Aberdeen Heights
AUGUST 2020
Aberdeen Heights earns zero-deficiency rating for focused infection control survey The Glen at Aberdeen Heights earned a zero-deficiency rating for a focused infection control survey conducted on behalf of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in June. Aberdeen Heights is a PMMA (Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America) senior living community.
Barbara Jordan loves her health care workers!
Residents produce music video to show appreciation for staff
The coronavirus pandemic might have given the world a bushel of lemons, but the staff and residents at Aberdeen Heights have used their community’s resources to make enough lemonade to share. Blessed with several talented musicians among our community’s staff and residents, an idea began to grow of how to leverage those skills into something fun and exciting for everyone. “I saw it on the local news channel a few months ago, when COVID started,” said Susan Press, Independent Living Life Enrichment Director. “It featured an organization called 6FTCloser [Six Feet Closer], and they MUSIC - continued on page 2
Senior living communities are surveyed annually by their licensing agency for compliance of regulations established by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and CMS. These regulations are designed to ensure a standard of care is met. By meeting this standard, senior living communities are able to renew their licenses and continue to provide care. CMS announced in March that priority would be given to focused infection control surveys and annual surveys would be delayed in an effort to ensure nursing homes were prepared to respond to the threat of disease caused by the 2019 RATING - continued on page 4
Aberdeen Heights | A PMMA COMMUNITY
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were gathering videos of people thanking essential workers. I asked about having our residents do this.” The company collects and produces videos that help support and thank essential workers throughout the country for their efforts during the pandemic. From there, this project grew to include several residents and staff members in the Aberdeen Heights community. Life Enrichment Director David Evans played guitar, resident Rita Seiler helped on piano, and lead custodial services staff member Antonio Moore offered to play bass guitar and lead the vocals. “The choir director wanted to do a very melodic style of ‘Stand by Me,’” Antonio said. “They had heard a group of us playing in the multipurpose room, and they happened to pull me out to the curb and asked if I’d help.” Staff recorded video clips of residents holding up balloons and signs thanking health care workers for the dedication and resilience amidst the challenges of COVID-19. “It’s been a most difficult time to be away from our families these past four or five months,” Rita said. “It became very lonely, and we’re social people. All the activities we had, the people who came in to entertain us,
From left, David Evans, Rita Seiler and Don Otto. they are not allowed in. You miss the touch. David did a recording with our help here, and we played and presented the staff with ‘Stand by Me,’ because they have stood by us through all of this.” Staff recorded various clips throughout the community, featuring a number of residents offering their appreciation for the essential workers who have been so helpful during this trying time. The clips have been sent to 6FTCloser for editing, and the finished product will be shared on the Aberdeen Heights website and Facebook page, as well as throughout the community. “They can’t wait to see it,” Susan said. “We might do a virtual meeting and put it on that.”
Bob Sextro holds up a sign of appreciation. MUSIC - continued on page 3
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ABERDEEN HEIGHTS A PMMA COMMUNITY
314-909-6010 ◆ Fax: 913-599-3810 505 Couch Ave. Kirkwood, MO 63122-5536 AberdeenSeniorLiving.com
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COMMUNITY MATTERS | August 2020
Community Matters
is published monthly for residents and friends of Aberdeen Heights by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America, Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
To submit or suggest articles: llandy@PMMA.org Rick Cumberland, executive director Lily Landy, health care administrator David Evans, life enrichment director
OUR MISSION: To provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.
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The collaborative effort provided a much-needed distraction and gave everyone a chance to enjoy a little fun in the outdoors—complete with a little singing and dancing. The independent living crew held four
practices before handing off the able to provide more light-hearted camera to The Glen for their chance entertainment in the future. Antonio said his trio is working on to practice and record. a musical set that can be performed “Everyone had fun with it,” Antonio in the community, and Susan said said. “We had fun with it.” she is already thinking about the The video also sparked the idea next way to help engage the talents that this homemade band might be and creativity of residents and staff. ◆
Carol McSweeney celebrates scrubs-wearing heroes.
Mina Hodzic shares an important message for health care workers.
David Evans and Antonio Moore perform the background song for the video.
COVID-19 updates continue
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, you can count on regular communication from your PMMA community and PMMA leadership. PMMA’s President and CEO Bruce Shogren’s latest letter to residents and families is posted to your community website, AberdeenSeniorLiving.com/covid-19. In this issue of Community Matters, you’ll find an explanation of the phases of reopening and a flow chart showing all the entities contributing to our reopening plans.
Aberdeen Heights | A PMMA COMMUNITY
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ABERDEEN HEIGHTS A PMMA COMMUNITY
505 Couch Ave. Kirkwood, MO 63122 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Our Mission: to provide quality senior services guided by Christian values Like us on Facebook to stay updated on news and events.
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novel coronavirus (COVID-19). All nursing homes will receive a focused infection control survey by July 31, 2020. The focused infection control surveys hone in on a nursing community’s adherence to Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and CMS guidance for infection control practices to prevent disease at the community.
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Communities are assessed on staff and resident education on hand hygiene and coughing/sneezing etiquette, cleaning, screening of employees and residents, effective transmission-based precautions, proper use/discarding of personal protective equipment, and signage at entrances and resident rooms. It also examines policies and emergency preparedness related to a pandemic or outbreak. “Every day I see our employees go
COMMUNITY MATTERS | August 2020
above and beyond in the care they provide,” said Rick Cumberland, executive director. “This recognition is tangible proof of our commitment to providing quality senior care and services based on Christian values. The way you want to live is more than a tagline for The Glen at Aberdeen Heights; it is a culture built on the understanding of compassionate service to seniors —a foundation of trust for families and their loved ones.” ◆