COVID-19 Vaccine Update
In this very difficult year of COVID-19, we are happy to share some good news! Kentucky’s Governor has determined the distribution and administration of the COVID-19 vaccine are a priority for long-term care residents and staff. This week, the approvals and directions are being developed, and within weeks, the vaccine will be available to Kentucky. We will be among the first locations to receive it.
CVS will be the vendor to administer the vaccine at both the Nazareth Home Highlands and Clifton locations. This vaccine has been developed quickly, but the speed did not remove the steps required for safe approval. Like most flu vaccines of the recent past, it is not a live virus, nor does it include any food products. For those who have had the virus, the vaccine is safe and recommended for immunity.
When CVS obtains the vaccine, they will assign three clinic dates when their pharmacists and nurses will come on-site to administer the vaccine. We expect to receive this information within the week.
We will continue to take all the necessary precautions after the vaccine is administered, including continuing to wear all personal protective equipment and regular testing to ensure the safety of our Nazareth Home communities.
We see this as a light at the end of this long year. Keep in mind, the highest level of participation will provide us the most safety. We are hopeful that the vaccine is a turning point in this fight against COVID-19. Visit www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines to learn more about the vaccine.
Have you seen the Roman Colosseum ruins, the Sydney Opera House’s impressive sails, or London’s ancient castles? During this time of social distancing, the ladies of Charity Court, our memory care neighborhood, are visiting these sites and many more thanks to It’s Never 2 Late (iN2L) person-centered technology. 
If this year has taught the world anything, it is the power of health care. Now more than ever, the country and Louisville need kind, supportive individuals who are willing to step up and provide care to those in need. Nazareth Home has a long history of delivering compassionate person-centered care to the elderly and their families. This year, when most of the elderly population has had to distance from their loved ones, the relationships built between elders and Nazareth Home caregivers are incredibly essential. 
For those interested in becoming a CNA, the Nazareth training program is five weeks long and offered quarterly. Those in the program will receive hands-on clinical training with a nurturing instructor and will also work from online course materials such as virtual lectures, skills videos and practice tests. This program will earn participants three college credits and allow them to build more meaningful relationships with co-workers and Nazareth Home elders.
Those of us who have not experienced memory loss can’t understand Alzheimer’s from the perspective of a person living with the disease. It’s also hard to understand end-of-life circumstances without ever being diagnosed with a terminal illness. Yet our caregivers, nurses and staff face these challenges each day. While always compassionate and caring, there has not been a way to truly put our staff in the shoes of the elder faced with these issues, until now.
Nazareth Home was honored to participate in this year’s Give for Good Louisville, the biggest day of online giving for the Louisville Community. The money raised for the 500+ participating non-profit organizations was eligible for prize money throughout the day from the Community Foundation of Louisville, the host of the online event.
This year, Nazareth Homes Foundation met our goal and raised $10,000! We are grateful to the group of donors that supported us. We are humbled that so many support our Sandra King Education and Excellence Fund. The focus of this fund is to empower Nazareth Home staff to further their education without the burden of overwhelming tuition. By supporting our team members and giving back to them, we strengthen our facilities and provide our elders with the excellence they deserve. 
Nazareth Home Clifton received superb results as well.
The on-the-spot interviews were at a safe, social distance outside at their Nazareth Home Highland location at 2000 Newburg Road.
