Bartels Covid Updates:
 

UPDATE - SEPT. 2, 2022

Dear residents, staff, families and supporters,
 
Labor Day is a day that celebrates the contributions and achievements of workers and represents a day of rest and the end of summer.
For our industry the last couple years has added increased workloads, regulations, inflation, financial and work force challenges and less time for rest. As demanding as the year continues to be, I remind everyone to focus on the positives. The staff we have, are awesome! Everyone focuses on putting the residents first, and we continue to lean on our values and mission as an organization. 
We are grateful to work in an industry which provides a value to the community and is appreciated by the residents and families. There is a lot of labor in what we do, however there is also laughter, tears, and joy!
A few updates for this holiday weekend:
•       The county continues to be in high transmission.
•       Bartels is open to visitation and has no active Covid cases at this time.
•       The rule for screening in at the kiosks, and wearing a mask when you visit still applies.
•       Testing for the staff happens twice a week. Next week due to the holiday, testing will occur Tuesday, Sept. 6, and Friday, Sept. 9, from 2- 4 pm (for exempt or those not up to date with vaccine boosters) in the Chapel.
•       Updates continue to happen at the main entrance.
The transition from summer to fall is in the air, but along with that comes football games, sweatshirts and colorful changes.
I hope this Labor Day you find time to rest and renew, find something to be grateful for and tell someone you care about them!
 
                                                        Have a Blessed holiday!
 
                                                        Paula Geise, RN, MSN, CEO



UPDATE - AUG. 7, 2022

Dear residents, staff, families and supporters,
 
Bremer County remains in high (red) transmission with 52 Covid positive tests (in the county) in the last 7 days. Bartels currently has three Covid positive residents on Woodland Terrace second floor. We had one staff test positive on Monday. Resident testing will continue on second floor Woodland Terrace every Monday and Thursday until 14 days have passed with no new cases. We will continue to test all staff (not including assisted and independent living) for the same time period unless they have had Covid in the last 90 days. Staff will be tested, regardless of their vaccination status, if they show any symptoms at all. Bartels has received admissions with Covid due to the high transmission rate. Individuals are tested immediately upon acceptance.
 
Please pardon our progress at the Green Entrance this next week (August 8-12). We are painting and putting in new carpet at the main entrance and in the Chapel. There will be times Tuesday-Thursday that families and staff may have to temporarily use the Blue Entrance. This will be communicated with signage and text messages. I am sorry for the inconvenience, but it will look great when it is completed and it is an area that so many use and enjoy.
 
We had some exciting news this week when Eichhorn Haus resident Marianne Waldstein received the statewide Leading Life Award from Leading Age Iowa! She will be presented the award at the fall conference. The Leading Life Award celebrates a resident of a Leading Age Iowa member organization who has demonstrated an extraordinary attitude and resilience as they have grown older. The honoree transforms views on aging through their continued learning, engagement and contributions. They inspire others to redefine their perspectives of “old” and to embrace aging, advocating for all to enjoy life no matter the age and setting an example for others to aspire to. As many of you would agree, this describes Marianne perfectly! (She zip-lined at 90!) The CBS/Fox TV station and Waterloo Courier covered the event, so you may have seen it on TV and will want to watch for the story! We will also share the links by Facebook when we receive them! On behalf of the Board of Directors, CFO Peggy Zumbach, Marketing and Development Director Angie Daniels, myself and all team members at Bartels, Congrats to Marianne!
 
The weather cooperated Saturday and it ended up being a nice morning for a concert at the gazebo! Thank you to the Doowops for putting on a great show for all of us at here Bartels Lutheran Retirement Community.
 
Warm regards,
 
Paula Geise, RN, MSN, CEO