Our residents were very accepting on getting the COVID vaccines. Truly, I believe they would have done just about anything to be able to become mask free! We now get to see all their beautiful smiles and it feels more like home to them, our residents are some of the best!

Kim

All of our elders were more than willing to take their COVID series and boosters. Most felt it was their “duty” to get these vaccines to protect themselves, and others. One gentlemen said “Why wouldn’t I get it?” We discussed the COVID vaccine in our resident council and our elders wanted to live around others who were fully vaccinated as well. Moving forward, we made it an admission criteria that all new admits, needed to be fully vaccinated with boosters. Thank you!

Allison Biermann

Our center was able to achieve the 90% resident up to date status with good education to the resident’s family. They understand the importance of vaccines to keep their family members healthy. We also give credit to our local physicians for working so close to us and their prompt response for giving the ok to give vaccines. The local hospital provided us with all the boosters in a quick and easy manner. We feel that our residents are protected against Covid-19 through the vaccination process.

Lori Renz

Our residents welcomed the opportunity to receive the COVID vaccination from the very beginning. They wanted to do their part to help stop the spread of COVID. They received their first COVID vaccination on 12-29-2020. They have continued to welcome the opportunity to receive all the available COVID booster doses to include the Bivalent booster. We provided ongoing education, from the very beginning, to our residents and their family members/POA’s.

Mary Powell

Most of our residents and resident families were excited for residents to get vaccines and be protected against Covid-19. Our pharmacy came to facility multiple times for vaccination clinics. Education continues to be provided to new admissions and their family members on vaccine. We have also seen residents not getting as sick as they did prior to vaccine.

Jodi Julich

We hosted Vaccine clinics for both residents and employees at the beginning of Covid and when each booster was recommended. Prior to the clinics, information was sent to families/POA of our residents along with consent forms. A couple days before the clinics we called POA of any residents we didn’t have consent from and got telephone consent. We explained why the vaccine/booster was important to keep their loved one and others in the facility healthy. When we get new residents, we evaluate their vaccine status prior to admission, and in the admission process they and/or their POA are given education on the vaccine including the EUA, and are asked for consent. Most of the POAs have been very willing to consent.

Cindy Litz

All of our elders were more than willing to take their COVID series and boosters. Most felt it was their “duty” to get these vaccines to protect themselves, and others. One gentlemen said “Why wouldn’t I get it?” We discussed the COVID vaccine in our resident council and our elders wanted to live around others who were fully vaccinated as well. Moving forward, we made it an admission criteria that all new admits, needed to be fully vaccinated with boosters. Thank you!

Laura DeBoer

We have done lots of education and was able to have over 90% of residents to get vaccines. Everyone of the residents and families were on board and want to make sure that we keep it a safe and healthy place for them to live in.

Mary Kenley

From the beginning of the COVID-19 journey, all of our residents were excited for the vaccine to become available. To protect the residents who currently reside in our facility, we do not admit any new residents who are not willing to become up to date on the COVID vaccine.

Sally Berney

Barriers: Our biggest barrier is the number of vaccinations that have been required. Nearly all of our elders received their second monovalent booster, then shortly after, the bivalent booster came out. Elders and family members were more hesitant to receive the bivalent and questioning how many more vaccinations they will need in the future.

Feelings: Everyone is getting tired of restrictions, masking and repeated vaccinations. Continuous education, monitoring and emotional support for elders, family members and staff is ongoing. Our primary goal is to continue to do our best to keep our elders safe and healthy!

Kayla Williams

I was not in this position during the initial part of Covid and vaccinating our residents. However, through out the recent outbreaks that we have had and I have been in this position, I along with residents and other administration feel the individuals that are up to date did have much milder symptoms and shorter outbreak periods.

Jessica Brunken

We called family members of those residents who did not respond to the consent form that was mailed to the family (Families report that they do not always open mail from facility as they think that it is just the weekly update). We continue to ask/educate at least quarterly for those residents that are not up to date.

Donna Taylor

Initially, residents were very excited to get the vaccine. As time has gone and more vaccines have been approved, we have noticed more vaccine hesitancy. We continue to educate and offer vaccines and boosters to all residents when they’re eligible.

Rachel Real

The journey was difficult at times as residents were concerned about vaccine safety or efficacy. Some were also concerned about the potential risk at times. Through education and reassurance we were able to overcome some of these hurdles.

David Deemer

We have had a great vaccine team here at the Villa, we encourage all of our residents to be vaccinated. We talk about it at our Resident counsel meetings, when they are admitted and review them at least monthly to keep all of our residents updated.

Renee Edwards

Residents and Families are ready for the pandemic to be over; they [Residents and families] want to be able to enjoy interactions with friends, family, and staff without restrictions.

Traci Haglund

Rural Nebraska, a lot of people were very for the vaccine in the beginning and now a lot are very against the vaccine. Resident wise, we are above 70%. Staff, we are very low for up to date. We had residents who were up to date die in November 2022. That seemed to increase the negativity against the vaccine. We’ve also had unvaccinated residents test positive with no symptoms.
Having our public health department come in for Covid clinics was very helpful. Residents tend to be in favor. Just continuing education, continuing to ask.

Mackenzie Kulp

We have had in house booster clinics for the residents to attend. This has been very helpful as the residents are able to stay in house and get their booster shots. Family was either very supportive or it was a no right away. We just keep encouraging and educating.

Cherlyn Hunt

When the vaccine first came out, the resident % rate was in the high 90 percentile. Now, it is much harder to get a resident or their POA to consent to another booster. It seems like with each new booster that came out we had less and less of our residents/POA’s that wanted to participate in receiving the vaccination. We continue to offer to each, and every new resident and we educate on the importance of being up to date with the vaccinations.

Rachel Real

Our up-to-date story began as soon as we expected the bivalent formulas to be released. Together with our local health department, we scheduled a clinic time for all parties involved in our clinical care, residents, team members, contract and agency employees. We followed up with another large vaccination clinic about a month later. After that, our local health department has continued to be supportive. They have come out to our facility several times, each time we have another handful of residents to be vaccinated. That is how we have been able to achieve and maintain about 72% Up-To-Date status.

Shelly Enyeart

Our community had a great initial response to the Covid vaccine, with waning interest for each booster. We made personal calls to families, discussed the benefits face to face with residents, and offered rolling dates for opportunities for vaccination. With our remaining supply from residents, we offered boosters to our team as well. Slow and steady wins the race.

Emily Athey

York General Hearthstone is a 127-bed Long Term Care Skilled Nursing Facility. When vaccinations were initially available, we had a wonderful turnout of 97% of our residents choosing to be fully vaccinated. We are currently at 71% of Up-to-Date residents. Our vaccination percentages dropped as additional boosters were being recommended. Some of our residents and families voiced concerns of Covid vaccinations being recommended too frequently. As a facility we continued to offer vaccinations to our new admits who hadn’t received them and periodically reproached other residents and families who had previously declined by providing additional education, one on one conversations and sincerely listening to their concerns and answering any of their questions. As a facility, we stood next to our residents and families as we navigated the continual changes and recommendations associated with COVID-19. They have truly seen and felt what restrictions are like and the majority of them want to be part of the solution.

Resident comment in regards to vaccination:

“I think it’s here to stay and if I had small kids they would get vaccinated also. When I was 19 years old, my brother was diagnosed with Polio. We can look back and see now how important it was for everyone to get the Polio vaccine. While I believe in vaccinations, I feel people are going to make their own choices. We cannot force it upon them anymore. We live in a different world now.”

Heather Steinman