Dear Residents and Families of Birch Bay Retirement Village,

I hope you have all have had a nice week. We currently have no cases of COVID-19 among our staff and residents. Please know that we have followed and will continue to follow all state and federal guidelines set forth for resident care, staff safety, and efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19. We will continue to work closely with MDI Hospital, the CDC, DHHS and CMS to ensure that we are adhering to the highest standards of safety and care for our community.

Beginning Monday, June 1st we will be launching Phase 2 of our Birch Bay Campus Safe Guards plan which will be effective through June 14th. The Phase 2 plan includes changes to our outdoor visitor guidelines as well as Independent Resident’s ability to leave the Birch Bay campus. Please note that at any time the guidelines of these plans may be changed to ensure the safety and wellness of the residents we serve.

Beginning June 1, we will welcome resident guests for outdoor visits to the Birch Bay campus. All visitors must reside local within 25 miles of Birch Bay’s campus and not traveled out of town in the last 30 days.  No visitors will be allowed in Inn apartments or common areas. Visitors must maintain physical distancing at least six feet apart and wear cloth face coverings or mask at all times. Birch Bay requests for everyone’s health, safety and peace of mind that all residents limit visitors as much as possible.

Four outdoor seating areas have been created for distanced visits on the front lawn of the Birch Bay Inn. Our Activities Department can host up to three visitors per resident (or two visitors for resident couples) during set visiting times. To schedule an outdoor visit, please contact Sara Starbuck at the Birch Bay front desk. Our designated outdoor visiting area will be booked by appointment only and all campus visitors must be screened for fever or other symptoms

Pleasant Cove family visits will be held on the front lawn by appointment only between the hours of 9:30am-3:30pm Monday through Friday.

Independent Residents family visits will be held on the front lawn on both weekday and weekends but only by appointment and during the designated visiting hours of 9:30am-3:30pm when a screener is available.

Safe Harbor family visits will be held in the Memory Garden by appointment only between the hours of 9:30am-3:30pm Monday through Friday.

We ask that all visits be scheduled 24 hours in advance. Please arrive 5-10 minutes before your visit time. Upon arrival, you will call the front desk from the parking lot from your cell phone and a wait for a designated screener to meet you outside the front entrance. All visitors must be screened for a fever or other symptoms by our designated employee. Anyone who refuses to comply with our screening process, has a fever or other symptoms will be asked to leave the campus.

Also included in Phase 2, is our Independent Resident’s ability to leave campus to enjoy a scenic ride. Apartment residents may leave campus for scenic drives in their personal vehicle; however, in an abundance of caution, we ask you to minimize trips and wear cloth face coverings or masks at all times and limit contact with others.  Safe distancing, frequent hand washing, avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, and avoid frequently touched surfaces are imperative to your safety.

We will continue to provide you with periodic and transparent updates with as much information as we can on our efforts to combat COVID-19. On behalf of the entire Birch Bay Retirement Village community, I want to thank each of you for your continued support and understanding. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have.

Sincerely,

Peter Sullivan, MBA, RN-BC, LRCA, CDP, Executive Director, Birch Bay Retirement Village