Spring is on its way, just 11 days and counting! One of the great pleasures of living and working at Ingersoll Place is getting outside and enjoying the beautiful gardens and patio spaces. Residents and staff are already talking about the return of garden club, walking club and warm-weather barbecues. Until then, the March Activities Calendar is filled with a diverse array of special events and programs with something for almost everyone. In keeping with the Lenten Season, interested residents will be participating in Stations of the Cross prayers on Wednesday afternoons at 4. Musical entertainment will feature Laura Collins on the grand piano, Ingersoll’s annual St. Patrick’s Day party with Mike Purcell and new this year, William Monro performing on Irish bag pipes. There are weekly pool and bowling tournaments, Bingo and poker games, word and guessing games, arts and crafts and even science projects. (See photos below of this week’s “M&Ms science experiment). The entire monthly calendar of events is available at https://www.ingersollplace.org/blob/site-files.ashx?ID=3.
With regard to COVID-19, certain regulations including mask-wearing by all visitors to Ingersoll Place remain in place. Mask are required in public areas including the main lobby, hallways and elevators. Temperature checks, signing the visitor log and social distancing are also required as is frequent use of hand-sanitizer. Visits can take place in residents’ apartments, the library and designated sunrooms and lounges. Of Note: Residents that may test positive for COVID-19 or have symptoms associated with the virus will be allowed to have visitors (although not recommended) in their own apartments per revised guidance from the NYS Dept. of Health. To review Ingersoll’s updated “Visitation Policy During COVID Pandemic” in its entirety, go to https://ingersollplace.org/blob/news-files.ashx?ID=7.
With regard to residents that leave Ingersoll Place for longer than 24 hours, guidelines for out-of-house visitation have also been revised by the NYS Dept. of Health. Although returning residents who are up to date with all of their vaccinations or have recovered from SARS-CoV2 infection in the past 90 days will not need to quarantine, they will need to be tested twice, once immediately upon their return and again, between days five and seven. Residents that are not up to date with their vaccines should be placed in quarantine, tested immediately upon return and if negative, a second test administered between days five and seven. Of Note: If Schenectady County has a low community transmission rate, then Ingersoll Place will not require quarantine unless the resident has had a suspected exposure. All residents’ families, especially those that frequently take their loved ones out of the building for periods longer than 24-hours are urged to read Ingersoll’s policy, “Residents Leaving The Building During COVID Pandemic.” To review this policy in its entirety go to http://ingersollplace.org/blob/news-files.ashx?ID=11
For specific information about visitation, whether on-site at Ingersoll Place or with family and friends at off-site locations, please contact Michelle Rearic, Caroline Thompson or Kate Giemza, RN.
Although daily routines have returned to near-normal for most of our residents and staff, some of Ingersoll’s special celebrations may have gone unnoticed by residents’ families, friends and the community-at-large. One of the most important annual events at Ingersoll Place is You Make A Difference Day in recognition of employees who consistently go above and beyond in service to residents and each other. Recognized for their outstanding contributions during the last quarter of 2021 are Resident Care Unit Leader Carrie and Concierge Pauline; not shown are Unit Leader Alesha and Home Health Aide Melva. Taking top honors for the 2021 annual “You Make A Difference Award” are Resident Care Unit Leader Keisha and Housekeeper Tiya. Special thanks to residents and their families as well as staff members for nominating these exceptional individuals. Taking part in the awards ceremony were department managers Kate, Caroline, Michelle and Pam. (See photo below)
Please contact the following members of the management staff, as appropriate, at (518)-370-4419.
Caroline Thompson, Executive Director/Administrator
Kate Giemza, RN, Resident Care Director
Pam Jordan, Facilities Director
Michelle Rearic, Business Office/HR Manager
Amber Zoller, Assistant Case Manager
Christina Benardo, Activities Director
Ceil Mack, Marketing Director
