Coronavirus Information and Updates
Laurelwood Assisted Living
June 3, 2021
Dear Laurelwood Residents and Families:
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update:
Hello and Happy June!
It has been wonderful seeing our families and friends here visiting at Laurelwood, going out for visits in the community, and taking walks around our campus. We are ever so grateful for the nice weather and we are excited to welcome fresh air and summer sunshine! Over the past several weeks, New York State has been flooded with new, and at times confusing, guidance for those who are vaccinated and those who are not. As you know, Laurelwood is licensed by the New York State Department of Health and, unfortunately, we have not received any new updates since March that would permit us to modify our COVID-19 restrictions. While this continues to be a great source of frustration for many, please know that we continue to work with our colleagues to advocate for further clarification and loosening of restrictions. The following is a list of reminders and some changes that we have been able to make:
Laurelwood Visitation & Leaving the Campus:
- Effective immediately, you are no longer required to schedule your visit with your loved one in advance. Visitors are welcome at Laurelwood from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily, seven days a week.
- All visitors will continue to stop at the Laurelwood Front Desk to be screened and have their temperature taken.
- All visitors are expected to wear a mask (covering both nose and mouth) for the duration of the visit. This includes keeping the mask on while you are visiting with the resident in their apartment. Although many have pointed out that they are vaccinated and have questioned why this is still necessary, unfortunately, we are still requiring that masks be worn at all times and we thank you for your continued cooperation.
- For the health and well-being of our residents and staff, we strongly recommend that visitors be vaccinated, however, this is not a requirement.
- We ask that you limit the duration of your visit to no more than 2 hours.
- The number of visitors is limited to 2 at a time per resident. We respectfully ask you to maintain a distance of 6 feet to the extent possible within the confines of the visiting area.
- At this time, we are still not able to welcome visitors into our Laurelwood dining room.
- If you are leaving the building to go out with family or friends, please call our Laurelwood Reception Team at (585) 641–6340 to make them aware of your plans. This will give us time to pack up any medications that may be needed while you are out.
Salon Update:
Beginning the week of June 7th, we will resume salon services over at Highland Styles at The Highlands at Pittsford. The stylists are excited to welcome our Laurelwood residents back to the salon!
We all appreciate your patience and understanding as we continue to operate with limited guidance from the Governor’s office relative to loosening restrictions in assisted living. Please rest assured that we are working each day to find creative ways to continue opening up our community for our residents and visitors.
If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to me by phone at (585) 641-6373 or email at jennifer_diorio@urmc.rochester.edu.
Thank you as always for your continued support,
Jen DiOrio
Director of Laurelwood Assisted Living
April 1, 2021
Dear Laurelwood Residents and Families:
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update:
Hello and Happy Easter!
It has been wonderful seeing the return of family and friends here at Laurelwood. While the Department of Health continues to provide ever-changing guidelines, we are constantly challenged to welcome family and friends not only in a safe manner, but also with a person-centered approach and as much flexibility as possible. In order for us to keep moving in a positive direction, we do need to remind everyone that consistent cooperation with our established infection control protocols is paramount. Please adhere to the following guidelines when visiting your loved ones at Laurelwood:
- All visits must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance. Please understand that when visitors show up without scheduling ahead of time, it puts a tremendous strain on our staff. If you show up without an appointment, you will likely be turned away as we may not have the necessary staff on hand to facilitate the visit; we will work with you to schedule your visit soon thereafter. To schedule, please call our Reception team at (585) 641-6340 or Crystal Johnston, Life Enrichment Coordinator, at (585) 641-6345.
- Please understand that our Laurelwood team works diligently behind-the-scenes to keep everyone safe during visitation; every protocol we follow is designed to keep us in compliance with the Department of Health. A certain number of team members have been designated to make rounds and check in on visits to ensure everyone is OK. At this time, it is imperative that we monitor the number of visitors in the building at any given time. Please do not put us in jeopardy of operating out of compliance by showing up for a visit without an appointment.
- After screening at the Laurelwood front desk, it is imperative that all visitors go directly to the resident’s apartment. For everyone’s safety and well-being, please do not stop to mingle with other residents or staff in the common areas or hallways. To the extent possible, consider taking the stairwell that is closest to the resident’s apartment; our receptionist would be happy to point you in the right direction.
- It is so important to keep your mask on for your entire visit. You should be properly masked when entering our building and while being screened at the front desk; your mask should remain on in the hallways, elevators, and in the resident’s apartment. Please ensure that your mask properly covers both your nose and mouth. If you arrive without a mask, the receptionist will provide you with one.
- We will be offering scheduled visits for Easter Sunday, April 4, 2021. For this Sunday only, the visiting times are 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Please follow the scheduling and visitation protocols outlined above.
- With Easter (and nice weather) quickly approaching, we have had many inquiries about residents leaving the building with family or friends for reasons other than medical appointments. While we continue to err on the side of caution and strongly encourage residents to stay here at Laurelwood, the decision to go out is ultimately left up to the resident and family member.
- If you plan to take your loved one out of the building, please let our team know at least 24 hours in advance so we can plan accordingly for medications, etc. Residents must be signed out at the front desk whenever they are leaving our campus; it is imperative that we know how many people are in the building at all times.
- At this time, there is no quarantine mandate in place; residents leaving the campus will be able to resume communal dining and activities upon return without having to isolate. While you are out and about with your loved one, please be cautious with all safety measures. Wear a mask at all times; maintain social distancing; and be diligent with handwashing and/or disinfecting.
Easter:
Our Dining team is looking forward to celebrating Easter with our residents on Sunday and they have prepared a very special Easter Brunch menu. The meal will be served at 12:00 noon and the menu includes a traditional glazed Baked Ham; Norwegian Grilled Salmon; classic Chicken Oscar; Eggs Benedict; a delectable Quiche served with fresh berries; and a Pasta Primavera tossed with spring vegetables. And of course, dessert – cheesecake with seasonal berries and homemade carrot cake! Since everyone is likely to still be full at dinnertime after this fabulous brunch, we will be serving a “lighter fare” dinner meal at 5:00 p.m.
While we understand that the communication trickling down from the State is frustrating and sometimes confusing, rest assured that we are doing our very best to communicate the most up-to-date information with you effectively and with full transparency. We are forever grateful for your ongoing patience.
In closing, we send our warmest Easter Greetings to you all! It is a time for renewed hope, love and joy!
Jen DiOrio
Director of Laurelwood Assisted Living
Lloyde Theiss
Executive Director
March 12, 2021
Dear Laurelwood Residents and Families:
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update:
March 20th will mark the one year anniversary of the official “closing” of our community to COVID-19 and to everyone else for that matter. Over the course of the year that followed, the team worked together, consistently making decisions “as a Community for the Community” and always with your health and well-being at the core of everything we did. Our unified efforts certainly paid off and we are now on the brink of a new dawn as we move forward with caution. We are welcoming Spring with renewed optimism and less restrictive COVID protocols while continuing to assure our safety into the future.
The information that follows will outline both current and new protocols for our Laurelwood community. These guidelines will remain in effect as long as Laurelwood remains COVID-free, and, assuming things continue to trend in a positive direction overall, we will update these policies as needed in the future.
Face Masks & Social Distancing:
- Despite what you may hear and read elsewhere, we will continue to require masking at The Highlands and Laurelwood. You must wear your mask (covering both mouth and nose) whenever you leave your apartment. All visitors and staff members are also required to wear masks.
- Please continue to follow social distancing protocols (6-feet) and wash/sanitize your hands often throughout the day.
Visitor Policy:
- I am most excited to announce that friends and family members are now permitted to visit with their loved one inside the resident’s apartment starting on Tuesday, March 16, 2021.
- Residents can have one scheduled 45-minute visit per week; up to 2 visitors can be in the apartment at a time.
- Our maximum capacity for visitors is determined by the Department of Health and the number is based on our census, staffing levels, and our ability to manage them safely.
- To the extent possible, visits should be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance.
- Visitors must enter at the Laurelwood main entrance and report to the Front Desk for routine screening including a temperature check. We ask that you arrive at the Front Desk 15 minutes earlier than your designated visit time so we can move through the screening process efficiently.
- Visitors must wear a mask and a face shield inside the building at all times; this includes inside the resident’s apartment. We are happy to provide you with these items if needed.
- Visitors must practice social distancing; this includes maintaining a distance of 6-feet while inside the resident’s apartment.
- We ask that you keep your movements within the community to a minimum. After you are screened at the Front Desk, go directly to the resident’s apartment. At this time, please do not socialize with others in the common areas or hallways.
- As the weather gets nicer, we encourage you to consider an outdoor visit with your loved one. Studies continue to suggest that outdoors is far safer than indoors. We are happy to work with you to schedule an outdoor visit.
- Pursuant to New York State Department of Health guidelines, it is important to understand that these in-home visits for assisted living residents can only take place as long as 14 days have passed since the last resident or staff member tested positive for COVID-19.
- In-home visitation is also contingent on all residents, employees, and visitors consciously working to minimize the risk of exposure to COVID-19. Everyone must adhere to the established core principles of infection prevention in order for future visits to take place.
- Laurelwood will continue to accommodate and support in-home visits as long as the COVID-19 positivity rate in Monroe County is less than 10%.
Visitation Schedule: Visits must be scheduled in advance. Call (585) 641-6340 or (585) 641-6345.
| Mondays: | 5:45 – 6:30 p.m. 6:00 – 6:45 p.m. 6:15 – 7:00 p.m. | Thursdays: | 1:30 – 2:15 p.m. 1:45 – 2:30 p.m. 2:00 – 2:45 p.m. 2:15 – 3:00 p.m. 2:30 – 3:15 p.m. 2:45 – 3:30 p.m. |
| Tuesdays and Saturdays: | 9:00 – 9:45 a.m. 9:15 – 10:00 a.m. 9:30 – 10:15 a.m. 9:45 – 10:30 a.m. 10:00 – 10:45 a.m. 10:15 – 11:00 a.m. 10:30 – 11:15 a.m. | 1:30 – 2:15 p.m. 1:45 – 2:30 p.m. 2:00 – 2:45 p.m. 2:15 – 3:00 p.m. |
Screening:
- As mentioned above non-residents (visitors, agency caregivers, vendors and others) will continue to be screened at the Front Desk upon entry to include a temperature check.
- Per New York State mandate, all HAP staff will continue to be COVID tested on a weekly basis until further notice.
Residents Leaving the Community:
Family members have reached out to ask if they can take their loved one out of the building (off campus) for reasons other than medical appointments such as small family gatherings. The short answer to this question is yes, you can. However, as we continue to move forward cautiously, we hope you will agree that it is in the resident’s best interest that off-campus trips continue to be for medical appointments only at this time. If a resident chooses to leave the building for a non-medical reason, you should know that a quarantine period will follow upon their return.
I understand that many of these guidelines continue to cause a great deal of frustration for our residents and families and I empathize with you. In the greater community, it is encouraging that the COVID-19 restrictions appear to be loosening overall and I am more hopeful than ever that we will soon begin to reap those benefits here at Laurelwood.
We are over-the-moon excited to begin welcoming you back home into our Laurelwood community on Tuesday, March 16th. To schedule your visit, please contact our Reception team at 585-641-6340 or Crystal Johnston, Life Enrichment Coordinator, at 585-641-6345.
See you soon,
Jen DiOrio
Director of Laurelwood Assisted Living
March 5, 2021
Dear Laurelwood Residents and Families:
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update:
I am pleased to share that we continue to push forward with no new positive COVID cases (neither residents nor staff) and, by the end of next week, all those vaccinated will have reached an optimal level of protection.
I can imagine that many of you have been on the edge of your seat, anxious for further guidance from the Governor’s office as it pertains to loosening up restrictions for Assisted Living communities. At a press conference earlier this week, the Governor reported good news on a number of fronts. The infection rate is down in New York State; the vaccination rate is up; and the Governor is gradually loosening restrictions as the numbers reduce and the public health improves within the community. Here at The Highlands and Laurelwood, we will be reviewing our current COVID protocols and updating them in accordance with the new State guidelines.
Since the information is so new, and impacts every department at The Highlands, our team of directors will be meeting early next week to review and revise our policies. You can expect to receive updated information on visiting with friends and family, quarantine guidelines, leaving the facility, travel, etc. no later than Wednesday, March 10th. While we will try to mirror the new State guidelines to the extent possible, we will also use our own discretion as we continue to err on the side of caution to keep you all safe. One thing that will not change is our policy on masking, distancing, and handwashing.
Finally, we have had several reports of fraud schemes related to the COVID vaccine. Be suspicious of any unexpected calls offering the vaccine for a fee. Since all of our residents have been fully vaccinated, this is an easy one – hang up immediately!
Stay masked, stay well, and stay tuned for more information next week!
Jen DiOrio
Director of Laurelwood Assisted Living
February 19, 2021
Dear Laurelwood Residents and Families:
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update:
I am writing to share an update on our in-person visits here at Laurelwood. We will be opening up to in-person visits beginning tomorrow, Saturday, February 20th. We will be hosting visits a little differently this time. Please find the updated visit process below:
- The first step, as it has always been, is to reach out to Crystal Johnston at (585) 641-6345 to schedule your visit.
- When arriving for your visits, you will now come into the building through the Laurelwood main entrance.
- At the Laurelwood front desk, you will go through the normal screening process prior to each visit.
- The visits will now take place in our Parlor right off the lobby. We hope that this location will offer a more supportive and private visit. Rest assured that our staff will properly clean and disinfect the Parlor after each visit.
- In spite of the fact that our residents have been vaccinated, we must continue to be vigilant during these times to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Masks must be warn at all times by the visitor and the resident while we keep our 6 feet of distance.
We are offering in-person visits on the following days and times. Reservations must be scheduled in advance; call (585) 641-6345 or (585) 641-6340.
| Saturdays: | 9:00 – 11:30 a.m. 1:00 – 3:15 p.m. | Tuesdays: | 9:00 – 11:15 a.m. 1:00 – 3:50 p.m. |
| Mondays: | 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. | Fridays: | 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. |
I thank you as always for your continued patience. I assure you that we are doing everything we can in partnering with our regional and state advocacy groups to strongly push the Governor’s office for less restrictive visitation guidelines to mitigate the isolation everyone has experienced over the past year. I am hopeful that these changes are coming soon and you will be the first to know.
Please continue to reach out with any questions or concerns by calling me at (585) 641-6373 or email at jennifer_diorio@urmc.rochester.edu.
Stay well,
Jen DiOrio
Director of Laurelwood Assisted Living
February 9, 2021
Dear Laurelwood Residents and Families:
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update:
I am writing with mixed emotion to share a variety of updates that are definitely steps in the right direction. Please find below the most recent COVID-19 updates:
- 30 residents were re-tested for COVID on Thursday, February 4th and Friday, February 5th.
- 29 residents out of the 30 residents tested negative.
- 1 resident result was positive; this is the same resident who has been in quarantine at Laurelwood with COVID-19 since January 25th. This resident is doing well and will remain in isolation until we can get a negative test result.
- In total, we have 4 residents who remain positive for COVID-19. In addition to the one resident mentioned above, 3 of our residents are currently out of the building. We continue to keep them in our thoughts and wish them a speedy recovery.
- We continue to check in periodically with all residents throughout the day to monitor for any possible symptoms.
- We continue to test our employees weekly.
- 27 residents out of 30 have received both COVID-19 vaccine doses.
- 3 residents out of 30 have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
- Residents and employees who still need the 2nd dose will be receiving it on Friday, February 26th.
For weeks now, we have all been anxious to return to our group activities, mingling in common areas, and enjoying meals in our dining room. It is with equal parts excitement and caution that I share the following additional updates regarding the opening plan for Laurelwood:
Dining Updates: Beginning tomorrow (Wednesday, February 10)
- We will be reopening our Laurelwood dining room!
- We will transition back to one seating for all three meals. I know that this is a change and I thank you in advance for your patience. I look forward to seeing and chatting with all residents at the following mealtimes:
- Breakfast: 8:00 AM
- Lunch: 12:00 Noon
- Dinner: 5:00 PM
Life Enrichment Updates: Beginning tomorrow (Wednesday, February 10)
- Group activities will resume. We hope you will join us at the “Vaccination Social” at 3:45 p.m. on Wednesday in the Gallery to celebrate the fact that we have received the COVID vaccine and brighter days are ahead!
- One program that we will not be able to resume is card playing. At this time the risk of exposure is just too high. I am confident that we will get back to this activity in the very near future.
In-Person Visits:
We are still waiting for approval from the New York State Department of Health on when we can resume face-to-face visits. As soon as we have this information, we will share it with you.
In the meantime, we will continue offering window visits. Several residents and families have expressed frustration and have asked when families and friends can return to visiting with their loved one in their apartment or in the living room area. Please know that I share your frustration but, at the present time, the Governor’s office and our regional Department of Health team are holding firm with the visitation restrictions. We continue to work with our local office and associations to advocate for much-needed changes in policy now that our residents and employees have received the COVID-19 vaccine. As we learn more, you will be the first to know.
Please keep in mind, when our residents are out and about, walking to meals, and attending programs, they will be wearing masks to the extent possible. As excited as we are to end our isolation, we must continue to do our best to keep 6 feet apart and practice excellent hand washing!
Lastly, I would love the opportunity to see and talk with any residents and/or families who may be interested in a Zoom chat. I will be sending out a link to all family contacts with e-mail addresses on file here.
Thank you to everyone for your patience and kind words. We continue to share your frustration throughout these times. Now that we have reached our vaccination dates, I truly do see the light at the end of the tunnel and it is getting brighter. Thank you for hanging in there with us! Please continue to reach out with any questions or concerns by calling me at (585) 641-6373 or email at jennifer_diorio@urmc.rochester.edu.
Stay well,
Jen DiOrio
Director of Laurelwood Assisted Living
January 29, 2021
Dear Laurelwood Residents and Families:
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update:
As we are getting ready to step into February, we are hoping that our New Year will begin to turn around! Please find below the most recent COVID-19 information:
- 29 residents were re-tested for COVID-19 on Wednesday, January 27th.
- 28 out of the 29 residents re-tested had a negative test result!
- 1 resident result is still pending; hopefully by the end of the day, this one will be negative as well.
- In total, we have four (4) residents who are positive for COVID-19; three (3) of these residents are currently out of the building.
- One (1) resident is in the building and is doing fairly well and isolating in their individual apartment.
- All residents are carefully observed for symptoms over the course of each shift.
- We continue to test our employees weekly.
We are as anxious as ever to get back to our community dining, group life enrichment programming, and in-person visits, however, we must proceed with caution while following the New York State Department of Health guidelines. With our fingers crossed, and by following these guidelines, we will hopefully proceed with opening as follows:
- Window visits and Zoom/FaceTime visits are always available and can be scheduled by reaching out to Crystal Johnston at (585) 641-6345.
- Assuming that we do not have any additional positive COVID-19 cases among our residents, New York State guidelines will allow us to resume Face-to-Face visits beginning Wednesday, February 10th.
- While following these guidelines, we also hope to resume communal dining and group activities the week of February 8th.
The Laurelwood team, and our residents, are looking forward to Friday, February 5th when we will receive the second dose (and in some cases, the first dose) of the Pfizer vaccine. During this round of vaccines, the Walgreens pharmacist and a Laurelwood team member will be going apartment-to-apartment to vaccinate all of our residents in their home.
I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your ongoing patience, kind words, and understanding. Please continue to reach out with any questions or concerns by calling me at (585) 641-6373 or email at jennifer_diorio@urmc.rochester.edu.
Stay well and keep the faith,
Jen DiOrio
Director of Laurelwood Assisted Living
January 25, 2021
Dear Laurelwood Residents and Families:
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update:
As promised in Jen’s letter dated January 22, 2021, we are writing to share the results of the second round of COVID tests performed on our Laurelwood residents on Friday the 22nd. With continued transparency, we report the most recent COVID-19 information below:
- Unfortunately, two (2) out of the 31 residents retested on Friday did test positive for COVID-19.
- In total, we have four (4) residents who are positive for COVID-19; two (2) of these residents are currently out of the building.
- The other two (2) residents in the building are doing well and isolating in their individual apartments.
- We continue to test our employees for COVID-19 once a week. As of this date, we have administered over 4,000 employee COVID tests.
- Additionally, on Sunday, January 24th one of our LPNs here at Laurelwood tested positive. This employee is currently at home in quarantine and will not be permitted to return to work until they are able to produce a negative test result.
- We continue to work closely with the New York State Department of Health, as well as our resident providers, with regard to next steps and guidance during these challenging times.
We understand the degree of uncertainty and frustration that everyone is feeling. Our Laurelwood team is feeling it too as they have been so vigilant in their day-to-day practices to ensure that everyone is safe. Our next course of action will be retesting all of our residents again on Wednesday, January 27th and we hope to have those results this Friday. Please find further updates regarding operations below:
- Communal dining and group activities continue to be suspended until further notice.
- Face-to-face visits continue to be suspended and will hopefully resume on Tuesday, February 9th. This will be contingent on not having any more resident or staff positive cases.
- We are proceeding with window visits, one at a time, as long as the resident has tested negative and is able to tolerate a mask during the visit.
- If you would rather schedule a Zoom or FaceTime visit, please reach out to Crystal Johnston at (585) 641-6345 and we will do our very best to accommodate this.
We apologize again for sounding a bit like a broken record, but thank you for your continued patience and understanding. Please continue to reach out with any questions or concerns by calling Jen at (585) 641-6373 or email at jennifer_diorio@urmc.rochester.edu.
Stay well and keep the faith,
Jen DiOrio
Director of Laurelwood Assisted Living
Lloyd Theiss
Executive Director
January 22, 2021
Dear Laurelwood Residents and Families:
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update:
I am writing to follow up on my letter from earlier this week dated January 18, 2021. As previously stated, we tested all 32 Laurelwood residents on Monday January 18th. Thirty-one (31) of the 32 test results came back negative and there was an issue with one of the tests at the lab so that particular resident was retested yesterday (Thursday, January 21st). This morning our team retested all residents (with the exception of the resident who retested yesterday) and we hope to have those results back this weekend.
Unfortunately, we learned this morning that a resident who was COVID tested off campus received a positive test result. This resident is currently out of the building as of today (January 22nd). We all wish our Laurelwood resident a full and speedy recovery.
We continue to work closely with the New York State Department of Health (DOH) with regard to guidelines and best practices to ensure overall compliance and safety for our residents and staff. Further details are outlined below:
- All Laurelwood residents will continue to quarantine in their apartments until further notice.
- Communal dining and group programs remain on hold until further notice.
- Although window visits are currently on hold, we hope to be able to resume them soon. Our decisions will be based, in large part, on the COVID test results that are forthcoming.
- Our team members continue to utilize proper PPE and full precautions while caring for our residents.
Please rest assured that our Life Enrichment team is working creatively to provide individual exercise classes, bingo, art projects, and a variety of one-on-one activities to keep our residents engaged.
On Monday the 25th we will notify you of the results from today’s round of testing. While we are very anxious to get back to group activities and the dining experience that is so important to our residents, we must continue to be vigilant and proceed with caution. We empathize with you as we know that these frequent changes in protocols and practices can be very frustrating and disheartening. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, we cannot thank you enough for your continued patience and understanding.
In the meantime, if you have questions or concerns, please reach out to me by phone at (585) 641-6373 or email me at jennifer_diorio@urmc.rochester.edu.
Stay well and keep the faith,
Jen DiOrio
Director of Laurelwood Assisted Living
January 18, 2021
Dear Laurelwood Residents and Families:
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update:
Every day we seem to wake with more and more uncertainty. With that said, I regret to inform you that one of our Laurelwood residents has tested positive for COVID-19 and they are currently out of the building as of Sunday, January 17th. We are keeping this resident, and their family and friends, in our thoughts and praying for their speedy recovery. We have notified the New York State Department of Health (DOH) about this positive case and we are waiting to receive further guidance. Until we have additional information from the DOH, I will announce the following:
- All Laurelwood residents are quarantining in their apartments until further notice.
- The Laurelwood dining room is closed until further notice. All meals will be served in the resident’s apartment.
- All group programming at Laurelwood is currently on hold.
- Window visits are also on hold.
- All Laurelwood residents received a COVID test today (January 18th) and we expect to have those results back tomorrow (Tuesday, January 19th).
- Our team members are equipped with the proper PPE and will be utilizing full precautions while caring for our residents.
This is just a brief update designed to share this latest news with you. As soon as we receive further guidance from the DOH, we will promptly pass that information on to you. As you know, our Laurelwood residents and staff received the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine on Friday, January 15th and we look forward to achieving greater immunity after the second dose on February 5th.
In the meantime, if you have questions or concerns, please reach out to me by phone at (585) 641-6373 or email at jennifer_diorio@urmc.rochester.edu.
Stay well,
Jen DiOrio
Director of Laurelwood Assisted Living
January 14, 2021
Dear Laurelwood Residents and Families:
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update:
Laurelwood and The Highlands at Pittsford are committed to timely and transparent communications as we navigate the waters of COVID-19. In an effort to maintain that communication, I am writing to share that one of our Laurelwood team members has tested positive for COVID-19. Please know that we continue to work around the clock to do all we can to keep our residents and employees safe. Details regarding the most recent positive case are below:
- Our employee who tested positive is a Resident Care Aide who works overnight at Laurelwood.
- The positive test finding was a result of our weekly employee testing.
- This employee followed all established protocols and wore mandated PPE, including a face shield.
- They last worked on 1/11/2021.
- They are currently in quarantine at home and will not be permitted to return to work until they produce a negative test result.
Unfortunately, due to this positive test result, and pursuant to NYS Department of Health guidelines, we are forced to further suspend all face-to-face visits for an additional 14 days. We will continue with window visits until January 28, 2021. During this time period, window visits will be offered at the following times:
During the next two weeks, we will continue to offer window visits. These times will be:
Tuesdays: 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Thursdays: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
Fridays: 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sundays: 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Our hearts go out to everyone who has been impacted by COVID-19. On a positive note, our staff members and the Laurelwood residents are anxious to receive their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine tomorrow (1/15/2021) and their second dose on 2/5/2021. While it may seem that we are taking one step forward and then one back, I assure you that all of us at Laurelwood and The Highlands at Pittsford remain committed day in and day out to keep everyone as safe and healthy as possible. Now that the vaccine is available to us, I feel even more encouraged that there is indeed a light at the end of this tunnel!
If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to me by phone at (585) 641-6373 or email at jennifer_diorio@urmc.rochester.edu.
Thank you as always for your continued support,
Jen DiOrio
Director of Laurelwood Assisted Living
January 6, 2021
Dear Laurelwood Residents and Families:
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update:
First and foremost, Happy New Year! I look forward to good health and wellness as we run fast into 2021! The purpose of this letter is twofold. First, I am pleased to share some exciting news on the COVID-19 vaccine. Just yesterday we received word from Walgreens that three of their pharmacists will be coming to The Highlands at Pittsford/Laurelwood next week to start the COVID vaccination process!!
On Friday, January 15th, these three pharmacists will be here on site to administer the COVID vaccines starting at 9:00 a.m. One pharmacist will be assigned to Laurelwood where the vaccine will be offered to all Laurelwood residents in the Laurelwood Gallery area. The other two pharmacists will be set up in other areas to offer our employees the vaccine.
This is a two-step process with the second vaccine being administered three weeks later on February 5th. Aside from being a two-step process, for all other intents and purposes, you can expect your experience with the COVID vaccine to be very similar to when you received the seasonal flu vaccine at Laurelwood in the fall. Our Laurelwood team is already working behind the scene to reach out to our resident providers to receive the formal doctors’ orders for the vaccine. If you should have additional questions about the COVID vaccine, please reach out to me at (585) 641-6373. We are so excited for January 15th; it cannot come soon enough!
On a second note, our team here at Laurelwood has been committed to open and transparent communications throughout the COVID-19 crisis and we have operated consistently with New York State guidelines with regard to notifying residents, families, and staff about positive test results. Please know that we continue to work around the clock to keep our residents and employees as safe as possible while pushing ahead to stay engaged, hopeful, and in good spirits.
As of this date, we have conducted over 4,000 employee COVID tests and are continuing to test every employee each week. With that said, unfortunately, I am sorry to inform you that we have had an employee test positive for COVID-19. In an effort to maintain complete transparency, the information is as follows:
- A per diem Laurelwood employee has tested positive for COVID-19.
- This employee had extremely limited interaction with the residents and did not provide any direct care.
- This employee followed all of our established protocols and wore all mandated PPE, including a face shield.
- They last worked on 12/25/2020.
- They are currently in quarantine at home and will not be permitted to return to work until they produce a negative test result.
As a result of this positive case, and pursuant to NYS Department of Health guidelines, we are forced to suspend all face-to-face visitation for the next 14 days which will be January 20, 2021.
During the next two weeks, we will continue to offer window visits. These times will be:
Tuesdays: 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Thursdays: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
Fridays: 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sundays: 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Our hearts go out to everyone who has been impacted by COVID-19. I know you are hearing every day of positive cases on the rise in Monroe County and I cannot stress enough the seriousness of this matter. It is so important for all community members to stay diligent, social distance, and mask up. From the bottom of our hearts, please know that we are forever committed to doing everything possible to protect our Laurelwood family and mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
We do hope that you share our excitement for the vaccine on January 15th. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to me by phone at (585) 641-6373 or email at jennifer_diorio@urmc.rochester.edu.
Thank you as always for your continued support,
Jen DiOrio
Director of Laurelwood Assisted Living