“Being proactive” is the best way to approach any challenge in life. With the COVID-19 pandemic, proactive steps will save lives. Since doctors don’t yet have a cure, proactive preventive steps are the best available strategy.
At The Arbor Company, our priority is the health and safety of our residents and staff, so we take matters like the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic very seriously.
We have put many proactive measures in place to keep our residents as safe as possible during this outbreak.Find out the latest. We’re not permitting any visitors until further notice – with the exception of extreme or emergency situations – and we’re screening all health care providers who enter our communities. We’ve implemented additional cleaning procedures and adjusted our dining room operations to help reduce the threat of infection.
You and your family can take proactive steps to protect yourselves, too. Here are some guidelines we’ve provided for our independent living residents. They’re applicable to anyone who wants to stay safe:
Know the disease.
COVID-19 is a new strain of coronavirus, part of the family of viruses that causes respiratory illness, including the common cold. A person with COVID-19 will experience symptoms from 2 to 14 days after infection. Symptoms range from mild to severe, and can include fever, cough and shortness of breath. At this point in time, experts believe that COVID-19 spreads person-to-person through a cough, sneeze or any close contact. (Because this is a new disease, scientists around the globe are racing to learn more.)
If you’re not sick, hold off on the mask.
The U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not recommend wearing a face mask to protect yourself from COVID-19 or other respiratory diseases. However, if you’re sick with COVID-19 or being evaluated for possible infection, wear a face mask around other people to help prevent spreading the disease. Similarly, if you’re taking care of someone with COVID-19 (or being evaluated for COVID-19), a mask will help protect you while you are in close contact.
Have a plan if you experience symptoms.
If you have a fever, cough or shortness of breath, contact your doctor. Avoid going to the doctor’s office if possible; call first for instructions. Arbor community residents should stay in their residence and alert the community’s executive director. Even if you don’t suspect COVID-19, stay home if you’re sick for at least 24 hours after a fever is gone.
Keep your hands clean.
Wash them often using soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If you’re not able to wash them, alcohol-based hand sanitizer is the next best option. Choose a sanitizer that’s at least 60 percent alcohol. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Cover a cough or sneeze with a tissue, then wash your hands.
Disinfect!
Clean and disinfect any surfaces that people touch often: phones, keyboards, handrails and doorknobs.
Stay home.
Avoid large crowds. If you must go to the grocery store, venture out in the early morning or other times when it’s not busy. At restaurants, use the drive-through and opt for take-out rather than eating in. Work from home if you can. If you do go out, practice “social distancing” – staying at least 6 feet away from others, avoiding handshakes or hugs.
Practice good health habits.
While always a good idea, it’s especially important now to get plenty of sleep, stay physically active, drink lots of fluid and eat nutritious food.
