Community Update – May 15, 2020.

Community Update: May 15, 2020

Dear residents, families, staff, caregivers and friends:

I hope you and your families are safe and well. Over the past few months, the COVID-19 pandemic has altered every aspect of our lives. We are all eager to know what the future holds and when our lives will regain some normalcy. I share your concerns, and I want to take this opportunity to provide some insights into our decision-making process moving forward.

COVID-19 Update

As of today, there are no known cases of COVID-19 at Cedar Lane.

COVID-19 Testing and Contact Tracing

The expanded hours for drive-thru testing for COVID-19 at MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital are 12:00 – 4:00 p.m. Testing is available Monday through Friday and is offered in front of the Outpatient Pavilion.  In order to be tested in the drive-thru, individuals must be a St. Mary’s County resident and have a prescription for testing from a primary care provider or the St. Mary’s County Health Department. The Health Department will test anyone we feel warrants a test, so if you are experiencing shortness of breath, fever, cough, chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat or a new loss of taste or smell and don’t have a medical provider, contact Kirk Turner, Service Coordinator at 301.475.8966 ext.14. 

The St. Mary’s County Health Department is completing contact tracing for persons who tested positive for COVID-19.  This is a tool to stop the spread of disease.  If you receive a call from the Health Department regarding COVID-19, please take it seriously.  They will ask where you have been for the last few days and the names and contact information of people that you had close contact with, so that they can call these individuals.  The Health Department will not request your social security number or credit card information. 

Maryland’s “Safer at Home†Public Health Advisory

Beginning 5 p.m. this evening, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan is lifting the statewide stay-at-home order that has been in place for more than six weeks, replacing it with a “safer at home†policy that relaxes some of the restrictions. The new policy allows clothing and shoe stores, pet groomers, animal adoption shelters, car washes, art galleries, bookstores, hair salons, barbershops and places of worship to resume services at 50% of their normal capacity or less.

We strongly encourage you to continue to self-isolate as much as possible, as you are “safer at homeâ€.   The number of COVID-19 cases in St. Mary’s County continues to increase daily.  Not all eligible businesses or jurisdictions in the State of MD will be implementing Phase I on May 15.  Counties are permitted to be more restrictive than the State, but not less restrictive.

The order to wear masks in indoor public settings, in retail stores and on public transportation remains in place. In addition, all Maryland residents must remain a minimum of six feet apart in public settings. This announcement is just Phase 1 of a gradual three-phase reopening that is expected to take many months. Most of the limits on social and business interactions will remain in place as coronavirus deaths and cases continue to climb.

Temperature Checks

As we shift into “Safer at Home†status, Cedar Lane will continue to be proactive in reducing COVID-19 related risks to residents and staff. Starting today, any resident or staff member who exits the property will receive a temperature check when they re-enter. Residents with a temperature should proceed directly to their apartment and immediately contact their regular medical provider and follow their instructions. If you do not have a medical provider and you are running a temperature, Cedar Lane will contact the St. Mary’s County Health Department on your behalf.  Staff members and essential caregivers with a temperature will not be allowed in the building.  They must immediately return home and contact their medical provider.

Other Changes to Operations at Cedar Lane

Please understand that the activities program, dining room lunches, church services, the store, and the beauty salon are operations that should not and will not resume with the flip of a switch. We are a densely populated community of seniors and disabled adults and what is safe and responsible for our unique situation is going to look different for a while. While we are making plans for the eventual return of these amenities, there are no projected dates as of yet. I do not foresee any immediate changes to current operations at Cedar Lane. Most of our reopening will take place in Phase 3 of the recovery plan.  We will continue to take our direction from Dr. Brewster, Health Officer for the St. Mary’s County Health Department.

COVID-19 is still incredibly dangerous and we must continue to practice safe health habits, especially as things start to reopen. The last thing any of us want is a new spike in coronavirus cases that causes everything to shut down again. We can’t stop taking precautions. The truth is, we are each responsible for our own behavior, so let’s make good decisions.  Continue social distancing, washing your hands, sanitizing the surfaces you touch frequently, and wearing face coverings. We have done an exceptional job at keeping COVID-19 out of our community.   I am proud of the entire Cedar Lane team; let’s keep the good news going.

Sincerely,

Beverly A. Stickles

President & CEO

P.S. If you haven’t already, please share your thoughts with us by filling out the activities survey we delivered to you this week. Completed surveys can be dropped off at the front desk. Your opinion matters!  Remember to contact Wanda Fenwick at 301.475.8966 ext. 24, if you are in need of a new fabric mask or have other concerns or needs.

More Senior Snack Saks arrive from the Food Bank of Southern Maryland – third week in a row!

A woman loading boxes into the back of a car.

The Food Bank of Southern Maryland brought more smiles (and calories) to the residents of Cedar Lane yesterday with another delivery of Senior Snack Paks.  The mission of the Senior Sak Program is to fill the gap of hunger among low income seniors in St. Mary’s County MD. The bags are filled with senior friendly, nutritious snacks, and sometimes a little personalized note or joke. One resident said the bags contained goodies she wasn’t likely to buy herself, so it was a very nice treat at the end of another long week during the coronoavirus pandemic. Thank you to Brenda DiCarlo and her team.

A group of people standing around with boxes.

Cedar Lane President Beverly Stickles (in pink) and Cedar Lane maintenance team member Kenny Shorter (in green) accept two cartloads of snack bags as Brenda DiCarlo keeps a healthy social distance.

Community Update – May 8, 2020


Dear residents, families, staff, caregivers and friends:

We are monitoring the continuing progression of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic. I want to assure you that Cedar Lane is placing the health and wellness of its community members at the forefront of all decision-making as the days unfold.

COVID-19 update

As of today, there are no known cases of COVID-19 at Cedar Lane.

Maryland’s Roadmap to Recovery

While the stay at home order is still in place, it appears Maryland is moving in the right direction. Governor Hogan has released a Roadmap to Recovery designed to reopen Maryland gradually, once hospitalization rates, testing capability and surge capacity rates have reached targeted levels. If Marylanders continue to stay at home, the Governor believes we can achieve the rates we need to see and begin a slow, safe and effective path to recovery. We are not there yet. We still have a long road ahead of us. Please continue to wash your hands frequently, practice social distancing and wear your mask when outside your apartment.

Three Stages of Recovery

Maryland’s Roadmap to Recovery has divided businesses and activities into three stages: stage 1 is low risk, stage 2 is medium risk and stage 3 is high risk. We have not reached stage 1 yet. Large social gatherings and resuming visitation to communities like ours are in the high-risk stage. That means resuming meals in the dining room or permitting family members back in to visit are long-term goals. There are no projected dates for reaching any of the stages. We will continue to take our direction on these matters from Dr. Brewster, Health Officer for the St. Mary’s County Health Department.

PPE Supplies

Cedar Lane has a good supply of personal protective equipment for staff and residents. If your mask doesn’t fit correctly, or if it is already worn out from frequent washing, please contact Wanda Fenwick at 301-475-8966 ext. 24 for a replacement.

COVID-19 Testing

Maryland’s ability to test for the novel coronavirus has increased and we are a key demographic for testing. If you are experiencing shortness of breath, fever, cough, chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat or a new loss of taste or smell, please contact your health care provider and ask to be tested. If your physician won’t order a test, please let me know and I will make the call for you. If you are tested and told to isolate, please follow that directive and go straight to your apartment without stopping to speak to staff members or other residents. Common areas at Cedar Lane are not considered part of your safe isolation area.

Leonardtown Town Council Results

The annual town election took place on Tuesday, May 5, 2020. Mayor Dan Burris was reelected to the position of mayor and the two town council seats were filled by Nick Colvin and Jay Mattingly.

2020 Presidential Primary Election

The primary election has been postponed until June 2, 2020. Every eligible voter will automatically be mailed a ballot – you do not need to apply to receive a ballot by mail. Mark your choices with a black ink pen. You do not need a stamp to mail your ballot. If you need assistance, please contact Service Coordinator Kirk at 301-475-8966 ext. 14.

Happy Mother’s Day

I want to take this opportunity to wish a happy Mother’s Day to the moms at Cedar Lane. This will not be an easy day for many of us. We are all experiencing “social distancing fatigue†and we really miss seeing our family members and friends. I hope you are able to connect to the people you love in some way this weekend and for anyone who needs someone to talk to, live, highly trained service professionals are available by calling 2-1-1-. All calls are confidential.

Tell Us What You Want or Need

Cedar Lane continues to receive an outpouring of support from friends, family members of residents, and organizations in the community. If you have a particular need or want, we want to hear about it – whether you need a medication to be picked up from the pharmacy, prefer a specific category of snacks in the snack sack or long for a certain activity that you can do in your apartment. Please call Wanda Fenwick at 301-475-8966 ext. 24.  A huge thanks to those who have already provided this feedback.

Want to Help Us Say Thanks?

Several thoughtful residents have given us letters and cards to forward to our community supporters in thanks for their generous donations of masks, snack packs and other helpful items. Notes like these brighten the day of the people who are committed to making our time during “stay at home†orders more enjoyable. If you would like to contribute a thank you letter or card, simply drop it off at the front desk and Wanda will ensure it is delivered to the deserving person or organization.

I’m happy to close this week’s letter with the announcement that both the Cedar Lane news channel and the Cedar Lane movie channel have been repaired and are working once again.   

Please be safe and stay well.

Sincerely,

Beverly A. Stickles

President & CEO

Cedar Lane receives huge donation for food pantry

Cedar Lane resident, Janet Taylor, should be very proud of her daughter Candy Cain.  Candy and her two  sons, Jeffrey and Brenden Cain, received donations from Hollywood United Methodist Church members, Hollywood United Methodist Preschool and Kindergarten families, and many friends in the community in order to shop for, pick up and donate a very generous amount of items needed to stock the resident food pantry.

A collage of photos with people loading boxes.

Community Update – May 1, 2020

Community Update: May 1, 2020

Dear residents, families, staff, caregivers and friends:

Another week has come to a close. We have had touching moments, like the arrival of surprise snack bags from Brenda DiCarlo and staff at Southern Maryland Food Bank, and we have had some frustrations, including technical issues with our in-house movie and news channels. One constant in this time of uncertainty has been our shared commitment to each other as a community.  Here are this week’s news items:

COVID-19 update

As of today, there are no known cases of COVID-19 at Cedar Lane. Please continue to stay at home as much as possible and wear a cloth facemask that covers your nose and mouth when venturing out of your apartment for exercise or essential trips. Make sure there are no gaps between your face and the mask.  If your facemask does not fit properly, please contact Wanda Fenwick at 301.475.8966 ext. 24 for a replacement.

Cedar Lane is not included in Governor’s universal testing order

Nursing homes have seen some of the most severe outbreaks of COVID-19 in the state. On Wednesday, Governor Larry Hogan issued an executive order requiring all residents and staff at Maryland nursing homes to be tested for the coronavirus, regardless of whether they show symptoms. As an independent living apartment community, Cedar Lane is not included in this executive order.

CDC announced new COVID-19 symptoms

Also this week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced six new symptoms that can accompany the coughing, fever and shortness of breath associated with COVID-19. The six new symptoms are:

  • Chills
  • Shaking
  • Muscle pain
  • Sore throat
  • A new loss of taste and smell

In addition, some people may experience diarrhea.  If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, please contact your health provider immediately and follow his or her instructions.  

HUD guidance for tenants during COVID-19 pandemic

Attached you will find a brochure published by the Department of Housing and Urban Development that helps to answer questions you have may as a tenant during the COVID-19 National Emergency. 

May Rent

May rent is due on Wednesday May 6th.  Payment can be placed in the one of the two drop boxes on campus.  One-drop box is located in the door of the Finance Office and the other box is located in the lobby of the Church Building. Do not place cash in the drop boxes. We thank you for timely rent payment; please note the Finance Office will be closed until further notice.

In-house movie and news channels

Good news, the equipment part has arrived and both of these in-house TV channels should be up and running by the weekend. 

Your feedback wanted

We are very interested in hearing how we can make life a little easier during this shutdown. Let us know what sorts of things you would like to see on the activities cart and on channel 2 so we can create a better experience for you. Please contact Wanda Fenwick at 301-475-8966 ext. 24 or [email protected] with your ideas.  

Right now, we are all being challenged in ways we never could have imagined. Clear communication has never been more important. I pledge to be proactive in sharing information that affects our community. Please stay healthy and safe, and thank you for doing what you can to make the best of this difficult situation.

Sincerely,

Beverly A. Stickles

President & CEO

Community Update – April 24

Community Update: April 24, 2020

Dear residents, families, staff, caregivers and friends in the community:

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you all on your incredible efforts since this health crisis began. It has now been six weeks since Cedar Lane took initial steps to reduce resident exposure to the virus by cancelling activities and limiting visitation. Our success relies on everyone committing to the procedures established by health officials. I have been exceedingly proud of the way our community has responded in a show of responsibility and solidarity in difficult times.

COVID-19 Update

I want to assure you that there are still no known cases of COVID-19 at Cedar Lane. It is our greatest hope that we all remain healthy and unaffected. In the event we learn someone directly related to our community has tested positive for the virus, we will do our utmost to keep you informed in a timely manner while following the directives of the St. Mary’s County Health Department.  In the event there is a positive diagnosis, we will not release specific names or addresses to protect the privacy of the individual, and uphold the laws related to personal health information (HIPAA).

Local Food Hotline

The Department of Social Services has launched a local Food Hotline for residents needing assistance with food supplies. If you need help, please call 240-895-7000.

Rotary Members to Run Your Essential Errands

Members of the Rotary Club of Leonardtown are volunteering to assist Cedar Lane residents by picking up items from pharmacies or grocery stores. You will still be responsible for paying for the items, but they are offering to make the trip so you don’t have to. Call Wanda Fenwick at 301-475-8966 ext. 24 if you are interested in making arrangements.

Same Day Groceries

Instacart lets you shop from local grocery stores online, then sends a personal shopper to fulfill and deliver your order to you the same day – in as little as one hour. This personal shopper goes to the store, picks up everything on your list, and then drives it to you in their own car for a 5% service fee. Local stores featured are Giant, Aldi, BJs, Target, Petco and CVS. Sign up at www.instacart.com or download the Instacart app on your smartphone.

As this challenging period marches on, please continue to take care of yourselves and each other, treat everyone with kindness, and safeguard the wellbeing of the people you encounter. We are one community and we have never needed each other more than we do right now. Stay safe, well and healthy!

Sincerely,

Beverly A. Stickles

President & CEO

Cedar Lane Senior Living Community Update – April 17, 2020

Dear Residents, Families, Caregivers and Friends:

Our way of life right now is not what any of us want it to be. It helps to remind ourselves that this is temporary. There will be a day when we will once again be able to enjoy the outings, activities and pastimes we love. We don’t know that date yet, but it will come. Here are this week’s updates:

HERE AT CEDAR LANE:

  • As of today, there are no known cases of COVID-19 at Cedar Lane Senior Living Community. Please read over the following bullets to help protect yourself as total cases continue to grow.
  • If you have a caregiver who comes to visit, you should have received an informational sheet with specific guidance for slowing the spread of COVID-19. Caregivers will also receive a copy when they check in at Reception.
  • Residents are strongly encouraged to wear face coverings (fabric masks, bandanas, scarves) when entering or leaving the building, while in public spaces, including the laundry rooms and gathering their mail. We appreciate your cooperation with this request.
  • Face coverings are required for all Cedar Lane staff and visiting caregivers.
  • To protect yourself against this deadly virus, avoid touching door handles, elevator buttons and chair arms in the public areas at Cedar Lane. Use your sleeve, a tissue or a paper towel instead.
  • Wash your hands frequently, especially after returning to your apartment from an essential outing, the laundry room, Reception or from taking a walk outside.
  • Routinely disinfect the surfaces in your apartment that you touch often.
  • Emergency maintenance requests like flooding, power outages, and lack of heat or safety issues with your emergency pull cord, smoke detector or sprinkler will be handled promptly. With limited staff members on site, we are unable to respond to routine work orders or new calls for housekeeping services during this health emergency. We will continue to do our best to fill contracted housekeeping and laundry services.
  • ALWAYS practice social distancing by maintaining at least six feet between you and others. This includes the elevators, laundry rooms, and smoking gazebo. To be extra safe, keep the length of a three-seat sofa between you and other people. Essentially, you want to avoid getting close enough to somebody that you could be exchanging air and droplets with them.  
  • Other communities have closed all of their gathering spaces including lounges during this mass health emergency. At Cedar Lane, some of our common areas don’t have doors, making them difficult to close off; we are relying on you to avoid these areas.
  • Activities Coordinator Tonya Tyer will begin putting recorded versions of these weekly updates on the in-house movie channel 67.
  • Cedar Lane welcomed a new Service Coordinator, Crystal King, to the team. Crystal is a Coast Guard veteran with experience in service coordination for families and children, and comes to Cedar Lane from Asbury Solomons, where she was a security supervisor. Crystal also volunteers as a first responder with the Valley Lee Rescue Squad. She will be training from home for the time being and looks forward to meeting everyone soon.
  • Do you sew? Would you like to donate masks for your fellow residents? Please let Wanda Fenwick know at 301-475-8966, extension 24. We can provide a pattern for you.
  • Send us your selfies to show how you’re passing the time at home and we will put them on channel 2. Email your selfies to Jen Bruckler – [email protected]. Look for staff selfies coming soon!

IN ST. MARY’S COUNTY:

  • Governor Hogan continues to direct all Maryland residents to stay at home except for essential trips to the pharmacy, to seek medical care or to purchase groceries or supplies.
  • Consider if you REALLY need to leave the building, even for the essentials. McKay’s, Cedar Lane Pharmacy and CVS will all deliver to you here at Cedar Lane.
  • The St. Mary’s County Health Department (SMCHD) has issued a public health directive that requires face coverings to be worn when visiting any store or riding public transportation. Fabric facemasks including bandanas and scarves are acceptable.
  • The SMCHD also limits riding the STS bus system to essential trips to seek medical care, shop for groceries or supplies or visit the pharmacy for necessary medications. STS is limiting the number of riders and daily trips to reduce exposure risks to COVID-19.
  • Governor Hogan states that no Marylander should be traveling outside of the state unless such travel is absolutely necessary. Those who have traveled outside of the state should self-quarantine for 14 days. If possible, avoid areas of the State with a high concentration of confirmed cases of COVID-19.

IN NATIONAL NEWS:

  • The first stimulus payments have already started to arrive. Those who file taxes & use direct deposit for their refunds started receiving payments this week. Social Security and SSI recipients who did not file a tax return for 2018 or 2019 can expect their stimulus payments around the end of April. Payments will be direct deposited into your account or deposited onto your direct debit cards (whichever way you receive your monthly social security or SSI payments).
  • The Constitution mandates that our country conduct a count of its population once every 10 years. The 2020 Census is happening now and the results help determine how much support our community receives. You can complete your questionnaire online, by phone, or by mail.

Contact Kirk Turner, Service Coordinator, for more information about stimulus payments or the 2020 Census. Kirk can be reached at 301-475-8966 ext. 14

Sincerely,

Beverly A. Stickles

President & CEO

P.S.  If this situation has caused some anxiety for you or a loved one, help is just a call away.  Call 2-1-1 to speak with a live, highly trained service professional in our area. All calls are confidential.

Auxiliary of Leonardtown Fire Department donates 30 masks to Cedar Lane

 

Today Jen Stotler (pictured here) and Doris “Foo” Tippett dropped off 30 homemade fabric masks that were thoughtfully made and donated by members of the Auxiliary of the Leonardtown Fire Department. After sanitizing, the masks will be distributed to residents of Cedar Lane to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Thank you all for thinking of us. You are truly hometown heroes!

COVID-19 Community Update – April 10, 2020

Dear Cedar Lane Community Members,

As of today’s date, there are no known cases of COVID-19 at Cedar Lane Senior Living Community. However, this virus has had a devastating impact on the State of Maryland, and it appears that we are in this for the long haul. Here are the latest updates:

A QUICK WORD OF THANKS

First, thank you for paying your rent on time and for not paying in cash. We truly appreciate your cooperation.

PROTECTIVE MASK POLICY FOR STAFF

All staff members and caregivers are now required to wear a mask while at Cedar Lane, per a directive from Dr. Brewster of the St. Mary’s County Health Department.

PROTECTIVE MASKS FOR RESIDENTS

Residents are also strongly encouraged to wear a mask when in public spaces. Fortunately, several volunteers at Cedar Lane and in the greater community have donated masks within the last few days. Free masks will be distributed to residents with the DOA&HS meals on Monday April 13, 2020. For those who do not participate in the DOA&HS meal program, free masks will be available by contacting Wanda Fenwick at 301-475-8966, ext. 24.

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE DO NOT CONGREGATE WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS.

While there are no KNOWN cases of COVID-19 at Cedar Lane, health experts now warn that people without symptoms can spread the virus. You cannot assume that everyone is healthy.It is critically important that we follow public health guidance to stay at home. When you absolutely must go out, remain physically apart from everyone else – a minimum distance of six feet.

We have received concerned reports of neighbors gathering to share meals, sitting together on benches, and groups conversing by the main entrance, making it impossible for essential visitors to enter and maintain the necessary distance.

It is human nature to seek out company. No one relishes the prospect of being alone. However, in this new reality, I am asking you to put the greater good of our entire community first and limit your socializing to phone calls, emails, video chats, letters or notes. Staff will patrol the campus as much as possible, however I am expecting each of you to be responsible citizens and follow Governor Hogan’s orders. Kindly offer a friendly reminder to those who fail to adhere to social distancing.

NEED SOMEONE TO TALK WITH?

This is not an easy time. If you are feeling overwhelmed with emotions like sadness, depression or anxiety, there is a way to get connected and get help — call 2-1-1 from your phone. If you would rather chat by text, you can send your zip code to 898-211 or visit 211md.org. These resources are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in more than 180 languages.

SERVICE COORDIANTION AVAILABLE

Kirk Turner is available by phone if you have any questions or need assistance with connecting to a resource in the community. He is also ready to assist residents with online responses to the 2020 Census. It takes just a few minutes and is very important to complete. Kirk can be reached at 301-475-8966 ext. 14

NEED POSTAGE STAMPS?

Our postal carrier John is happy to pick up postage stamps for Cedar Lane residents.  Just leave money in an envelope at the Front Desk with John’s name, your name, your apartment number, the words “postage stamps†with the number of stamps requested.  John will purchase the stamps at the post office for you and return your stamps with the next day’s mail.  US postage stamps are 55 cents each.

I know this has not been easy. This situation is testing everyone’s patience and spirit. What we all want most is for this to be over and life to go back to normal. It is simply not possible to know how this pandemic will end because this virus is completely new to humans. There is no playbook. With each new development, we are making choices based on the knowledge we have. Thank you for putting your trust in us to make the best decisions we can for everyone at Cedar Lane.

I would love to hear from you. If you have questions, comments, concerns or ideas to make life at Cedar Lane a little easier during this challenging time, please call Wanda Fenwick at 1-301-475-8966, extension 24. Stay in and stay healthy.

Sincerely,

Beverly A. Stickles

President & CEO

Maryland Coronavirus (COVID-19) Rumor Control

As the Coronavirus crisis continues, there are many rumors and lots of misinformation out there. It’s hard to know what’s fact and what is not. Maryland’s brand new Coronavirus Rumor Control Web page resource will help you sort through it all. Please review this page and familiarize yourself with rumors you have read or heard while on social media or in casual conversation. Then, if you see or hear someone sharing misinformation, can you please direct them to this site to get the straight scoop? There is even a button where you can submit a rumor you have heard.

https://govstatus.egov.com/md-coronavirus-rumor-control