News from Friends House: Summer 2021 Newsletter
News
Baltimore, MD—Today, Maryland Department of Health (MDH) Secretary Dennis R. Schrader was at Friends House Retirement Community in Sandy Spring, Montgomery County, as he continues to visit vaccination clinics across the state.
“It was important to have seen today’s vaccination activities at Friends House Retirement Community up close and personal as we continue to vaccinate our older adult population throughout the state,” said Maryland Department of Health Secretary Dennis R. Schrader. “It is these direct partnerships that are part of our ground game that is enabling congregate care settings to get even closer to breathing a sigh of relief in the face of this pandemic.”
Secretary Schrader visited Friends House Retirement Community for the senior assisted living facility’s third vaccination clinic. In partnership with the Maryland Department of Health, Friends House has vaccinated 320 residents and staff.
Vaccinating Maryland’s 65+ population remains a top priority. To date, Maryland has fully vaccinated 73.3 percent of residents 65 and older and 83.9 percent of residents 65 and older have received at least one dose.
Secretary Schrader, Dr. Melissa Welch, DNP, FNP-BC, MDH Director of Community and Facility Initiative, and Mr. Philip Burkhold, Chief Executive Officer, Friends House Retirement Community.
The Friends House Board is delighted to announce that Philip L. Burkholder has agreed to be the next CEO of Friends House Retirement Community. As many of you know from meeting and talking with him, he has much experience in the field, having most recently been the Executive Director of ACTs Retirement-Life Plan Communities Fairhaven in Sykesville, Maryland since February, 2018. He has also served as the CEO of United Zion Retirement Community in Lititz, Pennsylvania, and the Executive Director of Ware Presbyterian Village in Oxford, Pennsylvania, among other positions. Phil will officially start as CEO at Friends House on November 16th, 2020, and before then, will be communicating with Ron Jennette, the Interim CEO, and others at Friends House to learn as much as he can before he begins. We welcome Philip to Friends House and are looking forward to working with him. He and his wife hope to stay temporarily in one of the cottages at Friends House while they look for permanent housing, and we know everyone will welcome them and enjoy getting to know them.
Sincerely,
Ramona Buck
Clerk, Friends House Board
A letter from our CEO reflecting on the events from this past week.
Click here
At this time, based on federal guidance, limited indoor visits will be permitted into our community Health Care Centers.
To schedule an indoor visit please call the front desk at Stabler Hall 301-924-7531 or Haviland Hall 301-924-7518.
The well-being of our residents and staff is always a top priority at Friends House Retirement Community. Friends House has long been prepared for these types of events, not just with its own policies, procedures and flexibility to adapt; but also through its communications with other local health systems as well as the CDC and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Our focus is on infection prevention and control. Please follow these well-advised guidelines:
If you have:
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Traveled to China, South Korea, Italy, Iran, Japan in the last 14 days or
- Had contact with someone who has traveled to these list countries in the past 14 days
We greatly value and appreciate the opportunity to serve those entrusted to our care, and we do so with competent, caring and compassionate staff who seek to make a positive difference in the lives of those we serve.
Thank you for your support and understanding click on the link(s) below for community updates.
2021 Updates
COVID-19 Information Sheet(s)
How to Protect yourself Prevent the Spread
What you should Know Stop the Spread
Maryland Department of Aging
The Maryland Department of Aging has great informational videos, 30 Second PSAs, downloadable resources and a button to register for the Senior Call Check In program.
For more information on COVID-19 from the Maryland Department of Aging click here
A publication of the Friends House Senior Association to chronicle our process towards expansion and a new and improved Friends House
The quarterly publication of the Seniors Association of Friends House
This quarter’s theme is, “Sorting Things Out” Enjoy the photos, stories and bios of Friends House residents September 2018 Letter
This quarter’s theme is, “Libraries.” Enjoy the photos, stories and bios of Friends House residents. Friends House Letter May 2018
This quarter’s theme is, “Looking Backward to moments and places that made a difference – or could have been different, depending.” Enjoy the photos, stories and bios of Friends House residents . Friends House Letter Feb 2018
Friends House celebrates it’s 50th anniversary and Terri Hogan from the Greater Olney News shares how the Quaker principles in our community are as apparent now as they were during the past five decades. Read more about our history, and the stories from the community members and staff in Terri’s article.
On Thursday, October 5, Friends House hosted a luncheon and discussion of innovations in senior health care as one of the day, October 5, Friends House hosted a luncheon and discussion of innovations in senior health care as one of the 50th anniversary celebration events. The forty guests included executive directors of area life plan communities, Maryland Representative Eric Luedtke, heads of agencies that provide services to seniors and several Friends House board members:
Kendall Anthony
Jim Bell (and his father!)
Ross Capon
Fred Finelli
Mosi Harrington
Rachel Messenger
Meg Meyer
Megan Shook
Former board member Patti Nesbitt also attended. County Executive Ike Leggett delivered the keynote address and presented Kevin with a proclamation recognizing Friends House and its commitment to quality affordable senior housing. After lunch there was a panel discussion led by Maryland Secretary of the Department of Aging, Rona Kramer, LeadingAge Maryland Executive CEO Jill Schumann, Friends Services for the Aging President Jane Mack, and Diana Saladini, Director of Population Health and Patient Services at MedStar Montgomery and Dr. George Hennawi, head of Geriatrics and the Center for Healthy Aging at MedStar Good Samaritan. A lively discussion followed.