Hilltoppers,
Once again, I would like to make a direct plea to all of you to get a COVID vaccination, especially the employees of The Fountains, Commons, and Life Adjustment Programs. We currently have a facility on outbreak status due to two employees testing positive for COVID which immediately put 75 residents in isolation. What frustrates me is we have tools to significantly minimize this risk including vaccinations and mask usage inside and outside of work. When vaccines were made available, our residents jumped to do their part with over 95% being vaccinated because they want desperately to live their lives as normally as possible. Now they look to us to do our part and I feel we’re letting them down. To date, only 50% of employees in our assisted living communities have received the vaccine.
We operate our facilities under licensure from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), and in an abundance of caution, they have created “COVID outbreak” rules for our facilities. When our facilities go into “outbreak mode” this turns our residents’ lives upside down, requiring them to isolate for up to 14 days, with no communal dining, no activities, and most significantly no visitations from their loved ones. This is not how they want to spend their life.
I have heard all of the arguments, both pro and con, for being vaccinated – from those who believe they are invincible, to those that say COVID symptoms aren’t that bad, to those who say “nobody is going to tell me how to live my life.” I get it and I respect the right of Hilltoppers to make their own choices. However, I ask you to look at it from our residents’ point of view. These individuals have chosen to put their trust, their health, and their quality of life into our hands. What a tremendous responsibility we have been given.
Hilltop’s mission is “People First – Making every life we touch better,” and I believe we can do better as Hilltoppers. While I would hope the well-being of our residents and the responsibility you have accepted by choosing to work in this field would be enough motivation to get vaccinated, there are additional incentives for those who receive the COVID vaccine:
New regulations have changed the quarantine requirement for fully vaccinated employees. Now, asymptomatic employees with a high-risk COVID exposure may be allowed to work without having to take a 14-day quarantine period. This provides a major advantage to you as an employee being able to continue working, your team for not having to work short-handed and the level of services we are able to provide to our residents.
All vaccinated employees can claim their full 10 Wellness Points and receive either a $30 per month discount on their insurance premiums or if you are not on Hilltop’s insurance you can receive a $50 wellness bonus. Go to https://wellnessportal.online/login/hilltop to claim your points.
Exciting new incentives are coming soon for fully vaccinated Hilltoppers, so please schedule your vaccine today!
Getting vaccinated is easy, fast, and free. Go to https://health.mesacounty.us/vaccine-provider-list-mesa-county to schedule your appointment today!
Together, we got this!
Mike
