covid 19

Dear Friends,

As we enter the Spring and Summer of 2022, life during the Pandemic continues to evolve with rules and policies ever-changing, depending on the circumstances.   

Protecting the health and welfare of the Residents and Staff members at Montgomery Place is always front of mind for me.  Therefore, we will continue to require that all Staff members are 100% fully-vaccinated, which now includes a minimum of one (1) booster. We believe that following the scientific guidance and recommendations of the public health regulatory agencies continues to serve us well.  The fact remains that our decision to follow this guidance helped us find great success in mitigating the virus and managing its effects throughout 2020 and 2021.

We will remain vigilant in enforcing proper mask wearing and mandatory vaccination status for all who enter or live at Montgomery Place.  In addition to recommending and encouraging frequent hand-washing. 

It is important to remind all who live, visit and work at Montgomery Place that you must remain personally vigilant in monitoring your health, or dismissing any symptoms as “just allergies” or “just a cold”.    It is important to test as soon as possible and determine any risk to others.  Furthermore, we ask that any person exhibiting symptoms does not visit the Community.  Additionally, all staff members have been made aware of the protocols when illness or symptoms arise and the next steps to keep our residents and fellow staff members healthy.  

I often tell our Team that we are unaware of what tomorrow will bring, and changes may be needed, but we are prepared to pivot in our vigilance.  Continue to be well.

Warm Regards,

Michael M. McGarry, CEO

Montgomery Place follows the guidelines and recommendations provided by the Centers for Disease Control and both the Illinois and Chicago Departments of Public Health.

All Resident, Staff, Guests and Vendors, must be fully vaccinated to enter Montgomery Place.

On September 23, 2021, The Resident Council of Montgomery Place adopted the following policy:

“The highest standard of protection from communicable diseases in this congregate living environment requires that all Residents be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and Influenza on schedules recommended by the CDC (Center for Disease Control), the Illinois Department of Public Health, and the Chicago Department of Public Health. The Montgomery Place Residents’ Association hereby adopts this standard for all Independent Living Residents of Montgomery Place.”

To provide continuity to this policy, the Administration of Montgomery Place and Board of Directors have enacted a policy that all Staff, Guests, Visitors, and Vendors must be fully-vaccinated.

Requirements while visiting Montgomery Place:

• Stay Home if you don’t feel well in any manner, are experiencing any symptoms associated with Covid-19, or have been exposed to any symptomatic person or confirmed case of Covid-19. Additionally, be aware and abide by Chicago’s travel advisories, if applicable

• Mask-wearing is strictly enforced. Cloth masks are not allowed. Please wear a fitted mask covering both your mouth and nose at all times. *Unless eating or drinking

• Sanitize your hands upon entry to Montgomery Place, and wash your hands with soap and water, as often as possible, while visiting

• Registration with Reception is required, as well as providing your vaccination card and completing the screening

Montgomery Place is fully open to all Guests, Visitors and Vendors on all levels of living, including Independent, Assisted, Long Term Care and Rehabilitation.

Currently, guest dining is NOT being allowed in Assisted Living (Floor 3) or Skilled Nursing, Long Term Care, and Rehabilitation (Floor 2).

As always, thank you for your cooperation and diligence in supporting the health, wellness, and welfare of our Residents and Staff.

If you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions, please contact Paul Zappoli, Chief Operations Officer, at pzappoli@montgomeryplace.org or at 773.358.7042.

A Letter from Michael M. McGarry, President and CEO:

Dear Friends,

When I became the President and CEO of Montgomery Place in December 2021, after serving on the Board of Directors for almost 20 years, I knew I had hills ahead of me to climb, however I barely began to ascend when the Omnicron surge descended upon us in late December.

My immediate thought was protecting the health and welfare of the Residents and Staff at Montgomery Place. The fact that all Residents and Staff are 100% fully-vaccinated provided me with peace of mind. I’ll share with you that the decision to institute a vaccine-mandate at Montgomery Place was a tough decision, as we assumed that we would lose dedicated staff, who made the personal decision to remain unvaccinated. However, we believed that following the scientific guidance and recommendations would help Montgomery Place weather the pandemic storm. The fact remains that those decisions helped us find great success in mitigating the virus and managing its effects.

My secondary thoughts were guided towards maintaining everyday life and services at Montgomery Place. How were we going to address meals and events, visiting guests and cleaning residences? The truth is…we didn’t need to reinvent the wheel, so to speak. Our Teams sought guidance and reflection from their history of serving our Residents in 2020, and they activated those plans seamlessly. While the Omnicron Surge presented new and different obstacles, the servant leadership of our Team soared and I couldn’t be more proud to lead this Team. The sheer gratitude I have for their commitment to our Residents and Montgomery Place is boundless. I take comfort knowing that our Residents are in good hands each and every day, and you should also.

What’s next? We remain vigilant in enforcing proper mask wearing and vaccinations for all who enter or live at Montgomery Place, we enforce mandatory twice weekly testing for all Staff, and we recommend and encourage frequent hand-washing. I often tell our Team that we are unaware of what tomorrow will bring, however tomorrow is not promised. So, know that we are making the very best decisions, with the most current data, for our Residents, Families and Staff for today. Yes, changes may be needed, but we are prepared to pivot in our vigilance.

Finally, I want to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude for our Residents, Families and Friends. Your words of encouragement, whether through phone calls or e-mails, to myself and other Team members, have provided us with so much strength and inspiration.

Change is inevitable and Montgomery Place, our greater community, and even the world have seen their share of change since 2020. Fact is, Montgomery Place has seen plenty of change in the last 30 years. Yet, we remain Chicago’s most inclusive and diverse Senior Living community, nestled within one the city’s cultural and social enclaves, along the shore of Lake Michigan. That fact is unmatched. However, equally unmatched is the fact that at Montgomery Place, we are a forever family of Residents, Families, Staff and Volunteers. Let’s continue to enjoy life together at Montgomery Place!