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The COVID-19 vaccines are here. The first shipment of the Pfizer-produced vaccine arrived at the end of November and was approved by the FDA last Friday, so people can finally begin the process of fully protecting themselves from the virus. The Moderna vaccine should also be approved later this week, which means more doses can be distributed and many more people can be vaccinated. Both vaccines are notably effective in preventing illness due to the coronavirus, and both have been tested in adults age 65 and older, who had an overwhelmingly positive immune response to them. This is truly fantastic news for a world weary of a virus that has impacted our lives more than we could have ever imagined.
As the vaccines begins making their way out into the world, we are thrilled to announce that residents in Pacifica Senior Living communities will not have to wait long for them as we are a part of the federal governments Operation Warp Speed Phase I distribution. Basically, the entire populace has been divided in to groups who will get these vaccines at different times based on exposure, risk, and chronic illnesses. Healthcare workers and seniors in assisted living and skilled nursing communities fall into that first tier, which means we’ll have the opportunity to get the vaccines very soon.
So far, early results show that Pfizer's vaccine has an overall effectiveness of 95% and of 94% in people 65 and older, while Moderna's overall effectiveness is 94%, with 87% in preventing moderate disease in older adults. This tells us how well things will go once the vaccines are being given to people on a wide scale. Additionally, the noted side effects of the vaccines are minimal, which, when taken with the extremely high effectiveness of the vaccines tthemselves really does paint a rosy picture for how things are going to turn the corner and improve as we head into 2021, and then into the Spring and beyond.
These companies have said about 40 million doses of their vaccines should be available this year, enough to fully vaccinate about 20 million people, as each vaccine requires two doses. After that, 50 million doses will be available in January, followed by 60 million doses in both February and March. This is enough vaccine for another 80-85 million people and is more than enough to vaccinate America’s seniors and work our way to containing and eventually defeating COVID-19.
At Pacifica, we are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the COVID-19 vaccines, and it appears we are now just weeks away—and maybe less—from being able to provide our residents and their families with the safety and security they are looking for as we all work toward getting our lives back to normal. We are proud of our placement as part of the Phase I vaccine distribution, as we are of the efforts we have already taken in helping to keep our communities safe and our residents happy during this past year. We want to thank everyone who is a part of the Pacifica Family—residents, team members, and family members alike—for all they’ve done in working toward our common goal.
Please keep an eye out for further updates regarding the COVID-19 vaccines, and know that as members of the Pacifica Family, we are all in this together.
People love puzzles. We love games and activities that challenge the mind and force oneself to think upside down, backwards, and around corners because of the challenge and the sense of victory solving a puzzle provides. There are few feelings sweeter than finally putting the last piece into place and seeing the solution you’ve spent minutes, hours, or even days working toward. But puzzles and brain teasers and games are more than just a fun daily activity, they are valuable way to help keep the brain active and healthy as seniors age, and help stave off some of the memory-loss conditions that can crop up as we enter and move through our golden years.
Friday, November 27 was more than a sleepy day spent relaxing and coping with the overeating many of us did the night before in celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday—it was an auspicious day in the timeline of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Touching down that morning at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport was a United Airlines flight that had left Brussels a few hours before carrying with it the first mass shipment of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine.
We are pleased to announce that two of our communities were included in the top 15 Memory Care locations in Las Vegas Nevada by MemoryCare.com. Based upon four main components, over 33 hours of research, interviews with representatives from each location, and over 120 online reviews, Pacifica Senior Living San Martin and Pacifica Senior Living Spring Valley both made this prestigious list!
Education is an important part of life, no matter how old or young you are. The desire to learn—and often to learn something new—is a powerful driving force that allows us to explore our imagination, sharpen our minds, and spend our days in the pursuit of a better self. But, how do you go about learning when you’re older?
In 2020, it has become more apparent than ever, and more important than ever, that senior living takes a full-service approach to how modern technology is integrated into their communities and their care. For the Baby Boomer Generation—who represent the vast bulk of retirees these days—having a strong technological backbone to your community is becoming more a necessity than ever, and it’s something that Pacifica Senior Living has been aggressively working towards in recent years.
As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.
-- John Fitzgerald Kennedy
This Veteran's Day, as we recognize the many Veterans who work, live, and visit our communities, it is appropriate to reflect on JFK’s powerful words that speak to us of the commitment we all have to live by, the truths set forth in our Constitution, and the honor deserved of those who have selflessly served to protect the freedoms we all hold so dear.
For 5 years now, Donna M. has been an integral member of our Pacifica Senior Living Family. While her home community is Pacifica Senior Living Ocala in Florida, as one of our Senior Business Office managers she often travels other places to help train and support other Business Office Managers. She loves doing this and is thrilled when she can empower others to do their best and grow successfully in their roles.
If you ask any employee at The Meridian at Westwood about Jarome, I think they’d all agree that it’s pretty hard to miss him. He is tall in stature, but that isn’t what makes him stand out; it’s his personality. Even with a mask on you can see his megawatt smile, which he gladly shares with everyone he sees. He is always upbeat and positive and people are naturally drawn to him. Residents and staff alike all know Jarome and seem to brighten when he's around.