March 23, 2020
Update
On March 23rd, we received another directive from the Chief Medical Officer of Health to all Long-Term Care and Retirement Homes. The directive is that residents are not permitted to leave the home to visit family and/or friends. Residents who wish to go outside of the home should remain on the home’s property and maintain safe social distancing. Again, residents are not permitted to leave the home’s property. We ask that you keep in touch with your loved ones by phone or other technologies, as available.
March 19, 2020
Supporting Residents & Families Through Covid-19
We are working diligently to ensure that the health and safety of our residents is our top priority during this time.
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care is now requiring restricted access to the Home. Only those necessary to provide direct care or maintain the operations of the building are allowed to enter at this time. The only exception to this rule is if your loved one is dying or very ill. In these cases please contact the Administrator. You will have to pass a screening prior to entry into the building.
Below is a summary of how we are working to support residents and families at this time:
- Screening procedures: All staff and essential service providers are screened at the main entrance.
- Resident Care: Our residents continue to be assessed daily. If there is presence of symptoms, further assessments are completed in consultation with Public Health.
- Infection Prevention and Control measures: All staff have been provided additional education on best practices to minimize risk to themselves and residents.
- Limited communal activities: Movement of staff and residents throughout the home is being minimized. Recreation programs and physiotherapy group classes may be limited.
- Support from our Local Health Units: We are receiving updates daily from the Health Unit and the Ministry of Health & Long Term Care. We will continue to update families with major changes in procedures.
- Please note that we follow directives from Senior levels of Government, the Health Unit, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, and the Chief Medical Officer of Health for Ontario. We are not changing practice in response to something on the internet, or in some other media.
Staying Connected to Your Loved Ones
We will support families and residents to continue contact and support in the following ways:
- Email: If you would like to write an email or send photos to a resident, please send it to the Director of Recreation at the applicable home. Recreation staff will read the email to your loved one and will help them to respond.
- Telephone: If your loved one does not have their own phone, we are happy to help facilitate a telephone conversation, as we are able. If you would like to schedule a telephone call in advance, please arrange with the Director of Recreation. Please limit your phone calls to the Nursing staff to those related to your loved one’s health related concerns only.
- Mail & Deliveries: Families are welcome to deliver items to residents at the main entrance. We ask that you restrict these items to those that can be easily sanitized / wiped down. Please drop these items off during regular business hours if possible. Please limit food deliveries to pre-packaged and non-perishable items. Mail is still being delivered via Canada Post, so you are welcome to mail letters or other items.
- Recreation and Spiritual Support: We will continue offering engagement and support to residents at this time
If you have questions, please contact the Administrator of the home.
This update was prepared on March 19, 2020. Please understand that updates and changes may occur between the time this memo is prepared and when you receive it.
