PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Birmingham, Michigan (September 18, 2023) - Bloom Senior Living, the family-owned provider of seniors housing for over 50-years, launched its 2023-2024 Flu Prevention and Response Plan ("Flu Plan") across its communities throughout Indiana, South Carolina and Louisiana in order to continue protecting its residents and associates from communicable diseases as we enter influenza season. Bloom has significantly reduced infection, hospitalization and mortality rates during prior influenza seasons by following its Flu Plan.
With the average Bloom resident over 80 years old and part of a population that is susceptible to infection and hospitalization, the health and wellness of Bloom residents is our main priority. As you may recall, Bloom implemented a new aggressive Flu Plan, with coordination from its Nursing and Education Teams, in 2017 that has been successful. The Flu Plan was designed to provide protection and prevent as many infections as possible for residents and associates; re-trained Bloom associates on effective means of infection prevention; provided education to associates, residents and visitors around their role in preventing an outbreak; provided guidance on how to contain an outbreak efficiently to prevent further infections from occurring; and measured Bloom's results and success. In other words, as with other Bloom clinical programs, the approach was multi-pronged and focused upon: (1) prevention, (2) education, (3) tracking and (4) monitoring. The Flu Plan has been incorporated into Bloom's policies and procedures and become an annual initiative every Fall.
PREVENTION
As part of the prevention portion of our Flu Plan, Bloom residents will be requested to obtain flu vaccinations at onsite Bloom clinics (at each community) during October 2023 at no cost to them. Based upon experience, we believe a vast majority of Bloom residents will pursue vaccinations. Additionally, Bloom will offer associates flu vaccinations at no cost to them if they do not have insurance. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention launched a campaign this year called "Mild to Wild" to show how flu vaccination can tame flu symptoms from being "wild" to "mild" in people who get vaccinated but still get sick.
EDUCATION
As part of the education portion of our Flu Plan, Bloom associates will be required to attend in-service trainings during October 2023, which will further highlight the importance of receiving vaccinations and the similarities and differences between the flu and COVID-19. Bloom will also be communicating with residents, families and associates by e-mail, social media posts, virtual educational events and visible posters throughout the community regarding various informative guidelines, the components and benefits of the flu campaign, recent information for the 2023-2024 influenza season, the importance of flu vaccination, how to identify flu symptoms in the senior population, the necessity of hand washing for all associates and residents and other disinfecting products and protocols, details to prevent and manage the spread of infection / outbreaks, antiviral medical guidelines, and other related information. We'll also be running a campaign during National Influenza Vaccination Week observed December 4-8, 2023.
TRACKING AND MONITORING
As part of the tracking and monitoring portions of our Flu Plan, Bloom will track residents and associates who have, and have not, been vaccinated. Bloom's Owner and Director of Operations, along with Bloom's Leadership Teams, will monitor the occurrences of influenza and intervention.
Bloom is committed to acting with urgency in order to mitigate the effects of the flu, and keep our residents safe and happy in their Bloom homes.
