Latest Updates
March 23, 2020
CORONAVIRUS UPDATE FOR LINDEN KNOLL RESIDENTS & VISITORS
Dear Linden Knoll Residents,
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has issued an executive order which went into effect on Sunday, March 22 at 8:00pm. The “New York State on PAUSE” directive is a policy to assure uniform safety for everyone.
Governor Cuomo also announced “Matilda’s Law” – named for the Governor’s mother – to protect New York’s most vulnerable populations, including individuals age 70 and older, those with compromised immune systems and those with underlying illnesses:
- The measure requires this group of New Yorkers to stay home and limit home visitation to immediate family members or close friends in need of emergency assistance.
- Non-essential gatherings of individuals of any size for any reason (e.g. parties, celebrations or other social events) are canceled or postponed at this time.
- Any concentration of individuals outside their home must be limited to workers providing essential services and social distancing should be practiced.
- When in public, individuals must practice social distancing of at least six feet from others.
- Businesses and entities that provide other essential services must implement rules that help facilitate social distancing of at least six feet.
- Individuals should limit outdoor recreational activities to non-contact and avoid activities where they come in close contact with other people.
- Individuals should limit use of public transportation to when absolutely necessary and should limit potential exposure by spacing out at least six feet from other riders. Do not take public transportation unless urgent and absolutely necessary.
- Sick individuals should not leave their home unless to receive medical care and only after a telehealth visit to determine if leaving the home is in the best interest of their health.
At Linden Knoll, we are urging all residents and their families to abide by the Governor’s directive. External visitors should be limited only to those who are essential and perform essential tasks for residents. Remember that these practices are being implemented to protect you, your visitors and our staff, and we will continue to follow government and CDC guidelines to reduce the risk of COVID-19 and other infectious illnesses.
Please visit our website at www.lindenknoll.org for the latest information. We will keep it updated as we receive new information. The safety and well-being of our residents is always our top priority.
If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me or Debbie Wildow. Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Michael Perrotta
VP & Administrator
March 16, 2020
CORONAVIRUS UPDATE FOR LINDEN KNOLL VISITORS
Dear Linden Knoll Residents,
I am writing to share with you that, beginning Tuesday, March 17 at 9:00am, all visitors to Linden Knoll will be screened prior to proceeding into the community. This measure is being taken to minimize the risk of exposure to and spreading of COVID-19. Please note the following new procedures.
- Linden Knoll visitors will not be able to call residents directly from the vestibule to request entry.
- Between the hours of 9:00am and 9:00pm, visitors will call 223 for access to the building. Between 9:00pm and 9:00am, visitors will call 0 for entry.
- Once they are in the building, all Linden Knoll visitors will be required to stop at the reception desk to complete a brief screening questionnaire for COVID-19 risk factors.
- Risk factors include:
- Signs or symptoms of a respiratory infection, including fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat.
- Contact within the last 14 days with someone with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis OR are under investigation for COVID-19 OR are ill with a respiratory illness.
- International travel within the last 14 days to countries with sustained community transmission (China, Iran, South Korea, Italy, Japan, Hong Kong). For updated information on any additional countries which may be added to the list, visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html.
- Resides or recently visited a community where community-based spread of COVID-19 is occurring (for example, New Rochelle, New York; Washington State).
- Trips within the last 14 days on cruise ships.
- If the answer is yes to any of the above questions, visitors will need to be further assessed before proceeding.
- In addition, all visitors will have their temperatures taken. Visitors who have a fever will not be allowed to proceed.
- Visitors who are allowed to enter Linden Knoll after screening must proceed directly to the resident’s apartment.
- In the best interest of our residents, we strongly encourage limited visitation to Linden Knoll during this time. Please share these restrictions with your family, friends and other visitors.
We are learning more information from the federal, state and local government daily, and we will keep you informed as new details, regulations and guidelines are released. We appreciate your adherence to the procedures outlined above, and for any others that will be forthcoming as the situation evolves.
Remember that these practices are being implemented to protect you, your guests and our staff, and we will continue to follow government and CDC guidelines to reduce the risk of COVID-19 and other infectious illnesses.
Please visit our website at www.lindenknoll.org for the latest information. We will keep it updated as we receive new information. The safety and well-being of our residents is our top priority, and we will take all necessary actions and precautions to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses.
If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me. Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Michael Perrotta
VP & Administrator
March 12, 2020
Dear Linden Knoll residents and families,
As we continue to learn more about the developing Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation, we wanted to provide you with an organization update. Due to federal regulations and in the best interest of those we care for, we have put into place a strict no visitation policy for both the Friendly Home and Glenmere.
We are asking that you DO NOT visit our Linden Knoll residents if you meet any of the following risk factors:
Risk factors include:
- Signs or symptoms of a respiratory infection, including fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat.
- Contact within the last 14 days with someone with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis OR are under investigation for COVID-19 OR are ill with a respiratory illness.
- International travel within the last 14 days to countries with sustained community transmission (China, Iran, South Korea, Italy, Japan, Hong Kong). For updated information on any additional countries which may be added to the list, visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html.
- Resides or recently visited a community where community-based spread of COVID-19 is occurring (for example, New Rochelle, New York; Washington State).
- Trips within the last 14 days on cruise ships.
If any of these risk factors apply to you, we strongly encourage you to postpone your visit.
Please know that all Linden Knoll and Friendly Home staff will be screened each day they come to work which includes the taking of a temperature and the completion of a brief questionnaire asking about recent travel, symptoms of a respiratory illness, and potential contact with anyone who potentially has been exposed to COVID-19.
We cannot stress enough the importance of thorough and frequent hand washing and hand sanitization. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), this is the best defense for preventing illness, including COVID-19.
Remember that we are implementing these practices to protect you, your neighbors and our staff, and we will continue to follow CDC guidelines to reduce the risk of COVID-19 and other infectious illnesses.
We will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation very closely, and will keep you informed as new details emerge. The safety and well-being of our residents is our top priority, and we will take all necessary actions and precautions to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses.
If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me. Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Mike Perrotta
Vice President and Administrator
Linden Knoll
Frequently Asked Questions
Updated: March 17, 2020
Resident Family Letter
March 15, 2020
Dear Friendly Senior Living Residents and Families,
I am writing to share with you the news that a Friendly Home employee tested positive today for COVID-19. You should know that this employee is not on the medical team at the Friendly Home and does not provide direct care to our Members. The individual recently traveled to Miami, Florida, and immediately upon showing symptoms, sought medical care, and is currently isolated at home. The Home’s leadership team sent home all four co-workers who had been in direct contact with said employee. None of these employees perform clinical services, and all will not return to work until cleared by the Department of Health. At this time, there are no other suspected cases of COVID-19 among our staff, Members, residents or patients.
We understand this is unsettling news for our Members, residents, their loved ones, our staff and the greater community. Please know we are working tirelessly to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in our communities and care deeply about the well-being and health of our Members, residents and employees above all. This continues to be our top priority in the days, weeks and months ahead.
In addition to the measures already in place throughout the Friendly Senior Living communities – Cloverwood, Glenmere, Linden Knoll & Friendly Home – only essential employees are permitted to come to work. They will continue to be screened before working, including having their temperature taken and completing a questionnaire about COVID-19 risk factors, such as potential exposure and signs of respiratory illness. These same screening procedures are in place for visitors to Linden Knoll and Cloverwood. At Friendly Home and Glenmere, no visitors are permitted to enter the communities except in extreme circumstances such as an end of life situation.
Further, all employees are required to wear masks while within 6 feet of Friendly Home Members and Glenmere residents. These Members and residents are being screened daily by Nursing for signs/symptoms of COVID-19, and we are providing the Department of Health (DOH) with status updates on a daily basis.
Following the direction of the DOH and other government and health agencies, all of our communities are taking every necessary, mandated and precautionary action to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and minimize the risk to our Members, residents and employees.
Again, we understand that this is a very challenging time for all of us in the Friendly Senior Living family. Your loved ones are continuing to be served with care and compassion, and we will keep you apprised of information as it develops throughout this rapidly evolving situation. Please visit our website at www.friendlyseniorliving.org for the latest updates for all of our communities. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Glen Cooper
President & CEO, Friendly Senior Living
