Updated September 29, 2021

Dear Sholom residents, tenants, staff and families,

With the advent of the COVID-19 Delta variant, we are seeing an uptick in the positivity rates in our counties.    We currently have one positive resident and one positive staff member at Roitenberg Family Assisted Living in St. Louis Park.  In St. Paul, we have one positive resident and one positive staff at Chapman Sholom Home East and one positive staff at Weinberg Apartments.  Remember, masks are mandated for individuals within Knollwood Place Apartments.

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. Please note the following:

Currently, Shirley Chapman Sholom Home East and Roitenberg Family Assisted Living are in outbreak testing. If the Sholom location you are planning to visit is NOT in outbreak testing (be sure to verify on website or Sholom hotline at 651-328-2500 for outbreak status) please note the following regarding visitation:

• You will no longer need to schedule your visit in advance
  • If the Sholom location you are planning to visit is conducting outbreak testing for COVID-19, only essential and compassionate caregivers are able to come in and must to be scheduled. 
  • If you would like to continue visits to a Sholom location that is in outbreak testing/under quarantine status, please complete and submit the essential caregiver application following the submission instructions. 
• Screening is required for entrance, you must wear a face covering, maintain six feet of physical distance with others, wash hands frequently
  • All visitors are expected to wear a mask. If you are unable to wear a mask, you must conduct your visit outside.
• Your visit is no longer limited to two hours however, Sholom is required to manage the number of visitors in each building so you may be asked to wait. If there is a high demand for visits we may ask that your visit be limited to accommodate all visitors.
• The number of visitors per resident is limited to the visitors being able to maintain infection control guidelines such as physical distancing within the space that they are in.
• If your family member has a roommate, we ask that you pre-arrange your visit with social services so that the appropriate space can be coordinated.
• For assisted living and skilled nursing centers, you cannot join meal service, activities or visit in common areas. Visits must occur in resident rooms or outdoors.
• If you are sick, stay home

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