Coronavirus

CDC Vaccine Information

Iowa Department of Public Health defines an outbreak as three residents that test positive within a 14 day period.

We now have a tablet in each household for zoom calls! Thank you for all your gifts to the COVID-19 fund. This helped us purchase more during this time!

We are using Zoom for video chats.  You will need to download Zoom on your computer, smart phone, or tablet, however you do not need to create an account.

Below are the steps for preparing for the video chat:

1. Download Zoom from www.zoom.us/download
2. Sign up for a time slot through Sign Up Genius by clicking the ‘sign up here’ button at the top of this page. 
3. You will receive a confirmation email from info@signupgenius.com with the zoom meeting ID and password.
4. When it is time for your video chat, open the zoom app and enter in the zoom meeting ID and password that was sent to you in your confirmation email
5. ** Make sure you allow/accept use of audio and video on your device – or else you won’t be able to see and hear each other!

Yes. Prior to entering the building at the beginning of each shift, employees complete COVID-19 Screening Checklist and have a temperature check. Any signs or symptoms as identified on the form will disqualify the individual from accessing the building and these will be reviewed by management. In this incident, the employee will then be tested for COVID-19 by a Bethany Life nurse. Employees are to report any testing or further symptoms to their manager. Vaccinated Staff do not have regular testing unless they are symptomatic, exposed, or we experience an outbreak however unvaccinated staff are tested twice a week to ensure the residents safety. Exceptions to this can be made with a documented differential diagnosis or physician’s note.

The Employee will remain off of work until health department or CDC guidelines for returning to work are met (whichever is greater). As of 11/24/2020 the requirements are posted and as follows:
– 10 days after onset of symptoms
– 24 hours without fever of 100.0 or greater
– Improvement in symptoms OR
– 2 negative COVID-19 PCR tests greater than 24 hours apart

1st person exposure must be reported and will be considered for restriction to the
facility. Exposure is defined as follows:
– Live with someone with positive COVID-19 test
– Provided care for someone with COVID-19 without proper PPE
– Had close contact with person who is positive for COVID19 (within 6 feet for greater than 15 minutes)

Residents are tested if they show symptoms or have been exposed. 

We currently have sufficient supplies to meet needs. We maintain a 1 to 2 month supply of PPE, sanitizers, and cleaners and are in communication with emergency services and vendors to ensure continued adequate supplies.

All staff must wear masks while working in care areas with residents. A full complement of PPE is required for staff caring for residents who’ve been placed in isolation for any reason. Residents are encouraged to wear masks in all resident common areas and activities. 

Residents who had direct contact with the staff member are individually notified as well as their primary contacts. In addition, all Bethany Life residents and staff are notified when a positive COVID-19 diagnosis is received. 

Each week an e-mail is sent out from our CEO, Betsy Warburton to the family member contact. At the beginning we were calling all the family members when a positive case was reported.  We quickly realized the time this took (over 13 hours each call) when we have over 100 residents. We understand a recorded call is not as personal but having the nurses/staff on the floor taking care of the residents was our first priority. If a resident was in direct contact or having symptoms a personal call is made.  

If your loved has a telephone or other communication device, we encourage you to have regular contact with them. For those residents without a telephone, our Life Enrichment team is doing its best to offer video-chat calls for residents and families on a regular basis.

We are using Zoom for video chats.  You will need to download Zoom on your computer, smart phone, or tablet, however you do not need to create an account. 

Below are the steps for preparing for the video chat:

1. Download Zoom from www.zoom.us/download
2. Sign up for a time slot through Sign Up Genius by clicking the ‘sign up here’ button at the top of this page.
3. You will receive a confirmation e-mail from info@signupgenius.com with the zoom meeting ID and password.
4. When it is time for your video chat, open the zoom app and enter in the zoom meeting ID and password that was sent to you in your confirmation email. 
5. ** Make sure you allow/accept use of audio and video on your device – or else you won’t be able to see and hear each other!

We are pleased to share with you the new visitation guidance from the CMS that now takes into consideration COVID-19 vaccination. It is very exciting that loved ones can now come into the building to see residents. We do ask that you follow our guidelines to keep all residents and staff safe. Surgical masks are required and you will need to check in and have your temperature taken by our staff. We are asking that you spend time with your loved one on their household and not in the common areas as much as possible. At this time only residents are allowed at the Sunday church service. We will update you when family members and the community can attend. We appreciate your patience as we make changes to our policies.  As always we will continue to update you here and on social media.

Assisted Living
Timberland Village and Cedar Place Assisted Living: Please contact Cindi Martin at 733-6500 for Timberland and Kristi Eley at 733-9092 at Cedar place for more information.

Bethany Life is providing communications on both our website and social media pages to inform the public of changes to visiting guidelines and operations. Visit us on Facebook for the most recent COVID-19 communications. 

We are providing in-person tours and informational services over the phone. Please call Morgan at 515.509.6269 for additional information regarding our communities.

Chapel Services are being held for residents only. Pastor David Burling is here each Sunday and has two services during this time. He is often seen singing to the residents and having meaningful conversations with them on their individual households. 

The Wellness Center is currently closed due to staffing. Some of the equipment has been moved to the individual households in order to keep your loved one active! 

The salon is currently open.

Many of you are asking how you can help. Here are a few ways you can individually make a difference:

Give to the Bethany Life Employee Appreciation Fund. This fund pays for many of the special events and gifts of appreciation to our staff. The gifts we receive help us celebrate our staff and their love for the older adults in their care. https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/BethanyLifeFoundation/EmployeeAppreciation.html

Share gratitude and encouragement with our dedicate staff. Email a message, photo or video message and we will share it. https://www.bethanylife.org/thanking-our-staff/

Pray for our residents and their families, our staff and for us all to stay healthy and safe.