At Luthercare, the health, safety and well-being of our residents and team members remains our highest priority during these challenging times. We are committed to keeping the public informed and would like to provide an update today.
It is with heavy hearts that we announce that a resident who tested positive for COVID-19 at St. John’s Herr Estate in Columbia has passed away. Please keep the resident’s loved ones and our dedicated staff in your thoughts and prayers as they grieve during this difficult time. There is one additional positive resident case in Personal Care at St. John’s Herr Estate, and the individual is hospitalized; no team members have tested positive.
At Luther Acres in Lititz, we are treating 15 Healthcare Center residents as though they are positive for COVID-19, although we have only received confirmed diagnoses in nine of those residents. The remaining six have test results pending or are presumed positive due to their symptoms. It’s important to note that most of our residents have remained stable. The administrative leadership team at Luther Acres Healthcare Center has been in communication with a representative of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Bureau of Epidemiology team and their contracted infection control consultants. The Epidemiology team has validated the measures that the Healthcare Center implemented in advance of a positive diagnosis and to limit the spread of the virus. In addition, Luther Acres has one positive case among Independent Living residents at Luther Acres, and that individual is self-isolating for 14 days.
Our third community, Spang Crest in Lebanon, does not have any positive cases.
We continue to adhere to strict protocols and have been and will continuing taking aggressive measures to protect our communities from exposure to COVID-19. To reduce the risk of further exposure, we have dedicated a team of staff members who will exclusively care for individuals with a positive diagnosis.
In regards to our team members, one Luther Acres employee has recovered from COVID-19 and has returned to work, and 13 staff members have tested positive. We continue to carefully monitor all team members at the beginning and end of each shift.
Luthercare is adhering to the CDC’s Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Patients with Suspected or Confirmed Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Healthcare Settings. We are working closely with our medical director and following the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Pennsylvania Department of Health, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. For more information, please contact Luthercare communities’ Executive Directors or Administrators.
We urge you to continue complying with the governor’s requests to help stop the spread of COVID-19. This includes: an order to stay at home unless you need to go out for essential supplies, such as groceries or medication; to practice social distancing by staying at least 6 feet away from others in public spaces; and to frequently wash your hands. Engaging in outdoor activity is permitted. However, please remember to maintain social distancing because the coronavirus is highly transmittable.
Once again, we thank you also for continuing to keep Luthercare in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you for your patience, understanding and continued support. We’re all in this together, and we will come out of this stronger than ever.
About Luthercare:
Founded in 1949, Luthercare, a social ministry organization affiliated with the Lower Susquehanna Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and a member of Lutheran Services in America, is a leading provider of independent, personal care and skilled care residences in Lancaster and Lebanon counties. Luthercare operates Luther Acres, a Continuing Care Retirement Community in Lititz, Pa.; Spang Crest, a rehabilitation center, skilled nursing and memory support personal care community in Lebanon, Pa.; and St. John’s Herr Estate, an independent living and personal care community in Columbia, Pa. Additionally, Luthercare operates four PA Keystone Stars-accredited child care and early learning centers in Lancaster, Marietta, Reamstown and Annville. Luthercare, a pioneer in Child Care Programs, also offers a Mentoring Program, which aids home-based child care providers in Lebanon and Lancaster counties.