I’d like to dedicate this month’s renderings to all my fellow CDM, CFPP colleagues who have weathered the COVID cloud thus far with GRIT and GRACE, all while making sure the plates stayed filled!
What a difference a shot in the arm makes! How wonderful to see our residents’ faces and most importantly their smiles now that we are back to serving them at their tables.
Life has truly improved in our care centers, hospitals, and our own social bubbles! Being able to spend time once again with our own elderly family members and friends, the person-to-person conversations, and warm hugs are wonderful to have back! I can share that my own mother did very well; we have three feral pure black kitties that moved into her greenhouse to thank!
We have and will continue to work through what worked and what didn’t during this pandemic! I can say with PRIDE that being CDM, CFPP leaders and food safety experts definitely kept the flow of food going! Our ability to adapt to food shortages and menu challenges, and then after climbing those mountains, managing our staff and suppressing the fears of becoming COVID positive - BLESS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU!
I cannot say “the coast is clear”. We are still seeing some COVID-related challenges re-appear, but WE’VE GOT THIS! Surveyors are back on track for all survey types: annuals, complaints, self-reports, and infection control. If you don’t have a good understanding of these long-term care CMS survey types, check out the ANFPtv
micro webinar series on Survey Preparedness, in which I’ve attempted to cover the expectations involved in successful outcomes!
Education is still the key! Please continue to work with your departments on their Food and Nutrition Services competencies, and as leaders, seek out CEs to challenge your own skill sets! Remember to look to your ANFP connections for support, education, and networking! Please contact me with any regulations-related questions at
regs@ANFPonline.org.
Stay healthy and sane!
Barbara