Infection Prevention course has been updated

Our training company has recently updated their Infection Prevention course to reflect the coronavirus. The course addresses both disease prevention and how to safely use PPE.

If you have NOT yet completed the Infection Prevention training course, you were recently sent an invitation to complete the recently revised course. This course needs to be completed by July 31. Additional options to complete this training include 3 in person classroom sessions during July.

July 9 - 9am @ Grand Rapids Office
July 15 - 3pm @ Grand Rapids Office
July 21 - 6pm @ Ionia (location TBD)

Please check your email for more details.

It's birthday week

It’s birthday week in my household. Without going too far into the details, the women in my family seem to like to get pregnant in September. Myself, my mom, her brother and two of my sons were all born in the same week in June. While we don’t have my mother or uncle with us anymore, my cousins and I make a point of continuing their tradition of talking during the magic hour each year when their birthday’s overlap, so they still seem a big part of birthday week.

Such a full week makes it impossible to move from one year to the next without a far amount of attention. So when I recently read an article titled, Why Do Such Elderly People Run America? it caught my attention.

Here’s a quick excerpt:

The generation that once declared not to trust anyone over 30 now appears to trust few under 70, and this is true of both political parties. On the right, Donald Trump is 73, Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell is 78. On the left, Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the House, is 80, while Dianne Feinstein, the ranking member on the Senate judiciary committee, is 86. Joe Biden the likely presidential nominee from the democrats is 77.

Can I just say WOW! I had no idea our leadership was so OLD. I can say that right? Because they really are. But doesn’t it make you think about when is the right time to step aside and bring in the next generation? I don’t know the answer to that, but it is certainly on my mind when events like birthday week come around.

We are so lucky to be surrounded here at Managed Senior Care with beautiful people that have walked a path before us. From our time with them we gain so much. Their stories and experiences enhance my life and bring a richness to my days. It’s one of the reasons I love what we do. The opportunity to give with respect and consideration makes my day.

At the bottom of this newsletter there is a link to both Facebook and Google where you are invited to share why you do what you do. We continue to be given the opportunity to help more and more seniors in our community, but in order to that we need more caregivers like you. Your review of our agency is how we can make sure we get the best people to join our team.

Continue to be cautious and safe as we move into reopening our community. Thank you for all you do.

Meijer Gardens will reopen June 8

Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park will reopen its doors Monday with a ribbon-cutting celebration at the main entry garden. The ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at 6 a.m., and the doors will open to visitors at 9 a.m.

It’s exciting to see things start to open, especially our beautiful outdoor venues like Meijer Gardens. Managed Senior Care has an annual membership to the gardens that is available to any employee to either take their senior for a visit or their own family. If you would like to reserve the pass for a day, just call the office. Both the pass and your employee badge are required for entrance.

Meijers says there will be extensive signage and wayfinding icons to help people social distance. Some of the areas of the main building and outside grounds will remain closed.

For the most current information regarding enhanced safety procedures and a map showing areas that are temporarily closed, visit meijergardens.org/covid.

Phase 4 Reopening and Us

Governor Whitmer Announced Phase 4 of Reopening for Michigan

The Governor announced a lifting of the stay home order and that the rest of Michigan will move into Phase 4 of the MI Safe Restart plan today. This includes restaurants being able to seat customers, large gatherings in outdoor centers and more starting on Monday, June 8. Retailers will be allowed to resume operations on June 4. Read the details here Rescission of Executive Orders 2020-69 and 2020-96

Face masks and social distancing are still required in public and several businesses are still closed, including hair salons. However, we should see a resumption of client medical appointments and procedures, along with access to senior living facilities. I am reading her list to indicate senior centers are still closed, so your senior should check with their center prior to attempting to visit.

It is a very hopeful sign that our medical capacity and the number of cases of Covid-19 in our area are low enough for us to open up our community. We are also very thankful that among the many, many seniors we care for and our caregivers that provide care, we have not had anyone come down with Covid-19. We have been truly blessed.

I also think we were early adopters of several proactive safety steps that influenced our results. We are going to have to continue to follow our safety precautions. I know with the resumption of business and social engagement it is going to seem like the threat is gone, however, our clients are the most vulnerable among us. We must continue to remind ourselves that the precautions and extra steps we take are for their protection.

Therefore, there is no change to our safety procedures.

• The Covid questions will continue to be asked before you work each day, Do not go to work if you feel sick..

• Face masks still need to be worn and social distancing followed.

• Disinfection protocol will continue at each client home. Clean aprons, hand-washing and cleaning surfaces are still needed.

As always, if you have any questions, please call the office. We are so thankful for your courage and hard work during this trying time and know that we are nothing without you.