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April 24, 2020LeadingAge Virginia Members Made Your Voices Heard!On Wednesday, we called on you to make your voice heard as part of our National Day of Action for Aging Services—and you came through! Thank you to the over 2,278 advocates who sent 7,700 messages to Congress. LeadingAge will never stop fighting to assure that aging services providers get everything you need to help save lives and protect your staff and the older people for whom they care. You can still join us by contacting Congress today. Thought of the Day“I haven’t failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” - Thomas EdisonVirginia Details on State Contract for PPE ReleasedIt took three weeks for Virginia to receive its first shipment of personal protective equipment from Northfield Medical Manufacturing after signing a roughly $27 million contract with the Norfolk-based company on March 31.The lengthy lead time was just one of the unusual features of the procurement agreement, said Virginia’s Secretary of Finance, Aubrey Layne. Operating amid a chaotic global supply chain, it took state officials weeks to parse through a list of more than 100 potential vendors. Northfield was one of the only companies willing to break up orders and accept smaller upfront payments, rather than demanding the whole $27 million allotment, Layne said.The most recent data from LeadingAge Virginia, an association of nonprofit senior living centers, shows that at least 62 facilities across the state are reporting shortages of gloves, respirator masks, gowns and other essential supplies. Funeral homes — which describe themselves as the “last responders” to the COVID-19 pandemic — have received little to no supplies from the state. Read the Virginia Mercury ArticleVirginia’s ‘Probable’ COVID-19 Death Counts Don’t Match the Experience of Funeral DirectorsThe Virginia Department of Health reported a total of three “probable” COVID-19 deaths on Tuesday — a number that many funeral directors say is inconsistent with their experiences over the past few weeks. The new numbers — which include deaths that haven’t been confirmed by a laboratory test but are believed to be related to the virus —? are part of an effort to expand the available data on the department’s public COVID-19 dashboard. Officials are now reporting cases, hospitalizations and deaths by locality and providing the rate of cases per 100,000 residents. Read the Virginia Mercury ArticleVirginia has $1.65 billion in Federal Relief Funds, but Faces Limits on its UseVirginia received guidance from the federal government on how to spend the $1.65 billion that dropped into the state bank account last week, but the aid is not likely to stop the bleeding from state and local government budgets. Read the Richmond Times-Dispatch ArticleRequesting MRC Volunteers for COVID-19 Medical Staffing Support Are You Willing to Speak with the Press?Now more than ever, LeadingAge Virginia needs members willing to talk to the press to tell your stories and help us paint a realistic picture of life on the ground during the pandemic.? If we may reach out to you or share your contact information with LeadingAge Virginia's media teams for specific media inquires and opportunities, please complete the form.Note that we will not contact every member - and your contact information will not be shared with the media directly. If we do reach out to you around a specific media opportunity, we will work closely with you to assure you're well prepared.Resources for LTC Regional Outbreaks, Self-Reported Cases, Testing, OLC FRICOVID-19 in Long-Term Care Facilities: The Virginia Public Access Project provides a regional map of long-term care facilities in Virginia that report confirmed cases of Covid-19.COVID Testing: Virginia Department of Health Clarification: Members can work with their local health department to test residents for COVID, including testing residents at the long-term care facility without moving them to a hospital.? This is occurring in practice statewide.? The current VDH testing criteria for priorities for public health testing at DCLS are located here.Obtaining Information on Which Communities Self-Reported Positive Cases: Long term care communities can self-report if there are positive COVID-19 cases in their communities on the Virginia Healthcare Alerting & Status System. You can view the communities that self-reported by following these instructions.OLC Facility Reported Incident Form: Nursing Homes are required to report COVID-19 cases to the local health department. The OLC is also requesting that facilities submit a Facility Reported Incident (FRI) form when either a resident or staff tests positive for COVID-19.Careers in Aging Week (April 19-25)? and “Share Your Heart” campaignWe would like our members to provide us with photos, messages, or even a short video of staff members in a variety of departments. Our goal is to raise spirits and awareness of just how “Essential” Careers in Aging Services can be. We will be posting these submissions on social media to show our appreciation. Please include your Organization name with the submission. Click here for more information on Careers in Aging Week. Click here for more information on Share Your Heart.Click here for a graphic you can use to share with your colleagues and post on your website.Displaced Worker CampaignIn the first 3 days of our displaced worker social media campaign, LeadingAge Virginia has received more than 170 applications from individuals interested in working in our member communities. We are triaging these applications and sending them to providers in the applicant’s area. You can help the effort! We have developed social media templates for you to use to attract displaced workers and put out positive messaging during this crisis. You can access all of these resources for download here.Good NewsWe have heard your desire for the press to feature "good news" stories highlighting the incredible work LeadingAge Virginia members are doing to support older adults during this crisis every single day. Please send us your bright spots in this pandemic so we can highlight our heroes in aging services. Ongoing Member SupportIf you receive a positive diagnosis in your community, staff or resident, after calling the Department of Health, reach out to Melissa Andrews on her cell at (202) 360-1296 or melissa@. As always, if you have any regulatory issues or need technical assistance, reach out to Dana Parsons at dana@. The Association is here to support you throughout this crisis in any way you need. In addition, the Department of Health determines when they will do an on-site investigation vs. a remote investigation.? LeadingAge Virginia & Members in the NewsDetails on state contract for PPE released; health care providers split on continuing elective procedure banSpecial Education around COVID-19 & Complimentary Webinars & CallsLeadingAge National Coronavirus Daily Member UpdatesThese calls occur 7 days/week through April 26 | 3:30 pm daily Register for the entire series today - After you register, you will receive an email confirmation with your unique weblink, which you can use every day. Access all LeadingAge Coronavirus Daily Member Update RecordingsLeadingAge Weekly Affordable Housing CallMonday, April 27 | 12:30pm ETJoin the affordable Housing LeadingAge Weekly Call by using the link to join by video or phone number and conference ID below. Join Skype Meeting? Join by phone: 1 (240) 669-5802? Conference ID: 388027Mark Your Calendars: CMS “Office Hours” on COVID-19Tuesday and Thursdays | 5 pmBased on CMS trends with the agency sharing announcements the day before for a CMS “Office Hours” call, we suggest that you “mark your calendar” and we will share a calendar invitation once the call information becomes available.Click here to access recordings of the previous stakeholder calls. Meaning in the Time of COVID-19(Offered by Linked Senior)Tuesday, April 28 | 1:00 pm Discussion: Providing meaningful engagements for people living with Dementia while Isolation, Quarantine and Fear Abound. Click here to register.Navigating Operational and Clinical Pharmacy Services in the COVID-19 Pandemic (Offered by PruittHealth)Tuesday, April 28 | 2:00pmClick here to register (to obtain handouts)Click here to link to webinarAudio only, call: 1-646-749-3122 | Access Code: 947-277-925???????????????Weekly COVID-19 Calls with Affordable Housing(Offered by LeadingAge Maryland and Ohio)Every Wednesday | 9:00am to 10:00amClick here to accessFor audio only, call:1 (646) 749-3122 | Access code: 389-687-645Weekly LeadingAge Virginia Member CallWednesday, April 29 | 11:00 amPlease join us for an open conversation call on Wednesday, April 15 at 11:00 am to discuss the real struggles communities are facing such as staffing challenges and how to minimize the risk to residents and staff during this trying time. The calls will occur every Wednesday at 11 am. Call recordings are available on the LeadingAge Virginia COVID-19 resource page.We ask that you please use this link to access the call and Power Point. If you are only able to join by phone, please call the number below and use your muting options. Dial: (408) 650-3123 |? Access Code:608-402-021Managing Your Team Through a Crisis(Offered by Wittkieffer) Wednesday, April 29 | 1:00 - 2:00pmClick here for more information and to registerCOVID-19 Sharing Call: Pharmacy Impact and Resources(Hosted by HQI Network)Thursday, April 30 | 8:00 - 8:30amPharmacists and pharmacy technicians: join HQIN’s COVID-19 sharing call to hear your colleagues share frontline experiences, challenges and successes in addressing the COVID-19 pandemicClick here to registerSocial Work Network COVID-19 CallFriday, May 1 | 1:00 - 2:00pmClick here to access the linkAudio only, call: 1-646-749-3122 | Access code: 628-072-517Managing Your Organization Through a Crisis(Offered by Wittkieffer) Wednesday, May 6 | 1:00 - 2:00pmClick here for more information and to registerEmbracing Telehealth to Provide Billable(Offered by Hartman Advisors)Thursday, May 7 | 12:00 - 1:00pmDiscussion: coding to enable full reimbursement for telehealth; cybersecurity to protect PHI and remain in? compliance, and ways to help employees understand new systems and procedures.Click here to learn more Click here to registerStrategies for Implementing Phase 3 and Purposeful Preparation for Phase 3(Offered by PharmScript)Thursday, May 7 | 2:00- 3:00pmOffers 1.0 NAB CEUsClick here to registerNationalLeadingAge Need to Know: Coronavirus - 4.24.20Attestation Required for 1st Round of Cares Act Relief REMINDER: HHS requires providers who received funds under the CARES Act Relief to go to the Provider Relief Fund Attestation Portal to agree to the terms and conditions for the first round of relief funding that was distributed April 10-14. The key piece of the terms and conditions is: “The Recipient certifies that the Payment will only be used to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus, and shall reimburse the Recipient only for health care related expenses or lost revenues that are attributable to coronavirus.” Using these funds as replacement for loss of revenue due to COVID-19 will work in most cases. If you do not agree to the terms and conditions, you must enter the portal to inform HHS that you will return the money. All providers who received a payment should complete this action no later than May 10. Key Items to Consider: Infection Control SurveysThank you to Jodi Eyigor of LeadingAge for sharing these key items on yesterday’s Update Call.Make sure you that you are educating ALL staff, not just nurses, including dining, engineering, housekeeping, about COVID-19 signs and symptoms, and guidance from CDC and CMS, updates on what your COVID-19 status is in your community. Be militant in infection control. The facility is in charge of ensuring that residents are following infection prevention and control procedures – social distancing, hand washing, covering coughs, etc.Given the different challenges of those that you work with, that does not alleviate you of the responsibility to attempt to education and remind residents of these things. Make sure you are continually approaching these topics. Ensure that all staff know what precautions residents are on, and what PPE to wear specific to those precautions, even talking about signage being posted outside of the residents’ room. Everyone needs to know which type of PPE they should be wearing.Promptly identify symptoms, and take necessary PPE and cohorting measures. Make sure that PPE is easily accessible, located directly outside a residents room, and make sure it is plentiful. You want to ensure that alternatives are available. Make sure all staff are entering through designated entrances. Do not allow anyone into your facility without screening, even surveyors.Secretary Carson: Let's Learn from COVID-19 to do Better for Older Adults“I hope one of the things we take away from this pandemic are better measures for taking care of our elderly people on a permanent basis,” HUD Secretary Ben Carson, April 23, 2020On April 23, LeadingAge was able to raise the issue of HUD-assisted older adults impacted by the coronavirus on a HUD call that featured updates from White House Coronavirus Task Force leader Vice President Pence, HUD Secretary Ben Carson, and FHA Commissioner / Assistant Secretary for Housing Brian Montgomery. Although the three questions allowed by participants came at the end of the call, this article summarizes LeadingAge’s question and the response provided as it sheds some welcome insight into the importance of senior issues in the eyes of HUD. More48 National Organizations Call for Senior Housing, Other Housing ResourcesOn April 23, 48 national organizations sent a short, broad letter to House and Senate leadership recognizing the housing and community development resources provided in the March 27 CARES Act and noting, “there remains substantial need for resources and policies to ensure the immediate and long-term concerns of people experiencing homelessness, low-income renters, providers of affordable housing and community services, and low-income communities — both urban and rural — are addressed.” MoreUsing CDBG Funds to Address COVID-19Enterprise Community Partners will host an April 29, 2pm ET, webinar, “How Communities Can Use CDBG Funds to Address Covid-19.” The March 27 CARES Act infused HUD’s Community Development Block Grant program with $5 billion for COVID-19 related costs. This LeadingAge article describes ways to understand how much your community and / or state received in these CARES Act CDBG funds and how to connect with your local CDBG grantees. You can register for the April 29 webinar here.Member Resources Testing ResourceMako Medical Labs can assist with your Covid-19 testing needs.? We utilize FDA approved PCR testing for a high degree of accuracy and are providing 24-36-hour turnaround times.? We have plenty of availability and set up is simple and quick.? Please contact John Nguyen at jnguyen@ or at 894-822-1457 with any questions or needs. ?Additional PPE Available Essential Worker PPE BrochurePPE Order form New Tools from LeadingAge NationalSecretary Carson: Let's Learn from COVID-19 to do Better for Older AdultsCOVID-19 and Affordable Housing Providers: Recap of Key HUD GuidanceNew Resources Help Make Decisions about Provider Relief & Other FundsNext Round of Provider Relief Funds Begin April 24CDC Clarifies Elements of Forthcoming Nursing Home Reporting RequirementsNCSHA Matrix of IRS Regulatory Relief as of April 21COVID-19 Risk Among Community-Dwelling Older AdultsWho Is Immune to the Coronavirus?Why Only 61 Australians Have Died from COVID-19New NextStep Temp Nurse Aide TrainingNextStep just pushed the 16 hour National Temp Nurse Aide Course live! It is totally FREE for enrollment now through May 8 with code HERO2020. It is for employers who want to re-skill incumbent workers (e.g. housekeeping, dietary) for direct care and for job seekers. Please check it out and let us know what you think and how we can best get the word out to your members.? The course is aimed at employers who want to re-skill the incumbent workforce (e.g., housekeeping, dietary) for direct care and job seekers.Recording now Available: Ziegler - The Latest on Stimulus Packages, Paycheck Protection Program Qualification and Spending Compliance, and More View the recording here. On behalf of Ziegler’s Mid-Atlantic Investment Banking team we would like to invite you to our second webinar to discuss the latest status on several issues we believe have, or could, significantly impact senior living providers.? We realize you are getting inundated with information on a variety of topics but thought it may be helpful to have a brief (30 minute), targeted call with Mid-Atlantic providers on current events that could impact your communities.? The following were reviewed on today's call: Summary of stimulus programs that are potentially available to non-profit senior living providersAn update on the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) including: - Tracking statistics for non-profit senior living applicants- Update on round #2 of funding- Additional debt test requirement/certifications- Mechanics related to complying with forgiveness provision- Accounting treatment and impact on covenantsContinuing disclosure best practices related to COVID-19 and stimulus programs.COVID 19 Stimulus Bill Facility Eligibility CalculatorThis tool, developed by our colleagues at LeadingAge Wisconsin, was developed to help providers know what funding is available to them through the two Federal COVID 19 Bills that have been signed into law through April 16th, 2020, the Families First COVID Response Act (FFCRA) and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES).? The tool allows members to enter facility specific information that will alert organizations to their potential eligibility for certain programs based on their inputs, as well as provide estimates on funds received if calculations are known. Here is how to use the tool and interpret your results by section:Inputs: Providers should enter information in the boxes based on 2019 data. All data entered should be numeric except for “Entity Type” and “Do you have an existing SBA loan?” which use drop down menus.Potentially Eligible Programs“Funding Program” states what the individual funding program is.“Eligible?” returns a result of “potentially” or “not likely” based on user inputs.“Possible Amount” returns of value of the possible amount that could be received based on user inputs. For programs that do not have readily calculable amounts, footnotes are provided for more information.“Type” identifies if the program is a Grant, Advance Payment, Loan, Payment Deferral, Debt Forgiveness, Expense Repayment, or Increased Income.“For more information” provides links to websites where users can find more information on the individual programs to investigate further based on the results of the calculator.Additional Notes: This section provides additional timely information impacting the programs.Boosting Your Resilience During AdversityIn this 12-minute QuickCast, Wayne Scott, shares strategies for coping with toxic stresses by taking stock in the things that makes individuals strong and resilient.From LeadingAge Centers:Boosting Your Resilience During Adversity Telehealth, Telemedicine and Remote Patient MonitoringPurposeful Reflection: Leading Through UncertaintyCAST Updates Social Connectedness and Engagement Technology ToolLeadingAge CAST updated its Social Connectedness and Engagement Technology Tool. The new tool includes a Product Matrix and Online Selection Tool for 45 products, including three new products, as well as six new case studies.Social Isolation ResourcesWith the help of LeadingAge New York, LeadingAge Virginia has compiled a list of online resources for seniors and loved ones to use while practicing social distancing. We know that this is a difficult time. Social isolation is a growing issue for everyone, especially older adults.Beautiful Question PostcardsLeadingAge is partnering with TimeSlips and Harper Collins to offer Beautiful Question postcards to aging services providers for free. Postcards prompt residents and clients to consider questions like “What makes you laugh?” or “What gift would you give the next generation?” Cards can be delivered with meals, mailed to family, or even displayed in your community. See samples and order your cards hereCMS Nursing Home COVID-19 Survey Process Mary Chiles Overview of CMS Nursing Home COVID-19 Focus Survey Process Call Mary Chiles with Chile Healthcare Consulting provided a comprehensive overview and tips (Access the Recording) regarding the CMS Nursing Home COVID-19 Survey process and discussed the following guidance:CMS Infection Control Self-AssessmentCOVID-19 Survey Entrance Conference WorksheetBackground Check Help from Good HireLeadingAge member organizations that need to hire quickly and immediately can trust GoodHire?for fast, accurate background checks. Its user-friendly online platform makes it easy for employers to get up and running in just a few minutes. Contact Dan Adkins at dan.adkins@ or 402-861-4963 for custom packages and exclusive pricing. Hiring ResourcesThe Hireology?team pulled together resources?that might be helpful during this time.? They also developed a hiring guide that helps address different points in the hiring process impacted by COVID-19 - like the need for video interviews and how to conduct onboarding remotely. Important COVID-19 Contact InformationAuxiliary Grant: tishaun.harrisugworji@dars.Businesses - COVID-19 Questions: business@CCC Plus: cccplus@dmas.?CMS: COVID19@CMS.DMAS: DMAScovid@dmas.LeadingAge National: covid@Regional HealthCare CoalitionsVHASSCrisis Counseling and Emotional Support HotlineThe National Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990 is offering crisis counseling and emotional support 24/7 during the COVID-19 outbreak.ChildcareYMCA is offering emergency childcare for healthcare workers. Click here to get in touch with your local Y.Practical Tools for Staff ConversationsFrom The Adventures of Winnie the Pooh by A. A. Milne: “‘What day is it?’ asked Winnie the Pooh.‘It’s today,’ squeaked Piglet.‘My favorite day,’ said Pooh.”Check In Question: Why is today going to be your favorite day? Our Elite Sponsors Platinum SponsorsDixon Hughes Goodman | FIVE19 | Functional PathwaysGlynnDevins | Holleran | M&T Bank | PaymerangPruittHealth | Sodexo | Value FirstGold SponsorsBB&T | CliftonLarsonAllen | Design Source | Dominion Voice and DataGraham Company | Johnson, Kendall & Johnson | McGriff Insurance Services McGuire Woods | Plante Moran Living Forward | Scott Insurance |?SFCS Walker Healthcare CPAs | W.M. Jordan Company | Whiteford Taylor & Preston | Ziegler 4201 Dominion Blvd Suite 100, Glen Allen,VA 23060Phone: (804) 965.5500Website: here if you would like to unsubscribe.? ................
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