April 29, 2020 —Dear Friends of Kendal at Ithaca,
We continue to monitor the guidance coming from the Department of Health, the CDC and our Governor’s Office. As each progressive step in mitigating the spread of the virus evolves, we adapt and change as necessary. Currently in our county of approximately 105,000, we have 16 confirmed cases of the virus.
Our residents are adjusting well to having some restrictions on their movement, foregoing group activities and not being able to dine in groups. As is proven time and again, people rise to these occasions with creativity and strength. For example, our fabric artists are making masks for staff in the event that supplies become short.
Residents in the Health Center are using technology to say in touch with loved ones during this time of no visitors. We are all getting better at using technology and learning new skills.
With careful stewardship, we are maintaining the supply of personal protective equipment (PPE), such as masks and gowns, to keep our staff safe. We are also trying to stay ahead of the curve by preparing for situations that may require some persons to be isolated while their care continues and we are keeping others safe. We are reaching out to vendors far and wide to secure masks, gowns and other PPE. Like all health care providers, we are very concerned about this issue.
We are striving to provide clear and transparent communication to all our stakeholders. Sometimes the messages are unwelcome but necessary.
One big challenge is to keep the day-to-day operations running smoothly. But we’re doing well: meals are being prepared and delivered; essential transportation to medical appointments and bus trips to grocery stores are still available; snowplowing – yikes ! even at the end of March – is being done. Marketing will continue to work with prospects, but much more virtually. We’re signing contracts, answering questions, doing the qualifying for admissions and continuing to educate our prospects.
Please use the Kendal at Ithaca Residents’ website, www.kaires.kendal.org, as a way to stay informed and keep up to date with what’s happening here. Posted elsewhere today is wonderful resource with links to all kinds of museums and gardens and tours that allow you to indulge from home.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to us: Betsy Schermerhorn, bschermerhorn@kai.kendal.org, 607-266-5342 or Meg John-Testa, mjohntesta@kai.kendal.org, 607-266-5300.
Times like these bring out the best in people, and we have been humbled by the outpouring of gratitude, optimism and resilience exhibited by our community.
Betsy Schermerhorn, Director, Marketing & Admissions