The snow is quickly melting away and I even saw a robin today! Hope you are enjoying all of the extra sunshine and longer days. Don’t forget, this Sunday we put our clocks ahead an hour.
The Ministry online booking site will go live on Monday March 15. I have not been provided the information as yet and will very likely need to send a special newsletter out on Monday with this information. I do know that the Strathcona Paper Centre will also be opening March 15 in the afternoon but the registration process for this is very unclear as of Friday morning unfortunately.
It does appear that those of us who have had their first dose will now not be receiving our second dose until 16 weeks after our first dose. Hopefully, I can share more with you on this in the special newsletter next week.
This link/information is only for FIRST DOSE VACCINATION ONLY:
HEALTH CARE WORKER / ESSENTIAL CAREGIVER APPOINTMENT BOOKING INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Please share the booking link with Highest & Very High Priority health care workers / essential caregivers:
IMPORTANT: Booking links MUST NOT be shared. Please book only one appointment. Please do not double book appointments.
You will also note later in this newsletter that Pharmacies within KFLA are providing a vaccination clinic for anyone in the 60-64 age group.
As of March 10, I am happy to share that across Ontario, 95% of LTC residents have had at least one dose of vaccine. Further, 80% of LTC residents are fully vaccinated! Another interesting number is that 28000 essential caregivers across Ontario have also received their first dose of vaccine.
For essential caregivers, as the nicer weather is coming I would encourage you to take your resident outside for some fresh air if they are feeling up to it. Even just a short walk down the main drive and loop back up the second driveway and back into the Home can feel very refreshing.
If you are struggling with occupying your time as you visit/support your resident, we are here to help you. We can provide helpful tips, ideas, individualized baskets of items that will help the resident to stay engaged with you during your time with them in the Home or over zoom. Please reach out to Candice for help with this at cmmcmullen@lennox-addington.on.ca .
If this is your first time reading our newsletter, I would encourage you to go to this link where you will find the previous newsletters should you wish to view them. Should you ever not want to receive these newsletters, please follow the prompts on the newsletter at the bottom to unsubscribe. Also, if you ever feel that you would prefer to not have a picture of your loved one included in our Family Newsletter, please reach out to Bobbie-Joe at bblackburn@lennox-addington.on.ca or by calling at ext. 7224.
Hope you have a good week,
Angela Malcolm
Director
Vaccination Clinics (age group 60-64)
Local pharmacies participating in the COVID-19 vaccine pharmacy clinic pilot are now listed on the KFLA Public Health website. http://ow.ly/shY250DVvyE Contact the pharmacy directly to book an appointment. Please do not call KFL&A Public Health. Appointments are only currently available for those 60 to 64 years of age
Pharmacies in KFL&A offering COVID-19 vaccines
Please contact the pharmacy directly for more information on booking an appointment.
You will need your regular COVID swab that you have at a COVID Assessment Centre which you will need to have at some point between Wednesday and Sunday each week.
The second swab is the Rapid Antigen Test which will be done at JMPC. We will only be offering this test on Monday’s and Tuesday’s at the times listed below:
9:00am – 10:45am
1:00pm – 3:30pm
6:00pm – 7:00pm
NOTE: Shift Change will result in delays for non-staff.
Shift change that occurs during testing times are 2:30 and 6:30pm
Exception: If you visit only once per week then you only require the one weekly COVID swab from the COVID Assessment Centre.
The Rapid Antigen Test must be done here at JMPC and will take place in the tea room area where you will also need to wait for the results. Staff will provide you direction at the time. The results of the rapid antigen test are confirmed in 15 minutes. This test is strictly a surveillance screening test for those who present without symptoms. It is viewed as an addition to the screening tool process
Should an individual test positive using this Rapid Antigen test, they would need to have a PCR test completed at the assessment center to confirm the positive diagnosis.
Further, the Ministry requires that you must not have any access to a resident until the rapid antigen testing results are confirmed. We have a waiting area in a portion of the tea room as you await your test results (this procedure will take approximately 20 min).
Perishable Items: Food being brought in for a resident must be in a container that can be wiped down with our wipes and they will then be delivered to your resident right away.
All other items will be kept for 24 hours prior to being taken to the resident.
We have a special menu planned for St. Patrick’s Day. Residents will have the choice between Bangers & Mash and Winter Mixed Vegetables or Lamb Stew with a Buttermilk Biscuit and Butternut Squash with Sticky Toffee Pudding Cake for Dessert.
Program Schedule
Here is the week’s program schedule commencing March 14 - 20, 2021
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We have received some questions over the last month regarding programming opportunities occurring for Lilac Knoll residents. We have decided to trial a separate Lilac Knoll calendar to help families see the programs that are available.
Here is the week's program schedule for Lilac Knoll, commencing March 14 - 20, 2021
Overall, this is a break down for Lilac Knoll engagement opportunities:
Morning programs offered 7 days a week
Afternoon program opportunity in MacDonald Hall offered 7 days a week
Afternoon coffee group with RSA's offered 5 days a week
Lilac specific programs on the home area Tuesday and Thursday afternoons
Starting next week they will have evening programs on Lilac Knoll Saturday and Sunday
Current evening opportunities off the home area are offered 3 evenings a week
Total of 26 program opportunities per week!
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Types of Absences from the Home
Short Term Absences – Non over-night and off the property. Absence can be for social or other reason. Resident will only be screened upon return.
Temporary Absence – Overnight for one or more nights. Resident must isolate for 14 days upon return.
Both of these types of absences (short term and temporary) need to be pre-approved by the Home.
NOTE: In the event of an outbreak in the home, or where there is evidence of widespread community transmission as per provincial direction, absences are not permitted except for medical or compassionate reasons.
Medical Absence – for medical reasons including outpatient visits or single night emergency room visits. Homes will not deny a request to leave for medical visit.
For every short term absence, you will be required to have this form completed and approved prior to the absence.
As is the case for booking the window, indoor, outdoor and zoom visits, you will need to do this at least 24 hours in advance. All weekend absences will need to be submitted no later than Friday at 2pm.
Manager Point of Contact
for General Inquiries related to COVID restrictions:
In an effort to streamline this process for you, we have attached a form that you can email to a specific manager based on the resident's Home area. Alternatively, if you would prefer, you can phone the appropriate manager and they will assist you.
Mandatory Training Videos
Training videos are mandatory for you to watch prior to entering the building
A component of the Directives that the Ministry released includes a mandatory requirement for Homes to ensure that Essential Caregivers coming into the Home receive training on putting on and taking off PPE as well as training on effective hand washing. Below are the 2 video clips for you to view. You will be asked to confirm at the screening table that you have watched these 2 videos prior to entering.
Here are short video clips to resources that will help you to understand how to use PPE properly and how to effectively hand wash.
This training needs to be completed prior to your first visit and then monthly thereafter.
COVID-19 PCR Testing
You will require an appointment. You can pre-book your weekly appointment online here.
Greater Napanee COVID-19 Assessment Centre
Westdale campus at 12 Richmond Park Drive, Napanee.
Hours are 8:30-3:30 seven days a week.
The link to access your results for this testing is here.
Essential Caregiver Designation
The Ministry of Long Term Care updated visiting policy requires written documentation that supports the essential caregiver designation. As a result, we have created a PDF form that you can open electronically and fill in the blanks. There are a couple of options to return the form to us via email or fax. Alternatively, we will have hard copies of this document available with the screeners at JMPC where you can complete and drop off to them.
Essential Caregivers must submit thisformto be approved as an essential caregiver prior to their visit in order to be permitted into the Home.
Should the resident/POA wish to change an essential caregiver, a new form will need to be submitted in advance.
Zoom Visits
Zoom is a great way to connect with your loved one.
It allows you to see each other while talking together.
Book yourZoom, Indoor, Outdoor and Window Visits online using Picktime!
We ask that visits be scheduled a day ahead, and that weekend requests are completed by Friday at 2pm. For zoom visits, you will receive a confirmation email first. Then, 1 day prior to your zoom visit you will receive the zoom link emailed to you from the Home.
If you have any questions or unable to access this online tool, please call 613-354-3306 and someone will help you Mon-Fri during business hours.
Need to Cancel your Booked Visit?
The booking site doesn’t have that feature to cancel yourself online unfortunately. So to cancel an appointment: Please contact Colleen. Please email her at cyork@lennox-addington.on.ca or call Earline at reception during business hours(main line)
Infection Control from the desk of Emily Sarley
Do I have to still wear a face covering after I get my COVID-19 shot?
This week, Dr. Kieran Moore, Medical Officer of Health, answers the question 'Do I still wear a face covering after I get my COVID-19 shot?
If you are feeling that you would like some additional support or have some questions that you would like to work through, we would like to encourage you to access this amazing local resource. Lisa would be happy to chat with you!!
You may have noticed that we lowered the flag yesterday at the Home. March 11 2021 marked the one-year anniversary since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic.
We lit candles at 7pm to remember those who have died from COVID-19 and reflect on the hope that lies ahead. #Candle4COVID#TogetherWeCanDoIt