To Whom It May Concern,
Resident and employee health and well-being is our top priority. A Banyan Residence has been closely monitoring the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak as its impact continues to spread. Given the recent developments, A Banyan Residence bans all visits on the property except for staff and essential medical personnel only with immediate effect. We are also banning residents from leaving the property except for doctor appointments that are critically necessary. Any appointments that can be rescheduled should make an effort to do so.
This is a decision that was not taken lightly but was made in the best interest of keeping our community safe. We are allowing staff and essential medical personnel because of the advanced training they have received in the prevention of spread of communicable diseases. Should a non-authorized visitor complete the same training in prevention of disease and provide us with proof and adhere to our policies on-site, we will allow them on the property.
To the family members of our residents, we understand it is difficult to imagine not being able to visit, but this is a step we see as necessary because of the ramifications should we find ourselves underprepared. If you would like to take your loved one home until visitors are allowed back on the property, we will allow it but strongly advise against it. We will help provide access through remote audio/video tools for families to visit with residents.
As it relates to changes made on the property, we will continue with our original Prevention and Containment plan (attached). Given our diligence and thoroughness in the education/training of our staff and cleanliness practices, we are not banning group dining or group activities. We aim to provide the best quality of life for our community as possible, and given there are no symptoms of any respiratory infection among our residents, we will continue with our usual daily resident programs. Should this change, as we highlighted in our original Prevention and Containment plan, we will then halt group gatherings and shift towards Containment rather than Prevention.
We appreciate the understanding of our partners and families. Our diligence thus far has been pro-active in nature and preventative. This action is a critical step in ensuring we can maintain a healthy atmosphere for our residents and staff. We will continue to update our families and partners as the situation develops and aim to have visitors as soon as it is safe to do so. Should you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to my office at 941-412-4748.
Blake Anderson
Administrator
