Page 18 - Jewish News_October-2020

18 October 2020 FEDERATION NEWS

Federation assistance crucial to Aviva’s efforts

to keep COVID-19 at bay

By Gayle Guynup
viva – A Campus for Senior and we place tremendous value on our become available.
Life has been carefully man- relationship.” In addition to the grants,
Aaging life for its residents “Our Federation is pleased to be the Federation also helped
during the Coronavirus pandemic, with able to support the life-saving work Aviva secure a variety of in-
the primary goal being the health and that our colleagues at Aviva have been kind donations. For example,
safety of its residents and staff. With doing since the COVID-19 crisis be- one of the Federation’s ven-
the help of grants from The Jewish gan,” said Kim Adler, COO of The dors provided face shields,
Federation of Sarasota-Manatee, Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Mana- and the Federation, in turn,
Aviva has been able to implement in- tee. “Aviva staff is committed to keep- donated 65 of those to Aviva.
dustry-leading safety standards, pro- ing their residents, some of our Jewish A generous donor also made
viding a sense of security to residents, community’s most vulnerable citizens, a donation of masks, which
staff and families in the face of the safe and healthy during these trying Federation then gave to its Aviva resident Merlyn Steinhart enjoys an Aviva program
COVID-19 epidemic. times. Our STRONGER TOGETHER partnering agencies, including Aviva. of YouTube videos – lectures, movies
Granting Committee has “Federation has been a wonderful and concerts – and Shabbat and High
worked diligently through- link to these in-kind donations,” said Holiday services. “And I do my fireside
out the granting phases to Aviva Chief Development Officer Ann chats,” said Solomon. “It gives me the
ensure that we can provide Logan. opportunity to get right into each living
them with this much need- According to Solomon, in the ear- room and bring them up to date on the
ed support,” she said. ly days of the Coronavirus, the avail- latest news on the virus and what Aviva
Aviva has received ability of PPE was so limited, the fact is doing to keep them safe.”
two rounds of Federation The staff is currently being tested
STRONGER TOGETHER every two weeks. The state requires
grants. In Phase I, Aviva this mandatory testing for nursing fa-
secured $39,000 of its to- cilities, and Federation funds are help-
tal distribution of $68,000. ing to cover this cost.
The grant was used for In addition to the grants, Aviva
personal protection equip- received an additional $5,734, which
Nikki Visnoski, MDS Coordinator; Dustin Schuler, Director of
Nursing; Debra Edwards, Registered Nurse at Benderson Skilled ment (PPE) and for a new came from The Jewish Federations of
Nursing; Sunilda Quiles, Assistant Director of Nursing communication system in North America and its “Pledge to Pro-
“The partnership and friendship the Kretzmer Center. In Phase II, Avi- tect” crowdfunding campaign. “This
between Aviva and The Jewish Fed- va received funds for more personal would not have happened without the
eration of Sarasota-Manatee has been protection equipment, sanitization and support of our local Jewish Federation Abbie Mount says, “Shalom from the
strengthened during this difficult dining supplies ($41,000), and for staff chapter,” Logan said. Chattahoochee River” in Helen, Georgia
time,” said Aviva President and CEO testing ($20,000). Aviva is taking numerous other
Jay Solomon. “We truly appreciate Aviva will also be eligible to ap- steps to ensure the safety of residents
the help the Federation has provided, ply for Phase III funds, when those and staff. Under the executive orders
of Florida’s governor, Aviva’s Anchin
Assisted Living & Memory Care and
SAVE DATE! that the Federation could use its donor joined Florida’s entire assisted living
Benderson Skilled Nursing units have
Aviva CEO Jay Solomon
the
and nursing home industry as they
network to make connections, helped
Aviva acquire more than 1,000 masks. were ordered into lockdown, including
“For example, the grandson of two the suspension of visitation, since early
Federation donors had set up a private March.
foundation for mask distribution to In addition, Kobernick (indepen-
nonprofits,” Solomon said. “The Fed- dent living) residents are restricted
eration connected us with the grand- in terms of their movement. When
son, and he provided us with our first all public areas, including the dining
shipment of masks.”
Before the Coronavirus
struck, Solomon said Aviva
was spending about $2,000
a month for PPE. Once
the pandemic hit, that cost
went up to about $60,000
per month. N95 masks,
which had a pre-pandemic
F ederation $12-$15 each at the height Ellen Frank brings a sweet treat to Aviva resident Olga Smith
2020
cost of about $1 each, cost
of the virus. While Aviva
did receive some PPE from
C elebration FEMA, it was “substandard,” Solomon room, were closed, they began a pro-
said. “It was through the relationships
gram whereby residents receive dinner
menu choices each day, with the meals
with the Federation that we procured
quality, usable PPE.” then being delivered to their rooms.
The new communication system in
Sunday, November 8, 2020 the Kretzmer Center allows Aviva to There is additional daily sanitizing.
When outside vendors, including those
3:00 pm broadcast programming directly into in the health care field, come onto the
each resident’s room. “The Federation campus, Aviva has established a strict
CHAIR: MARSHA EISENBERG recognized the importance of keeping testing and tracing protocol should the
people engaged during this time,” said need arise.
Via Zoom
Logan. “It is very easy for people who “We are delighted that the Federa-
For more information contact Jeremy Lisitza are already feeling very isolated to be- tion is playing such an important role
at jlisitza@jfedsrq.org or 941.343.2113 come depressed, and this new system in helping Aviva keep our residents
keeps them involved with a variety of healthy and safe,” said Logan. “Just as
programming options.” important as the grants themselves is
By livestreaming into the apart- the message this sends to others in our
ments, residents are treated to a variety continued on page 19