Wexner Heritage Village

To our WHV residents, families and friends,

First, I want to thank you for trusting the care of your loved ones to Wexner Heritage Village. It is a privilege to care for our residents each and every day.

These are challenging times when what we hear on the news is quickly becoming everyone’s reality. Please know that today and every day, providing a safe and healthy environment where our residents, staff and families are well cared for is our highest priority.

To help protect our community from the spread of the virus, we are exercising extreme caution to protect those we serve.

EFFECTIVE Friday, March 13, 2020, we are enforcing the following preventative measures 
in accordance with guidelines set forth by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and the other state and federal health officials.

1. Visitation at Wexner Heritage House is limited to only medical personnel and WHV staff.  This means that individuals (family members, volunteers, students, non-essential vendors, etc.) will not be permitted to visit the facilities, except for serious medical conditions. We will also require anyone permitted to enter the building and every employee reporting for their shift, to answer screening questions, which includes assessing for fever. In lieu of visits, we recommend alternative means of communication for people who would otherwise visit, such as a phone call, SKYPE or FaceTime.
2. Only private companions/caregivers who are officially registered to be at the facility will be allowed into the building. They will be subject to the same WHV screening process and agree to abide by all WHV policies and procedures to mitigate the spread of infectious disease. Any private companion/caregiver who does not comply with WHV’s policies will be escorted out of the building and will not be allowed to return.
3. We are temporarily suspending all WHV community events scheduled in our buildings. This pertains to all schools or volunteer groups that may have planned an activity to provide socialization or entertainment for our residents. We are avoiding any activities that involve large crowds. All religious services campus wide, including Shabbos, will be cancelled until further notice. As of today, we do not know if this restriction will be in effect for our Passover celebrations. A lot can change in a month and we will keep you apprised of developments.
4. We are discouraging residents from leaving our community except for medical appointments or other essential business. Residents who do leave the facility will be subject to screening upon their return.
5. Employees and residents are being monitored daily for signs and symptoms of respiratory illness.
6. WHV will immediately halt all non-essential business travel for employees. Employees who must travel for business, or who travel for personal reasons, will be subject to various policies and procedures as suggested by the CDC, including limitations on their return to work for up to 14 days, depending upon the location to which they traveled.

As always, we recommend precautions to avoid exposure to the virus, which are similar to those you would take to avoid the flu:

1. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. 
2. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
3. Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
4. Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash. If tissues aren’t available, cough or sneeze into the inside of your elbow.
5. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
6. If you feel sick with a fever, 100.4 degrees or higher, have a dry cough or experience difficulty breathing or have shortness of breath, you are encouraged to seek immediate medical advice.
7. It is wise to call ahead before going to a doctor’s office or ER and let them know you are coming in as they may have a different protocol for you.
8. STAY HOME WHEN YOU ARE SICK UNTIL YOU HAVE BEEN FEVER-FREE WITHOUT THE USE OF FEVER REDUCING MEDICINE FOR AT LEAST 72 HOURS.

Our Board of Directors and entire team is continually monitoring information provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services (CMS) and the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) to make informed decisions regarding the health and safety of our residents, their families and caregivers as well as our staff and volunteers. We will update families and the website as the situation evolves.

Please know that our primary goal is to keep our residents, your loved ones, our staff, and our communities safe. 

We appreciate your understanding during this difficult time and remind you that in addition to following all government recommended guidelines, we at Wexner Heritage Village, are guided by the Jewish tradition as the Talmud reminds us,
“To save a life is to save the world.” 

Sincerely yours,

Chris Christian

President & Chief Operating Officer
Wexner Heritage Village