LeadingAge Pandemic Playbook

Chapter Contents

Lessons Learned (Sorted by Chapter)
Templates, Sample Documents, Toolkits, and Playbooks
Podcasts from LeadingAge Daily Calls and Other Sources
Videos From Providers
Member Ideas & Inspirations Stories

This Appendix is a compilation of resources, mentioned elsewhere in the Pandemic Playbook, from these categories: lessons learned; templates; sample documents, toolkits, and playbooks; podcasts from LeadingAge Daily Calls and other sources; videos from providers; and Member Ideas & Inspirations stories.

Lessons Learned (Sorted by Chapter)

In the midst of an emergency as impactful as a pandemic, we must often act first and reflect later. It’s common for leaders to ask themselves retrospective questions, such as:

Did I act too quickly or too slowly?
What could I have done differently?
Did my approach of choice work as well as I anticipated it would?
How can I improve my responses if a pandemic recurs?

LeadingAge has received numerous “lessons learned” tips from members during the COVID-19 pandemic. The following compilation of lessons, divided below by topic, appear in this Playbook.

Lessons Learned: Clinical Impact and Infection Control

April 6, 2020: Carla Rafferty of Asbury Place Maryville on Coronavirus Policies for Assisted Living, Independent Living, and Skilled Nursing.
May 11, 2020: Neal Buddensiek, M.D., of Benedictine on a Multi-State Provider’s Pandemic Preparation, and Concerns About Testing
May 15, 2020: Carol Silver-Elliott of The Jewish Home Family on Fighting COVID-19 in the New Jersey Hotspot.
June 1, 2020: Maureen Carland of Maine Veterans’ Homes on Handling a Large Outbreak of COVID-19, and Why Planning for it is so Hard.
June 19, 2020: Capt. Joselito Ignacio of FEMA on Quality and Decontamination of PPE.
June 30, 2020: Katrina Gray of Buckner Retirement Communities on Procuring and Managing PPE.
Readiness Design: 5 Insights for Senior Living Communities to Consider Post-Pandemic (Meyer Senior Living Studio). How design will change and affect senior living communities in the immediate future and in the long term. Insights cover layout and flexibility; technology; building systems; materials and finishes; and wellness.
What these senior living operators did to get through pandemic COVID-free (McKnight’s Senior Living): Remaining COVID-free during a global pandemic, according to the leader of a Wichita, KS, assisted living community, took a group effort of strict adherence to infection prevention protocols.
Omicron remains lethal in the older and unvaccinated (McKnight’s Senior Living): The next wave of COVID-19 is on its way and unvaccinated elders are at high risk of being hard-hit, according to a former head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Protecting the most vulnerable now is key to avoiding a rebound in illnesses and deaths.
CDC: Booster shot reduces hospitalization risk from COVID-19 reinfection (McKnight’s Senior Living): A COVID-19 vaccine shot offers solid protection against hospitalization caused by reinfection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A booster provides even more of a safeguard, the agency found.
To boost or not to boost: that is the question (McKnight’s Senior Living): Without federal health and regulatory agencies taking a strong position on a second COVID-19 booster shot, confusion abounds over who should get boosted, and when.

Lessons Learned: Communication

PR Lessons from COVID-19: Communications in a Pandemic. Presentation from LeadingAge Annual Meeting 2020, session 14-D, on lessons learned by LeadingAge Communications staff.
CARF International’s Aging Services team shares examples of 3 creative communication-related strategies implemented across its network of accredited providers. See this post from the Continuing Communication newsletter.
Advocacy by Op-Ed: Taking the Case for Quality Senior Services to the Public (LeadingAge magazine article)
Reputation management can guide providers through ‘perfect storm’ created by pandemic (McKnight’s): Account of a keynote presentation at the Senior Care Sales & Marketing Summit for 2020: a roadmap to help providers rebound from the pandemic-created reputational crisis.
Communications in the time of COVID: Lessons Learned. This presentation, from the 2021 Mennonite Health Assembly, features the lessons learned about good communication policies from Landis Communities.

LeadingAge audio interviews involving communications:

April 4, 2020: Dave Gehm on serving COVID-19-positive residents, building trust, and testing
April 8, 2020: Elizabeth Weingast on coping with a large number of COVID-19-positive residents
April 10, 2020: Roger Myers on COVID-19-positive residents, philosophies driving crisis response, and protecting housing residents
April 20, 2020: Dave Isay on StoryCorps and its new partnership with LeadingAge
April 21, 2020: Carrie Chiusano on how the pandemic affects care for those living with dementia
April 22, 2020: Carol Silver-Elliott with a positive message for LeadingAge members
July 8, 2020: Josh Bowman on Scavenging PPE, Visitation Plans, and Positive Media Coverage
July 15, 2020: Marki Flannery on HCBS Services Hit Hard by COVID in NYC
July 24, 2020: Hank Lovvorn on In-Person Advocacy with HHS Deputy Secretary
July 27, 2020: Sondra Norder on Taking in Residents Displaced by Fire, and St. Paul’s New Documentary
August 12, 2020: Stacey Johnson on Quality Control and Communication

Lessons Learned: Community Partnerships

Update on Mail Delivery During COVID-19 Pandemic (LeadingAge)
HHS Issues New Report Highlighting Dramatic Trends in Medicare Beneficiary Telehealth Utilization amid COVID-19 (HHS)
Post-Acute Care and COVID-19: An Already Fraught Decision Becomes Even More Difficult (United Hospital Fund)
People With Disability Find the Coronavirus Has Cut Them Off From Their Caregivers (NPR)
Unified industry voice faces COVID-19 challenges to support older adults (McKnight’s look at how associations can work together in advocacy)
LeadingAge audio interview: June 18, 2020: Kristi Strawser and Kara Allread on how a Long-Standing Provider Partnership Faced the Pandemic

Lessons Learned: Design for Post-COVID-19 Senior Living

Readiness Design: 5 Insights for Senior Living Communities to Consider Post-Pandemic (Meyer Senior Living Studio). How design will change and affect senior living communities in the immediate future and in the long term. Insights cover layout and flexibility; technology; building systems; materials and finishes; and wellness.

Lessons Learned: Financial Impact

LeadingAge LTSS Center resources:

LeadingAge Wisconsin resources:

LeadingAge resources:

LeadingAge audio interviews:

May 22, 2020: Howard Gleckman on How COVID-19 Changes the Future of Long-Term Services and Supports
July 13, 2020: Bruce Dmytrow on the Insurance Market and the Effects of COVID-19
June 22, 2020: Walter Ramos on Finishing Construction and Doing Move-Ins During the Pandemic

Other resources:

Middle Market M&A and Coronavirus: What’s Next? (CLA)
Considering Selling or Merging? Review SBA’s PPP Transfer Guidelines (CLA)
More Than Half of Senior Living Executives Expect a Permanent Increase in Expenses Due to COVID-19 (McKnight’s Senior Living)
Pandemic Related Financial Woes Continue (McKnight’s Senior Living)
Brookdale takes steps to address potential financial repercussions of COVID-19 (McKnight’s Senior Living)
Coronavirus-related costs could be $10B to $20B for senior living; industry deserves bailout (McKnight’s Senior Living)
Many Atlanta assisted living facilities face a financial crisis (McKnight’s Senior Living)
Adapting Your Marketing Strategy During COVID-19 (Greystone white paper)
COVID-19 Resource page (Ziegler)
Z-News (Ziegler newsletter site)
Ziegler CFO Hotlines
35th SNF Cost Comparison and Industry Trends Report: Execute on the Fundamentals (CLA): For SNF operators, a thorough review of national operating and financial metrics [to] help you determine how a facility is performing overall. Includes information on prevailing trends and the fundamentals of SNF finance and operations.
2020 Financial Insights Study: Most Believe the 2020 COVID-19 Economy is Worse than the 2008 Great Recession (Edelman Financial Engines). Results of a study, conducted Aug. 27-Sept. 1, of consumer views of COVID-19’s financial implications. The poll covered U.S. adults ages 40-65 with annual household incomes of $100,000 or more.
What Zillowing for Senior Housing Will Look Like (GlobeSt.com): Consumers need better tools to compare the quality and costs of senior living options, and boomers will expect them, along with pricing transparency and a variety of options.
Considering Selling or Merging? Review SBA’s Latest PPP Transfer Guidelines (CLA): The SBA released a procedural notice related to Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loans and Changes of Ownership on 10/2/20. This Notice provides information concerning required procedures for changes of ownership for an entity that has received PPP funds.
Skilled care M&A market now one of best on record: ESI (McKnight’s Senior Living, 11/4/2020): One real estate brokerage firm says the SNF merger and acquisition market is stronger than ever right now.
Consumer ‘pandemic fatigue’ hurting senior living occupancy (McKnight’s Senior Living): Operating during the coronavirus pandemic has become the “new normal” for senior housing providers. Prospective residents and their families, however, have “transitioned from pandemic fear to pandemic fatigue.”
CARF-accredited senior living organizations were in a solid financial position to weather the COVID-19 crisis (Ziegler): For their fiscal years ending in 2019, senior living organizations accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities were in a solid financial position to weather the COVID-19 crisis, according to the latest report from CARF, Baker Tilly, and Ziegler.
Michigan senior living community to reduce its skilled nursing beds by more than half as a result of pandemic (McKnight’s Senior Living): An Ann Arbor, MI senior living community has announced that it will be significantly reconfiguring its operations due to the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Financial pressures, leadership burnout will drive ongoing industry consolidation: The growing complexity of the senior living sector, particularly around health care and COVID-19-related activities and their expense, has put more organized, stronger senior living providers in a better position than their smaller, weaker counterparts.
Positive vaccine news has led to partial recovery for healthcare REITs, but challenges remain (McKnight’s Senior Living)
Pandemic deal-making has led to out-of-the-box financing strategies (McKnight’s Senior Living): Closing transactions amid the COVID-19 pandemic has required some innovative financing strategies to create operational cash flow for senior living and care organizations.
Thrive amid uncertainty: How SNFs can emerge strong (Plante Moran, free with registration): Increasing private rooms, developing specialty will help SNFs stay competitive post-pandemic. When the dust settles from the COVID-19 pandemic and demand begins to rebound, skilled nursing operators will need to adapt to changing market conditions.
“Pandemic Financing Opportunities for Healthcare Facility Owners” (white paper from McKnight’s Senior Living): Learn how the right refinance package can lower your monthly payments and allow cash out for pandemic-related improvements.

Lessons Learned: Management and Crisis Intervention

COVID Nightmare Provides Teachable Moment for Industry: NIC Panel (McKnight’s)
The Future of Seniors Housing Industry is All about a Vaccine (McKnight’s)
The Five C’s of Leadership During COVID-19 (CLA)
Four Ways to Lead Your Team through COVID-19 (CLA)
“The Other Side”—Beyond the COVID Crisis: CEO Lessons Learned (Womble Bond Dickinson YouTube video)
The Key Things Health Care Providers Need to Know About COVID-19—Ensuring Compliance with Agency Measures (Womble Bond Dickinson)
Return to Work Legal Resource Guide (Womble Bond Dickinson)
Emerging Issues in the COVID Era (Eden Alternative Recorded Episodes)
Practices and Tools for the COVID Era and Beyond (Eden Alternative LIVE Recordings)
Lessons Before, During and For Future Pandemics (Jewish Home Family)
COVID-19 Prevention Messages for Long Term Care Staff (CDC Video Series)
- Sparkling Surfaces: Stop COVID-19’s Spread
- Clean Hands—Combat COVID-19
- Closely Monitor Residents for COVID-19
- Keep COVID-19 Out!
- PPE Lessons
King County Lessons Learned on Isolation and Quarantine (US Interagency Council on Homelessness)
Living systematic review of emerging evidence on COVID-19 related mortality and spread of disease in Long-Term Care (Intl LTC Policy Network)
National Academies of Sciences Engineering and Medicine COVID Research Clearinghouse
COVID-19 Response, Recovery and Re-Imagining (a LeadingAge Florida Playbook)
National Church Residences’ Affordable Housing Coronavirus Disease 2019 Level 5 Playbook
Videos hosted by the Forum at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health:
- Anthony Fauci: How did we get here?
- Anthony Fauci: What should we have done differently?
- Anthony Fauci on our country’s anti-science sentiments
- Fauci responds to Prof. Joe Allen’s question related to air flow in buildings and COVID-19
- Fauci on racial disparities and positive COVID-19 tests among black, brown, and native communities
- Sanjay Gupta asks Dr. Fauci, why, after all this time, do we not have adequate testing
- Fauci is comfortable with the process and pace of finding a COVID-19 vaccine
Creativity, adaptability will usher senior living industry through post-COVID era, expert says (McKnight’s): Account of a presentation at the Senior Care Sales & Marketing Summit for 2020: Nicole Fallon of LeadingAge on weaknesses in the health care system, LTSS funding, integrated person-centered care, disparities, and inequity.
Reputation management can guide providers through ‘perfect storm’ created by pandemic (McKnight’s): Account of a keynote presentation at the Senior Care Sales & Marketing Summit for 2020: a roadmap to help providers rebound from the pandemic-created reputational crisis.
McKnight’s Power Panel: Making the Right Plans to Succeed: A holistic conversation between 4 top senior care and senior living executives on their visions and strategies for success during and long after COVID-19.
Sales, marketing teams need to ‘reshape the story’ to sell senior living post-COVID (McKnight’s): Account of a presentation at the Senior Care Sales & Marketing Summit for 2020: How employee engagement and happiness has positive effects on residents, sales, and organizational success.
Coronavirus: One Year Later (Washington Post): It was one year ago when the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic. Scott Gottlieb, MD, and Leana S. Wen, MD, join Washington Post Live to look back at the most disruptive global health crisis in over 100 years.
Strategies to outlast the COVID-19 pandemic (McKnight’s webcast): Operators are starting to see “light at the end of the tunnel” when it comes to coping with the COVID-19 pandemic, but much still needs to change in the senior housing and care sectors to ensure success.
Vaccine having positive impact on nonprofit senior living marketing and sales (McKnight’s Senior Living): More than 60% of senior living and care organizations are observing at least some positive effects on marketing and sales efforts since the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Let’s use pandemic lessons to improve quality of care, quality of life (McKnight’s Senior Living): This past year has been a testimony to the resilience and dedication of workers throughout the health care system. And nowhere has been hit harder than the long-term care communities where frail elders lived. Almost 40% of COVID-related deaths have been in assisted living communities and nursing homes.
Pandemic ‘was like the devil walked through and was invisible’ (McKnight’s Senior Living): Operating through the pandemic was like working with a ghost that was impossible to grasp, leading to feelings of failure among senior living and care leaders.
Think of pandemic changes as permanent evolution of business model (BMO Harris Bank): Health care providers must look to pandemic-related changes in making plans for future stability, according to BMO Harris Bank’s Healthcare Midyear Update.
Long COVID-19 may be classified as disability in some cases under ADA (EEOC): Some people with long COVID-19 may qualify for disability resources under the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said in updated guidance this week.
Long-term care insurers pay out $12.3 billion in claims (AALTCI): Long-term care insurers paid out $12.3 billion in claims nationwide during 2021, a significant increase over prior years, according to the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance.

LeadingAge resources:

LeadingAge audio interviews:

April 10, 2020: Roger Myers of Presbyterian Villages of Michigan on COVID-19-positive residents, philosophies driving crisis response, and protecting housing residents
April 17, 2020: Dr. Danielle Doberman of Johns Hopkins on Advance Care Planning and Coronavirus
July 2, 2020: Phil Jacob of The Buckingham on Transparency, His Own COVID-19 Infection, and Preparing for a Surge

LeadingAge LTSS Center @UMass Boston research reports:

Lessons Learned: Reopen and Recover

5 Ways to Reopen America Safely (LeadingAge LTSS Center research report)
How to Think about Long Term Strategy When You can Barely See Past Tomorrow (Ideo)
Innovating from Necessity: The Business-Building Imperative from the Current Crisis (McKinsey & Co.)
Creating a Path Towards the Next Normal in Senior Living (International Council on Active Aging white paper)
The Beginning of the End of the American Pandemic (The New Yorker, May 2021): The country is reopening. What does the future hold?
Quarter of COVID patients have post-acute symptoms (white paper from FAIR Health, Inc.): An analysis of nearly two million private U.S. health care claims has found that one-fourth of people with COVID-19 develop at least one lingering post-acute condition.

LeadingAge Member Ideas and Inspiration stories:

Audio interviews from LeadingAge Daily Calls:

April 30, 2020: Sharon Wilson-Geno of VOA on How VOA Pivots to Cope With COVID-19.
May 4, 2020: Dr. Paul Katz of FSU College of Medicine on Containing Outbreaks, Testing, and Workforce Challenges
May 7, 2020: Dr. Nimalie Stone of CDC on the Role of CDC and Difficulties That Face Aging Services Providers
May 11, 2020: Neal Buddensiek, M.D., of Benedictine on a Multi-State Provider’s Pandemic Preparation, and Concerns About Testing
May 26, 2020: Kate Shepard of Reformed Church Home on Recovered Residents, Maintaining Positivity, and Testing.
May 28, 2020: Ami Schnauber of LeadingAge NY on the Nightmare of Coronavirus in New York
June 17, 2020: Tina Sandri of Forest Hills of DC on Coping With COVID-19 Early, Plus Workforce and Testing Difficulties
June 25, 2020: Kim Brooks of Hebrew SeniorLife on How HSL is Thinking Through Reopening.
July 1, 2020: Deke Cateau of A.G. Rhodes on Morale, Testing, and Reopening.
July 6, 2020: Nancy Evans of CSI Support and Development on How a Large Housing Provider Copes and Thinks About Reopening
July 10, 2020: Allison Salopeck of Jennings on PPE, Testing, and Managing Outdoor Visitations.
July 23, 2020: Dr. Noah Marco of Los Angeles Jewish Home on Letting Residents Decide Their Own Risk Tolerance; Plus Testing

Other resources:

“Reopening” to Visitors: A Review of CMS and States’ Guidance to Nursing Homes (LeadingAge)
“Reopening” to Visitors: A Review of States’ Guidance for AL (LeadingAge)
Advice on Re-Opening from Senior Options
Reopening Guidance for COVID-19 Available by State (HHS)
Eldercare staff keep the good times rolling amid lockdowns (Catholic Health World)
Succeeding Despite the 2020 Pandemic (McKnight’s Power Planning e-book; registration required)
FEMA Exercise Starter Kit for Resuming Operations Post-COVID: Includes sample documents to conduct your own planning workshop to navigate returning to full operations during the pandemic. The Kit includes a sample facilitator guide and conduct slides designed to be adapted and customized for your own needs. Suggested discussion questions for the workshop build upon reconstitution planning principles and relevant White House guidance for employers included in the Guidelines for Opening Up America Again.
Restart Readiness Checklist (CDC): A guide (for non-health care employers) to resuming business operations as safely and healthy as possible for you, your employees, and the public. Includes a resources section for links and QR codes to web resources.
Considerations for Balancing Seniors Housing Residents’ Safety as Communities Reopen (American Seniors Housing Assn., fee based resource): Research and advisory services firm ATI Advisory and CEO Anne Tumlinson present the results of case studies and interviews across the industry that reveal how seniors housing operators are gradually restoring resident engagement, allowing non-essential visitors, and enabling new move-ins while taking a strategic public health approach to balance multiple competing priorities and risks.

Lessons Learned: Rural Providers

“We were as well prepared as we could have been based on what we knew. We followed all the recommendations and diligently conducted employee and resident screenings. We completed a series of tabletop exercises and conducted weekly in-services [and] education. We performed infection control competencies and randomly conducted infection control surveillance for staff members. We adopted COVID-specific policies and procedures.

“You can get hit very hard, very fast, and you have to make decisions quickly. We lost 45 of 83 employees over 3 days due to testing positive, contact tracing, or they were fearful and just quit. Every single department manager except dietary was out, including the MDS nurse, the assessment nurse, and the director of nursing. None of the employees had symptoms prior to baseline testing and more than 90% of them never had any symptoms after testing positive. We did everything correctly and diligently to try to keep COVID out of our facility, but COVID found its way in anyway. Access to PPE is in limited supply. The financial impact is going to hurt LTSS providers in the present and future.”

– Billy Johnson, campus director, Baptist Village of Hugo, Hugo, OK

More rural lessons learned:

Impact of the digital divide in the age of COVID-19 (Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association)
Pandemic Exacerbates Rural EMS Struggles (Grand Forks Herald)
Village Versus Virus: Rural Ethos Protects Where Public Health Fails (Health Affairs)
Rural America is More Vulnerable to Pandemic Than Cities Are, and It’s Starting to Show (The Conversation)
Audio Interview: June 8, 2020: Jess Maurer of Maine Council on Aging on COVID in a Rural State With an Aged Population
Audio Interview: July 30, 2020: Shelly Griffith of Eben Ezer Lutheran Care Center on the Pandemic, PPE, and Community Support in a Rural County

Lessons Learned: Wellness of Staff and Residents

Resilience During COVID 19: Getting Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable (CLA)
Team Health during COVID 19 (Center for Advanced Palliative Care)
Dementia Care in the Time of the COVID 19 Pandemic (IOS Press Journal)
Dementia in Daily Living: A Review of Post-COVID Practices (LeadingAge QuickCast)
The Proper Application of Hope in the Midst of a Crisis (CLA)
Dementia and COVID-19: Insights from the Field (QuickCast)
Audio interviews:
- May 12, 2020: Michelle Just of Beatitudes Campus on Communication, Opening Up, and Handling Mixed Messages
- July 8, 2020: Josh Bowman of Bethel Manor on Scavenging PPE, Visitation Plans, and Positive Media Coverage
- July 22, 2020: Don Blose of Spanish Cove Retirement Village on Preparing for Pandemics, Keeping Staff and Residents Busy and Loved
AMDA COVID-19 Grand Rounds: Pearls from Your Colleagues (a grand rounds webinar series; recordings available for episodes from May to September)

Lessons Learned: Psychological Wellness

Covid-19 could cause a mental health crisis. It can also spark post-traumatic growth. (STAT)
Resources from National Center for PTSD (U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs)
COVID-19 Health Care Staff Trauma and Resilience Oriented Healing (The Joint Commission)
Psychological Trauma Is the Next Crisis for Coronavirus Health Workers (Scientific American)
Mental health care for medical staff in China during the COVID-19 outbreak (Lancet)
The psychological needs of healthcare staff as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic (British Psychological Society)
Detrimental effects of confinement and isolation on the cognitive and psychological health of people living with dementia during COVID-19: emerging evidence (International Long-term Care Policy Network)
Coping With Trauma, Celebrating Life: Reinventing Patient And Staff Support During The COVID-19 Pandemic (Health Affairs)
Moral Distress Experienced by US Nurses on the Frontlines During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Implications for Nursing Policy and Practice (Sage Open Nursing): Participants’ narratives of the emotions they experienced providing patient care during COVID-19 unequivocally described moral distress and moral distress related fear, frustration, powerlessness, and guilt.
LeadingAge QuickCasts:

LeadingAge audio interviews:

May 13, 2020: Karen Hatfield of Hospice of the Western Reserve on Hospice Services, Grief, and Help for Mental Health
May 18, 2020: Beth Kilgore-Robinson of Goodwin House and Karina Barragan of TELACU on the Mental Health of Residents and Staff
May 21, 2020, Marvell Adams of The Kendal Corporation on Staff Stress, Scheduling, and Self-Care
July 20, 2020: Lisa Balster of Hospice of Dayton on Grief, Hospice in a Pandemic, and Ways Hospice Can Help Staff and Other Providers

Lessons Learned: Workforce

Workforce Lessons from the Pandemic (McKnight’s E-book): 9 Ways COVID-19 Changed Long-Term Care.
Lessons learned announcing employee vaccine requirements (McKnight’s Senior Living): To help those who are considering or currently rolling out a vaccine requirement for staff, this article includes three lessons from a multi-site organization rollout that may be useful.
Gift-giving, other incentives don’t substantially change vaccination rates among nursing home residents and staff (McKnight’s Senior Living): A multicomponent vaccine campaign did not have a significant effect on vaccination rates among skilled nursing facility residents or staff, according to a study led by a researcher at the Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research.
Moral Distress Experienced by US Nurses on the Frontlines During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Implications for Nursing Policy and Practice (Sage Open Nursing): Participants’ narratives of the emotions they experienced providing patient care during COVID-19 unequivocally described moral distress and moral distress related fear, frustration, powerlessness, and guilt.

Templates, Sample Documents, Toolkits, and Playbooks

Advocacy

Make Your Voice Heard offers templates and suggested language on specific issues, allowing users to contact their representatives in Washington.
LeadingAge’s Advocacy Champions Toolkit includes advice on advocating via district meetings and events, email, phone, letters to the editor, and social media.
Coffee Chats With Congress is a campaign to help LeadingAge members set up conversations with their legislators, to talk about the good work they’re doing and the challenges their communities encounter. Download a Coffee Chat With Congress Toolkit and join us as we educate our members of Congress on the issues facing our members and residents every day.

Clinical Impact, Testing, and Infection Control

COVID-19 Interim Policy for Suspected or Confirmed Coronavirus (Pathway Health): This template serves as an overall policy for an organization, outlining the key procedures performed by the provider for preparation, mitigation, and response to COVID-19. It is a comprehensive policy that incorporates the processes necessary to minimize exposure to respiratory pathogens, promptly identify residents or health care personnel with signs or symptoms of COVID-19, manage residents confirmed with COVID-19, and implement interventions based upon federal and state/local recommendations (to include admissions, visitation, standard and transmission-based precautions, hand hygiene, universal source control, PPE use, resident placement, and more).
Policy for Nasopharyngeal and Oropharyngeal Swab Collection (COVID-19) (Pathway Health): Collection of upper respiratory specimens is recommended by CDC for SARS-CoV-2 initial diagnostic testing.
COVID-19 Testing (Pathway Health): COVID-19 testing will be an instrumental aspect that will assist facilities in prompt detection of cases in order to implement actions to reduce the exposure and to halt transmission within the facility whenever possible.
Visiting Nurse Service of New York’s VisitContactTrace system: an open-source application designed to facilitate contact tracing on visit-based data with a specific focus on providers of community-based health care.
- News article about the VisitTraceContact system: VNSNY Launches Open Source COVID-19 Contact Tracing Tool for Home-Based Care Providers (Home Health Care News)
Screening tool for suspected or confirmed coronavirus for residents, staff, and visitors (Pathway Health)
Cleaning and Disinfection Audit (Pathway Health): Auditing of facility practice is a key component for successful outcomes. This audit tool can be used by interdisciplinary team members.
Infection preventionist surveillance audit tool (Pathway Health): Process surveillance during a pandemic is key for reducing community transmission. This tool is designed for an infection preventionist, and outlines specific tasks that need to be completed daily.
Hand hygiene audit (Pathway Health): Hand hygiene is one of the foundational principles for infection control and prevention. This surveillance audit tool can be used by interdisciplinary team members.
COVID-19 Prevention Messages for Long Term Care Staff (CDC Video Series)
Proper handwashing (how-to video from National Church Residences)
Leadership Checklist for Potential COVID-19 Admissions (Pathway Health): The Leadership T.H.I.N.K. Ahead Strategies Guide can help an organization’s leaders think strategically about issues related to admitting individuals who are positive for COVID-19. T.H.I.N.K. refers to an organization’s “T-team,” or task force related to COVID-19; Human resource issues; Infection prevention and control issues; Notification issues; and Knowledge issues.
Confirmed COVID-19 Resident Protocol Checklist (Pathway Health): This checklist, designed for facility leadership, outlines steps related to a confirmed COVID-19 resident. It was designed to highlight leadership, clinical, and staff actions in accordance with organizational policy and procedures, federal requirements, and state/local public health department requirements.
LTC Outbreak Response Algorithm (Bon Secours)
Flowchart for screening hospice workers and visitors at the end of life (LeadingAge)
Pandemic Supply Checklist
Toolkit for HUD Section 202 Providers in the CDC Pharmacy Partnership for Long-term Care Program
Vaccination Toolkit

Communication

WHO Risk Communication Package for Health Care Facilities (toolkit)
Template Letter for Communities With a Positive COVID-19 Case in Resident or Employee (Word document)
Letter to Residents and Families – Positive Diagnosis in Staff (Word document)
Letter to Residents and Families – Death of Staff or Resident (Word document)
Sample Coronavirus Media Talking Points (LeadingAge)
Sample statements re infections or deaths:
- Press Release: Positive Case (Word document)
- Press Release: Death (Word document)
Template Letter for Visitors to Patients Receiving Home Health Services (LeadingAge/VNAA)
Template Letter for Visitors to life plan communities (LeadingAge)
Communication Resources from CDC (toolkits, posters for the workplace, multilingual materials, PSAs, and more)
Crisis Communication Plan: Nonprofit Toolkit (Colorado Nonprofit Association)
Spotlight on Infection Preventionists: The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) created a toolkit with social media posts, infographics, logos, videos, and other materials for infection preventionists and others to share online.

Financial Impact

LeadingAge Wisconsin resources:

Managing COVID-19

Coronavirus Commission for Safety and Quality in Nursing Homes: Final Report. As stated in the executive summary, “The main purpose of the independent Coronavirus Commission for Safety and Quality in Nursing Homes (Commission) was to solicit lessons learned from the early days of the pandemic and recommendations for future actions to improve infection prevention and control measures, safety procedures, and the quality of life of residents within nursing homes.” The report was produced by the MITRE Corporation for the U.S. Government.
COVID-19 Response, Recovery and Re-Imagining (a LeadingAge Florida Playbook)
National Church Residences’ Affordable Housing Coronavirus Disease 2019 Level 5 Playbook
A New York Member’s Playbook to Manage a COVID 19 Surge (article and audio interview)
Other audio interviews:
- April 10, 2020: Roger Myers of Presbyterian Villages of Michigan on COVID-19-positive residents, philosophies driving crisis response, and protecting housing residents
- April 17, 2020: Dr. Danielle Doberman of Johns Hopkins on Advance Care Planning and Coronavirus
- June 18, 2020: Kristi Strawser and Kara Allread on how a Long-Standing Provider Partnership Faced the Pandemic
- July 2, 2020: Phil Jacob of The Buckingham on Transparency, His Own COVID-19 Infection, and Preparing for a Surge
Strategic IT Planning Tools: To bridge the gap between the strategic-level guidance and the operational hands-on technology selection tools that CAST produced, CAST, along with the Strategic IT Planning workgroup, created an educational module aimed at executive team to help organizations:
- Identify the role of technology applications on the organization’s strategic goals.
- Identify technologies to help achieve these goals.
- Conduct strategic IT planning to update the communications and information infrastructure to support all technology applications that support strategic business goals.
Leadership Strategies for Infection Preparation and Response Checklist (Pathway Health): This tool serves as a framework and implementation guide for leaders as they assess their current processes, pandemic plan, and emergency preparedness plan to align with current guidance. The tool outlines key tactic areas that need to be conserved for effective pandemic planning.

PPE

COVID-19 Donning and Doffing of PPE (Pathway Health): Proper protection, including personal protective equipment (PPE), can contribute to the prevention of infection. This PPE process surveillance audit tool is specific to the current COVID-19 PPE sequencing requirements that can be used by interdisciplinary team members.
Policy for donning and doffing PPE for COVID-19 (Pathway Health)
How-to videos from National Church Residences:
- Proper way to don PPE
- Proper PPE removal
Policies for optimizing PPE supplies (Pathway Health):
Using Personal Protective Equipment (CDC training resources)

Reopening (Including Move-Ins and Marketing)

Sample Move-In Policy from National Church Residences

Scenario Planning

Scenario Planning Toolbox (LeadingAge)
2030 Aging Services Scenario Toolkit (LeadingAge)

Technology

CAST Technology Selection Tools (whitepapers have sections on business models to support technology)
Functional Assessment and Activity Monitoring Technology Selection Tool (LeadingAge CAST): a comprehensive portfolio of hands-on resources that help providers understand, plan for, select, implement, and adopt the appropriate technology while advocating for innovative care models. The complete portfolio of functional assessment and activity monitoring technology tools include activity monitoring technologies (including embedded sensors, wearables, location tracking, or other personal devices. They can be categorized as passive (generally embedded and requiring little or no action on the part of the owner) and active (which may require the monitored individual to go through a certain routine and/or input specific data).
Safety Technology Selection Tool (LeadingAge CAST): a portfolio of safety technology selection tools including a primer and selection guide, an interactive selection guide, an Online Safety Technology Selection Tool, a selection matrix, and provider case studies. The complete portfolio of functional assessment and activity monitoring technology tools include emergency notification and response systems, pendants or personal emergency response systems (PERS), nurse call systems, two-way staff communications systems, fall detection and prevention technologies, and more.
Social Connectedness and Engagement Technology Selection Tool (LeadingAge CAST): The portfolio includes a whitepaper providing background on social connectedness and engagement technologies, types of available systems, benefits and the most important planning steps that long-term and post-acute care (LTPAC) providers should consider before adopting and implementing these solutions. In addition, the portfolio includes a product selection matrix and an online selection tool that helps providers select the most appropriate solution for their setting/ business line, functional requirements and needs. Finally, a set of provider case studies are available. The purpose of the portfolio is to aid LeadingAge and CAST members, LTPAC providers, and other aging services organizations in understanding how social connectedness and engagement technologies may fit the needs of the organization.
Telehealth/RPM Selection Tool: The tool includes a white paper providing background on telehealth/remote patient monitoring (RPM) technologies, types of available systems, benefits, and the most important planning steps that long-term and post-acute care (LTPAC) providers should consider before adopting and implementing these solutions. It also includes a product selection matrix and an online selection tool that helps providers select the most appropriate solution for their setting/business line, functional requirements, and needs. Finally, a set of provider case studies are available.
CMS Telehealth Toolkit for Nursing Homes

Wellness: Physical and Psychological

Resources for Health Care Worker Well-Being and Resiliency (a curated list of articles, presentations, handouts, and toolkits from leading organizations that focus on well-being and resiliency for health care workers impacted by COVID-19)

Workforce

Recruitment:

Pre-written templates to reach out to state and local establishments (hospitality, restaurants, retail, etc.) to let them know you are hiring.
Emergency Staffing Plan for COVID-19 Pandemic (Pathway Health): This tool provides key strategies for contingency staff planning as well as a policy template in alignment with current requirements.
OnShift offers a Senior Care Recruitment Toolkit to help reach displaced workers.

Training:

Nurse LEAD Training (LeadingAge Learning Hub)
National COVID-Ready Caregiver Certification (Nextstep)
Relias, a trusted business partner, launched a new Virtual Classroom for online trainings. The company also created a free COVID-19 digital toolkit with unrestricted access to online courses such as infection control and telehealth, as well as peer reviewed publications, webinar series and more.
HealthcareSource, a trusted business partner, is offering 25-plus complimentary COVID-19 related courses with tracking.
Training Direct Care Workers in COVID-19 Protocols (LeadingAge LTSS Center)
Flowchart for management of staff with exposure to a person with COVID-19 (Pathway Health)
Competency Tool: Basic Nursing Skills for Non-Certified Caregivers (Pathway Health): This tool outlines the key skills and required competencies for non-certified caregivers. It is to be used in conjunction with the facility’s training plan for non-certified caregivers.

Podcasts from LeadingAge Daily Calls and Other Sources

Advanced Care Planning

April 17, 2020: Dr. Danielle Doberman of Johns Hopkins on Advance Care Planning and Coronavirus

Advocacy

April 14, 2020: David Hood of RPA on emergency preparedness plans and working with local and state emergency agencies
July 24, 2020: Hank Lovvorn of Presbyterian Homes on In-Person Advocacy with HHS Deputy Secretary.
July 28, 2020: Andrew Banoff of Jewish Senior Services on Getting Through the Worst of the Crisis, Plus Good Interaction with Lawmakers.

Assisted Living

June 15, 2020: Rebekah Levit of Rogerson House on quickly responding to an early outbreak, and preparing to reopen

Clinical Impact, Testing, Infection Control, and Vaccination

Disinfectants and COVID-19; Transmitting Without Symptoms (TTHealthWatch, a weekly podcast from Texas Tech)
April 23, 2020: Dr. Nicole Lurie of CEPI Offers Facts and Cautions About COVID-19 Testing. (Article based on the interview: Expert Insight from Dr. Nicole Lurie: The State of COVID-19 Testing)
May 29, 2020: Minnesota Testing Spotlight with Sharon Zehe of the Mayo Clinic and Karen Martin and Diane Rydryc of MN Dept. of Health
June 10, 2020: Gus Keach-Longo of The Towers at Tower Lane on Testing, Tracing, and a “Soft Opening” in Elder Housing
Sept. 23, 2020: Daniel Larremore on Computer Modeling, Testing, and Prioritization of Vaccines
Oct. 12, 2020: Cathy Neece-Brown of J.L. West Ctr for Dementia Care on Protecting Residents Living With Dementia
Oct. 21, 2020: Dr. Ken Mead of NIOSH on Air Purification, Filtering, and COVID-19
Dec. 2, 2020: Joshua Weitz of Georgia Institute of Technology on Community Spread and Risk
Dec. 21, 2020: Dr. Martha Dawson of NBNA on Outreach to the African American Community on Vaccination
Dec. 28, 2020: 4 LeadingAge Members Share Vaccine Clinic Insights (includes lessons learned from members who were among the first providers to receive COVID-19 vaccinations for staff and residents. They included tips on streamlining the process, keeping communication frequent and transparent, and a discussion of the mild side effects some people experienced.)
- Related article from McKnight’s Senior Living, based in part of these members’ insights: Communication issues, staff reluctance plague early long-term care COVID-19 vaccine clinics.
Jan. 4, 2021: US Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams on COVID-19 Vaccines, Plus CVS Program Updates
Jan. 6, 2021: Robin Jump on Responding to Fears About Vaccination
Alleviating Fears about the Vaccine with Dr. Jim Wright (LeadingAge Virginia webinar): A webinar with Dr. Jim Wright (a founding member and Attending Physician of SNF/LTC Partners of VA in Richmond and Medical Director at Our Lady of Hope in Richmond, VA)
March 8, 2021: Sigal Barsade of University of Pennsylvania on promoting/encouraging vaccine acceptance. Download a report on this project.

Communications

Sept. 30, 2020: Rachael Piltch-Loeb on Principles of Good Crisis and Risk Communication

Equity and Inclusion

May 19, 2020: Robert Espinozaof PHI on Disparities in Communities of Color and Why We Must Better Support Low-Income Workers
June 5, 2020: Karyne Jonesof The National Caucus and Center on Black Aged on Overcoming Fear of Discussing Race in Aging Services
July 14, 2020: Dan Stewart of Human Rights Campaign and LEI on LGBTQ Elders, COVID-19, and How Aging Services Can Become More Inclusive.
Audio interview: Sept. 2, 2020: Danny Williams on Serving African American Residents, Health Disparities, and Building Trust

Financial Impact

May 22, 2020: Howard Gleckman on How COVID-19 Changes the Future of Long-Term Services and Supports.
July 13, 2020: Bruce Dmytrow on the Insurance Market and the Effects of COVID-19.
June 22, 2020: Walter Ramos on Finishing Construction and Doing Move-Ins During the Pandemic.

Home and Community-Based Services

April 15, 2020: Dr. Samira Beckwith of Hope Healthcare on PACE and hospice programs during the pandemic
April 18, 2020: Nesa Joseph of Visiting Nurse Association of Greater St. Louis on How Hospice and Other Community-Based Services Have Adjusted to COVID-19
May 6, 2020: Andrea Lazarek-LaQuay of Nascentia Health on Helping Counties “Find the Virus
May 8, 2020: Deborah Royster of Seabury Resources for Aging on Reconfiguring Services for Community-Based Customers
June 23, 2020: Michael Soccio of Trinity Health At Home on the Economics and Benefits of a Large Home Care/Hospice Program
July 9, 2020: Rola O’Meally of St. Ann’s Community on Shutting Down—and Then Reinventing—Adult Day Programs
July 15, 2020: Marki Flannery of VNSNY on HCBS Services Hit Hard by COVID in NYC
July 16, 2020: Dorothy Davis of VNHS on PPE, Testing, Telehealth Issues in HCBS
March 3, 2021: Alycia Bayne of NORC/University of Chicago on Resources and Supports for Older Adults and Caregivers. Download a report on this project.

Hospice and Palliative Care

May 13, 2020: Karen Hatfield of Hospice of the Western Reserve on Hospice Services, Grief, and Help for Mental Health
June 23, 2020: Michael Soccio of Trinity Health At Home on the Economics and Benefits of a Large Home Care/Hospice Program
July 20, 2020: Lisa Balster of Hospice of Dayton on Grief, Hospice in a Pandemic, and Ways Hospice Can Help Staff and Other Providers

Housing Topics

April 2, 2020: Dennis Adams of Christopher Homes on serving low-income housing residents and protecting staff
April 7, 2020: David Smart of Eaton Senior Communities on how COVID-19 Affects Older Adult Housing, Plus Supporting Staff
April 16, 2020: Toby Halliday of HUD on guidance for housing providers coping with COVID-19
May 27, 2020: Lee Ann Hubanks of Plano Community Home on Challenges Facing Her Affordable Housing Organization
June 10, 2020: Gus Keach-Longo of The Towers at Tower Lane on Testing, Tracing, and a “Soft Opening” in Elder Housing.
June 11, 2020: Stuart Hartman on protecting residents and staff in a large national organization
June 26, 2020: Mary Stompe of PEP Housing on Keeping Housing Residents Engaged While Preparing for Reopening and Another Surge

Leadership Topics

April 4, 2020: Dave Gehm of Wellspring Lutheran Services on serving COVID-19-positive residents, building trust, and testing
April 10, 2020: Roger Myers of Presbyterian Villages of Michigan on COVID-19-positive residents, philosophies driving crisis response, and protecting housing residents
April 19, 2020: Michelle Norris of National Church Residences on Pandemic Stresses for a Multistate Provider, Plus Planning and Lessons Learned for the Future
April 22, 2020: Carol Silver-Elliott of The Jewish Home Family with a positive message for LeadingAge members
April 26, 2020: Pat Tursi of Elizabeth Seton Children’s Center on Operating a Center for Medically Complex Children in the Age of Coronavirus.
May 15, 2020: Carol Silver-Elliott of The Jewish Home Family on Fighting COVID-19 in the New Jersey Hotspot.
June 24, 2020: Julie Thorson of Friendship Haven and Carol Silver Elliott on Leadership in a Time of Crisis.
July 1, 2020: Deke Cateau on Morale, Testing, and Reopening.
Oct. 26, 2020: David Trost on How St. John’s United Launched Its Own PCR Testing Lab
Oct. 28, 2020: Jerry Nevins of Rose Blumkin Jewish Home on Working With Surveyors

Legal Issues

April 4, 2020: Aric Martin on legal liability for providers coping with the pandemic.

Pandemic Overview

Expert Insights on COVID-19: In this podcast series brought to you by Elsevier, experts share their invaluable insights into the mode of transmission and pathophysiology of the COVID-19 virus. Also included: how medical informatics and telemedicine are used to manage the pandemic, and best practices in emergency nursing crisis preparedness.
The Coronavirus Pandemic: More Surges, Growing Concern (Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health): In this Facebook Live Q&A, participants examine the forces driving the latest wave of surges. Are hospitals and public health officials better prepared to handle them today than they were in the early days of COVID-19, and what can we expect in the next stage of the pandemic?
The Coronavirus Pandemic: Latest Updates, Approaching the Holidays (Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Facebook Live Q&A): The COVID-19 death toll has surpassed 200,000 people in the United States, and areas of the country continue to see surges. With the holiday season fast approaching, epidemiologist William Hanage will review the latest science of the pandemic with The World’s Elana Gordon. Testing, vaccines, diagnostics, treatments—where do we stand? And how do we keep ourselves and our loved ones safe?
Emerging Issues in the COVID Era (free Eden Alternative interviews with thought leaders; registration required)

PPE

June 30, 2020: Katrina Gray on Procuring and Managing PPE

Reopening Guidance

April 30, 2020: Sharon Wilson-Geno of VOA on How VOA Pivots to Cope With COVID-19.
May 4, 2020: Dr. Paul Katz of FSU College of Medicine on Containing Outbreaks, Testing, and Workforce Challenges
May 7, 2020: Dr. Nimalie Stone of CDC on the Role of CDC and Difficulties That Face Aging Services Providers
May 11, 2020: Neal Buddensiek, M.D., of Benedictine on a Multi-State Provider’s Pandemic Preparation, and Concerns About Testing
May 26, 2020: Kate Shepard of Reformed Church Home on Recovered Residents, Maintaining Positivity, and Testing.
May 28, 2020: Ami Schnauber of LeadingAge NY on the Nightmare of Coronavirus in New York
June 17, 2020: Tina Sandri of Forest Hills of DC on Coping With COVID-19 Early, Plus Workforce and Testing Difficulties
June 25, 2020: Kim Brooks of Hebrew SeniorLife on How HSL is Thinking Through Reopening.
July 1, 2020: Deke Cateau of A.G. Rhodes on Morale, Testing, and Reopening.
July 6, 2020: Nancy Evans of CSI Support and Development on How a Large Housing Provider Copes and Thinks About Reopening
July 10, 2020: Allison Salopeck of Jennings on PPE, Testing, and Managing Outdoor Visitations.
July 23, 2020: Dr. Noah Marco of Los Angeles Jewish Home on Letting Residents Decide Their Own Risk Tolerance; Plus Testing

Rural Issues

June 8, 2020: Jess Maurer of Maine Council on Aging on COVID in a Rural State With an Aged Population
July 30, 2020: Shelly Griffith of Eben Ezer Lutheran Care Center on the Pandemic, PPE, and Community Support in a Rural County

Wellness: Physical and Psychological

May 12, 2020: Michelle Just of Beatitudes Campus on Communication, Opening Up, and Handling Mixed Messages
May 13, 2020: Karen Hatfieldof Hospice of the Western Reserve on Hospice Services, Grief, and Help for Mental Health
May 18, 2020: Beth Kilgore-Robinson of Goodwin House and Karina Barragan of TELACU on the Mental Health of Residents and Staff
May 21, 2020, Marvell Adams of The Kendal Corporation on Staff Stress, Scheduling, and Self-Care
July 8, 2020: Josh Bowman of Bethel Manor on Scavenging PPE, Visitation Plans, and Positive Media Coverage
July 20, 2020: Lisa Balster of Hospice of Dayton on Grief, Hospice in a Pandemic, and Ways Hospice Can Help Staff and Other Providers
July 22, 2020: Don Blose of Spanish Cove Retirement Village on Preparing for Pandemics, Keeping Staff and Residents Busy and Loved
Audio interview: Sept. 9, 2020: Natalie Dattilo on Recognizing Grief and Other Negative Emotions, and Creating Connections to Reduce Isolation
Audio interview: Dec. 9, 2020: Michael Hebb on Conversation, Support, and Resources About Death and Grief
How tech connects older people with mental health services as COVID-19 isolates (Marketplace Tech podcast; discusses how the use of virtual visits and facilitating chats with loved ones helps the mental wellness of older adults)
The Academic Consortium for Integrative Medicine & Health publishes a variety of resources on well-being. Also, see Professional Well-being in a Time of Crisis, is a grand rounds video.
AMDA COVID-19 Grand Rounds: Pearls from Your Colleagues (a grand rounds webinar series; recordings available for episodes from May to September)

Workforce

April 8, 2020: Elizabeth Weingast of The New Jewish Home on coping with a large number of COVID-19-positive residents
April 14, 2020: David Hood of RPA on emergency preparedness plans and working with local and state emergency agencies
April 29, 2020: Karolee Alexander and Sue LaGrange of Pathway Health on Emergency Staffing
May 14, 2020: Rob Lahammer of Presbyterian Homes & Services on Tough Media Environment, Staff Engagement, and Opening Up
May 21, 2020, Marvell Adams of The Kendal Corporation on Staff Stress, Scheduling, and Self-Care
June 3, 2020: Lori McLaughlin of WestShore LLC on Overcoming Staff Fears and Poor Service from Public Health Services
June 17, 2020: Tina Sandri of Forest Hills of DC on Coping With COVID-19 Early, Plus Workforce and Testing Difficulties
July 1, 2020: Deke Cateau of A.G. Rhodes on Morale, Testing, and Reopening
July 7, 2020: Kassie South of Franke at Seaside on Surging Cases in SC, Visitation Concerns, and PPE
July 21, 2020: Manny Ocasio of Asbury Communities on a “just culture”
July 29, 2020: Colleen Frankenfield of Lutheran Social Ministries of NJ on Early Problems, Motivating and Supporting Staff and Residents
July 31, 2020: Terri Cunliffe of Covenant Living Communities & Services on a multi-state rapid hiring process
August 5, 2020: Derrick DeWitt of Maryland Baptist Aged Home on supporting staff in a small nursing home with very limited resources
Oct. 5, 2020: Jeannee Parker Martin and Eric Dowdy of LeadingAge California on the Coronavirus Commission on Nursing Homes
Nov. 2, 2020: Anne Levesque of Wake Robin on Innovative Ways to Support Staff
Dec. 30, 2020: Laura Hoffman of LeadingAge Washington on Rapid Response Staff Teams
Jan. 4, 2021: US Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams on COVID-19 Vaccines, Plus CVS Program Updates
Audio interview: June 10, 2021: Fran Casey on Attracting and Retaining Talent in a Difficult Time
Audio interview: June 21, 2021: Mark McInerney on Workforce Statistics and Demographics as the Economy Opens Up
Audio interview: June 28, 2021: Lori Porter on What to Do About Workforce Problems Plus Vaccine Hesitancy

Videos From Providers

Informational Videos for Residents, Clients, and Staff

National Church Residences CEO Mark Ricketts’ video podcasts
National Church Residences COVID-19 playlist for staff
COVID-19 Weekly Updates from Wellspring Lutheran Services (link goes to playlist)
COVID-19 Message From Michael Rosenblut, CEO, Parker Jewish Institute
Jerry W. Brown, senior director of affordable housing for Covia, shares his COVID-19 experience and lessons learned
Volunteers of America CEO Mike King’s COVID-19 messages (video series about how VOA responds to the pandemic)
Serving Seniors, San Diego, CA, has quadrupled its services since pivoting and expanding meal delivery services amidst COVID-19. Additionally a new program has been launched to help seniors in quarantine struggling with isolation. President and CEO Paul Downey has been doing video messages to the public at the Serving Seniors YouTube channel.
Live COVID-19 updates to residents on the Westminster-Canterbury of Richmond in-house television channel, Tuesday and Thursday afternoons

Videos Telling Positive Stories

Sayre Christian Village has a series of uplifting, positive videos made during the pandemic on its YouTube page.
Paul’s Senior Services held a parade in honor of nurses working during the pandemic. (YouTube video)
Serving Seniors has a series of positive videos about how the organization has ramped up its meal delivery services in the midst of the pandemic.
Three Pillars Senior Living Communities residents celebrate Older Americans Month despite the pandemic.
Lambeth House creates an original song, “We Find a Way,” and a video highlighting resident resilience during the COVID-19 crisis.
Heartwarming ABC News video report about Hooverwood residents, a married couple separated by COVID-19, reunited after recovery
Hebrew Home at Riverdale Celebrates Recovered COVID-19 Patient Returning Home
Mother Reunited with Daughter After Five-Week COVID-19 Recovery (Hebrew Home at Riverdale)
Presbyterian SeniorCare in Pittsburgh: HEROES with HEART
Presbyterian Homes of MN: Inflatable Costumes Fun
A Bronx Thanksgiving Day Parade: Hebrew Home Residents Thank Frontline Staff with Unique Gratitude: The residents of the Hebrew Home at Riverdale held a unique Thanksgiving Day Gratitude Parade for the incredible care team who has kept them safe throughout the year. Four local news reports:
- WABC-TV
- New York One News
- News 12 the Bronx
- WCBS-TV
WNYW: Residents and Staff at Hebrew Home to Receive COVID Vaccines (Fox News video): As the Hebrew Home at Riverdale prepares for distribution of the Covid vaccine, Fox News Channel got a sneak peek into preparations. See also this mention in the New York Times: Nursing Home Residents Get First Shot of Vaccine.
Hebrew Home Resident and Medical Director First to Receive Vaccine (video).
Elim Park’s “Fighting Our Battle” in song (video)
The New Jewish Home’s vaccination efforts were showcased in a broad range of media late last month, including Reuters, ABC7, PIX11, the cover of the New York Post, Telemundo, and Univision. In this video, Joana Camara, a resident at the Manhattan campus, was among the first in the nation to receive the COVID vaccine.
LeadingAge Connecticut video saluting its members, staff, and residents and celebrating the arrival of vaccines. Part of the organization’s #oneyearstronger Campaign.
The care and dedication of Marie Deolall, a RiverSpring Health Plans Aide of the Year, was captured in this heartwarming segment on New York 1 News.
Home-Bound COVID-19 Vaccinations Begin Across Central New York (Spectrum News): It’s a race against the coronavirus to protect the most vulnerable neighbors. Syracuse-based Nascentia Health, a LeadingAge member, is one of two New York programs bringing a vaccine to homebound patients.
The Hebrew Home at Riverdale is excited to welcome back families and loved ones for in-person visits (CBSN News).
Visitation Resumed at Gurwin Jewish Nursing & Rehabilitation Center (News12 Long Island): Eight groups of families at Gurwin Nursing and Rehabilitation in Commack were the first to get a chance to visit inside the facility since the pandemic began. It comes after visitation guidelines were loosened last week.
Forest Hills of DC helps staff choose to be vaccinated (CNN video interview): Administrators at LeadingAge member Forest Hills of DC used compassion and respect to help their staff make the choice to get vaccinated.
“We are daughters, sisters, cousins. We are everything for our residents and families” (News12 Brooklyn report): Nursing home employees deserve a shout-out for their continued work with the most vulnerable population, trying to keep elderly residents safe and in touch with their families. News 12’s Alexa Farrell caught up with Hebrew Home staff members Patricia Salifu, RN, and Koreen Rogers, video visit coordinator, to share their story.
We Are Warriors—A United Church Homes Documentary (YouTube): An incredibly inspiring telling of this member’s COVID-19 story.
HUGS! NY Times Captures First Embraces at RiverSpring Health Plans and the Hebrew Home.

Member Ideas & Inspirations Stories

Communication With Residents, Clients, and Families

Communication With Media and Outside World

Couple Reunited After 6-Plus Weeks of Quarantine, With Great TV Coverage

Dining Programs

Home and Community-Based Services

Technology

Expanded Telehealth Options Connect Residents and Clients With Health Professionals

Wellness—Physical and Psychological

Helping Families Cope with Loss and Grief
Local Teens Go the Extra Mile to Help Residents and Staff
Pandemic Can’t Prevent Celebratory Music Video
Virtual Fitness Classes Gain Popularity
Member Helps Keep Residents Entertained
Sheltering in Place? Why Not Travel the World?
Memory Care Households Adjust to a “New Normal”
Provider Surveys Residents for Thoughts on the Pandemic
Keeping Residents Engaged During the Pandemic
Provider Attends to Spiritual Engagement of Residents
Resident Engagement With a Celebrity Twist
Multi-Site Member’s Best Resident Engagement and Activities Ideas
Residents Need Not Miss Church Services or Communion During the Pandemic
New App Helps Build Resident, Family Engagement
Chaplains Get Creative to Tend to Residents’ Spiritual Needs
Easter Celebrations Go On Despite Lockdown
A How-To on Celebrating a Community Seder
Celebrating Easter Via Technology (and Eggs)
Helping Residents Celebrate Passover
Easter Preparations Help Residents Celebrate the Holiday
A Virtual Seder to Serve Residents Sheltering in Place
Member Creates COVID-Safe Outdoor Game
“Lifting Our Spirits” Campaign for Resident Engagement
“Play Ball!” Provider Celebrates Opening Day, Baseball or No
Resident Engagement at a (Social) Distance
Provider Creating a Time Capsule to “capture the essence of a global pandemic” (McKnight’s Senior Living): White Horse Village, a continuing care retirement community in Newtown Square, PA, is creating a time capsule to capture the essence of a global pandemic.

Workforce

Redeployment of staff:

Provider Solves the Multiple-Job Problem Among Staff, Boosts Communication for Residents (reassigning staff to dining services, driving, security, administrative positions, etc.)
Provider Trains Supplemental Staff, Provides Essentials for Staff and Residents
A Large Meals Program Ramps Up Dramatically
Provider Innovates in Face of Multiple Challenges
Reassigning Idled Staff to Crisis Line

New job categories:

Benefits for staff:

Chapter 11 - Appendix

Chapter 10 - Provider-Specific Guidance

Chapter 9 - Reopen, Recover, Reimagine: Moving Forward Together

Chapter 8 - Wellness of Staff and Residents—Physical and Psychological

Chapter 7 - Workforce Management and Support

Chapter 6 - Technology Applications and Telehealth

Chapter 5 - Transparent Communications—Internal and External

Chapter 4 - Financial Impact and Strategies

Chapter 3 -Clinical Impact, Infection Control, and Vaccination

Chapter 2 - Management and Crisis Intervention

Chapter 1 - Introduction