As we enter a New Year, our COVID-19 Taskforce continues daily calls to monitor and support our communities and make rapid changes to address challenges and guidance to protect our residents and associates. 

Our community associates have been given KN-95 masks to improve their protection against the Omicron variant and flu. We continue our universal precautions and enhanced cleaning protocols. 

One of Harmony's benefits for our associates is that we are well equipped with Abbot Rapid Test kits which provide our associates and residents a quick and convenient way to test for COVID-19 anytime. As our nation faces challenges with testing availability, this has offered our Harmony family great convenience and peace of mind. We monitor the CDC guidance daily and follow the guidelines and communicate them in real-time to our communities. 

We continue to stay focused and committed to the health and wellness of our associates and residents as our top priority in 2022. 

CEO Terry Howard shares an update on Harmony's flu and COVID-19 booster vaccine clinics for our residents and associates. With nearly 5,000 Harmony residents and associates estimated to get the COVID booster shot and the flu vaccine, Harmony is focused on helping to protect our family as the holiday season approaches. 

To our Harmony Residents & Family Members, 

I am pleased to announce Adrienne Shelton as Vice President of Clinical Services for Harmony Senior Services. 

Adrienne joins Harmony after spending the last four years at Allegro Management Company as Vice President of Resident Services. Previous to her tenure at Allegro she spent four years as District Director of Clinical Services for Brookdale Senior Living. 

Adrienne has extensive Senior Living experience and has led teams in advising senior management, and regional and community teams on strategic process improvement. She has led teams on multi-state and multi-site compliance, quality assurance, and risk management. She is a registered nurse with a compact license. 

As Adrienne joins Harmony, she will be focused on raising and maintaining standards of care through quality service delivery and compliance initiatives. She will also focus on attracting a new generation of senior living associates and continuing to promote our cornerstone philosophy of "Family Serving Families." She will be working collaboratively to meet the goals of Harmony in delivering quality care and services and supporting our Regional Clinical Directors. A focus of her first 90 days will be supporting the execution of our associate COVID-19 vaccination strategy, our COVID-19 booster shot campaign, and our flu shot clinics for each community. 

Adrienne is a mother of two and enjoys competitive sports, performing arts, theater, comedy, and film. 

She started her position this past Monday, October the 4th, and is excited to visit our communities and spend time with our associates and residents. 

Please join me in providing a warm Harmony welcome to Adrienne. 

Steven H. Martin

Chief Operations Officer

To Our Harmony Residents & Families, 

Part of our responsibility as a "Family Serving Families" company is to keep you updated on any available information related to our fight against COVID-19. You may have heard updates related to the COVID-19 booster shot. I wanted to share with you the most recent update from the CDC regarding the booster shot. 

Our COVID-19 Taskforce continues to meet every day and reviews all updates related to the COVID-19 booster, and we are in close contact with our pharmacies to ensure that our communities are a priority in receiving clinics for these booster shots when they are available. We are coordinating clinics in each community to offer the booster and flu vaccine for our residents and associates. 

We will continue to keep you updated on our website and with email communications. Harmony continues to employ all of our current COVID-19 precautions and prevention methods including testing, masking, and sanitizing. We sincerely thank you for your continued support. 

Terry Howard, CEO

Harmony Senior Services

     CDC Statement on ACIP Booster Recommendations 

     Today, CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky, M.D., M.P.H., endorsed the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices' (ACIP) recommendation for a booster shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in certain populations and also recommended a booster dose for those in high risk occupational and institutional settings. The Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) authorization and CDC's guidance for use are important steps forward as we work to stay ahead of the virus and keep Americans safe. 

     This updated interim guidance from CDC allows for millions of Americans who are at the highest risk for COVID-19 to receive a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 booster shot to help increase their protection. 

     CDC recommends: 

• people 65 years and older and residents in long-term care settings should receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series.
• people aged 50-64 years with underlying medical conditions should receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series. 
• people aged 18-49 years with underlying medical conditions may receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks.
• and people aged 18-64 years who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional setting may receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks. 

     Many of the people who are now eligible to receive a booster shot received their initial vaccine early in the vaccination program and will benefit from additional protection. With the Delta variant's dominance as the circulating strain and cases of COVID-19 increasing significantly across the United States, a booster shot will help strengthen protection against severe disease in those populations who are at high risk for exposure to COVID-19 or the complications from severe disease. 

     Source: https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/p0924-booster-recommendations-.html 

To our Harmony Residents & Family Members, 

For the past 17 months, our residents, families, and associates have shown tremendous dedication and compassion for one another as we have battled this coronavirus pandemic and its newest variants together. We have all embraced changing protocols and procedures, adapted personal and work habits, and shown a willingness to go the extra mile to keep our communities as safe as possible. 

Our residents are 95% vaccinated and the number of vaccinated associates has steadily increased. We must continue to ensure Harmony is the safest place possible for our residents to live and associates to work. As a result, we are requiring all Harmony associates to get vaccinated. Our goal is to have all associates vaccinated by November 1, 2021. This is the most important step we can all take to keep our residents and each other safe from this deadly virus. 

This decision does not come lightly. It follows lengthy discussions with Harmony's ownership and leadership teams. Requiring the vaccine ensures that all of us are protected to the greatest extent possible. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines recommend vaccinations as the best tool to protect against contracting the virus and its new variants. Numerous scientific studies support that getting the vaccine is safe and with it, hospitalizations and serious medical complications are greatly reduced. 

At the same time, Harmony will continue all other testings, masking, and sanitation protocols as well as following the guidance of local, state, and federal health agencies. And we will continue to keep everyone updated along the way. 

Our cornerstone philosophy is "Family Serving Families," and this decision aligns with our values to protect and keep our family safe. Thank you for your support. 

Terry Howard

Chief Executive Officer

Recent news reports about increases in the new strain of the coronavirus known as the delta variant are troubling and we are taking them very seriously. Even senior living communities like ours, with very high vaccination rates, are not immune to this new strain. At Harmony Senior Services, we are all working diligently to keep everyone as safe and informed as possible. It is vitally important we continue to take appropriate precautions to protect our communities. 

We are continuing all of our safety practices for COVID - including mandatory screening at the beginning of shifts and wearing masks by all associates, strongly recommending vaccines to all new residents and associates, and screening all visitors, and requiring they wear masks while at the community. 

Our residents on average across our communities are 95% vaccinated and we greatly appreciate this voluntary participation. They are helping to protect their friends and neighbors, as well as our associates, by getting the vaccine. While we may see breakthrough cases of COVID in the vaccinated, we are monitoring all residents and associates carefully and responding quickly to any signs or symptoms for residents and associates. We ask that you continue to wear masks when in common areas of the community and adhere to maintaining social distancing as well as regular hand washing and sanitization. 

Our leadership continues to meet daily to review our communities and evaluate COVID updates to ensure our communities, residents, and associates are well supported and that we are following the requirements of local, state, and federal agencies. We will be following any new or updated rules, regulations, or mandates and we will communicate to you accordingly. 

We have come so far since this pandemic started and we are all hopeful we can navigate this new challenge quickly with your support. 

Terry Howard

CEO

Hello and thank you for visiting Harmony Senior Services,

We are a family-owned organization with founder Jim Smith beginning his journey into senior living development almost 40 years ago. The core of our philosophy is "Family Serving Families."

In my 30+ years in senior housing, I've witnessed many changes and challenges, but nothing rivals what we have experienced with the coronavirus pandemic that began to affect our industry and the world last March. Harmony quickly assembled a task force dedicated to understanding the virus, enhancing our infectious disease practices and protocols, and implementing new technologies, all to keep our residents and associates as safe as possible.

This past year has been a challenging journey, but I'm proud to say that as of today, we have no known cases of COVID-19 among our more than 2,500 residents who call Harmony home. Our resident participation rate with the vaccine was over 96% and we are scheduled to complete our 3rd round of clinic vaccinations by the end of March. Clearly, the vaccine has been effective, and although we won't let our guard down, we have returned to a more normal operating environment including full visitation, sit-down dining, and comprehensive programs to enrich the lives of those who serve.

This milestone couldn't have been accomplished without the commitment, resolve, and dedication of our 2,000+ associates. To each of our associates, I extend my appreciation, admiration, and a heartfelt thank you. We have witnessed firsthand how adversity and challenge can actually improve an organization and its practices.

So, come home to Harmony. Now more than ever, our Harmony family is ready to serve yours.

Sincerely,

Terry H. Howard

Chief Executive Officer

Harmony is pleased to share that as of today, all of our 27 operating communities have completed their 2nd vaccination clinic. Aggressively partnering with CVS and West Virginia pharmacy groups benefited our residents and associates as they were afforded the opportunity to receive both doses by the end of February. We are very proud to report that 95.5% of our residents have received the vaccination.

This high resident participation, along with all of our communities projecting to be COVID free, allows Harmony to resume visitation, programming, and dining safely for our residents and families. We will still be following all local, state, and federal guidelines as well as asking all of our Harmony family to continue to be screened when visiting, wearing appropriate face coverings, and practicing social distancing.

Our residents’ health and safety remains our top priority. Providing a lifestyle that residents deserve is part of that responsibility. We encourage our families to call our communities if you have questions or would like more information.

We want to thank you again for your continued support and understanding and look forward to our new normal at Harmony.

The VP of Clinical Services was awarded the company's inaugural Harmony Hero Award from company founders

Following a year marked by the COVID-19 virus, Harmony Senior Services recognized one team member's exceptional leadership in guiding the senior living company's 27 communities through the pandemic. Tony Sanford, Harmony's SVP of Clinical Services has received the company's first Harmony Hero Award for his diligent work navigating the company through the unprecedented health crisis within our industry.

The new award, put forth by Harmony's founders, recognizes a Harmony Senior Services associate who has gone "above and beyond" with their professional contribution of performance excellence. Winning recipient Tony Sanford spent most of 2020 devising and implementing practices that put residents' health and protection at the forefront, putting the company's "Family Serving Families" motto to practice.

"Tony has been instrumental in executing a COVID-19 response strategy that was truly exceptional from the start," said Terry Howard, Chief Executive Officer of Harmony Senior Services. "Since the first day the virus became our new reality, he's worked tirelessly to keep our residents and associates safe. I can think of no better time to introduce this special and important new award, which reflects the very heart of our Harmony family, and no better recipient than Tony to receive it for the first time."

Beginning in March of last year, Sanford spearheaded the formation of an interdisciplinary Coronavirus Task Force at Harmony that regularly provided detailed updates to Harmony residents and families of residents on the latest news, policies, and safety procedures being implemented. The new policies, which included those impacting visitation, community events, cleaning and sanitation measures, and later in the year, vaccine distribution, are all credited with safeguarding the 27 campuses against the virus, keeping Harmony's residents as safe as possible.​

Jim Smith, Founder/Owner of Harmony Senior Services stated, "There have been many heroes who've risen to the occasion; people who stepped up and reached out to those affected whether directly or indirectly. Harmony is fortunate to have many of those heroes among us, but as we reflect on the past year, one person stands out. Tony Sanford, our SVP of Clinical Services, has led by example, standing at the forefront of our fight to keep Harmony's staff and residents well since day one. It is with pride that we recognize him as the first recipient of the Founders Harmony Hero Award. 

Tony shared, "I am so very humbled by the recognition during these challenging times in our lives. Our achievements are shaped by the strength of our leaders and the associates we work with. My favorite quote "Start by doing what's necessary, then do what's possible and suddenly you are doing the impossible" really sums up what looks like an impossible task to overcome a pandemic. But with dedication to care for our seniors, we will overcome this! I want to thank the Smith family for adding yet another platform of recognition for associates. I feel honored to work at Harmony and look to serving for many years to come."

The Harmony Hero Award comes with a $10,000 gift and personalized plaque which will be displayed on the company's new Harmony Hero Award Hall.

Dear Harmony residents, associates, and families,

Our Harmony Senior Services team is invested in keeping our residents and families informed on the latest COVID-19 developments. We acknowledge these comprehensive updates are longer than usual and appreciate you taking the time to educate yourself and loved ones by reading the following.

As you know, there is a lot of information circulating about the COVID-19 vaccine development and approval process. We want to take this opportunity to reassure you that Harmony has been working diligently in collaboration with our state, federal and commercial pharmacy partners in preparation for administrating the COVID-19 vaccine. This information will likely evolve as we receive further guidance from the CDC, CVS Health and others involved in this unprecedented process.

Harmony partnership with CVS Health

We are happy to share that Harmony has partnered with CVS Health to conduct the COVID-19 vaccine clinics across our communities. These clinics will be available for our existing residents and staff and will include newly admitted residents and new associate hires. Due to the need for a two-dose regimen, CVS Health will schedule three clinics to ensure we give our whole community the opportunity to be vaccinated. Because the vaccines have been purchased and are being made available by the federal government, the vaccination will be free. At this time, CVS Health is estimating the first round of inoculations will occur early January followed by the second clinic in 3-4 weeks and the third clinic shortly after.

Vaccination participation guidelines

Your participation in the CVS COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic requires two key steps to get started:

• Consent forms: First, we will need every resident or their authorized representative and associate receiving the vaccine to complete a consent form and return it to the administrative office at their community. For those residents who may need assistance with completing the consent form, we will assist you with this step. We expect to receive the consent forms soon and will make them available at that time.
• Insurance verification: Second, for those residents and associates who have insurance/Medicare, we will need a copy (both front and back) of your insurance/Medicare card. Both pieces of information, consent form and insurance card, must be provided in order to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. 

Harmony’s thoughts on the FDA “Emergency Use Authorization”

The FDA has approved “Emergency Use Authorization” of the COVID-19 vaccine across our country. There are three vaccines from reputable pharmaceutical companies – Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson that will be made available. Based on publicly available data, these vaccines are effective in protecting adults against acquiring COVID-19 and data has shown that even if someone has had COVID-19, the vaccine may provide additional protection against getting the infection again in the future. This virus is especially dangerous for elderly residents and those with serious underlying medical problems. It is important that we continue to protect our residents and loved ones that are at a greater risk. 

Harmony strongly recommends the vaccines to our residents and associates

Harmony recognizes that not everyone will feel comfortable receiving the vaccine and that it will be a personal decision for each individual and family to make. With that said, along with Harmony’s physician consultant and many medical experts, we strongly recommend that all our residents and associates receive these vaccines. By vaccinating our residents and caregivers, we can more effectively protect them, their families and each other from this deadly virus.

The data supports the vaccine’s effectiveness. Once you have received the vaccine, studies show there is a 90-95% chance that you will not contract COVID-19. It’s also reassuring for many to note there is no COVID-19 virus in the vaccine; rather, the vaccine imitates the viral infection so that our bodies think a germ like virus is present. This creates the antibody defense we need to fight off the COVID-19 disease. If you have any questions or concerns regarding obtaining the vaccine, please consult with your primary care provider.

In closing, we realize this is a lot of information and you may still have questions. Please feel free to reach out to your community Executive Director and they will work to obtain a response for you. For your reference, please find below an initial, tentative timeline of events related to the COVID-19 vaccine clinics. These may change on short notice as we continue to receive information. We will continue to keep you updated as the dates of our clinics get closer.

Terry Howard

Chief Executive Officer

Harmony Senior Services

Approximate timeline of COVID-19 vaccination clinic

December

• Email notifications sent to LTC facilities with instructions on next steps
• Educational webinar available to LTC facilities
• Email notifications sent to LTC facilities, providing 3 pre-selected clinic dates
• Confirmation phone call to LTC facility to review clinic details and confirm first 2 clinic dates
• Delivery of packet to LTC facility: consent forms and posters
• Patient/Facility completes patient consent forms and makes copies of insurance card information
• LTC facility uploads patient data into Vaccine Clinic Scheduler
• Clinic 1 execution for first dose of COVID-19 vaccine

January

• Identify new admissions and first dose patients
• Clinic 2 execution for second dose of COVID-19 vaccine

February

• Clinic 3 execution, if needed

NOTE: CVS Health has also made available its initial informational material discussing the steps that have been and will be taking place.  This material is located at https://omnicare.com/covid-19-vaccine-resource. 

Many people are asking questions as the COVID-19 vaccine makes headlines in the news.
Our Task Force is pleased to share with you an informational update from Tony Sanford, VP of Clinical Services.
Watch the update video here.

It’s hard to believe fall is here — and that our country has been navigating a global pandemic for over half the year. As we head into the holiday season, Harmony Senior Services is committed to providing a safe, warm and inviting environment for loved ones and our residents to gather together. This year, ensuring an atmosphere that feels as normal as possible will require us to stay vigilant, and stay ahead of the curve through the precautions we take. As we have since the onset of this crisis, the Harmony COVID-19 Task Force is already implementing forward-thinking measures that will help us responsibly make this happen in the weeks and months ahead. 

Updates from our COVID Task Force

Our Task Force team, which has retained a dedicated medical professional to provide further expertise and guidance, continues to meet daily in order to review the status of our communities and identify and discuss available technology and prevention practices for our residents, associates, and family members. In addition to carefully monitoring all local, state, and federal rules and regulations to make sure we are following the most current recommended protocols, we also audit our PPE stockpile daily to ensure all communities have an adequate future supply on hand for distributing as needed to our residents and associates at all times. Additionally, we continue to monitor PPE supply chains in an effort to remain ahead of shortages. 

Thanks to the diligence of this team thus far, we’ve been able to responsibly re-introduce visitation over the past few months in accordance with local, state and federal requirements, and our desire is to continue doing this as safely as possible. To this end, we’ve recently invested in even more precautionary measures that, when adopted and followed throughout this season, will continue to help us prevent the spread of the virus. These actions exhibit our commitment to providing a safe working environment for our associates, to keeping families connected to their loved ones, and to ensuring our residents have the best experience in our communities.

New Sanitation Measures

On the sanitation and air quality front, our enhanced cleaning protocols have always included using approved sanitation solutions to ensure surface areas are cleaned and disinfected routinely and after group use. To aid in keeping our air exceptionally clean, we have installed needle point bipolarized air purifiers in every community, which works to minimize or reduce COVID-carrying organic particles. As another step in disinfecting our common and high traffic areas, we have also adopted new Rapid Foggers, which are CDC rated. And for identified pilot communities in particular, other new measures include implementing Enviral Tech Surface Testing technology to detect possible organic materials before signs or symptoms develop among staff or residents, and ordering Electrostatic sprayer technology to attach cleaning solution to hard-to-reach surface areas, creating a clean and even coat of sanitized surfaces.

Expanded Testing Capabilities

Harmony’s testing process is also more thorough than ever: When a COVID-19 case is suspected or identified in a community, we conduct regular testing of associates and residents, and implement extensive contact tracing efforts to track and curtail any further points of exposure. Associates, guests, and residents that go out and return to a community are screened thoroughly – including verifying they have not been exposed and that they are not exhibiting symptoms. In addition, we complete a temporal thermometer check on every person that comes into the community.

Expanding on these measures are new Abbott Laboratories BinaxNOW antigen test kits, which have been in place at pilot communities to provide rapid test results for our residents and associates. In addition, we have continued our dedicated lab service for community residents and associates to enable faster results.

Living and Visiting at Harmony

Our policies for community living and visitation procedures have continued to evolve, too. From a testing standpoint, all new move-ins are strongly recommended to be tested for COVID prior to move in, and our new associates are tested for COVID prior to their first day of work. We know how important it is to stay connected; for this reason, visitation is encouraged for all of our residents and family members in all of our communities, while maintaining compliance with local, state and federal restrictions. As safety remains our top priority, we do require all visitors complete our screening, practice social distancing, wear face masks, and visit in the areas designated by the community.

For residents, our dining rooms are open and designed for social distancing with industry leading modifications to ensure a pleasant and safe dining experience. Programming is scheduled and done with the resident’s safety and enjoyment in mind — we have programming that is adapted for small groups with social distancing. Following the positive approach we have embraced all along, our programming is focused on what CAN be done rather than what cannot be done during this time.

At Harmony, we take safety very seriously and have made tremendous efforts and investments to keep our communities safe, but we also know we have a responsibility to provide our residents and associates the best experience possible here — especially at this special time of year. We are confident in this balance and invite you to experience it for yourself. We will continue to provide you with updates from our Task Force in the weeks and months ahead.  Stay safe and be well.

Sincerely,

Terry Howard, CEO

As we continue into summer, it remains clear that our world is very different from what it used to be.  The COVID-19 pandemic is still very much a part of life across the country and around the globe.  At Harmony Senior Services, we remain committed to the safety and well-being of our residents and associates and continue to make rapid changes to address challenges to this situation. 

For senior living providers, state officials have issued guidance and best practices for re-opening, which the Harmony COVID-19 Task Force has carefully reviewed. In developing and implementing Harmony’s re-opening plans, our goals are to monitor each community and make decisions based on each community’s unique circumstances. From there, only when we feel the community is ready, we are taking steps to gradually and thoughtfully increase the amount of time our residents spend outside of their apartments and opportunities to enjoy the amenities and activities that make Harmony home, while protecting the health and safety of our residents and associates.

There is not a ‘one-size-fits all’ approach to relaxing restrictions for our communities. Each community – within and outside of the Harmony family – will decide what is best for their residents and associates based on local health department guidance and prevalence of COVID-19 in their region and jurisdiction.  For more information about Harmony’s specific plans, I encourage you to contact the executive director at your or your loved one’s community.

With cases spiking in some regions, controlling the pandemic is taking longer than many expected. This demonstrates why it is so critical to follow community guidelines as well as personal directives to keep our residents, families and associates safe and healthy. While we are all eager to return to a more normal routine before everything changed, now is not the time to fully let our guard down. Please remember these important procedures to help protect our communities:

• Wear your mask or face covering when you leave your apartment and when interacting with direct care.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
• More information can be found at www.cdc.gov

Thank you for your ongoing patience, understanding and support.

Sincerely,

Terry Howard, CEO

At Harmony Senior Services, it is an honor and a responsibility to protect our residents, family and associates. We’re most grateful for this and remain fully committed to the safety and well-being of all we serve. 

Our organization was built on the core purpose to meet each resident’s individual needs while exceeding expectations for the entire Harmony Senior Services family. To that end, we will be providing proactive COVID-19 testing to every resident and associate in all of our communities.

We are confident that this is the right thing to do to limit the potential for spread and protect our Harmony family in each community as the world combats COVID-19. We all continue to be inundated with news that can cause uncertainty, and it is our hope that the defensive measures that we have taken from day one, combined with the strong action to proactively test all of our residents and team members provides comfort as we move through this pandemic together.

We are encouraged that testing supplies have improved and are more readily available and are grateful to be able to offer proactive testing across the board – including independent living, assisted living and memory care.

Facility-specific information regarding testing, including the dates of such tests, will be communicated privately to individual residents and staff. While test results will only provide a “snapshot” in time, we believe this information will help us better serve our communities. This will allow us to determine ways we can accommodate growing requests from our residents to begin to return to some of the activities and programming that they enjoy.

We are partnering with reliable external entities to assist us with conducting this testing. Results will be shared with permitted recipients in accordance with applicable privacy obligations. Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 will be isolated and given appropriate medical attention.

With the increased access to testing and the decision to test each and every team member and resident, there may be fluctuations in the number of positive cases across our communities.

We are aware of and prepared for possibility of this occurrence, and we will continue to be transparent and forthcoming with information as it becomes available.

We understand that it is difficult not to have face-to-face contact with your loved ones, and we look forward to the day that we welcome visitors back into our communities with open arms. Until then, our responsibility remains to protect our Harmony family, and we must remain diligent and consistent in our efforts. 

We want to thank our residents and associates for their dedication, commitment and courage as we continue to fight this battle together. For more information on protocols and defensive measures we have implemented to protect our residents and associates, please visit our website at harmonyseniorservices.com. 

Sincerely,

Terry Howard, CEO

While the COVID-19 pandemic has created enormous challenges in our daily lives, we have come to realize that difficult times also create unique opportunities for compassion and positivity.  In recent weeks, associates at Harmony Senior Services communities have shown dedication and unwavering kindness in the care of our residents.  Each of our communities has received numerous phone calls and notes from families and residents thanking these caregivers for all they do.  Below is a compilation of these notes which are both encouraging and rewarding.   

From 1500 miles away, it’s so hard not to worry about my parents in the midst of all this uncertainty with COVID-19.  What a relief to know that they are being looked after by an organization that truly puts care into practice…I tell you- we never expected that kind of care when we moved my parents into your facility, but your staff has never failed to deliver anything that they needed in a desperate situation…I don’t even have the words of gratitude, and I know the care and concern for every resident comes from the top of the organization down the chain to everyone who works there. You and your staff are exemplary in providing caring and service to the residents there.  I suppose you realize what a difference you make in their lives, but in case you’ve not heard it in a awhile- what Harmony has shown to our family is far beyond kind concern.  We are so grateful to have found you.  -Cheryl, family member from Harmony at Reynolds Mountain.

I am taking this opportunity to commend you on taking a proactive approach to protecting the residents at Harmony at Harbour View…I greatly appreciate the quality care staff has provided to my father over the past year. Since entering Harmony in December 2018, my father's overall health has improved during this time period… I would like to thank the nurses and "all essential staff" that continue to provide care for our loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic.   -Ben, family member from Harmony at Harbour View

We couldn't ask for better from the staff at The Chamberlin. …the necessity for maintaining the arrangements staff here have implemented are well understood and accepted by us. All that you have implemented have worked well thus far and I don't know what else we could ask for.  -​Bill, resident from The Chamberlin

My parents live in Assisted Living at Harmony at Reynolds Mountain in Asheville, NC.  I can’t begin to tell you how appreciative I am of every one of the staff members from the Senior Director, Tonia Owens, to the nursing staff, housekeeping staff, every single employee at Harmony that are doing everything to keep my parents and their fellow residents safe from this vicious virus.  Every day, the staff members do something to show their love and concern in addition to their regular duties….Thank you so much for supporting these frontline employees!!   -Claire, family member from Harmony at Reynolds Mountain.

I just wanted to reiterate what a great job all of you are doing. This whole thing is difficult on everyone.  My mom continually says how hard everyone is working to make things safe for the residents.  She is completely impressed with the delivery of meals to her apartment.  Mom says the "food is great and a wonderful selection, complete with everything you could possibly need."  So thanks to you and your staff for all of your efforts.  I cannot imagine how stressful all of this is.      -Susanna, family member from Harmony at Falls Run

I would like to thank all of you for doing such an excellent job in seeing that the residents are receiving such wonderful service.  The cook out meal today was such a wonderful surprise, and then to top it off, a knock on the door and there were ice cream treats! On behalf of all the residents here I would like to thank all of you for a job well done!   -Kitty, resident at Harmony at Falls Run

This is a hard time for residents, staff, and families.  My mom has dementia, and the stress has been hard on her…Everyone has been helpful…Their kindness and support has been exceptional…Thank you again for all the hard work.   -​Renee, family member from The Harmony Collection at Columbia.

In light of recent announcements regarding the pending expiration of “stay at home” orders across various states, cities and counties, we want to take this opportunity to share how these projected changes may or may not affect our communities.  First, as a senior living community provider we have an added responsibility to adhere to federal and state health authority regulations and guidance for the simple reason that we care for populations of residents that are vulnerable to COVID-19.  And we take that seriously. What is also important to note is that responsibility stands on top of and is in addition to any “stay at home” order. 

As you have seen from our prior communications, we have implemented substantial policies and procedures and taken extensive measures due to the COVID-19 pandemic in order to protect our residents and associates. These were implemented based on health regulations and health authority guidance and they will need to remain in place until such time as the health regulations and health authority guidance are relaxed. In other words, while the various “stay at home” orders governing our communities may expire, our policies, procedures and protective measures will continue to remain in place. Those being the following: 

1. Visitation restrictions remain in place for Essential Personnel Only and for End of Life Care.
2. All Approved visitors will be screened, including temperature checks.
3. All Associates will continue to wear masks, and we strongly recommend residents wear masks if they are outside of their apartment.
4. Our dining rooms remain closed and our residents are still enjoying room delivery service, free of charge.
5. Programming has been curtailed and all residents and associates are reminded to observe proper social distancing.

Thank you for your patience, understanding and support in helping us keep our Harmony family safe and healthy.

Harmony Senior Services touches the lives of nearly 9,000 people every day. And on the frontlines of these efforts are the 2,300+ employees who are leading the charge to provide above-and-beyond care for seniors. We know that now is the time to go the extra mile for them, because they go the extra mile for us — even in normal times.

The challenges presented by COVID-19 have demanded selfless and relentless efforts by all Harmony staff members, which have left us forever humbled by the extent of their courage and tenacity. On top of their courage serving our communities, many of our Harmony caregivers are facing immense burdens as they navigate childcare, work-life balance and other challenges that have accompanied this new environment.

Our ownership determined that the most impactful way to support our staff during this time was to make direct contributions to ease their stress. This is why the Smith Family Foundation has committed to serving our dedicated teams by giving $2 million in additional compensation to our frontline senior care staff.

In this short video, Jim Smith, chairman of the foundation and founder of Harmony Senior Services shares why it’s so important for us to say, “Thank you, Harmony staff.”

Together, we will all get through this.

The Smith Family Foundation

Dear Harmony family:

First, I want to thank all of our residents, family members and associates for the dedication they are showing each and every day to their friends, neighbors, loved ones and co-workers to practice social distancing and other important habits to help prevent further spread of this coronavirus outbreak. We know we are asking a lot of you and you are responding with understanding, support and commitment. Among the many things we are learning is that the tremendous hard work of so many can be quickly devastated if just one person in our community, or a family member, lets their guard down.

Sometimes it is the little things that can make a big difference. We want to offer a friendly reminder to all of you, and your family members to continue your vigilance with the following daily habits as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

• Shelter in place in your home, apartment, or designated secure area.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

It seems a long time ago when we could have family and friends visit our communities and boost our spirits. We are all eager to return to those days as soon as possible. But if we elect to change our current stay-in-place practices just one day too soon, before it is safe for everyone, we know from what is happening around the world and across our country what the results can be. It is said that patience is a virtue. We are so grateful for your patience.

While you remain patient know that 100 percent of our focus at Harmony Senior Services has been, and will be, on the health and well-being of our residents and associates at all our communities. We think of everyone at Harmony as a family – our residents, their families, and our associates. Protecting our family is priority number one.

A number of resources remain on our website to address what we’re doing to protect our community and to help answer your questions. As always, the Executive Director at each community is happy to talk with you about individual concerns. 

Please stay safe and thank-you for the trust you place in us. 

Sincerely,

Terry Howard, Chief Executive Officer

Smith Family Foundation Recognizes Senior Caregivers

The James R. Smith Family Charitable Foundation, in an effort to recognize frontline workers providing critical care and support to senior communities, has committed over $1.2 million to provide disaster relief gifts to frontline associates of Harmony Senior Services. The gifts will be disbursed in two installments to over 2300 frontline workers and will range from $150 to $500 per associate.

The first gift was dispersed recently to provide immediate relief to those in need. The Foundation anticipates dispersing the second gift by April 10th in an effort to provide this additional relief in time for Easter. Traditionally a time to celebrate with family and friends, the Foundation hopes that accomplishing this second gift by Easter will help provide further relief to these already strained frontline workers.

James R. Smith, chairman of the foundation, stated “We recognize that this is a difficult time for the entire nation as well as our individual families. Now, more than ever, is the time to be kind to each other, support our communities, and go the extra mile for those around us.”

Formed in 2000 by James R. Smith, the Smith Family Foundation is a private independent grant making institution dedicated to enhancing the lives of individuals and families by supporting organizations that advance student scholarships, educational institutions, medical research, and social programs that provide our most vulnerable communities with financial and quality of life assistance.

Smith added, “The foundation has supported many great organizations and causes, but none as important as this, perhaps our most important gift and indeed one of the most satisfying.”

James R. Smith is the founder of three successful companies, including Smith/Packett, which has developed or acquired more than 150 long-term and senior housing facilities in the Southeast; Harmony Senior Services, which is one of the fastest growing operators of independent living, assisted living, and memory care senior communities in the country; and Wessex Capital Investments, a nationally recognized private equity firm with senior housing expertise.

As you may have read, the U.S. federal government has extended nationwide social distancing guidelines through the end of April.  To this end, at all Harmony Senior Services communities, we are maintaining our health and safety protocols to protect residents and associates. This includes:

• Essential personnel only, including our critically important associates, are being allowed into Harmony communities and are undergoing regular temperature screenings.
• Residents at all Harmony communities are undergoing regular temperature screenings as appropriate.
• Meals are being delivered to residents and all residents are being encouraged to shelter-in-place.
• All group programming has been suspended for the next 14 days. (Residents can still participate in activities that support social distancing.)
• We are cleaning and disinfecting all areas with increased diligence.

We recognize that these directives feel onerous and the separation from your loved ones can be disheartening. Please know that these measures are in place to protect the health and safety of our residents, co-workers, families, friends and neighbors.

Thank you for your support during this time.

Dear Harmony family:

Each day brings new information regarding the coronavirus outbreak around the world and across the United States. The impact and uncertainty weighs on all of us. As this pandemic continues to unfold, I want to assure you that 100 percent of our focus has been, and will be, on the health and well-being of our residents and associates at all Harmony communities. 

We think of everyone at Harmony as a family – our residents, their families, and our associates. And if you’re like me, you understand that protecting family is priority number one. That is why Harmony’s COVID-19 task force is meeting daily and taking appropriate steps to keep all of our residents and associates as safe as possible.

We know that limiting the spread of the virus is paramount. The core concepts of quarantining, social distancing and strict hygiene, which are urged by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state and local health departments, are being applied at Harmony communities as appropriate. We are taking action: enhanced screening standards for anyone entering our community; limited visitor policies; restricted communal dining services; postponement of all scheduled community outings; training for our associates on our infectious disease protocol; and enhanced cleaning schedules at all communities.

While we recognize changes in our routines may be disruptive for our residents, and the restricted visitor policies can be challenging for both residents and families, please know that these are efforts to keep everyone safe and healthy.

The role that each of us plays in this is so critical. We have posted a number of resources on our website to address what we’re doing to protect our community and to help answer your questions.  

Thank you for placing your trust in us each and every day to care for the Harmony family. As always, the Executive Director at each community is happy to talk with you about individual concerns. 

Please stay safe.  We will all get through this together.

Sincerely,

Terry Howard, Chief Executive Officer

As a continued action to protect our residents, Harmony Senior Services has temporarily restricted communal dining services for all Independent and Assisted Living residents that do not require assistance with eating. 

Separately, due to their level of care needs, our Memory Care residents will continue to be served in the dining room while following current infection prevention and social distancing protocols. Examples of those include, resident hand hygiene before and after meals, discontinuing the use of table linens, and ensuring proper sanitation of all dining room surfaces.

We recognize this change may be disruptive for our residents but know that they understand this is an effort to keep them safe. We are making every effort to ensure their in-room dining experience is exceptional and enjoyable.

We appreciate the extraordinary support and understanding that our residents, associates, and families are demonstrating during these challenging times.

Late Friday, and over the weekend, we have been closely monitoring the recommendations of federal, state, and local health officials.  With the safety of our residents and associates being priority one, we have amended restricted visitation guidelines at all of our Harmony communities.  These restrictions allow for exceptions for end of life care or essential medical personnel.  Recommended screening is also in place for each of those visitors in each of our communities.  In an effort to ensure real-time communication we felt it best to post on social media to give families an update as to what to expect as well as send out letters to our families, residents, and associates.  Thank you for your support.

Harmony Senior Services is following local and state guidance and recommendations to visitor restrictions and screenings. We ask that in these states: North Carolina, Pennsylvania and South Carolina, you please consider alternate forms of communication, which we are happy to provide assistance with.

Dear Associates, Residents, Families:

As the CEO of Harmony, I want to assure you that our team is closely monitoring daily developments with the 2019 Coronavirus outbreak, focusing on preparedness and prevention measures.

We take this health threat seriously. While considering the privacy and rights of our associates, our residents and their families, we have taken strong action to protect and safeguard each member of our Harmony family. Our communities have no confirmed cases, nor do we operate in any of the current hot zones, but we are watching this outbreak closely.

Every year, we are faced with the challenges of preventing and monitoring seasonal viruses, infectious and common communicable diseases, and other public health concerns. Our policies and procedures on infection control, environmental health and universal precautions address these threats.  The oversight of our seasoned corporate team, our well-trained 24 hour staff and partnerships with local health officials, medical providers, hospitals and supply distributors help keep us prepared for these events.

For this specific viral outbreak we have taken measures above and beyond our standard response to seasonal viruses, in substantial compliance with the recommendations of local and state regulatory agencies and the CDC. 

Therefore, with an abundance of caution, at this time we are limiting visitation to: immediate family, outside essential medical providers and the customers we serve currently in the sales process for touring and admission. We are requiring all visitors to enter through our main entrance and Harmony will continue our mandated screening protocols. Community events that would increase risk due to participation with outside sources including visitors, vendors or volunteers have been suspended. We are also restructuring activities programs for current residents into smaller groups and will postpone all scheduled community outings and trips to future dates with the exception of necessary medical transportation and scenic drives. In addition, we are providing resources for virtual shopping and virtual communication with friends and families to lessen the interruption to our residents. 

As the leader of Harmony, the safety and well-being of our Harmony family is priority one. I ask for your support and patience as we work together to provide our associates, residents and families the best service and care while balancing the responsibility of keeping everyone healthy, and safe.

Terry Howard, Chief Executive Officer

There are no reported cases of coronavirus at any Harmony Senior Services communities. 

The Task Force Daily stand up meeting resulted in the following updates in addition to the below actions:

• Harmony Senior Services may make changes to meal service times or make changes to scheduled activities as deemed appropriate and/or necessary- we will make determinations on a community by community basis and apologize in advance for any inconvenience this may cause, but place a priority on the safety of our residents and associates.
• Harmony Senior Services has another hand sanitizer drop shipment scheduled for today- we continue to make recurring orders on supplies to keep our communities well stocked in advance in partnership with our providers.
• Harmony Senior Services has requested that all vendors provide their associate screening policy and procedure for review.
• Harmony Senior Services has added a screening questionnaire for all visitors (including vendors) on our sign in policy, which is in addition to our posted recommendations not to visit if showing symptoms.
• Harmony Senior Services has held an “ALL CALL” for all Executive Directors and will continue to do so weekly to help manage the communication to our community leaders.  Additional calls and communications will be marked as urgent and held as needed.

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Dear Harmony Residents, Families, and Associates:

We take seriously the responsibility to serve you.  We are providing this information to assure you that we have been proactively monitoring and developing our preparation and management procedures in light of the presence of Coronavirus Virus Disease (COVID-19) across the country.  We have been and will continue to review and distribute both internally and externally sourced guidance and information to you during the course of this event.

While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identifies the immediate health risk to the general American public as low, we realize that our residents are one of the populations vulnerable to virus infections and are taking preventative and protective measures accordingly.  One example being we have formed an Interdisciplinary Task Force to meet regularly, disseminate updates, and provide recommendations and guidance to community leaders at Harmony Senior Services. Those leaders will share recommendations based on this information with residents, families, visitors and associates.

We feel that open and transparent communication with our associates, residents, visitors and family members strengthens our ability to work together to prevent and protect our Harmony family.  A few prevention best practices we have identified include:

·         Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds

·         Avoid contact with people exhibiting symptoms

·         Don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands

·         Use hand sanitizer that contains alcohol

·         Don’t eat raw food, thoroughly cook meat and eggs

If you visit our communities, you will see signage posted asking that visitors who have a fever, cough, or shortness of breath reschedule their visit until they are symptom free.  Should the situation change at any one or more of our communities or in the adjacent area, we will assess each instance accordingly and determine appropriate actions, which may include restricting visitor access.  We ask for everyone’s help in protecting our residents from the spread of this or any other seasonal virus. 

We will continue to provide routine updates to you through multiple avenues, including on our website and social media.  Additionally, families can always reach out to the Executive Director at their community for any specific questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Steve Martin, Chief Operating Officer