10/2/20 Update: Weekly testing of residents and employees continues

October 2, 2020

As October begins, Lyngblomsten enters its eighth month of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.  We remain committed to protecting the health and wellbeing of our residents, tenants, and staff.

• Lyngblomsten is testing all care center residents on a weekly basis.  As of October 2, our total number of active resident cases is 0.
• Lyngblomsten continues to test all care center and Home Health Services employees weekly.  As of October 2, we have 0 active employee cases.
• Knowing how important it is for residents and tenants to interact with loved ones as an anecdote to isolation and its negative effects, Lyngblomsten began welcoming Essential Caregivers into its buildings in late August.  An Essential Caregiver is a non-staff individual who fulfills a role in optimizing a resident or tenant’s physical, emotional, or psychosocial health.  They can assist a resident or tenant with personal cares, grooming, bathing, light housework, opening and reading mail, and other tasks.  This caregiving position was approved by the Minnesota Department of Health.
• Staff continue to try out new ways of keeping residents and tenants engaged while pandemic restrictions are in place.  Examples include hosting an outdoor concert with brass players from the Minnesota Orchestra, connecting tenants with students from Macalester College for online conversations, and having tenants from The Heritage at Lyngblomsten display artwork they’ve created outside their rooms (instead of in the Dining Room) for this year’s Blue Ribbon Art Display.

We are thankful for all we’ve learned in these last months, and we remain vigilant in following all guidance from federal and state agencies.  To our families, friends, volunteers, and supporters:  Thank you for your encouragement and prayers as we continue to navigate the journey of the COVID-19 pandemic.