Important Coronavirus Information
At Benedictine Living Community-New Brighton, our priority is the health and wellness of our residents, tenants and employees. We know that the frail and elderly are especially susceptible to the coronavirus. We continue to do all we can to prevent the spread of this virus.
Visiting guidelines:
Visitors are welcome any time during our visiting hours. Visitors are advised that there is a risk for becoming infected by COVID-19 when there are active cases in our building.
- Visitors are encouraged to follow the Core Principles of Infection Control, including practicing good hand hygiene, wearing a face covering or mask that covers the mouth and nose when requested, and physically distancing at least six feet from other residents and staff.
- Visitors who have had a positive viral test for COVID-19 or have symptoms of COVID-19, or who currently meet the criteria for quarantine, are asked to delay their visit until their quarantine period has ended.
- While CMS does not recommend visitation when a resident is actively infected with COVID-19 or in quarantine, residents may still choose to have visitors. The Core Principles of Infection Control need to be followed.
You can further help protect our residents and staff by taking an over-the-counter COVID-19 test prior to visiting. This strategy helps to keep those who are ill from carrying COVID-19 onto our campus to our residents and staff. Thank you for your cooperation with all these safety measures.
Protect yourself and those you love with the COVID-19 vaccine!
COVID-19 vaccines are the best protection against serious illness. We recommend that everyone stay up to date with the COVID-19 vaccine and boosters to protect themselves and those they love. The COVID-19 vaccine is free and readily available. Not sure where? Check out www.vaccines.gov, text your zip code to 438829, or call 1-800-232-0233 to find a location near you.
COVID-19 Update:
Benedictine Living Community-New Brighton is currently offering coronavirus testing when required by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and as needed to residents and employees with symptoms. Testing enables us to better protect our residents and staff by identifying those who may be positive, but are not having any symptoms. Once identified, we can implement additional infection control measures quickly to better care for those who may be infected.
Infection Control Measures:
Since March 2020, we have followed all recommended guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Centers Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and our state and local health departments. Because we have taken this situation very seriously, our campus continues to:
- Monitor residents for symptoms of respiratory illness.
- Provide face masks for residents to wear if they chose.
- Encourage employees to monitor themselves for illness. If experiencing symptoms, to obtain a COVID-19 test, self-quarantine at home and/or seek medical care.
- Require all employees to wear personal protective equipment as directed by state and federal guidance.
Thank you for the continued support during this time. Please visit our Facebook page
to see other events and activities around the community.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I visit my parents?
Visitors are welcome!
- Visitors are encouraged to follow the Core Principles of Infection Control, including practicing good hand hygiene, wearing a face covering or mask that covers the mouth and nose, and physically distancing from other residents and staff.
- Visitors who have had a positive viral test for COVID-19 or have symptoms of COVID-19, or who currently meet the criteria for quarantine, are asked to delay their visit until their quarantine period has ended.
- While CMS does not recommend visitation when a resident is actively infected with COVID-19 or in quarantine, residents may still choose to have visitors. The Core Principles of Infection Control need to be followed.
Why are your residents wearing masks?
Our top priority is to protect the health and safety of our residents and staff. We have provided face masks for residents to wear as the CDC recommends wearing face masks as a way to reduce the likelihood of virus transmission.
What kind of faith-based services are being offered?
Our spiritual care staff realize how important faith practices are to our residents. To ensure our residents’ needs are met, we will be connecting with area clergy in addition to our onsite chaplain’s services. We are providing one-on-one visits with our spiritual care coordinator and broadcasing services from our chapel on an in-house channel, there are services available on other TV channels, and communion is being offered weekly in resident rooms.
Wellness and social activities can be the highlight of a resident’s day. Here are ways we’re bringing social and wellness activities to your loved ones:
- These are examples of the activities that are scheduled on the in house TV Channel 37: Active 4 Life (exercise) includes using weights, stretching and movement; Rosary, Who am I? What am I?, Movies, Ecumenical Prayer Service and Devotions, Get to Know Me Resident Spotlights, TV Classics, Relaxation, Movie Musicals, Bingo, Pokeno, Sing a Long, Name that Tune, Arm Chair Travels, Sensory Video, Book Club, Bible Stories, Hymn Sing, Trivia, Updates from the Administrator, Jokes & Silly Name Places.
- Examples of other scheduled activities: Piano Music in the Corridors, Activity Cart (word search, word games, crossword puzzles, maze puzzles, coloring sheets), Greetings to send to Family or Friends, Nail Care, Thirsty Thursday Room Service, Resident Council Questionnaire Room Service, Creative Craft Room Service.
- One to One visits are offered such as: conversations, music therapy, picture sharing, read aloud, art projects, sing together, discussions of resident’s interests, math challenges, healing or comforting touch, prayer, visualizations, aromatherapy, relaxation, tuning forks, hymn stories.
My dad enjoys walking around the campus and flower gardens. Can he still go outside?
Yes, our residents can go outside and walk or sit as long as they are safe in doing this activity.
My grandma just moved in last week. What are you doing to help her settle in to her new home and make friends?
We will be working closely one-on-one with your loved one to make sure she feels right at home, including welcome visits by key staff, giving her an orientation to key locations within our community, her new neighbors and activities available.
How can I protect myself?
Make sure you protect yourself and loved ones by using the following “best practice” infection prevention strategies every day such as regularly washing your hands, wearing a face mask and maintaining a social distance from others when the community transmission rate is high.
- COVID-19 vaccines are the best protection against serious illness. We recommend that everyone stay up to date with the COVID-19 vaccine and boosters to protect themselves and those they love. The COVID-19 vaccine is free and readily available. Not sure where? Check out www.vaccines.gov, text your zip code to 438829, or call 1-800-232-0233 to find a location near you.
Thank you!
We sincerely thank our residents, their families and our staff for their patience and dedication as we keep the safety, health and wellness of our residents and associates our top priority. Please feel free to contact us at Reid Hewitt 651-633-1686 with any additional questions or concerns. We’re here for you and your loved one!