SAFETY FIRST FOR SENIORS

Jenner’s Pond, Kennett Friends Home enact strict protocols to protect residents

Long-term facilities for senior citizens are rising to the occasion to keep their residents safe during the global war against novel coronavirus.

On Thursday, the Department of Human Services implemented a series of proactive measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and protect the health of residents and staff at Pennsylvania’s state centers, state hospitals, youth development centers and youth forestry camps.

Visitors are currently prohibited from all state center and state hospital campuses, youth development centers and youth forestry camps, and the policy will remain in place until guidance from public health professionals changes. Exceptions to the policy are in place for visits of medical necessity, visits by probation departments or legal counsel, and family or clergy visits approved by the facility director. Residents of state hospitals maintain their rights to attorney consultations. Any visitor permitted will be screened for health concerns upon their arrival.

“The Wolf administration is committed to serving vulnerable populations every day, and that commitment will not waiver in the face of an emergency,” said DHS Secretary Teresa Miller.

Two of these establishments are the Friends Home in Kennett Square borough and Jenner’s Pond Retirement Community in Penn Township.

Friends Home, on State Street in downtown Kennett Square, was established 122 years ago in 1898.

Starting on March 3, Friends Home implemented extensive procedures for cleaning. On March 10, all outside trips were canceled, all inside entertainment was postponed, and all visitations were suspended, Christine McDonald, executive director, said Tuesday.

While Friends Home is self-sufficient, one item that is scarce is an emergency supply of masks, McDonald said.

“We’ve just been staying amongst ourselves,” McDonald said. “Our residents are able to be a part of the group activities within our home here, but we don’t have anybody from the outside coming in. … And that’s been tough.”

Everyone can still dine together during meals and take part in the existing programs. There is also inhouse entertainment with musical performances by a staff member.

Family members are connecting with loved ones with virtual meetings via FaceTime.

The home is setting up times for residents to visit with family members through the windows of the facility’s outside patio.

The assisted living facility has 20 senior citizen residents in its nursing home, 37 under personal care and two individuals live in independent apartments.

Friends Home invited children to send letters.

“It would be great for some of the kids home from school to send notes that we can distribute so people here can get some mail,” McDonald said. “That would be nice.”

Residents can still sit together on the outside porch sans visitors.

“We’re trying to get out and use our outside space as much as possible,” she said.

Founded in 1998, Jenner’s Pond Retirement Community in Penn Township facility recently celebrated its 20th anniversary.

“Our population is vulnerable,” said Barbara Croyle, executive director.

She called the crisis a very fluid situation.

Jenner’s Pond comprises three parts: independent living; assisted living ,which includes memory care; and a skilled and rehabilitation unit. It is home to 350 independent residents; 55 people are residents of assisted living; and 25 people live in the skilled community.

The facility stopped allowing visitors earlier in March.

“We have apartments and cottages,” Croyle said about the independent living residents. “If you are in the cottage, we can’t keep you from having visitors. We strongly suggest that you do not have visitors.

“There are no visitors allowed in the apartments because of the number of people who are in that communal area.”

When cottage residents come into the dining area shared with apartment residents, they are first screened, meaning their temperatures are taken and they’re asked a few questions including inquiries on recent foreign travel.

“We’re being very vigilant,” Croyle said.

She said the residents have been “wonderful,” adding, “They understand the need for caution.”

Small group activities are still allowed, but no outside entertainers are presently allowed into the community.

Like the Friends Home, Jenner’s Pond is self-sufficient.

“We don’t need any money,” Croyle said. “Compassion and prayers would be fine.

“We’re being abundantly cautious.”

Communal dining is still happening, but Jenner’s Pond is staggering the number of people who eat together and separating the tables. Normally, the residents like to enjoy meals together in large groups.

She said the U.S. Post Office will no longer deliver correspondence to residential mailboxes. Now the mailman drops off the mail, and staff is required to distribute them.

Family members are communicating through a host of sources, including via Skype, FaceTime, telephone and looking through the window at a social distance.

Although loved ones cannot visit in-person at assisted living facilities across Pennsylvania, that isn’t stopping many of them from going the extra mile to show much they care.

Jenner’s Pond resident James Chester saw his family through a window Wednesday morning. He was inside his room seated as they stood, with smiles on their faces, outside on the grass. Chester’s visitors included daughter Kady Wolfington, granddaughter Madison Wolfington and son-in-law Tom Schindler.

“We do have a lot of family members who hang outside their windows,” Croyle said. “It’s a very stressful time for family members.”

As much as possible, Jenner’s Pond is trying to communicate with family members by phone several times a week to let them know everyone is OK.

“We do want the families to know that they are not forgotten,” she said.

To lighten the mood, Jenner’s Pond is bringing special treats to seniors, including surprise ice cream deliveries.

Jenner’s Pond is home to many veterans. Croyle said the average age of residents is 84. One resident is 100.

To help others, Jenner’s Pond has a food recovery program and earlier this week sent items to the Divine Sent Food Cupboard in Oxford.

“There are 23 long-term care facilities in Chester County,” Chester County Commissioner Josh Maxwell said Tuesday. The largest facility, with 275 beds, is Pocopson Home, which the county owns.

According to the 2010 U.S. Census, nearly 10,000 people in Chester County were 85 or older. More than 20,000 people were 75 to 84. Nearly 35,000 people were 65 to 74. Almost 30,000 people were 60 to 64.

This represents 20% of the total population in the county.

On Wednesday afternoon during a press conference by the Pennsylvania Health Department, Dr. Rachel Levine advised residents to continue to wash their hands as one key tool to combat coronavirus.

“Stay home, stay calm and stay safe,” Levine said.

All independent residents at assisted living facilities, from the apartments of Friends Home to the cottages of Jenner’s Pond, can travel freely. Both establishments provide meals to these independent residents so those self-isolating are not wanting for food. However, because of the crisis, they can no longer access the main community centers.

Another commonality for both retirement communities is the lack of face masks. They have them but not abundant stockpiles, which might become necessary if this emergency worsens.

Notes of kindness

The community is invited to compose notes of kindness and compassion to senior citizens living in self-isolation at Friends Home at Jenner’s Pond.

To write to senior citizens, students can mail letters to the following addresses:

Friends Home in Kennett, 147 W. State St., Kennett Square, PA 19348.

Jenner’s Pond Retirement Community has three addresses depending on where the residents live.

To reach those who are assisted living residents, write to the Ruston Residence at Jenner’s Pond, 2000 Greenbriar Lane, West Grove, PA 19390.

To those skilled living residents, write to the Preston Residence, 2000 Greenbriar Lane, West Grove, PA 19390.

To those living independently but alone, write to Jenner’s Pond, 2000 Greenbriar Lane, West Grove, PA 19390.

For help with food and supplies and information on the crisis, call Chester County Aging Services at 610-344-6350.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Jenner’s Pond resident James Chester communicates to his family Wednesday morning in Penn Township through a window. Showing how much they care are, from left, his daughter Kady Wolfington, his granddaughter Madison Wolfington and his son-in-law Tom Schindler. Retirement communities like Jenner’s Pond, a Simpson Senior Services community, are taking precautions during the national crisis by limiting visitations.