to personally thank you for your constant patience, support, and understanding over the eighteen months.  While we understand you may feel weary living in the constantly changing world of COVID-19 guidelines, we also know that this battle is not yet over. I also wanted to share with you the practices below that will remain in effect until further notice as we work together to keep those we love safe, healthy, and free from harm.

• All staff and visitors in Heritage independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing and rehabilitation communities, nationwide, are required to wear face masks at all times. We continue to screen our staff daily and continue to follow all testing guidelines, as required.
• Visitation at all skilled nursing facilities and assisted living will continue to be held as allowed by current Department of Health and CDC guidelines.
• We encourage residents in all communities to wear a mask as they are able, regardless of vaccine status, in accordance with CDC recommendations.
• We encourage our residents, staff, and loved ones to consider receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. Acknowledging that many have concerns and questions, Heritage encourages all residents, their families, and staff to educate themselves on the potential benefits and risks of receiving the vaccine in order to determine which option is right for them. On our website, heritage1886.org/coronavirus, you will find a variety of resources from the CDC to share with your loved ones as you make your decisions.

We continue to seek God’s wisdom and pray for His protection for as we seek to keep each resident and staff member safe, and to promote Hope, Dignity, and Purposeful Living in these difficult times.

Sincerely,
Lisa Haglund
President and CEO
Heritage Ministries

NYS State of Emergency Update

New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced today, June 23, 2021, that the State of Emergency that has been in place since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic will expire on Thursday, June 24.

At this time, our assisted living and skilled nursing communities in New York State are still required to follow the COVID-19 guidelines and regulations already in place, as provided by the Department of Health. Our COVID-19 team is working diligently to ensure that as we receive any new guidelines or information we will communicate them quickly to our staff, residents, and families. If you have any questions at all, please email questions@heritage1886.org or contact the administrator of the Heritage community your loved one calls home, and they will be happy to assist you.

NYS Visitation Updates

Dear Heritage Family,
Late this week, New York State released new guidance regarding visitation for nursing homes. We understand the frustration that COVID-19 mandates and restrictions have presented for our residents and loved ones over the past several months, and are excited about the new information included in this guidance, including the opportunity to FINALLY have physical contact with your loved one. I know how long you have all waited for that hug, and cannot be happier to share with you that that day is finally almost here!

Early next week, we will begin opening visitation under the new guidance in our skilled nursing communities, as allowed by New York State. With these new changes and the increase in vaccination rates, we are hopeful for a future which continues to reunite our families and residents. If you would like to be contacted next week regarding these visitations, please call your community directly, or email questions@heritage1886.org.

We understand what a challenging year this has been for both you and your loved ones, and we want to thank you for your patience and understanding as we continue through these unprecedented times together. While we know that this new visitation guidance reflects hope, we encourage our resident family members to continue to advocate with us for more reasonable and thoughtful approaches to visitation policies as we enter this next phase. While progress is not always made on the issues as quickly as we would like, family advocacy is critical to the success we will see. We urge you to come alongside Heritage as we continue to advocate for our residents by visiting our advocacy page here.

Sincerely,
Lisa Haglund
President and CEO

Visitation and Vaccines

At Heritage, the health and safety of both our residents and staff continues to be of the utmost importance. We are doing everything that we can to care for our residents, and offer continued comfort and support, as we continue to fight COVID-19. The steps we have implemented to date are directly tied to the recommendations and guidelines of the CDC and state, local, and federal regulations, and in recognizing this is an ever-changing situation, we immediately adjust these steps if recommendations change, as permitted by regulatory agencies.

This week, the CDC released new guidance regarding individuals who have received the COVID-19 vaccine, and how they may be in contact with other vaccinated and unvaccinated people. Additionally, CMS released new visitation guidance for nursing homes. We understand the frustration that COVID-19 mandates and restrictions have presented for our residents and loved ones over the past several months.

We recently reached out to New York State questioning the new guidance for clarification. This guidance from the CDC, while encouraging, does not, unfortunately, apply to our skilled nursing and assisted living communities located in New York State at this time. The regulations provided by New York State, which are stricter in nature, supersede any CDC or CMS guidance or recommendations. At this time, Heritage is still required to follow the New York State guidance for visitation.

While we wait for the updated guidance from NYS, we do have good news that the NYS holiday guidance, which required residents who left the facility to have a negative COVID test prior to returning, is no longer in effect.

With these new and expected changes, along with the increase in vaccinations, we are hopeful for a future which brings families and residents together.

We understand what a challenging year this has been for both you and your loved ones, and thank you for your patience and understanding as we have navigated through these unprecedented times together. Many skilled nursing and assisted living communities in New York, including Heritage, continue to struggle under current state guidelines and restrictions. We encourage our resident family members to advocate with us for a more reasonable, thoughtful approach to these policies. While progress is not always made on the issues as quickly as we would like, family advocacy is critical to the success we will see. We urge you to come alongside Heritage as we continue to advocate for our residents by visiting www.heritage1886.org/advocacy.

2020 Year End Letter

Dear Friends of Heritage,

As 2020 draws to a close, we wanted to reach out to you, our residents and families, and thank you for your understanding, support, and most of all, your prayers, during this challenging year. You and your loved ones deserve the very best from us during this difficult time, and our Heritage teams, from chaplaincy to activities and everyone in between, are committed to using love, imagination, innovation, and faith to find ways to encourage and provide hope in the midst of this pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many time-honored traditions and heart-warming gatherings to change drastically this season. As we face those challenges, our Heritage communities, nationwide, have been determined to make the Christmas holiday season extra special.

Our teams are working tirelessly each day to “Bring the Joy” as we create innovative ways for our residents to enjoy meaningful moments, and special memories. In November, we launched a free eCard program to allow family members, friends, and the community to send free cards to their loved ones electronically throughout the year. From our online shoebox Thanksgiving Day Parade, to socially distanced hallway sing-a-longs, community car parades, and recorded holiday performances from area groups televised in our communities, our “Bring the Joy” initiative has helped our residents, staff, and community members to still enjoy traditional activities during a difficult time.

We are working daily to keep our residents safe, loved, and well cared for. We continue to monitor staff daily, and enhanced personal protective equipment is being used as needed in all of our communities to limit transmission of the virus. With the news of an upcoming vaccine for COVID-19, we know you may have many questions. Heritage is working with CVS, Omnicare, and Walgreens to distribute the vaccine to any residents who wish to receive it. We understand that choosing to receive the vaccine is a personal choice, and recently provided all of our residents and families with information to help make that decision. In the upcoming days and weeks community staff will be contacting you and your loved ones to discuss the vaccine, timing and availability further.

Our COVID-19 response team continues to be committed to acting in the best interest of all Heritage residents and staff, monitoring and implementing the constantly changing guidelines and protocols of local, state, and federal authorities. We also continue to advocate with our elected officials for a more reasonable and compassionate approach to visitation. You can find more information on ways you can get involved by visiting our Advocacy page here.

We understand how difficult this pandemic has been for both you and your loved ones, and thank you again for your patience and understanding. We look to the new year with prayerful hope, and continue to seek God’s wisdom. We pray for His supernatural protection, as we work to keep each resident safe, and to promote Hope, Dignity, and Purposeful Living during these unprecedented times.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,

Lisa Haglund
President and CEO

COVID-19 Vaccine Update

Dear Friends of Heritage,

The COVID-19 pandemic has been one of our nation’s greatest challenges in modern history. For more than nine months, residents of Heritage and senior living communities nationwide, have lived apart from those they love and have been unable to visit each other face-to-face, or experience the warm embrace of a loving hug from a family member. Heritage employees have put their own health at risk daily and have worked tirelessly using love, imagination, innovation, and faith to find ways to encourage and provide hope in the midst of this pandemic while caring for our greatest generation, our seniors.

For months, we have asked you to join us in prayer for an end to the pandemic that has disrupted life in so many ways. As an organization, we are grateful the newly released COVID-19 vaccines are now placing the world’s attention and priority on our most affected populations, our seniors and front-line healthcare workers.

We are blessed beyond measure that our prayers have been heard, and that our seniors and healthcare heroes in our skilled nursing communities will be among the first to be given the option to receive the vaccine. While we remain respectful of the right to choose vaccination, for the first time in almost a year, our most vulnerable population will have an individual choice in how they will fight COVID-19, and we are so appreciative of our local, state, and federal agencies for recognizing this need.

Our communities have partnered with CVS, Omnicare, and Walgreens to distribute the vaccine to staff and residents who wish to receive it, and will be offering multiple clinics. We understand that some people may be concerned about getting vaccinated. The CDC has stated that while these vaccines are being developed as quickly as possible, routine processes and procedures remain in place to ensure the safety of any vaccine that is authorized or approved for use.

We understand that receiving the vaccine is a personal choice each person must decide upon. Acknowledging that many have concerns and questions, Heritage encourages all residents, their families, and staff to educate themselves on the potential benefits and risks of receiving the vaccine in order to determine which option is right for them. Click here find a variety of resources from the CDC to share with your loved ones as you make your decisions. We encourage you to reach out to your healthcare provider with any questions you may have. We will also continue to communicate with you and your loved ones as we receive any information on vaccination options and availability for our assisted living and independent living staff and residents.

We continue to seek God’s wisdom and pray for His supernatural protection for those whom He has entrusted to our care, as we seek to keep each resident safe, and to promote Hope, Dignity, and Purposeful Living in these difficult times.

Sincerely,
Lisa Haglund
President and CEO

The Lodge Update

Dear Friends of Heritage,

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) public health emergency (PHE) has been one of our nation’s greatest challenges and has especially taken a toll on the nation’s Senior Housing community residents. Heritage Ministries is committed to protecting the health and safety of our residents at all times and especially during the challenges presented by the spread of COVID-19. We understand the emotional impact that separation from loved ones has caused.

We also know that some residents may want to leave the community temporarily to visit family and friends for the holidays or other outings. While Heritage Ministries supports family engagement and a resident’s right to leave the community, everyone needs to work together to take extra precautions to help reduce the spread of COVID19, which can pose an elevated danger to the health of our residents. Therefore, Heritage Ministries recommends against residents leaving the community during this PHE. Leaving the community could increase a resident’s risk for exposure to COVID-19. The risk may be further increased by factors such as a resident’s health status, the spread of COVID-19 in the community (e.g., cases or positivity rate), or attendance at large gatherings. We encourage residents to discuss these and other risks with their families and community staff. Should a resident ultimately choose to leave the community, Heritage Ministries is providing the following recommendations and requirements.

Per NYS Department of Health:

• Residents who leave the facility will not be permitted to return until they present a negative COVID-19 diagnostic test result within the preceding 24 hours.
• Residents who leave the facility will be required , with their responsible party, to attest in writing that they:
  o Are aware of the risks involved with taking the resident out of the facility;
  o Will follow masking, social distancing, and hand hygiene practices pursuant to CDC and DOH directives;
  o Will notify the facility if the resident becomes ill within one week of leaving the facility;
  o Will notify the facility if anyone with whom the resident socialized tests positive for COVID-19 or influenza or exhibits symptoms of COVID-19 and influenza within 14 days of the resident’s return to the facility;
  o Will communicate with the facility about a return date for the resident to the facility in accordance with the facility’s policy; and
  o Will quarantine or minimize contact (or assist the resident to do so) to the extent safely possible prior to return to an assisted living facility.

Heritage Ministries is making the following recommendations:

• Limit close contact (maintain physical distancing of six feet or more),
• Keep gatherings as small as possible, and use technology to engage with others remotely;
• Wear facemasks or cloth face covering at all times (including in cars, homes, restaurants, etc.);
• Limit contact with commonly touched surfaces or shared items;
• Keep safe around food and drinks.
• Avoid communal serving utensils, passing of food, potluck or buffet style food service, and instead opt for individually prepared plates by a single server;
• Perform hand hygiene often (e.g., wash hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer);
• Avoid large gatherings, crowded areas, and high-risk activities such as singing;
• For those attending a gathering, avoid contact with individuals outside of their household for 14 days prior to the gathering;
• Ask anyone who has signs or symptoms of COVID-19, or has been exposed to someone diagnosed with COVID-19, to not attend the gathering;
• If possible, conduct gatherings outdoors. Indoor gatherings should have good ventilation, open windows and doors if possible;
• Verbally greet others instead of shaking hands or giving hugs. Think ahead about how you will manage to prevent physical interactions with loved ones of different ages such as young children; and
• Check local conditions and state requirements for precautions and restrictions, including positivity rates and quarantine requirements, before crossing state lines.

When residents return to the community:

• Residents will be screened and monitored for symptoms every shift .
• Residents will not be eligible to receive outdoor or in-person visits for 14 days.
• Residents will not be eligible to receive beauty shop services for 14 days.
• Residents will be tested for COVID-19 at least three times during the 14-day quarantine period at the facility, including on the first day (upon return) and the last day that a resident must be quarantined.
• Heritage Ministries requests that all persons who had contact with a resident while outside of the facility monitor their symptoms and report such symptoms to the facility.

Our COVID-19 response team is committed to acting in the best interest of all residents and staff. This group continues to monitor and implement the ever-changing guidelines and protocols of the CDC, as well as local, state, and federal authorities. We understand how difficult this pandemic has been for both you and your loved ones, and thank you for all of the thoughts, prayers, and support you have offered during this uncertain time.

We continue to seek God’s wisdom and pray for His supernatural protection for those whom He has entrusted to our care, as we seek to keep each resident safe, and to promote Hope, Dignity, and Purposeful Living in these difficult times.

Jeremy Rutter
Chief Clinical Officer
Heritage Ministries

Ives Hill Visitation Update

We are excited to welcome visitors back at The Lodge. We need your help to keep everyone safe during this transition, and ask that you follow all guidelines, listed on our website. To view our visitation policies and learn more regarding enriched housing visitation updates, see downloads below. We look forward to seeing you soon!

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Download our posted visitation policies and other documents below:

• Assisted Living Visitation Policy
• Visitor Fact Sheet (preview of fact sheet you’ll receive when you visit)

Ives Hill Visitation Update

Dear Friends of Heritage,

As we continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic nationwide, the safety and health of our residents and staff continues to be of the utmost importance. Staff are monitored daily upon arrival for work and wear surgical masks and eye protection, such as face shields, to limit the transmission of COVID-19 from potential asymptomatic employees. Staff in our skilled nursing and rehabilitation and assisted living communities receive mandatory COVID-19 testing, as required by the state. We continue to regularly monitor residents for symptoms throughout the day.

We understand that our Heritage families are anxious to see their loved ones. Our staff has worked tirelessly to provide compassionate care and ensure that our residents remain safe, engaged, and loved, while working with families to provide window, Zoom, and Facetime visits during the mandated no visitation periods. While we are thankful for all our staff has done, we know that for many families, the longing to be face to face with their loved one has been one of the most difficult aspects for them during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are so excited to begin welcoming our families back “home” to Heritage.

The July 10 guidance from New York State Department of Health allows limited visitation for eligible nursing homes and assisted living communities who meet all criteria required by the state. Attached, you will find a fact sheet which outlines the requirements and conditions of the limited visitation we are allowed to begin offering as those criteria are met. Please review this prior to visiting. You will notice that there are many changes to what you may have been used to in the past. We understand this may seem extensive, but these mandated requirements are designed to allow our residents and families to (finally) connect, while still protecting everyone from potential COVID-19 exposure. All visits will need to be prescheduled. Included in these precautions, masks must be worn by visitors at all times, and hugging, kissing, and other physical contact is not allowed under the current visitation policy. To limit any potential exposure, you are also unable at this time to exchange any type of items including gifts or food. However, if you have a special occasion such as a birthday, anniversary, or other event, we want to help you celebrate. Please let us know, and we would be more than happy to provide cupcakes or other treats from Heritage to help make your visit extra special for everyone.

At this time, our assisted living communities at Bergquist Memorial and Orchard Grove, and our enriched housing community at The Lodge at Ives Hill have met all eligibility requirements, and will begin visitation as listed in the dates below, with the understanding that this may change at any time due to regulations. Please contact your community today to schedule your visit. There are a limited number of slots each day, and they may fill quickly. We appreciate your patience and understanding as our staff works to help each family reconnect with their loved ones.

• Bergquist – Currently Open to Limited Outdoor Visitation
• Orchard Grove – August 19, 2020
• The Lodge at Ives Hill – August 21, 2020

Our skilled nursing communities at The Park, The Village, and The Green are preparing for visitation, as noted below. For those communities who may not yet met criteria, we will continue with non-contact visits, such as window visits, zoom, and facetime in these locations, and will continue to update you when eligibility requirements are met and we may begin scheduling visits.

• The Park – August 17, 2020
• The Green – August 17, 2020 (pending NYS Department of Health Approval)
• The Village – Date to be announced

We understand how difficult this separation is for you and your loved ones. Our compassionate staff continues to provide care, comfort, and love to each of our residents, and we thank you for all of the thoughts, prayers, and support you have offered them during this uncertain time.

We continue to seek God’s wisdom and pray for His supernatural protection for those whom He has entrusted to our care, as we seek to keep each resident safe and to promote Hope, Dignity, and Purposeful Living in these difficult times.

Sincerely,
Lisa Haglund
President and CEO

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Download our posted visitation policies and other documents below:

• Assisted Living Visitation Policy
• Visitor Fact Sheet (preview of fact sheet you’ll receive when you visit)
• Visitor Screening Form (preview of form you’ll complete when you visit)

Ives Hill Visitation Update

Dear Friends of Heritage,

As we continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic nationwide, the safety and health of our residents and staff continues to be of the utmost importance. It has now been over three months since our skilled nursing and assisted living facilities have been closed to visitors. Staff continue to be monitored daily upon arrival for work and wear surgical masks and eye protection, such as face shields, to limit the transmission of COVID-19 from potential asymptomatic employees. Staff in our skilled nursing and rehabilitation and assisted living communities are now receiving mandatory COVID-19 testing, as required by the state. We continue to regularly monitor residents for symptoms throughout the day.

We previously shared this week that an employee at Ives Hill tested positive for COVID-19. The staff member who tested positive for COVID-19 has completed the state mandated 14-day quarantine day period and has returned to work. At Heritage, the health and safety of both our residents and staff is of the utmost importance, and we are taking action to reduce the risk of exposure for all. Out of an abundance of caution for both the safety and health of our residents and staff, we are extending our visitation suspension to include both The Lodge at Ives Hill and Ives Hill independent living congregate building for 28 days effective today, July 24, 2020

As more details are made available to us by state and local governments regarding time frames for the reopening of visitation in our communities, we assure you, we will immediately reach out to you with any information. We understand how difficult this separation is for you and your loved ones. Our compassionate staff continues to provide care, comfort, and love to each of our residents, and we thank you for all of the thoughts, prayers, and support you have offered them during this uncertain time.

We continue to seek God’s wisdom and pray for His supernatural protection for those whom He has entrusted to our care, as we seek to keep each resident safe and to promote Hope, Dignity, and Purposeful Living in these difficult times.

Sincerely,
Lisa Haglund
President and CEO

Skilled Nursing and Assisted Living Visitation Policy Update

PLEASE NOTE: As of 7/23/2020 The Lodge does NOT meet the eligibility criteria for visitation.

As we continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic nationwide, the safety and health of our residents and staff continues to be of the utmost importance. Staff are monitored daily upon arrival for work and wear surgical masks and eye protection, such as face shields, to limit the transmission of COVID-19 from potential asymptomatic employees. Staff at The Lodge receive mandatory COVID-19 testing, as required by the state. We continue to regularly monitor residents for symptoms throughout the day.

We understand that our Ives Hill families are anxious to see their loved ones. Our staff has worked tirelessly to provide compassionate care and ensure that our residents remain safe, engaged, and loved, while working with families to provide window, Zoom, and Facetime visits during the mandated no visitation periods. While we are thankful for all our staff has done, we know that for many families, the longing to be face to face with their loved one has been one of the most difficult aspects for them during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are so excited to begin welcoming our families back “home” to The Lodge.

The July 10 guidance from New York State Department of Health allows limited visitation for eligible nursing homes and assisted living communities who meet all criteria required by the state. Attached, you will find a fact sheet which outlines the requirements and conditions of the limited visitation we are allowed to begin offering as those criteria are met. Please review this prior to visiting. You will notice that there are many changes to what you may have been used to in the past. We understand this may seem extensive, but these mandated requirements are designed to allow our residents and families to (finally) connect, while still protecting everyone from potential COVID-19 exposure. All visits will need to be prescheduled. Included in these precautions, masks must be worn by visitors at all times, and hugging, kissing, and other physical contact is not allowed under the current visitation policy. To limit any potential exposure, you are also unable at this time to exchange any type of items including gifts or food. However, if you have a special occasion such as a birthday, anniversary, or other event, we want to help you celebrate. Please let us know, and we would be more than happy to provide cupcakes or other treats from Ives Hill to help make your visit extra special for everyone.

At this time, our assisted living communities at Bergquist Memorial and Orchard Grove, and our enriched housing community at The Lodge at Ives Hill have met all eligibility requirements, and are beginning to take reservations for visitors. Please contact your community today to schedule your visit. There are a limited number of slots each day, and they may fill quickly. We appreciate your patience and understanding as our staff works to help each family reconnect with their loved ones.

Our skilled nursing communities at The Park, The Village, and The Green are not currently eligible for in-person visitation. We will continue with non-contact visits, such as window visits, zoom, and facetime in these locations, and will continue to update you when eligibility requirements are met and we may begin scheduling visits.

We understand how difficult this separation is for you and your loved ones. Our compassionate staff continues to provide care, comfort, and love to each of our residents, and we thank you for all of the thoughts, prayers, and support you have offered them during this uncertain time.

We continue to seek God’s wisdom and pray for His supernatural protection for those whom He has entrusted to our care, as we seek to keep each resident safe and to promote Hope, Dignity, and Purposeful Living in these difficult times.

Sincerely,
Jeremy Rutter
Chief Clinical Officer

——

Download our posted visitation policies and other documents below:

• Assisted Living Visitation Policy
• Visitor Fact Sheet (preview of fact sheet you’ll receive when you visit)
• Visitor Screening Form (preview of form you’ll complete when you visit)

Friends of Heritage

Dear Friends of Heritage,

As we continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic nationwide, the safety and health of our residents and staff continues to be of the utmost importance. It has now been over three months since our skilled nursing and assisted living facilities have been closed to visitors. Staff continue to be monitored daily upon arrival for work and wear surgical masks and eye protection, such as face shields, to limit the transmission of COVID-19 from potential asymptomatic employees. Staff in our skilled nursing and rehabilitation and assisted living communities are nowreceiving mandatory COVID-19testing, as required by the state. We continue to regularly monitor residents for symptoms throughout the day.

Our COVID-19 response team is committed to acting in the best interest of all residents and staff. This group continues to monitor and implement the ever-changing guidelines and protocols of the CDC, as well as local, state, and federal authorities, as phases of reopening begin to emerge. We understand that many of you have expressed concern regarding visitation and seeing your loved one. The current reopening phases in many areas where our communities are located allow for small group gatherings. However, skilled nursing and rehabilitation and assisted living communities are held to a different level of regulation. Our teams continue to provide for both the physical and emotional care of those we serve during these difficult times through various resident engagement activities, to help all residents stay active and engaged. Phone calls, video chats, and window visits continue to be arranged through the social work and activities departments. We are happy to assist in scheduling these visits; however, we do request they be limited to one per day so that we can assure all residents have equal opportunity.

At this time, the following guidelines have been implemented at all of our skilled nursing and assisted living communities:

• No group activities.
• No congregate dining.
• Residents who need assistance with eating can be assisted in the dining spaces with no more than two residents per table at least six feet apart.
• No visitors, with the exception of compassionate end of life. Please contact your community directly for information.
• Residents are required to wear a mask while outside of their room (as tolerated).
• Residents are allowed to go outside if they maintain social distancing and wear a mask (as tolerated).
• Residents are allowed to leave the facility for essential medical appointments, and must wear a mask.
• Residents are not allowed to leave the facility for non-essential reasons (visitation, beauty shop, dining, etc). Exceptions can be made for extenuating circumstances, to be approved by the Heritage COVID-19 team.
• No beautician services in facility.

At this time, the following guidelines have been implemented at all of our Assisted Living Communities:

• No group activities
• No congregate dining
• No visitors with the exception of compassionate EOL (this includes residents visiting other resident’s rooms)
• Residents required to wear a mask while outside of their room (as tolerated)
• Residents are allowed to go outside if they maintain social distancing and wear a mask (as tolerated)
• Residents are allowed to leave facility for essential medical appointments. Must wear a mask.
• Residents are strongly encouraged not to leave facility for non-essential reasons (visitation, beauty shop, dining, etc).
• Residents are required to quarantine if exposed to a suspected or confirmed case of COVID. Quarantine length will be determined by State requirements.
• No beautician services in facility.

At this time, following additional guidelines apply to Independent Living residents in Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Washington only:

• No group activities.
• No congregate dining.
• Residents required to wear a mask while outside of their room (as tolerated).
• Limit of one visitor per resident per day.
• Visitor must be masked and screened.
• Tours allowed, participants must be masked and screened.
• Moving help limited to two, must be masked and screened.
• Residents can go out of the facility as allowed by state reopening phases. Must wear a mask.
• Residents must self-monitor for symptoms. Report any symptoms to administrator.
• No beautician services in facility.

The following additional guidelines apply to Independent Living Residents in New York State only (*unless services are offered in a building that houses assisted living residents*).

• Residents are required to wear a mask while outside of their room (as tolerated).
• Limit of one visitor per resident per day.
• Visitor must be masked and screened.
• Tours allowed, participants must be masked and screened.
• Moving help limited to two, must be masked and screened.
• Residents can go out of the facility as allowed by state reopening phases. Must wear a mask.
• Residents must self-monitor for symptoms. Report any symptoms to the administrator.
• Beautician services are allowed in the facility.
• Limited to one resident in the beauty shop at a time.
• Both the resident and beautician must wear a mask.
• The entire beauty shop will be disinfected between residents.
• Group activities are allowed.
• All participants must maintain a six foot distance from each other and wear a mask as tolerated.
• Gatherings are limited to 25% of maximum room occupancy, or 25 people, (including residents, staff, and guests) whichever is less.
• Congregate dining is now allowed (diners must maintain a social distance of six feet)
• Limited to 25% of maximum room occupancy, or 25 people, (including residents, staff, and guests) whichever is less.

Additionally, in response to increased rates of COVID-19 transmission in certain states, and to protect New York’s successful containment of COVID-19, the state has joined with New Jersey and Connecticut in jointly issuing a travel advisory for any individual returning from travel to states that have a significant degree of community-wide spread of COVID-19. Based upon Governor Cuomo’s Executive Order 205, issued June 25, 2020, the following states meet the criteria for required 14-day quarantine. This order will apply to anyone interacting with any of our New York state communities.

• Alabama
• Arkansas
• Arizona
• California
• Florida
• Georgia
• Iowa
• Idaho
• Louisiana
• Mississippi
• Nevada
• North Carolina
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah

As more details are made available to us by state and local governments regarding time frames for the reopening of visitation in our communities, we assure you, we will immediately reach out to you with any information. We understand how difficult this separation is for you and your loved ones. Our compassionate staff continues to provide care, comfort, and love to each of our residents, and we thank you for all of the thoughts, prayers, and support you have offered them during this uncertain time.

We continue to seek God’s wisdom and pray for His supernatural protection for those whom He has entrusted to our care, as we seek to keep each resident safe and to promote Hope, Dignity, and Purposeful Living in these difficult times.

Sincerely,

Lisa Haglund
President and CEO

COVID-19 Update

Dear Friends of Heritage,

As we continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic nationwide, the safety and health of our residents and staff continues to be of the utmost importance. It has now been over three months since our skilled nursing and assisted living facilities have been closed to visitors. Staff continue to be monitored daily upon arrival for work and wear surgical masks and eye protection, such as face shields, to limit the transmission of COVID-19 from potential asymptomatic employees. Staff in our skilled nursing and rehabilitation and assisted living communities are nowreceiving mandatory COVID-19testing, as required by the state. We continue to regularly monitor residents for symptoms throughout the day.

Our COVID-19 response team is committed to acting in the best interest of all residents and staff. This group continues to monitor and implement the ever-changing guidelines and protocols of the CDC, as well as local, state, and federal authorities, as phases of reopening begin to emerge. We understand that many of you have expressed concern regarding visitation and seeing your loved one. The current reopening phases in many areas where our communities are located allow for small group gatherings. However, skilled nursing and rehabilitation and assisted living communities are held to a different level of regulation. Our teams continue to provide for both the physical and emotional care of those we serve during these difficult times through various resident engagement activities, to help all residents stay active and engaged. Phone calls, video chats, and window visits continue to be arranged through the social work and activities departments. We are happy to assist in scheduling these visits; however, we do request they be limited to one per day so that we can assure all residents have equal opportunity.

At this time, the following guidelines have been implemented at all of our skilled nursing and assisted living communities:

Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Communities:

• No group activities.
• No congregate dining.
• Residents who need assistance with eating can be assisted in dining spaces with no more than two residents per table, at least six feet apart.
• No visitors, with the exception of compassionate end of life. Please contact your community directly for information.
• Residents are required to wear a mask while outside of their room (as tolerated).
• Residents are allowed to go outside if they maintain social distancing and wear a mask (as tolerated).
• Residents are allowed to leave facility for essential medical appointments, and must wear a mask.
• Residents are not allowed to leave the facility for non-essential reasons (visitation, beauty shop, dining, etc). Exceptions can be made for extenuating circumstances, to be approved by the Heritage COVID-19 team.
• No beautician services in facility.

Assisted Living Communities:

• No group activities.
• No congregate dining.
• No visitors, with the exception of compassionate end of life. Please contact your community directly for information.
• Residents required to wear a mask while outside of their room (as tolerated).
• Residents are allowed to go outside if they maintain social distancing and wear a mask (as tolerated).
• Residents are allowed to leave the facility for essential medical appointments, and must wear a mask.
• Residents are strongly encouraged not to leave the facility for non-essential reasons (visitation, beauty shop, dining, etc).
• No beautician services in facility.

The following additional guidelines apply to independent living residents only:

• No group activities.
• No congregate dining.
• Residents are required to wear a mask while outside of their room (as tolerated).
• Limit of one visitor per resident per day.
• Visitor must be masked and screened.
• Tours allowed, participants must be masked and screened.
• Moving help limited to two, must be masked and screened.
• Residents can go out of the facility as allowed by state reopening phases. Must wear a mask.
• Residents must self-monitor for symptoms. Report any symptoms to administrator.
• No beautician services in facility.

As more details are made available to us by state and local governments regarding time frames for the reopening of visitation in our communities, we assure you, we will immediately reach out to you with any information. We understand how difficult this separation is for you and your loved ones. Our compassionate staff continue to provide care, comfort, and love to each of our residents, and we thank you for all of the thoughts, prayers, and support you have offered them during this uncertain time.

We continue to seek God’s wisdom and pray for His supernatural protection for those whom He has entrusted to our care, as we seek to keep each resident safe and to promote Hope, Dignity, and Purposeful Living in these difficult times.

Sincerely,

Lisa Haglund
President and CEO

Letter to Residents, Families, and Community Members

Dear Friends of Heritage,

It has now been three months since our facilities have been closed to visitors. Staff are being monitored daily upon arrival for work and have been wearing surgical masks and eye protection to limit the transmission of COVID-19 from potential asymptomatic employees. In several states, our employees, as well as our residents, are being tested for COVID-19. Our New York state employees are now being tested once a week per state mandate.

Our COVID-19 task force continues to monitor and implement the ever-changing guidelines and protocols of the various agencies that have oversight of our facilities. While many states are currently in a phased reopening plan, our guidance comes from the CDC primarily, with other state and federal guidelines. For our nursing homes and assisted living communities, the guidance to reopen will come through the state Department of Health as directed by the CDC. For our independent living communities, we are following CDC guidance for retirement communities. This guidance differs from the state specific guidance that apply to general businesses. As such, what you are hearing in the news about reopening of services may not apply to you and your loved one in a certain level of care.

In accordance with these guidelines, we are still unable to allow for group activities, congregate dining, and visitation. Our teams continue to provide for both the physical and emotional care of those we serve. Phone calls, video chats, and window visits are being arranged through the social work and activities departments. We are happy to assist in scheduling these visits; however, we do request they be limited to one per day so that we can assure all residents have equal opportunity.

We continue to seek God’s wisdom and pray for His supernatural protecting for those whom He has entrusted to our care, as we seek to keep them safe and to promote Hope, Dignity, and Purposeful Living in these difficult times.

Sincerely,

Jeremy Rutter
Chief Clinical Officer
Heritage Ministries

Current Visitation Policies

At this time, the following guidelines have been implemented at all of our communities:

• Visitation at all skilled nursing and rehabilitation and assisted living communities continue to be suspended until further notice.
• Common areas, including handrails and door knobs, are disinfected frequently.
• Masks are being worn in accordance with local, state, and federal guidelines at each location.
• Social distancing must be observed at all times.
• All pet visits continue to be suspended.

The following additional guidelines apply to independent living residents only:

• Independent living residents are to follow the phases of reopening as directed by state and local governments in their community. We encourage these residents to continue to follow the best practices of social distancing, and to wear a mask when unable to social distance.
• Independent living residents may not enter skilled nursing and rehabilitation or assisted living communities due to continued visitor restriction.

Download letter to independent living residents
Download letter to assisted living and skilled nursing families

Letter to Friends of Ives Hill

I reach out today to share many updates with you.

On May 11, 2020, I was confirmed to lead as permanent President and CEO for Heritage and its affiliates. I am honored and blessed to have been chosen to lead Heritage through this unprecedented time, and look forward to working with each member of our staff as we continue to promote Hope, Dignity, and Purposeful Living to all those entrusted to our care.

I began my career with Northwest Bank, a ten billion dollar corporation, for over twenty years, prior to joining the Heritage organization, where I have most recently served as the Vice President of Marketing, Development, and Sales. I truly believe in giving back, and have been an active member of the community throughout the years, with involvement ranging from Chautauqua Leadership Network, PTA, St. Susan Center, Family Services, and the Bemus Point United Methodist Church. My husband, Jason, and I reside in Bemus Point, NY, along with our four children, Allison, Brennan, Madelynn, and Michael in Bemus Point. We are active members of the Bemus Point United Methodist Church.

Additionally, Jeremy Rutter, Heritage Vice President of Skilled Nursing Operations and Executive Director of Hearthstone Communities, a Heritage senior living community in Woodstock, IL, has been named Chief Clinical Officer of our organization. He previously served Heritage as the Administrator of Record at The Village in Gerry, NY and Administrator at The Park in Jamestown, NY, two Heritage rehab and skilled nursing communities.

It has now been over two months since our skilled nursing and assisted living facilities have been closed to visitors. Staff are being monitored daily upon arrival for work, continue to wear surgical masks, and are now wearing eye protection, such as face shields, to limit the transmission of COVID-19 from potential asymptomatic employees. We continue to regularly monitor residents for symptoms throughout day.

The health and safety of our staff and residents are of the utmost importance. As we have been directed to move into mandated testing for all employees by Governor Cuomo’s office, we needed to determine how we could implement that efficiently, while complying with all regulations, and preventing any impact to resident care. Our COVID-19 response team is committed to acting in the best interest of all staff and residents.

As a result, Heritage skilled nursing and rehabilitation communities in Chautauqua County temporarily ceased all admissions effective Tuesday, May 19, 2020, in response to the New York State mandate to test all nursing home employees for COVID-19. This temporary admission halt will affect The Village in Gerry, NY, The Park in Jamestown, NY, and The Green in Greenhurst, NY. We will not accept admissions into our skilled nursing communities until we have sufficient test results indicating that our staffing will not be negatively impacted by our compliance with the executive order.

Our COVID-19 task force continues to monitor and implement the ever-changing guidelines and protocols of the CDC as well as local, state, and federal authorities. At this time, the following guidelines have been implemented at all of our communities:

• Visitation at all skilled nursing facilities, assisted living, and independent living communities are suspended until further notice.
• Common areas, including handrails and door knobs, are disinfected frequently.
• Masks are being worn in accordance with local, state, and federal guidelines at each location.
• Social distancing must be observed at all times.
• All pet visits continue to be suspended.
• We continue to discourage any non-essential trips or errands for our independent living residents. We do have a grocery delivery system in place to protect our residents and staff from exposure. If you are interested in using this service, please contact your community directly.

Our teams continue to provide for both the physical and emotional care of those we serve during these difficult times through various resident engagement activities. Phone calls, video chats, and window visits are being arranged through the social work and activities departments. We are happy to assist in scheduling these visits; however, we do request they be limited to one per day so that we can assure all residents have equal opportunity.

In an effort to offer more expedient and transparent communication, we have implemented an auto call system, so all families can be notified immediately, in the event we have a resident with a confirmed positive COVID-19 test. We ask that you send your current email address to questions@heritage1886.org so we may also contact you via email, or call 1-833-623-0162 with any questions.

We continue to seek God’s wisdom and pray for His supernatural protection for those whom He has entrusted to our care, as we seek to keep them safe and to promote Hope, Dignity, and Purposeful Living in these difficult times.

Sincerely,
Lisa Haglund
President and CEO

Letter to Friends of Ives Hill

As COVID 19/Coronavirus is an ever-changing, fluid situation, we want to provide an update of new restrictions that will be implemented immediately. These are in addition to the steps we outlined in our letter to you last week. Please know, our response team is diligently monitoring updates and recommendations from local, state, and federal agencies on an hourly basis and will make any necessary changes to continue to ensure the health of our residents.

Effective immediately*:

1. We will be offering grocery delivery services to our independent living residents to help mitigate risk by reducing your off-site travel
2. At this time, we are asking for non-medically necessary visitation to stop. In the case of essential visitors, a screening form must be completed. Any exceptions to the screening or this practice will be at the sole discretion of the facility administrator
3. At this time, we are asking our residents to adopt the following best practices and guidelines as they have been communicated from various governmental bodies:
   1. Avoid group gatherings over 10
   2. Self-isolation if over the age of 65
   3. Reduce unnecessary travel and appointments
   4. Utilize grocery delivery service as offered above
   5. If you must leave the building, a screening form must be completed upon re-entry
   6. There will be no group dining; meals will be delivered to apartment residents
   7. No group activities
   8. IL residents in cottages or homes may order take-out meals which can be picked up outside the main entrance if applicable

At this time, there continues to be NO confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19 in any of our communities. The steps we are implementing are directly tied to the recommendations of the CDC, as well as state and local health departments, and we will continue to adjust our policies and procedures as needed. The facilities will continue to reach out to families with any changes as able, and we encourage you to monitor our websites and Facebook pages for the latest facility information. Administrators will also be communicating updates as they occur.

We are committed to the safety and well-being of our residents and have put these measures in place to keep our residents safe. Please do not hesitate to reach out to the facility with any questions or concerns you may have and bear with us as we work to take quick action when needed while trying to keep our residents and families well informed of these changes. Working together, we can minimize the impact of this virus on our community and continue to promote Hope, Dignity, and Purposeful Living to each and every resident in our care.

*Please note, these guidelines are specifically for independent living residents, and do not apply to other levels of care.

Sincerely,
Lisa Haglund
Vice President of Marketing, Sales, and Development
On behalf of the Heritage Leadership Team

UPDATED 3/16/2020

Letter to Friends of Ives Hill (Independent Living)

Dear Friends of Ives Hill,

Last week we sent you a letter outlining our current steps to prevent the spread of Coronavirus/COVID-19. As this is an ever-changing, fluid situation, I wanted to provide an update of new restrictions that will be implemented immediately.

1. Visitor restrictions will be extended until such time as lifted by all regulatory agencies
2. Visiting hours have been reduced, and NO FAMILIES are allowed to enter outside of current visitation hours of 10am-7pm
3. Visitors must complete a screen or will not be allowed to enter
4. Moving forward, no group dining will be offered, and meals will be delivered to residents
5. No group activities
6. Residents may order take-out meals which can be picked up outside the Main entrance if applicable

I would like to reaffirm that there are no suspected or confirmed cases here in our community at this time. The steps we are implementing are directly tied to the recommendations of the CDC, as well as state and local Health Departments, and we will continue to adjust our policies and procedures as needed. The facilities will continue to reach out to families with any changes as able, but we encourage you to monitor our website and Facebook page for the latest facility updates.

We are committed to the safety and well-being of our residents and have put these measures in place to first and foremost keep our resident safe. We have a team in place that is diligently monitoring news updates and guidance from local, state, and federal agencies on an hourly basis and will make any necessary updates to continue to ensure the health of our residents. Please do not hesitate to reach out to the facility with any questions or concerns you may have and bear with us as we work to take quick action when needed while trying to keep our residents and families well informed of these changes. Working together, we can minimize the impact of this disease on our community and continue to share God’s love by providing independent living for seniors in the Western New York region.

Please note, this letter is intended specifically for independent living residents, and does not apply to other levels of care.

Sincerely,
Lisa Haglund
Vice President of Marketing, Sales, and Development
On behalf of the Heritage Leadership Team

UPDATED 3/13/2020

Visitation Update

To comply with directives from local and state Departments of Health, WE ARE RESTRICTING ALL VISITATION at The Lodge at this time. Visitation hours for independent living residents are 10am to 7pm.

UPDATED 3/10/2020

Statement from Ives Hill Regarding COVID-19

Anna Patterson, executive director at Ives Hill Retirement Community and The Lodge, a Heritage senior living community in Watertown, NY, recognized this week that Ives Hill is prepared should COVID-19 coronavirus begin to affect the region.

Patterson stressed that while Ives Hill currently has NO confirmed cases of the COVID-19 coronavirus, they are taking precautions.

She shared, “At Ives Hill, our residents and those we serve are our highest concern. The health and safety of both our residents and staff is of the utmost importance, and we are taking action to reduce the risk of exposure for all. The steps we are implementing are directly tied to the recommendations of the CDC and New York State Department of Health, and we will adjust our steps if those recommendations change. We are not holding events that bring outside groups of people to Ives Hill, and are minimizing large group and outside trip activities to lessen the chance of exposure. Our staff has been well trained in preparation to support our residents.”

Presently, visitors are being limited at Ives Hill, and any individuals, including vendors and employees are being screened daily before entering an Ives Hill building. Those who exhibit any symptoms, have recently traveled, or have been near anyone ill with symptoms are not currently being granted entrance.

Ives Hill and Heritage staff have prepared extensively for any potential cases in the area. Lisa Haglund, Heritage vice president of sales, marketing, and development, explained that she has confidence in the team. “Ives Hill and Heritage have taken a proactive approach to prevent the spread and transmission of COVID-19 within its communities. Heritage has formed a COVID-19 task force, including experts in the fields of nursing homes, and senior housing, and includes a CDC certified infection preventionist. I have the utmost confidence that this team of experts have prepared Ives Hill and Heritage to respond in a manner that keep our residents, staff, and families safe.”

UPDATED 3/4/2020

Statement from Ives Hill Regarding COVID-19

At Ives Hill, our residents and those we serve are our highest concern. We would like to assure the public that we currently have no suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) at Ives Hill. The health and safety of both our community members and staff is of the utmost importance, and we are taking action to reduce the risk of exposure for all.

The steps we are implementing are directly tied to the recommendations of the CDC and the New York State Department of Health, and we will adjust our steps if those recommendations change.

• Effective immediately, we are asking visitors to not enter our communities if they are exhibiting any type of symptoms or have recently traveled to any area of concern.
• We are limiting events that bring outside groups of people to Ives Hill communities and are minimizing large group and outside trip activities to lessen the chance of exposure.
• Our staff has been well trained in preparation to support our residents.

We thank everyone for their patience and cooperation. Working together we can minimize the impact of this disease on our community.