Dear Residents, Family, Employees, Volunteers, and Friends of MHCO,
The Board and Leadership of MHCO have committed to keeping you up-to-date regarding the spread of COVID-19 and our corporate response to it. In the past few days there have been 3 confirmed cases in Cuyahoga County, Ohio and one case to the west in Adams County, Indiana.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO) and Center for Medicare-Medicaid Services (CMS) have published a great deal of information regarding social distancing as a primary way to limit the spread of this virus. Yesterday afternoon (March 10), Gov. DeWine held a press conference to reinforce this strategy for limiting the virus across Ohio. We continue to follow the recommendations from CDC and CMS, as well as our state and local health departments and professional elder care associations.
We are receiving professional recommendations to screen and/or limit visitors to residential care facilities. Already we have implemented our influenza reduction protocols within our facilities through increased hand washing, disinfecting surfaces and symptom surveillance.
Beginning immediately, we will adopt the following measures:
• Continuing to ask all people to forgo visiting if they have had potential exposure to COVID-19. See posted criteria at doors.
• Employees to all campuses will be screened for symptoms upon arrival to work,
• Visitors, Volunteers, Villa Residents, and members of the public will be screened at entry into Hilty Home, Mennonite Memorial Home, and Willow Ridge, and Maple Crest and provided hand hygiene,
• Home Health staff will use recommended precautions for in home client visits,
• Public events scheduled at MHCO campuses will be cancelled through March 31, 2020.
These precautions are essential to protecting the residents and clients entrusted to our care who are at higher risk from COVID-19. We appreciate your part in keeping them as safe as possible.
We anticipate that circumstances will change within the next few weeks and we will continue to follow recommendations by the Ohio Department of Health, CDC, and WHO in responding to the challenges ahead.
Thank you for the efforts you have already made to observe influenza prevention practices and social distancing. Thank you in advance for your cooperation with increased protocols in social distancing in the weeks ahead.
We will continue to keep you informed and will maintain up-to-date postings on the MHCO website: mhcoliving.org.
I offer this prayer for the time ahead —
God of the present moment, God who in Jesus stills the storm and soothes the frantic heart; bring hope and courage to all who wait or work in uncertainty. Bring hope that you will make us the equal of whatever lies ahead. Bring us courage to endure what cannot be avoided, for your will is health and wholeness; you are God, and we need you.
This we pray in Christ our Lord. Amen.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Kelly, Chair
MHCO Board of Trustees