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New Haven

Assisted Living & Memory Care

About New Haven

Updated COVID-19 statement

Dear Families and Residents, Covid-19 update

As you all are aware, Governor Abbott released Phase 1 of opening our facilities on August 6, 2020. This means setting a schedule to allow family members to conduct patio visits outdoors for a limited amount of time and continuing to follow COVID-19 precautions ie. completing the COVID-19 questionnaire, temperature checks, social distancing, wearing face mask and NO touching.

Due to New Haven being a Type B privately owned organization, we have the option to continue to restrict visitation until we feel it is safe for our residents.

I feel we have all worked so hard over the last several months to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and do not want to relax now on the situation. With schools starting back up this week, I feel we are at risk to see an increase in the spread of COVID-19.

I know you all are so eager to see your loved ones face to face without the barrier of a window, but I do not want all our hard work to go unnoticed as with the help of you I am happy to say we have only had COVID-19 in two of our nine facilities.

I will be attending an HHSC training session at the end of the week to review the new enhanced COVID-19 emergency rules for allowing limited visitation and the additional actions and implementations required to continue to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in our Assisted Living Facilities.

I will update you all more after this training with the information I receive.

Thank you all in advance for your patience as I take the proper steps to ensure your loved ones continue to stay safe through this unforeseen pandemic.

Please feel free to email or call me for further questions.

 

Teesa Wilson
tessa@newhavenassistedliving.com
(325) 450-0049

Updates for COVID-19

Is assisted living safe during COVID-19?August 7th Update

As many of you are aware, Govt. Abbott released an update on 8/6/2020 in regard to opening up our facilities. I want to share a few of the specifics that I do know as of today 8/7/2020 as many of you have reached out with questions. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) announced limited visitation rules for Assisted Living Facilities. We will be required to enhance emergency rules requiring additional action to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 as this continues to be a rapidly evolving situation and are constantly assessing what actions are necessary to keep our residents and staff safe in our facilities. Our goal is the reunite our residents with their families and friends.

As we know the access to family and loved ones is an important part of every resident’s health and well-being we also recognize the need to balance the emotional and physical health impacts of isolation against serious dangers that COVID poses to our vulnerable residents.

Although visitors are not allowed in at this time, I will be working diligently over the next several days to prepare for visitation. There are several items I need to have in place per HHSC that are required in advance to assure our residents, families and staff remain safe. My hope is that by mid next week you will all be able to see your loved one at some point.

For the health and safety of our facility residents and staff, public visitation will be limited to outdoor visits only. Physical contact between residents and visitors will not permitted. Additional conditions we will be required to conduct during outdoor visitation include:

  • No confirmed positive COVID-19 case in staff in the last 14 days.
  • No active positive case in residents.
  • Adequate infection control procedures.
  • Facility staff MAY be required to test weekly.
  • 6ft social distancing between resident and family member.
  • Resident and family member must wear mask at all times.

Further information will be sent out next week as I receive information additional information from HHSC.

I want to thank all of you for your patience, love and support during this unforeseen pandemic. It will be a joyous day for us all to allow our families to return and especially the day you all get to wrap your arms around yours and our precious residents.

If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to your Administrator or myself.

 

Tessa Wilson

Director of Clinical Care and Operations

tessa@newhavenassistedliving.com

 

 

Coronavirus Response for Senior Living

The overall health and safety of staff and residents is our top priority.

Coronavirus Response for Senior Living

New Haven residents and staff continue to stay safe and healthy during the COVID-19 outbreak. New Haven staff have gone above and beyond the standards to ensure our resident safety. These are the safety guidelines that the New Haven Staff is adhering to:

Wearing Face Masks

New Haven is following the recommendations of Center for Disease Control – staff and residents wear face masks. Staff must wear masks at all times. When staff is in the apartment working with a resident or outside of the apartment, residents wear also wear a mask.

New Haven has also asked that all essential healthcare workers visiting New Haven wear masks.

Outside Health Provider Protocols

Upon arrival, all outside health providers must answer and pass a COVID-19 questionnaire and have their temperature taken. New Haven has asked that home health/hospice visits take place at the beginning of their day to help prevent the spread of disease from one facility to another.

COVID-19 Questionnaire

In an effort to track signs and symptoms of the illness, all staff and residents must also regularly complete a COVID-19 questionnaire. The questionnaire is performed twice daily, once in the morning and once in the evening.

Staying PPE Supplied

New Haven developed guidelines early on in order to ensure adequate supply of PPE supplies. Additionally, PPE inventory is tracked daily in order for communities to have the equipment necessary to keep residents and staff safe.

Communication

New Haven has implemented a CareMerge broadcast messaging system. Immediate COVID-19 communication is sent via text, voicemail, and email to facility staff and families.

We want to ensure that our families and staff are the first to know about any immediate changes within each community, and the CareMerge Broadcast messaging system has made the process efficient.

Health and Mental Status

Residents complete a Health and Mental Status assessments each week to assess mental wellbeing of our residents. Not only is the health of our residents a top priority, but the overall well-being is of utmost importance as well.

Life Enrichment

New Haven has increased hours of Activity Directors due to the visitor restriction of their loved one to prevent isolation and depression. We want to continue to keep our residents active, as this helps with their overall health. In order to keep social distancing and keep our residents active, we have adjusted our daily schedule to offer small social activities, but still, allow our residents to stay socially distant and active.

Virtually Connected

Our aim is to keep families engaged on a daily basis. To stay virtually connected, iPads help residents stay connected with their loved ones. We have also increased posting of daily activities on Facebook.

Experience the New Haven resident-centered environment that our communities offer so that your loved one feels secure and enjoys all the comforts of home. Let us calm your fears about making the decision to move your loved one in this uncertain time. 

Please visit our website and Facebook page for continued updates on our response to COVID-19.

Color Psychology: What’s in a Color

The Energy and Emotion of Color

Did you know that there’s actually psychology in color? According to Psychology Specialist, Dr. Mahnke, “The color produced by light is a kind of energy. This energy affects both the functions of our body as well as our mind and emotions. Thanks to studies conducted, we now know that color affects brain waves, the autonomic nervous system and hormonal activity and stimulates various emotions. In other words, we react both physiologically and psychologically to color. Depending on how the brain is stimulated, a person can be rendered happy, angry, sad or anxious.” Everyone interprets a different sensation to color. However, children and the elderly are more sensitive to color in the way that it affects them, so you must be aware of the colors you use when decorating a space that is for a child or an elderly adult.

Strong, bright, neon colors can have a powerful affect on emotions. These types of colors can feel energizing and can make you feel more alert.  However, for children and the elderly, bright colors can actually be overwhelming, distracting, and can cause anxiety.

The Colors Interpreted

Below is a list of colors and a short interpretation of how children and elderly may react to these certain colors according to Specialist Psychologist Ayben Ertem:

  • Red—“Red attracts all the attention and distorts the effect of other colors. The lens of the eye must adjust to be able to focus on red. Using intense red in a room, especially in a room where a child or senior sleeps or concentrates, could have a negative effect. Children and seniors could feel and become tense and aggressive in rooms painted in red.”
  • Orange—“Orange is softer and simpler in comparison to red, but with the energy of yellow. It represents happiness, sociability and joy. It is ideal in overcoming tiredness, and it radiates warmth, and helps you wake up early in the mornings. Orange physically represents self confidence and independence.”
  • Yellow—”Yellow is the most joyful color on the color scale! It represents wisdom and kindness, and it radiates warmth, joy, enthusiasm, fun and inspiration. Yellow represents mental and spiritual enlightenment. It also affects memory, motivation and attention.”
  • Green—“Green psychologically represents health, and it also has a calming effect on the nervous system. It is reminiscent of peace, calm and quiet. Green is found to be the most relaxing color and represents the power of nature and life.”
  • Blue—“Blue is known to reduce body temperature, blood pressure and pulse rate. Blue evokes feelings of contentment, spaciousness and comfort. Because blue is such a calming color, it is recommended to be used in rooms that are intended to be slept in.”
  • Violet/Purple—“Purple stimulates the part of the brain related to creativity, but purple can also have a calming effect. Purple also contributes to physical and spiritual serenity

The Design at New Haven

Cool, right? Who knew that the color you painted your wall or decorated your home with actually has a psychological effect on you? When touring New Haven Assisted Living and Memory Care, you will find that we have chosen to decorate our communities mainly with the colors that represent peace, calming and joy—yellow, green and blue. Everything we do at New Haven is with a purpose, and with your loved one in mind!

Want to see more? Schedule a Private Tour  

New Haven Assisted Living New Haven Assisted Living

 

 

New Haven of Spring and Tomball Receive a Special Visit

 

New Haven Assisted Living and Memory Care of Tomball and Spring enjoyed new visitors at their window this last week. Enjoy the interview from ABC 13, Houston to see the joy and smiles from our residents.

Click HERE to see the video of the residents enjoying new visitors from therapy horses! 

Diamond Oak Stables, owned by Gretta Schieffer, volunteered to bring her horses to the New Haven communities to bring smiles to the residents.

COVID-19 has brought many challenges and many new “norms” for our residents, getting to socialize with these beautiful horses brought some laughter and joy into our home.

New Haven is going into the 6th week of being COVID free within our 8 New Haven communities. New Haven’s immediate and rigorous plan of action responding to COVID-19 is the primary reason why there are zero infections. The health and wellbeing of our residents, families and staff are of utmost importance to us.

 

Stay updated on all news and daily activities by visiting our Facebook Page 

Getting Creative for Family Visits

“Rae Martin, a licensed vocational nurse at New Haven Assisted Living in Spring said the facility has also been leaning on technology to help residents and families keep in touch.

“I email the families, a few times a week, at least every other day to keep them updated on new updates for the coronavirus and activities going on in the building,” Martin said. “I send them pictures; we pretty well keep in touch. It’s like a huge family here.”

However, should families need more than virtual conversations over video, Martin said families can also visit and see loved ones through residents’ windows.

Visit Here to see more about how we are getting creative for family visits!

 

Coronavirus: March 31 Update

UPDATES FOR CORONAVIRUS-19

Our New Haven management team is taking every action to stay connected with our residents and families as we continue to navigate the personal implications of COVID-19 per CDC guidelines. The health and wellbeing of our resident’s, families and staff members are of utmost importance to us. Below is a plan we have put together to ensure that your loved ones are being protected from COVID-19.

Summary of Changes per Centers for Disease Control (CDC)

  • Restricted all visitation except for certain compassionate care, such as end of life situations.
  • Restricted all volunteers and non-essential healthcare personnel (HCP), including non-essential healthcare personnel.
  • Canceled all group activities outside of the community and communal dining.
  • Implemented active screening of residents and health care professionals for fever and respiratory symptoms.
  • Employees with a temperature of 100.0 or greater will be sent home.
  • Residents with a temp of 100.0 or greater will be quarantined to their room.

We are encouraging our physicians to use telemedicine to screen and treat our residents using technology networks to reduce the flow of non-core health care providers from entering into our facilities.

Healthcare providers such as Hospice and Home Health will have limited visits sufficient to allow the resident to stay on services. Hospice caregivers who provide baths for those residents will be allowed into the facility, but visits will be decreased. All outside healthcare providers will be required to complete the

COVID-19 symptom screening and will be required to use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) upon entering the facility.

 

Watch for symptoms:

Reported illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death for confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases.

The following symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure.*

  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath

Relying on the expertise of the CDC and local health officials across the country, we are committed to sharing information as soon as we have it to protect the health and wellbeing of our residents, employees and families. At the heart of our core values is you, and the New Haven management team who serve you.  We are here to support your needs and care for your loved one in every way possible.

We know this is a very difficult time for you as visits are restricted due to the CDC protocols and we will continue to go above and beyond to make every effort to allow you to visit with your loved one via Facetime or other sources of telecommunication. Our goal is to reduce the anxiety level of our residents due to the many changes and maintain our compassionate level of care.

If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to your Administrator or myself.

 

Tessa Wilson

Director of Clinical Care and Operations

tessa@newhavenassistedliving.com

 

 

Coronavirus Update: Visitation Hours

New Haven has stopped all outside visitors at this time until further notice. All outside providers have been canceled as well unless an emergency otherwise medical visits will be via FaceTime or telecommunications! We understand this is an inconvenience for some but our priorities continue to be the residents. We also encourage taking your loved one out as little as possible. Thank you all for your understanding and helping us put your loved ones first if you have any questions or concerns I am available.

**Please share for your extended family and friends as well**