Freedom through Vaccination

Posted: June 18, 2021

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment have released new guidelines allowing senior living communities more freedoms when residents and team members are fully vaccinated. At Someren Glen, we are embracing these additional freedoms with new guidelines for residents and team members in our residential (independent) living, assisted living and skilled nursing neighborhoods.

Residential Living

Residents and team members in our residential (independent) living neighborhoods are following local county and state health directives which allows for optional mask wearing if fully vaccinated.

Currently, residential living residents in Colorado can enjoy all of the same freedoms of the greater community including group dining, programs, travel and welcoming visitors to their apartment homes.

Routine Testing

We no longer have to conduct routine, also known as surveillance, testing of team members or residents in our assisted living and skilled nursing neighborhoods who have left and returned to the community, if they are fully vaccinated. Unvaccinated residents and team members will have to continue with routine testing.

Assisted Living

At Someren Glen, residents living in our assisted living neighborhood who are fully vaccinated do not have to wear a mask and are able to share meals with other vaccinated residents, take part in community-life programs, and take part in outings, all without a mask! Individuals who wish to wear a mask may of course continue to do so due to the proven health benefits.

Residents living in our assisted living neighborhood who are not fully vaccinated will continue to be encouraged to wear a mask for their own protection and practice social distancing when possible. If our county positivity rate goes above 10%, and our community vaccination rate is below 70%, we will have to exclude unvaccinated residents from group programs and outings.

Visitors who are fully vaccinated are no longer required to wear a mask and may take part in group activities and dining. Each person will still need to be screened and we must ask for a copy of your vaccination card. Unvaccinated visitors will still need to wear a mask and may not take part in any activities or dining.

Additionally, we are again able to welcome family pet visitations to our community. Family pets must visit only one resident at a time and avoid unvaccinated residents and team members. If you are interested, please ask about the policy and procedures for pet visits. We can again welcome vaccinated entertainers into our community.

The regulations are similar for team members. Mask wearing for fully vaccinated team members is now optional.

Skilled Nursing

Regulations for skilled nursing neighborhoods have not loosened up as much as they have for assisted living. In general terms, mask wearing must continue for both vaccinated and unvaccinated residents, team members and visitors with a few exceptions:

• Fully vaccinated residents are not required to wear a mask during an activity, outing or while dining with other fully vaccinated residents. However, if an unvaccinated resident or team member joins the group, everyone must put their masks on and socially distance. The same applies for team members when socializing or dining together on a break or during a meeting in our skilled nursing neighborhood.
• Visitors, regardless of vaccination status, must continue to wear a mask. Visitors will continue to be screened and we will gather copies of vaccination cards in preparation for when regulations loosen for skilled nursing and more closely align with those of assisted living.
• Entertainers are able to again come into our skilled nursing neighborhoods much to the delight of residents! As is the case for residents, team members and visitors, entertainers must wear a mask regardless of their vaccination status.

Family pet visitations are allowed if the pet only visits one resident. Pet therapy visitations are still not allowed at this time. Family pets must visit only one resident at a time and avoid unvaccinated residents and team members. If you are interested, please ask about the policy and procedures for pet visits.

We continue to advocate for residents in all levels of living. Balancing health and happiness is our goal as a community and we are communicating these needs to our regulatory agencies.

We appreciate your understanding and patience as we put all of these changes into place.