LEADINGAGE MA MEMBERS RESPOND TO COVID-19

 

As providers of essential services to the most vulnerable among us, LeadingAge MA members are working hard everyday to prepare for and respond to the threat of COVID-19.  Here you will find a growing compilation of innovative ideas our members have found to manage some of the most pressing challenges that have arisen as a result of the pandemic. 

Workforce:

  • Offering tiered incentive pay (bonus) for employee attendance 
  • Offering additional pay to employees who take on additional shifts or hours
  • Supplying staff members with toilet paper and hand sanitizer to take home
  • Re-purposing staff to fill needs in areas of resident engagement and meal delivery
  • Staggering worker schedules and utilizing work-from- home when possible to ensure a pool of healthy workers are available when needed

Dining and Resident Supply Needs:

  • Working with small local grocers and stores to provide delivery of essential items and food to residents
  • Supplying residents with order-ahead take-out meals from the dining room

PPE and Facility Supply Needs:

  • Looking to non-traditional vendors for supplies, for example office supply companies for disposable smocks to supplement gowns
  • Asking for donations of supplies from local companies like hair salons, restaurants or construction companies
  • Contacting universities about equipment from closed labs
  • Working with Value First to find available supplies

Resident and Family Engagement:

  • Having Marketing staff connect with families
  • Asking friends and families of residents to email messages and photos to print for residents
  • Doing activities with residents standing in their doorways (singing, exercise, etc)
  • Using CC TV to broadcast exercise sessions and other activities
  • Handing out activity packages for residents to keep
  • Using iPad/Tablet to help residents connect with family, and using Siri/Google (voice assistant) to make the call to minimize contact with the iPad/Tablet
  • Having entertainment for residents outside their windows (concerts, etc)
  • Implementing an anonymous "Non-compliance Report Submission Box" where resident can submit reports of others they see acting out of compliance with social distancing and other safety protocols