Update 2/26/21
We are so excited to announce that 50% of our residents have been vaccinated with their 1st COVID-19 vaccine dose. To learn more on the rollout of the vaccine at Bella Vita click here.
Update 2/19/21
In our commitment to transparency with our greater community we are sharing that a resident has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus recently. The resident has mild symptoms and is self-isolating in their apartment home. The resident did receive the first dose of the vaccine at our clinic. We are conducting contact tracing and if any other resident came into direct contact, they will be notified.
Out of an abundance of caution we are cancelling group activities at this time and we are strongly discouraging outside visitors at this time. We encourage Bella Vita residents to stay in their apartment homes except for essential medical visits, grocery shopping, and exercise. We are providing symptom self-monitoring logs at our concierge desk. Additionally, we ask residents to wear a mask when exiting their apartments and while in community spaces.
We are diligently maintaining daily virus-mitigation cleanings and careful assessment for any signs or symptoms of COVID-19. These precautions help protect the health of both residents and team members.
Please know we are working very hard to ensure the well-being of everyone who lives and works at our community. Our second in-community vaccination clinic is scheduled for March 11th.
1/6/21
Vaccine Update
We continue to work on trying to set up a COVID-19 Vaccine clinic in our community. We’ve learned from our pharmacy partner that at this time, stand-alone independent living communities are not a priority for the vaccine clinics. However, it is a fluid situation, and we continue to advocate for an on-site vaccine clinic here at Bella Vita.
However, we do not want anyone to miss out on a vaccination opportunity while we’re advocating for a clinic. Therefore, we are now suggesting that each resident take the opportunity to receive a vaccination through other resources if available. We’ve gathered some ideas and resources here to help in this process.
- The UC Health System is providing those +70 vaccines through a registration and lottery system. You can read more details on their website at https://www.uchealth.org/today/older-adults-rejoice-as-they-begin-getting-coronavirus-vaccines/. If you already have a My Health Connection account with UC Health, log into your account to register for vaccine consideration. If you don’t, you can still create an account and register for vaccine consideration, https://www.uchealth.org/access-my-health-connection/.
- We believe several primary care doctors and HMO insurance providers will offer the vaccine. Please call your doctor and your insurance customer service number to ask about their plans to provide the vaccine.
- We are aware of a partnership with Safeway that allows everyone in Governor Polis’s 1B vaccine tier to receive the vaccine; however, those appointments are limited and are quickly taken. We also have learned that the program is being overhauled at this time and we will share more information about this potential option as we learn more.
We have inquiries into the state of Colorado and the Tri-County Health Department regarding additional options. Once we know more, we will share the latest updates.
In the meantime, we must remain vigilant and good neighbors to each other. Please continue to wear a mask anytime you are outside of your apartment, wash your hands often, and use hand sanitizer and monitor yourself daily for signs and symptoms of COVID-19. If you experience any symptoms, please call the concierge desk immediately.
Thank you for your patience and persistence. Together, we will get through this.
Update 11/20/20
Level Red Goes Into Effect Tonight
Governor Polis’s Level Red order goes into effect this evening at 5:00 pm. The designation impacts everyone in our county and is aimed to stop the spread of COVID-19. Just this week, the Governor released a new statistic that 1 out of every 100 people in the Denver metro area is infected with the virus. We also know that some state hospitals are already at capacity.
The order very specifically states that anyone considered in a high-risk population should stay home. People ages 65 and up are considered a high-risk population in the order definition; therefore, according to the state order, residents in our community should stay home unless they need to leave for a medically necessary reason.
The order also closes restaurants but still allows for take-out and delivery, and it limits the sizes of gatherings indoors. Again, this applies to everyone who lives in our county, not just senior living. The Centers for Disease Control has also issued a strong advisory asking people not to travel this Thanksgiving.
All of this information is hard to hear. We’ve been working to understand how this order impacts our senior living community. We have been seeking guidance from the state health department and local agencies for any changes in protocols and operations. These conversations are ongoing. Therefore the information listed below may change; this is what we know as of now, and what we must do to be in compliance with the new State order:
- All life gatherings are limited to five people and should be with people each resident is frequently around, their “COVID Bubble Buddy”. This is a term a group of residents came up with to describe what the health order refers to as pods of people, a “household”. Now is the time for all residents in our community to identify their “Bubble Buddies,” up to five people in your specific neighborhood, that you can socialize with while maintaining a safe bubble, creating your household. Residents must continue to wear a mask, keep six feet of social distance with each other, and wash their hands frequently if they are together with their “bubble buddies.”
- With the risk of exposure so high in our area, we are also asking residents to consider the health and well-being of their neighbors before leaving the community for a non-clinical visit. We know we have a conscientious group of people who want to be a good neighbor.
Now is the time to pull together as a community and “protect our house.” We want to be safe and responsible for each other. We also want to be creative and find ways to retain and build a connection with each other for our mental and emotional well-being. Please start talking with your neighbors about building your “bubble buddy” system. Work together to place calls to each other, schedule video chats, and small groups of five gatherings with social distance. Now is the time to establish your tribe of people within our community.
We know these restrictions are worrisome. Please stay in communication with your loved one, schedule video visits, send care packages, drop off cards and favorite meals, and let us know if you have concerns so we can try to help.
We are in this together. With new vaccines on the horizon, we have to now more than ever, support and love each other, and we will get through this together.
Update 11/13/20
Holiday Season
With the holidays fast approaching, and our community and states COVID-19 positivity rate increasing, it is important for all of us who live and work at Bella Vita to take extra precautions this holiday season.
Governor Polis recommends no more than six to 10 people gather together. We are highly recommending that Bella Vita residents consider making alternative plans to stay in the community for your holiday. If you choose to leave the community to gather with family and friends we will request that you maintain a self-isolation period for 14 days upon your return to ensure the health and well-being of everyone who calls Bella Vita home.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has issued some holiday guidelines for all of us to consider if we choose to take part in a gathering.
• Take into consideration the local county positivity rate before planning a gathering.
• Those preparing food should wear a mask at all times.
• If two or more households are gathering, everyone should wear a mask.
• For residents hosting a small apartment gathering, you do not have to count each in community apartment as a separate household. Bella Vita is considered one household according to CDPHE, however, you must still adhere to no more than six to 10 people, and you must practice social distancing.
• Keep the gathering small and short in duration to limit exposure risk.
• If possible, have a window open or better yet, host the meal outside. Governor Polis has asked for no more than two households to gather together.
• Attempt to maintain social distancing of six feet or more at all times.
With the surge in cases in our community and nationally, we all must do our part to stop the spread of the virus and protect each other from this very contagious virus.
Thank you for your support and understanding during this challenging phase of our community’s life.
Update 6/2/20
Resident Recovered from COVID-19
We are pleased to share some good news, the resident that tested positive for the COVID-19 virus has recovered and is no longer in isolation. There are no new COVID-19 cases at Bella Vita but we must all continue to utilize good infection control, hand hygiene, self-monitor for symptoms, use the buddy system to check-in on each other and follow Governor Polis’s Safer at Home Order.
We encourage Bella Vita residents to stay in their apartment homes except for essential medical visits, grocery shopping, and exercise. If you would like a COVID-19 symptom self-monitoring log they are available at the Concierge desk. Additionally, we ask residents to wear a mask when exiting their apartments and while in community spaces.
Bella Vita will continue maintaining restricted visitor access. Team Members and care essential visitors will be screened before entering the community. All team members and essential visitors must wear a mask. We are diligently maintaining daily virus-mitigation cleanings and careful assessment for any signs or symptoms of COVID-19. These precautions help protect the health of both residents and team members.
We are currently reviewing Bella Vita’s Life Enrichment Program and will be providing guidance within the coming week for opportunities to soon re-engage in group activities with your neighbors. Please know we are working very hard to ensure the well-being of everyone who lives and works at our community.
