Wesley Woods Senior Living, which operates 10 senior living communities throughout North Georgia, was awarded a year-long grant by The Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation in the amount of $89,000 for COVID-19 relief and response efforts. As the year-long supplemental grant expires later this month, Wesley Woods is crediting the Anthem BCBS Foundation for funding the resources needed to significantly contain the spread amongst their senior living communities. Awarded in June 2020, the grant also assisted the mission-driven non-profit with the unforeseen expenses caused by the pandemic.

The emergency relief grant immediately funded personal protective equipment (PPE) for all staff and residents, including N95 masks, gloves, gowns, and face shields, cleaning and sanitation supplies and services, and disposable containers to convert all food service to delivery to minimize exposure. In addition, Wesley Woods provided psychotherapy to help many residents cope with the problematic effects of social distancing and helped them to be more receptive to safety guidelines.

"The PPE funding was key to providing the highest level of vigilance for mitigating spread and helped guard against any (major) outbreaks within our 10 residential communities," said Terry Barcroft, President and Chief Executive Officer of Wesley Woods Senior Living. "Despite critical shortages, Wesley Woods swung into action and was able to guarantee our care providers with full and adequate protection and maintain strict infection control protocols for anyone entering our community." As a result, infection rates averaged below 5% and allowed care providers to assist with daily living and health services within the residential communities, minimizing outside care and risk of exposure. Wesley Woods anticipates that PPE will remain a crucial part of Wesley Wood’s healthcare practices for the foreseeable future.