Charter House - Health, Safety, and Practice

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Apr 1, 2020 | Leslie Wallenfeldt | @lwallenfeldt

At Charter House our residents come first.  Knowing that these are uncertain times, we have changed much of what we do on a daily basis, as many have, to be sure that our residents and staff remain healthy and safe.  We create procedures and change them as needed based on the most up to date information from the CDC, CMS, MN Department of Health, and the procedures set forth by Mayo Clinic.  This often means that we make daily changes in how we both live and work.  The following is a list of what Charter House has done and is currently doing to ensure the best possible care to our community:

• We have instituted a daily screening process for staff.  Our staff monitor themselves at home and take their temperatures twice daily.  Thermometers have been provided to staff.  When we arrive at work, we stand in line, 6 feet apart, to be screened by nursing staff, answering questions about symptoms and receiving another temperature check.  This information is recorded for tracking.
• All staff now wear face masks while working.  We have been given specified training on fit and proper mask usage.
• No visitors are permitted in Charter House; special circumstances may be considered such as a resident in an active stage of passing away.
• Elevator usage has been limited to 2 passengers per trip.
• Our dining areas are closed to residents and we are delivering meals to their doors.  Our residents are given the opportunity to order a light breakfast, a light lunch, or a hot lunch from our formal dining venue, and a hot dinner from our formal dining venue.
• Grocery delivery has been instituted from our in-house convenience store.  Residents are given an order form with available items and their order is delivered to their doors.
• We have a newly formed Wellness Connection program that offers residents the chance to receive a phone call daily from staff to check on their well being, and to report any items or services they need.
• Our Charter House Chaplain, Reverend Rachel Hanson, is prerecording and streaming Sunday Vespers.  Vespers services can be viewed on the new YouTube channel that Charter House has set up to show snippets of life inside Charter House.
• Our fitness instructors conduct exercises on the floors twice per week at a safe social distance with residents stepping just outside of their apartment doors.
• To limit outsiders in our building, all mail, package, and newspaper delivery has been taken on by Charter House staff.  It is sorted and delivered directly to the residents in the mail holder outside their doors.
• Coffee remains an important part of our residents' lives and we're providing a "coffee trolley" that comes around twice per day with hot beverages and snacks.  Residents are given a card to place outside their door indicating their choice to have a visit from the trolley or to have the trolley move on without stopping.
• A library cart is available to our residents to check out books and magazines and even request specific titles.  We have hundreds of books to choose from and a significant selection of large print books as well.
• We have pulled together a DVD library at our Resident Service Center.  Residents have a list of over 220 titles which they can request and have delivered to them.
• We are encouraging our residents to stay inside their apartments, connect virtually with friends and family, and stay at least 6 feet apart in any distantly social situation.
• Charter House has set up two important phone lines.  The first gives daily recorded announcements for residents, family, and staff.  The second is the Silver Line which any resident can call to be able to simply chat with another resident or volunteer should they want to reach out while isolating.

For the latest information, check back to our Charter House page on Mayo Clinic Connect, to the Blog page on our website, or find us on Facebook by searching for Charter House - Mayo Clinic Retirement Living.