Weekly Update October 29, 2021
October 29, 2021
To: Solheim Employees, Residents, Family Members and Stakeholders
From: Sam Oden, CEO of Solheim Senior Community
As I mentioned last week, over the last several months, we have been diligently preparing our budget for 2022. This morning, I am very happy to report that we were able to present a Board-approved budget to our residents—nearly a month earlier than in previous years! I am grateful to have worked with such a dedicated and caring Board of Directors in the preparation and approval of next year’s budget.
This past Monday we also kicked off our Resident Satisfaction Survey! Surveys were distributed to our residents (or their Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare as appropriate) earlier this week. These surveys are an important tool for Solheim to get a sense of how it is doing in the eyes of its residents, and to help us identify any areas in which we can strive to improve next year. This formal survey will provide us with a good baseline for starting 2022 with a focus on continuing to improve our operations. If you received a survey, I strongly encourage you to please take a moment and share your thoughts with us.
All residents and staff who received the primary series of Moderna and J&J COVID-19 vaccines at least 6 months ago are now eligible for the Booster Dose. We are partnering with LACDPH to provide these Booster Doses to all eligible residents and staff at Solheim on November 5th.
To remind everyone about our ongoing protocol for visitations: For visitations throughout campus—from our Health Center, to our Residential and Assisted Living Campus, to our Halvorson Memory Care Neighborhood—in accordance with guidance provided by our regulatory agencies, we will now require either proof of vaccination, or proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of the visitation. (We have rapid testing available on site, Monday through Friday, during business hours for unvaccinated visitors who have not been able to obtain a test within the previous 72 hours. Rapid testing returns results within approximately 15 minutes and there is a $20 administrative fee for this service.)
We also still ask for your continued partnership, diligence, and patience in continuing to follow all of these important rules, until further notice:
Visitors must show proof of vaccination, or a negative COVID-19 test dated within the last 72 hours
All visitors must still continue to check in when they arrive on campus (including temperature and screening questions) and sign our COVID-19 waiver;
We ask that all visitors wear masks and practice social distancing;
All residents, regardless of vaccination status, may have “in-room” visits;
Any personal “in-room” visits in our Health Center should be scheduled in common areas, or when the roommate is out of the room; and
We still continue to encourage outdoor visits or visits in our common areas as much as possible.
As of today’s writing, I am very happy to report that we have no new confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 anywhere on campus.
If you have any specific questions, please direct them to Tina Antypas at 323 257-7518 X225 or tantypas@solheimsenior.org.