Covid Communication and Resources

Since March 2, 2020, the Leisure Care team has been working diligently to monitor the COVID-19 public health crisis. A cross-functional group of representatives from the corporate office, the COVID-19 Committee, in conjunction with the Operations Leaders and feedback from the community General Managers, has been developing interim protocols and modifying them as necessary to respond to jurisdictional recommendations and each community’s needs. For specific information about a topic, please refer to our overview of protocols, FAQs and latest updates, which include letters to families, residents and visitors.

Leisure Care’s outbreak and pandemic preparedness plan require each community to maintain a separate additional inventory of PPE, disposable dining products, antiviral disinfectants, and other supplies that would support residents and staff at the community for at least three days. As part of the company’s COVID-19 response, the par levels for supplies have been increased based on CDC “burn rate” calculations and real-time data based on the community’s business model and whether there are positive cases of COVID-19 in the community.

The Community’s corporate office has established purchasing relationships with vendors who have been able to source adequate PPE, hand sanitizer, and other supplies essential to environmental maintenance during the COVID-19 pandemic. Each community utilizes a database to track community par levels to ensure the cache is adequate and pro-actively managed in the event suppliers anticipate shortages.

In addition to screening residents and individuals prior to accessing the community, Leisure Care has secured the means to conduct testing of residents and staff through private laboratories. In addition to following each community’s jurisdictional requirements for testing staff and residents, our communities have been conducting enhanced, routine testing of staff to identify positive, asymptomatic individuals who would be restricted from working.

Most of our communities are uniquely outfitted with portable indoor air quality machines that will allow us to purify the indoor air. Additionally, most of our communities have dedicated HVAC UV systems certified to trap up to 99.97% of particles 0.3 micrometers or larger in size. This reduces the number of small particles that carry bacteria and viruses. The UV lamp then exposes microbes to UV light which kills them or inactivates them. The negative ions produced by air purifiers have been shown to improve mood, lessen episodes of depression, and even decrease the risk of seasonal affective disorder.

Leisure Care has invested in state of the art Accushield kiosks for most of our communities to effectively monitor symptoms of COVID-19 in visitors. These kiosks will replace paper sign-ins. Visitors will approach the kiosk and have their temperatures taken and recorded. Visitors will then be led through several questions to identify any symptoms or risk factors that may be related to COVID-19.

In this period of self-isolation and social distancing, resident engagement and social interactions are perhaps more important in supporting the emotional wellbeing of our residents than ever before. In lieu of large-group activities, Leisure Care managed communities are proud to have adapted and risen to the occasion, engaging residents with individual in-apartment activities, technology-based engagement programs, doorway and corridor events (with face coverings and social distancing, of course!), and specialized activities for Opal by Leisure Care program residents. Small group activities that allow for social distancing, cleaning and disinfection of areas/items between use and observing best PPE and hand hygiene practices will be introduced to each community as permitted by current conditions and jurisdictional guidance.

PrimeFit, a nationally branded program and leader in senior fitness and wellness, is exclusive to Leisure Care communities, and it is one way we keep our residents focused on health, fitness, and fun. PrimeFit has creatively adapted its health and wellness programs to align with social distancing guidelines and regulations. Our PrimeFit instructors are hosting virtual classes, providing in-home workout plans, and offering a variety of engaging therapies. We know that mental health is just as important as physical health and strive to meet the social, emotional, physical, and mental needs of our residents year-round.

Throughout the United States, guidance on visitor guidance limitations at senior living communities varies. While some jurisdictions only advise the admittance of properly screened essential visitors, others are expanding visitation, which we recognize as being incredibly important. For those communities that are observing limited essential visitation, we continue to encourage families and friends to keep in touch via FaceTime, Skype, and other digital means. In jurisdictions that are expanding visitation, we have found creative solutions to bring people together. Visitation areas that support appropriate social distancing protocols may be established outside or inside the community, with visitation times scheduled in advance. A community’s visitation may progress or regress in accordance with local Phasing recommendations and requirements. Please contact your loved one’s community in advance for information about scheduled visitation.

Leisure Care managed communities have continued to utilize community vehicles to transport residents to health care appointments within the community’s designated radius. Transportation has been modified to limit passenger capacity to an individual resident or to co-residents of an apartment and appointment scheduling must allow adequate time to clean and disinfect the vehicle prior to the next appointment. The community may also assist residents with coordinating other means of transportation to essential appointments.

As jurisdictional guidance allows, Communities may expand transportation to include small groups in Community vehicles that permit social distancing. Please contact the Community in advance for scheduling and information about PPE and best practices while being transported using Community vehicles.

Communal dining venues including restaurants, dining rooms, bistros, and complimentary refreshment areas were closed when the seriousness of the COVID-19 virus in our communities became apparent. Our signature[JT1] food and beverage program created new ways to keep residents connected to the social dining experience. From delivering in-apartment meal service, to hosting virtual happy hours, delivering ‘quarantinis,’ and offering virtual cooking classes with tastings delivered to apartments, our communities have stepped up to the “plate” to keep residents living better than ever. Contact your loved one’s community to learn more about their specific dining program.

We will carefully evaluate opportunities to open our restaurants and bistros on a community by community basis. Communities that begin reopening dining venues will rearrange furniture to allow social distancing and may introduce staggered, reserved seating. Residents who choose to dine in a communal space are asked to wear a face covering when not dining and required to participate in hand hygiene (washing or using hand sanitizer) prior to entering the area. Contact the community for information about current food and beverage services.

Prospective residents and their family members can speak with one of our knowledgeable team members to better understand their options and ask questions about the Leisure Care lifestyle. We’ve developed tools to provide a walk through our sparkling spaces, signature programs, and tour an apartment to virtually experience life in our community. We are beginning to offer limited-access tours by necessity.

For those seeking personal care or assisted living services or are considering one of our fully-licensed communities, a virtual consultation can be scheduled with the community’s Health and Wellness leader to discuss service needs and preferences and coordinate assessments and practitioner telehealth availability.

We have developed interim protocols to guide the move-in process. Prospective residents moving directly from a private residence will be tested for COVID-19 and have evidence of negative test results prior to moving into the community. Upon arrival to the community, the resident will be asked to observe the community’s current self-quarantine practices. Prospective residents moving directly from a hospital, skilled nursing or care facility or other licensed/certified setting will be subject to the screening and testing as determined by the jurisdictional authority and asked to observe the community’s self-quarantine practices. The community protocols also provide information identifying practices that the moving team and family transition representatives will be asked to observe, including screening upon arrival, use of PPE, and scheduling guidelines.