CEO Updates November 2021

Updated November 30, 2021

Dear Sholom residents, tenants, staff and families,

With the advent of the COVID-19 Delta and Omicron variant, we are seeing an uptick in the positivity rates in our counties. Fortunately, with the majority of Sholom residents and staff vaccinated, COVID-19 positive individuals are experiencing only mild symptoms or no symptoms at all. We currently have two employees with positive cases of COVID-19. One at our Bentson Family Assisted Living and one at our Shirley Chapman Sholom Home East Care Center at our Shaller (St. Paul) campus.    

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) indicated the new Delta variant is the dominate strain in the United States.   The COVID-19 Delta variant has proven quite virulent among the unvaccinated.  Even for the vaccinated, there is a cause for concern.  There are documented cases of individuals who have received the vaccine who develop symptoms and test positive for COVID-19.   

What does that mean for Sholom?

The fight against COVID-19 isn’t over yet, and we need to be watchful and mindful that COVID is still out there. Both Bentson Family Assisted Living and Shirley Chapman Sholom Home East at our Shaller (St. Paul) campus is in outbreak.  Please note the following:

Please note the following regarding visitation:

Please keep in mind the fight against COVID-19 isn’t over yet, and we need to be watchful and mindful that COVID is still out there. Please note the following regarding visitation at Sholom:

  • If you are sick with symptoms of COVID-19, have a positive viral test for COVID-19 or currently meet the criteria for quarantine, you should not enter Sholom. 
  • Visitor testing is not required; however, we encourage visitors to be tested within 2-3 days, on their own, before coming to a Sholom location.
  • Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) strongly encourages all visitors are vaccinated.  
  • Screening is required for entrance.  If visiting during a time guest services personnel are unavailable, visitors will be asked to wait until Sholom staff are available to allow entry into the building and complete the screening.
  • If visiting during an outbreak investigation, you will be expected to sign in to provide the needed contact information and adhere to infection prevention principles and conduct your visit in the resident’s room.  For outbreak status visit: https://www.sholom.com/sholoms-covid-19-numbers/ or call the Sholom hotline at 651-328-2500.
  • If you are visiting a resident who is on quarantine or transmission based precautions, you will be made aware of the potential exposure risk to yourself and asked to adhere to the core principles of infection prevention.  You will need to wear a well-fitting facemask or other appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), if available.  Sholom does not supply PPE for visitors. 
  • It is recommended you wear a face covering at all times, regardless of vaccination status, maintain six feet of physical distance with others and wash hands frequently while the county transmission rate remains substantial to high.  If you are unvaccinated and providing cares for a resident, you must wear eye protection.

Senior care organizations like Sholom, hospitals and clinics to continue to follow these guidelines. Staff will still wear personal protective equipment (PPE) and visitation can be limited at times in health care facilities, including Sholom.

For the most up to date information, please refer to www.sholom.com and click on the COVID link at the top of the page.

Our priority is to keep everyone safe and healthy. We are winning the battle, but the war against COVID-19 hasn’t been won–yet. We will provide regular updates regarding any health alerts or other orders issued by the CDC or MDH. 

Thank you for your commitment to our community. Together, we’re moving toward a COVID-free future.

Barbara Klick, RN, MBA, Sholom CEO