11/09/2020

Today's COVID-19 Report: Monday, November 9, 2020

Monday, November 9, 2020

Here are the latest need-to-know updates for Monday, November 9 regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In Today's Report

• LeadingAge to debut Pandemic Playbook on today's call
• COVID-19 Notice of PPE Shipment to nursing homes
  
• Annual meeting Life Plan Community session track
• CDC offers suggestions on safe holiday gatherings and travel
• Still haven't gotten your fill of politics? Post-election briefing posted
• LeadingAge Need to Know

LeadingAge to debut Pandemic Playbook on today's call

The aging services field has learned so much about dealing with the pandemic. Why not benefit from lessons learned by 700+ LeadingAge members? LeadingAge has developed a Pandemic Playbook as a diverse collection of resources to support long-term services and supports during this unprecedented time. Some highlights of the Pandemic Playbook include:

• Using communications templates for clear messaging and time-saving advantages when communicating with staff, residents, the media;
• Navigating reopening and workforce issues and seeing how LTSS providers have maintained staffing levels and rewarded staff dedication;
• Engaging the community and leadership team to emerge successfully from crisis management situations;
• Offering guidance and strategies to mitigate the financial impact of a pandemic, including rising expenses and dropping income and occupancy.

Members can catch up on the Playbook during today’s 3:30 PM call. If you haven’t joined LeadingAge for the Coronavirus update calls, you can register here. LeadingAge will also offer more members ideas and examples of how to handle Thanksgiving and other upcoming holidays.

COVID-19 Notice of PPE Shipment to nursing homes

Starting the week of November 9, the Ohio Department of Health's (ODH) Receipt, Stage, Store (RSS) warehouse will begin distributing an allotment of one (1) case of medical and one (1) case of non-medical gowns to each of Ohio's registered nursing homes.  The direct delivery of these PPE items is intended to support the sustainment of the nursing home's PPE needs.

Shipments

• Nursing homes will receive a direct shipment of PPE via UPS shipment.
• Shipment tracking information will be emailed to the point of contact for each facility receiving a shipment through UPS.

PPE Temperature Control

With fluctuating fall weather and in order to maintain maximum efficacy and shelf life expectancy, PPE storage must meet the following requirements:

• Remain in their original packaging until needed
• Store in a hazard-free environment (clean air)
• Keep away from direct sunlight
• Store in a climate-controlled area, with humidity and temperature within the acceptable range specified on the packaging
• Normal climatic conditions should not exceed +86 °F (+30 °C) and not exceed 80% Relative Humidity (RH)

If members have any questions, please contact the Ohio Department of Health at RSS@odh.ohio.gov.

CDC offers suggestions on safe holiday gatherings and travel

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers the following considerations to help protect individuals and their families, friends, and communities from COVID-19 during the upcoming holidays. Celebrating virtually or with members of one's own household poses low risk for spread. In-person gatherings pose varying levels of risk.

Included in the article are highlights on:

• Hosting a holiday gathering
• Attending a holiday gathering
• Holiday travel
• What to do during a celebration
• After the celebration

The considerations in the article linked above are meant to supplement—not replace—any Ohio health and safety laws, rules, and regulations with which holiday gatherings must comply.

Annual meeting Life Plan Community session track

LeadingAge Ohio Life Plan Communities (LPC) are encouraged to review the Annual Meeting Session Track for Life Plan Communities. The session track identifies sessions throughout the Annual Meeting that will appeal to the unique and diverse needs, interests and scope of LPC members. Again this year, LeadingAge has a special networking event just for Single-Site LPCs, which features a fun and interactive Dining Services Showcase.

Still haven't gotten your fill of politics? Post-election briefing posted

Last week, LeadingAge Ohio hosted an exclusive post-election briefing for members of its Board of Directors, Advocacy Committee, and policy subcommittees: the SNF/AL Subcommittee, Affordable Housing Subcommittee, Home Health, Hospice & HCBS Subcommittee and the brand-new Adult Day Subcommittee. The briefing was hosted by LeadingAge Ohio lobbyists Bridget McAuliffe and David Paragas of Barnes & Thornburg, who walked attendees through the outcomes of the 2020 general election, which districts were in the spotlight as likely to flip, and which districts are still too close to call.

Members are invited to listen to the call recording available on the LeadingAge Ohio website.

LeadingAge Need to Know: COVID-19 – November 9, 2020

LeadingAge shares the latest coronavirus news and resources with members twice each weekday. This morning's update featured an announcement on the Pandemic Playbook and a reminder the Annual Meeting starts TOMORROW!

Check out the full report here.

Questions

Please send all questions to COVID19@leadingageohio.org. Additionally, members are encouraged to visit the LeadingAge Ohio COVID-19 Working Group facebook group to pose questions to peers and share best practices. LeadingAge is continuing its daily calls for all members.  To participate in these daily online updates, members should register here.  

LeadingAge Ohio is working to ensure that the information in our daily alerts, on our website, and all coronavirus-related communications is as accurate as possible. However, LeadingAge Ohio makes no guarantees about the accuracy of the information.