Dear Sholom residents/tenants and family members,

This is a very special time of year in our community and we know the COVID-19 pandemic has made this time different than any other time in recent memory. Our continued thoughts, prayers and good wishes remain with everyone in our community and around the world.

Today, we are saddened to announce a positive test of COVID-19 has been diagnosed at Sholom Home West on the Ackerberg Campus in St. Louis Park. This is the first positive diagnosis in our care center. While HIPPA laws and best practices don’t allow for specifics of any one person’s health information to be shared, we can share that this resident is now in the hospital and stable. The resident was residing alone in a private room and was not active outside this space. This resident was immediately moved into isolation once testing was ordered. The area where the resident resided has been cleaned and sanitized thoroughly per the required guidelines.

Our ongoing priority has been and continues to be to keep everyone in all our sites safe and healthy. We continue to follow the guidance of medical professionals and Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and Sholom leadership continues to meet daily to assess the situation and provide the best possible care and protection using evidence-based practices. Regular updates and information from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) help guide Sholom’s direction and practices.

Our hotline 651-328-2500 and our website www.sholom.com continue to be the best source for the most up-to-date information.

This one resident on the West campus is in addition to the positive COVID-19 report of a resident of our Menorah Plaza building announced on April 6. Again, while HIPAA laws don’t allow for disclosure of personal health care data, this resident is reportedly doing well in the hospital and the resident area has been thoroughly scrubbed and sanitized.

As you know, COVID-19 is a continued threat around the world. We continue to take all precautionary measures to protect residents and staff and have been putting protocols in ahead of need so that we can best manage this situation. Unfortunately, the Center for Disease Control now suggests that 25% of the general population is asymptomatic and contagious. Until we have more surveillance, (testing to identify those with active virus and those with immunity) it will be impossible to keep COVID-19 out of our settings.

In advance of any confirmed cases, we have been making preparations at each Sholom campus. We have designated a specific, specially trained team who will only be working in a localized area at each Sholom campus to provide the best possible care for those who contract COVID-19 that do not need hospitalization. Our team has prepared this area in advance in order to isolate and contain those diagnosed. This area has been stocked with supplies, proper protective equipment and other items so proper care can be provided.

We continue best practices in prevention through: mandatory screenings of staff and other essential individuals; the strict adherence to the no visitation policy and contained movement (staff and resident remain in their buildings and appropriate areas); use of cloth masks by direct care staff as a proactive safety protocol; ongoing reminders to tenants and residents to maintain appropriate social distancing; supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) fulfilling current need as we continue to obtain added supplies; and daily monitoring and planning by executive and clinical staff for all residents/buildings with the support of updates by national, state and local medical professionals and organizations.

The staff at Sholom are truly dedicated, working compassionately and passionately to provide the best care and services to your loved one and we truly appreciate all of your words of kindness and acknowledgement. If you have general questions about the coronavirus related to your loved one, please contact your Nurse Manager or Campus Administrator. We are dedicated to being as responsive and transparent as we are allowed to be.

And while it is easy to overlook some small things, it is important to note that we continue to see little acts of kindness and love that go a long way. Additional donations of books, movies and other items have recently come in and we are grateful for these little pick-me-ups. If you have seen something that brings a smile to a face, let us know. We all need to keep each other positive and uplifted in these days.

Please be mindful that Governor Walz’s stay-at-home order has been extended until May 4 and it may be many more weeks until things look and feel a bit more normal. Please adhere to the guidelines of staying home except for essential reasons. We highly recommend you strictly adhere to these orders. Our staff is dedicated to keeping our residents and fellow staff members safe and healthy, Remember, our lives are in each other’s hands.

Together, we will get through this situation and we thank you for your overwhelming support as we follow the state orders and maintain stringent measures that support the goal of safety and well-being.

Sincerely,

Barbara Klick, RN, MBA, CEO
Ann Thole, SW, LNHA COO

Photo by Fusion Medical Animation on Unsplash