Coronavirus Precautions

A Message from Santa Fe Senior Living

Date: August 7, 2020

From: Troy Hart, President of SantaFe Senior Living

To: Residents, Families and Associates

Subject: Governor Ron DeSantis Announces Task Force to Explore the Safe and Limited Re-Opening of Long-Term Care Facilities

We are all so very ready for the long isolation from our loved ones to be over. I am writing to share the following message received from Governor Ron DeSantis today.

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the formation of Florida’s Task Force on the Safe and Limited Re-Opening of Long-Term Care Facilities. Members of the task force will work together to develop guidelines on how to safely allow family members to visit their loved ones in Florida’s long-term care facilities where visitation has been prohibited since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “The last four and a half months have been difficult for all Floridians, especially our residents in long-term care facilities and their families,” said Governor DeSantis. “In an effort to protect our most vulnerable, we made the difficult decision in March to prohibit visitation to these facilities. While these measures were necessary, it has taken an emotional toll on our families. I look forward to the ideas that arise from this task force on how we can continue our mission to protect the vulnerable while allowing for the much-needed human connection of spending time with family and friends.”

We will continue to update you as we hear of progress in the task forces’ work.

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Date: July 28, 2020

From: Troy Hart, President of SantaFe Senior Living

To: Residents, Families and Associates

Subject: Update and continued COVID-19 precautions

Over the past five months the residents and associates of our communities have worked tirelessly to stay safe and reduce the risk of this pandemic. Families and residents have endured isolation from loved ones. Residents and associates have become experts at social distancing and donning and doffing protective equipment. I know your hard work and sacrifice have prevented COVID from impacting our communities more dramatically and reduced the spread of this terrible virus. In the second week of July, during the third round of COVID testing conducted in coordination with the Health Department, the first cases of COVID among residents at each of our communities was discovered.

Each of our communities has cooperated fully and followed the guidance of their local health department and other regulatory authorities in screening, social distancing, contact tracing and mandatory quarantining of both residents and associates who have tested positive or are symptomatic for COVID. Fortunately, this has worked to reduce the spread of the virus among residents and associates.

In support of keeping our residents and associates as safe as possible we’ve continued all of the protocols shared in our prior notices. Additionally, we have implemented biweekly testing of all associates, testing of residents as directed by each local health department, instituted paid leave for associates to support them in the event that they must miss work due to COVID symptoms or exposure, limited access to our campuses, continued rigorous screening of all essential visitors, invested in a ready supply of protective equipment for residents and associates, and spent countless hours in training and support to our teams to better enable them to safely continue to provide care.

Guidance from the authorities and regulators continues to change weekly as more is discovered about COVID. We continue to monitor the latest best practices and change our systems and protocols as we have better more current information regarding preventing spread and protecting everyone.

So many residents and families have reached out to show their support. I want to personally thank all of you who have shared an encouraging word or deed with associates. We are all taxed by this long and grueling pandemic and the encouragement of our associates is so greatly appreciated. They are truly the heroes of this challenging situation and I know they are thankful for and in need of the encouraging words and deeds.

Please continue to be diligent in following all preventive measures such as hand washing and using sanitizer routinely, wearing protective equipment (such as a mask), staying socially distant and not exposing yourself to those who are experiencing symptoms or are at high risk.

Again, thank you for your sacrifice and for keeping yourself and your neighbors safe.

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Date: June 22, 2020

From: Troy Hart, President of SantaFe Senior Living

To: Residents and Families

Subject: Continued Coronavirus (COVID-19) Precautions

Your diligence continues to make all the difference! As I’ve shared during the early goings of this pandemic, your sacrifice continues to work in controlling the spread of the virus. No residents have tested positive for COVID at any of our communities for which we are very thankful. We continue to adhere to all recommendations for screening, restriction of guests, and limitation of community gatherings including meals and group functions.

We have begun allowing new residents to move to the community with proper precautions including pre-move COVID testing, preventive quarantining and guidelines and limitations on the move-in process.

As the Governor has begun to ease restrictions in Florida we have seen an increase of new cases in all of the areas we serve. Consequently, we are continuing to encourage your vigilance in limiting your exposure to others. Additionally, we continue to request that residents wear masks, and limit leaving and reentering the community other than for essential outings. Each time you expose yourself to others you assume risk for yourself and everyone else with whom you come in contact.

I know how difficult, lonely and isolating these precautionary social distancing measures are. We ask that you continue the good work you have done thus far in keeping one another safe.

Once the heightened threat of infection begins to decrease and restrictions are lifted we will begin a phased approach to community functions. Though it is not time yet, we have begun planning for the next phase of opening the community when limited in-dining room services and some small group functions can begin. No dates have been set for that change at this time, but we are planning for the day we can once again enjoy each other’s company more normally. Expect more information about the next phase as more is known.

Again, thank you for your sacrifice and for keeping yourself and your neighbors safe.

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Date: May 29, 2020

From: Troy Hart, President, SantaFe Senior Living

To: General Public Announcement

Subject: Now Welcoming New Residents!

Since March, our communities have followed very strict safety protocols to protect the health of our residents and associates. In an abundance of caution, we closed our communities to visitors and non-essential personnel and postponed any new move-ins. We know this was the right thing to do for everyone who lives and works here.

We continue to carefully monitor the situation around COVID-19 and will adjust our community response accordingly.

With that said, we are pleased to announce that based upon current information regarding the virus in our three locations, the status of our preparations and the information we have from authorities, with a few caveats, we are prepared for communities to accept new residents.

Independent Living welcomed new residents beginning Wednesday, May 27th at East Ridge at Cutler Bay and The Village at Gainesville. The Terraces at Bonita Springs will start welcoming new residents on June 15th.
Assisted Living and Memory Support will welcome new residents beginning June 1st for East Ridge at Cutler Bay and The Village at Gainesville; The Terraces at Bonita Springs will welcome these residents on June 15th.
Skilled Nursing will welcome new residents beginning June 1st for East Ridge at Cutler Bay and The Terraces at Bonita Springs.

Caveats include:

Move-in activity may be delayed or temporarily suspended if mandatory testing impacts the community’s ability to have adequate staff to support the demand.
Prospective residents and others will not be able to move in or visit the community if they are demonstrating COVID-19-type symptoms.
Residents moving into Independent Living will be required to be tested for COVID-19 prior to move-in.
New residents may be required to be quarantined for up to 14 days depending upon screening completed at the time of move-in.
Any resident moving in from another Assisted Living, Memory Support, Skilled Nursing Facility or Hospital is required to have two negative COVID-19 tests.
Limited family/movers will be allowed to accompany the resident.
Everyone entering the community in support of the resident must submit to screening.
Everyone entering the community must wear a mask and practice sanitation and social distancing.

Please be assured that we will continue to operate with the health and safety of our residents and associates as our highest priority. We look forward to moving forward, safely, and carefully, slowly returning our communities to the vibrant, active, thriving places they were before.

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Date: April 30, 2020

From: Troy Hart, President, SantaFe Senior Living

To: Residents and Families

Subject: Update on Covid and Planning for the Future

Your diligence continues to keep us safe from having cases of Covid-19 among our residents and associates. Please remain vigilant in the good practices of social distancing, hand washing and monitoring your health.

The Federal and State Government have provided some guidance regarding a phased approach to reopening discontinued services and discontinuing precautionary measures at some point in the future. Due to the very vulnerable nature of our clientele, many precautions are not targeted to discontinue until Phase 3 of the guidance, which could be weeks or months from now. We will work to provide you with as much advanced notice as we are able to regarding changes in services and precautions.

This week Governor DeSantis announced his intent to discontinue the stay-at-home order and begin allowing Phase 1 services to reopen. He continued to stress the need to keep our most vulnerable populations safe by continuing preventive measures in senior communities like ours, so for the moment we are not anticipating changing our screening or service delivery processes.

Do know that our leadership has begun the discussions of the precursors, timing, needed steps and other logistics required to begin community dining, non-essential visits, lifestyles programming and events and other services once it is safe for residents.

Again, thank you for your patience and sacrifice. Your efforts have saved lives. Keep doing what you are doing!

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Date: April 9, 2020

From: Troy Hart, President of SantaFe Senior Living

To: Residents and Families

Subject: Continued Coronavirus (COVID-19) Precautions

We remain vigilant in protecting the safety and wellbeing of our Residents and Associates.

Thank you for your continued diligence! Your sacrifice continues to work in controlling the spread of the virus. We continue to have no reported COVID Positive residents at any of our communities for which we are very thankful.

On March 18th we announced suspension of All Non-essential Visitation to All Areas of or our communities.

Additionally, we discontinued group activities and implemented delivered dining to protect you.

Initially we suspended group services for 30 days. I am writing to inform you that we are extending the suspension of group activities including dining through April 30th. We will re-evaluate whether to continue the suspension past that date during the next two weeks and will inform you as soon as is practical of any decision.

Additionally, we continue to request that residents not leave and re-enter the community other than for essential outings. Each time you expose yourself to others you assume risk for yourself and everyone else at the community. If you must leave the community we recommend that you wear a mask and use all precautionary measures to keep yourself safe.

We are continuing to monitor the situation and will continue to keep you informed.

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Date: April 2, 2020

From: Troy Hart, President of SantaFe Senior Living

To: Residents and Families

Subject: Continued Vigilance in Adhering to Precautions

Your safety and health remain our primary concern during this coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and we continue to follow all measures recommended to protect you.

We want to thank you for your continued vigilance in adhering to the recommendations regarding social distancing, hand washing, discontinuing non-essential trips and generally doing all you can to remain safe and well. These are difficult times for everyone, and I want you to know your sacrifice is making a difference. Because of your diligence, to this point we have had no cases of COVID-19 among our residents or associates. That will likely change over time, but everything you’re doing to prevent and delay that day as long as possible is critically important.

Social isolation is one of the very few methods of controlling the spread of virus that has been proven to be effective. We know it is difficult, however, the recent announcements regarding extending the stay-at-home order mean we will continue to adhere to all recommendations associated with social distancing and restricting visitors to the community. We thank you for your diligence in limiting your risk and the risk to others.

I’ve heard of the many residents who are sewing masks for use in the community. I so appreciate this supportive effort. Securing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for our residents and associates does continue to be a challenge. We have the supplies on hand that we need to assure safe infection control practices and do see progress being made in improving the ability for us to resupply as time has gone on.

Our associates have remained dedicated and on-the-job caring for residents and each other. They are so very dedicated to assuring the needs of the residents are met. They too are working through this very difficult situation while managing their own concerns and challenges from childcare to health risk. I am so very appreciative of their commitment to you.

We are continuing to monitor the situation and will continue to keep you informed as information changes.

Stay safe and stay well.

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Date: March 22, 2020

From: Troy Hart, President of SantaFe Senior Living

To: Residents and Families

Subject: Heightened Coronavirus (COVID-19) Precautions

Your safety and health are very important to us and we want to continue to share information about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) respiratory disease and our preparations.

Further guidance has been provided to our communities by the State of Florida Agency for Health Care Administration for immediate implementation. Much of this has already been implemented at our communities. The guidance received is as follows

All communal activities should cease immediately. This includes discontinuing communal dining and postponing all community events until further notice.
In any other circumstance where residents may come into contact with one another, social distancing will be required to reduce the potential spread of possible COVID-19.
Restrict any community outings; delivery services can be utilized in a safe manner when necessary. If a resident leaves their senior living campus, they will be putting themselves as well as fellow residents and staff at risk.

So we are asking that you discontinue informal gatherings. Discontinue outings outside of the community. Your greatest risk of being exposed to COVID-19 is through exposing yourself to others unnecessarily. We are all working to adhere to our civic duty to keep ourselves and others safe from the spread of the virus.

We will continue to restrict access to the community and will refuse access as required to the following:

Any person infected with COVID-19 who has not had two consecutive negative test results separated by 24 hours;
Any person showing, presenting signs or symptoms of, disclosing the presence of a respiratory infection, including, cough, fever, shortness of breath, or sore throat;
Any person who has been in contact with any person(s) known to be infected with COVID-19, or a close contact of someone known to be infected with COVID-19 within the past 14 days;
Any person who traveled through any airport within the past 14 days (facility staff are exempt from the 14-day air travel prohibition if the individual does not meet any of the other screening criteria).
Any person who traveled on a cruise ship within the last 14 days.

Future Restrictions: We continue to monitor and adjust our practices as the circumstances and regulatory requirements dictate. Do be aware that it is likely that all but essential services will be terminated to limit contact between residents and others. Delivered meals will continue. Housekeeping may be limited. Transportation may be limited. You are encouraged not to gather for informal group functions.

Social isolation is one of the very few methods of controlling the spread of virus that has been proven to be effective. We thank you for your diligence in limiting your risk and the risk to others.

We are continuing to monitor the situation and will continue to keep you informed.

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Date: March 17, 2020

From: Troy Hart, President of SantaFe Senior Living

To: Residents and Families

Subject: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Precautions

We remain vigilant in protecting the safety and wellbeing of our Residents and Associates.

Over the weekend, Governor DeSantis imposed an emergency order suspending visitation to Health Care and Licensed Residential communities. In adherence to this extreme measure to protect our residents and associates, we terminated visitation to Licensed Areas on March 15th.

Now, effective at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 18th we are discontinuing All Non-essential Visitation to All Areas of our communities.

Specifics to the restrictions on visitation that we are imposing on Wednesday are as follows:

Apartment Homes in Independent Living

All Non-Essential Visitation Suspended Until March 30th. We are requiring that you postpone or use alternative methods for visitation (e.g., video conferencing).

Essential Visitors to the Independent Living Apartment Homes will be allowed as follows:

End-of-life Family member, friend and resident visits;
Hospice or palliative care workers caring for residents in end-of-life situations;
Any individuals providing necessary health care to a resident;
Staff;
Residents;
Attorneys of Record for a resident for court related matters if virtual or telephonic means are unavailable; or
Representatives of the federal or state government seeking entry as part of their official duties, including, but not limited to, Long-Term Care Ombudsman program, representatives of the Department of Children and Families, the Department of Health, the Department of Elderly Affairs, the Agency for Health Care Administration, the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, a protection and advocacy organization under 42 U.S.C. §15041, the Office of the Attorney General, any law enforcement officer, and any emergency medical personnel.
Essential Vendors required for repair of essential functions

Everyone Seeking to Enter the Community Must Submit to Screening and we are required to deny access to:

Any person infected with COVID-19 who has not had two consecutive negative test results separated by 24 hours;
Any person showing, presenting signs or symptoms of, or disclosing the presence of a respiratory infection, including cough, fever, shortness of breath or sore throat;
Any person who has been in contact with any person(s) known to be infected with COVID-19, who has not yet tested negative for COVID-19 within the past 14 days;
Any person who traveled through any airport within the past 14 days; or
Any person who traveled on a cruise ship within the past 14 days.

Additionally we will be asking residents not to leave and reenter the community other than for essential outings. Each time you expose yourself to others you assume risk for yourself and everyone else at the community.

The community will be providing additional information about this challenging situation as it continues to develop, including how residents will be able to get needed supplies, attend Dr.’s appointments and address other needs as they arise.

If you have specific questions regarding your situation or the situation of someone you care for, please contact Administration at 239-949-7561.

We are continuing to monitor the situation and will continue to keep you informed.