Effective Friday, March 19, 2021, Meadowlark will officially re-open its Kimball Avenue entrance and suspend usage of the check-point station located on Tuttle Creek Boulevard. Visitors without symptoms of illness, a current or suspected COVID-19 diagnosis, or contact with someone who has a positive COVID-19 test or is under investigation, will be permitted to enter campus. This will include common, public areas in Meadowlark’s Community Center such as Prairie Star Restaurant and the Courtyard.

Visitation to licensed areas, which includes skilled nursing and assisted living, must still be scheduled. Residents who reside in the independent living areas of Meadowlark have been able to accept visitors to their homes without restriction since Monday, Feb. 8, 2021.

Mask-wearing on Meadowlark’s campus remains a requirement. All staff, residents, and visitors must don a mask when they are not actively eating or drinking.

Ironically, the re-opening of Meadowlark’s Kimball entrance occurs a year from the date of its closure. Meadowlark closed this entrance on Thursday, March 19, 2020 and began re-routing all vehicle traffic through the Tuttle Creek entrance where visitors and vendors were screened prior to entering campus. Deliveries were also received at the entry point station throughout the pandemic year.

“Its been an interesting year,” said Lonnie Baker, Meadowlark’s CEO. “In a short amount of time we’ve learned, witnessed, and executed a lot of change in regards to regulatory guidance, PPE usage expectations, and COVID-19 mitigation. I’m excited to see the fruit of efforts realized as we move forward to a brighter future.”

In January 2021, Meadowlark conducted its first two vaccine clinics with their partner pharmacy, Walgreen’s Pharmacy. A third clinic was completed in February 2021. Over 90% of residents and over 70% of staff have elected to receive the vaccine. 

Meadowlark continues to educate staff, residents, and families on symptom awareness for COVID-19 and infection control best practices and have clear protocols for staff to stay home and not come to work if they are ill or symptomatic.

Meadowlark is a local, not-for-profit continuing care retirement community located in Manhattan, Kan. Since is opening 1980, Meadowlark has met community needs since and will continue to be a resource for health-centered and lifestyle-oriented support.