The Tradition’s Response to COVID-19

The Tradition has been extremely proactive in its efforts to protect the health of our residents and employees in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.  We continue to closely monitor and follow, or exceed, all directives from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission during the current phased reopening of Texas businesses and activities.  

Early On

Starting in January, The Tradition Communities began screenings to restrict access to any visitor who had traveled to China.  We hired an Infectious Disease Consultant who came to our campuses for a week to audit our policies and procedures to mitigate the spread of the virus.  She also in-serviced our staff to reiterate best practices and safety protocols.   

As COVID-19 progressed in late February and early March, The Tradition reduced capacity in Dining Rooms, fitness classes, social programs, and other common-area functions throughout our Communities to mitigate the risk of Community-based transmission.  At the peak, we closed all common areas completely, cancelled all fitness classes and social programs, closed the pool, and shifted to providing complimentary room service for all meals.  We instituted a popular rolling Happy Hour to provide social engagement to residents while they remained in their apartments.  Social Directors, Transportation Directors, Marketers and other team members made themselves available to coordinate grocery and pharmacy deliveries and to set up Zoom or FaceTime calls with loved ones. 

As We Slowly Reopen

Although our policies for Assisted Living and Memory Care Communities remain the same as described above, as mandated by Texas Health and Human Services, we are slowly reopening our Independent Living Communities.

Today, our Independent Living Communities are accommodating 50 per cent capacity in Dining Rooms, while also maintaining complimentary room service for residents who elect to continue to shelter in place.  They have resumed socially distant fitness classes and access to the fitness center and pool for up to four residents at a time. They also are currently allowing family visitors to go directly to resident apartments, but we ask that those visitors do not enter common areas for now.  All of these functions are supported by our team’s commitment to the highest standards of screening and hygiene.  

At all Communities each day, team members must have their temperatures taken and pass a screening questionnaire when they come to work.  Similarly, any guest or visitor is required to do the same.  Our housekeeping crews consistently disinfect each entire Community with an emphasis on high-traffic areas.  We also utilize an electrostatic sprayer for enhanced disinfecting of these areas.  

High Marks

A resident who has lived at The Tradition-Prestonwood for over 10 years recently wrote, “Just wanted to tell you and your staff how much we appreciate the care they all have given us during the virus epidemic.  Thank you. . . . There is no other place I would rather be during a crisis such as this than The Tradition.”  This was just one of many such communications.  Our residents and their families have been appreciative of our proactiveness, our transparency, and our unresolved commitment to go the extra mile for our residents, especially during this time.  We have developed a long track record of being fair, trustworthy, and respectful of the needs of our residents, their families and The Tradition employees.  

Our teams have done an outstanding job fighting this pandemic.  Recently, an inspector for the State of Texas Health and Human Services told our Regional Healthcare Director, “[Tradition] has done an amazing job with policies, procedures, and training regarding COVID-19.  I wish all of the communities in the State of Texas operated this way!”  

The safety and well-being of our residents and employees remain our greatest concern, and we will continue to monitor and implement the latest guidelines issued by the CDC and federal, state, and local government officials.

If you have questions regarding our response to COVID-19, please fill out the form below.