County of Lennox & Addington Libraries: JMPC Update: March 5, 2021

Update for the week of March 5, 2021

Message from the Director

Hi Everyone,

We are thrilled to share that all residents who wanted to be vaccinated have now had their 2nd dose!! Yesterday we had our 2nd vaccination clinic at JMPC in partnership with KFLA Public Health and members of our Registered Staff team. It was definitely a special day to remember!!

We hope you found the Rapid Antigen testing process went smoother this Monday and Tuesday for you with less wait time.

This week the Registered Designated Essential Caregivers should have received an email from me regarding the vaccine opportunity for them, and then a second email with updated information of clinic information. If you did not hear from me on this topic, please reach out to me at amalcolm@lennox-addington.on.ca so I can get the appropriate information to you.

We commenced our Staff Rapid Antigen testing this week which means that our staff and essential caregivers are tested at the same frequency per week. Our general visitors, contractors and support services are all tested day of entrance into the Home.

If you know anyone who visits in the Home and is not currently subscribed to this weekly newsletter, I would encourage you to have them sign up or help them to get registered so that they can stay on top of the most current information as well.

A reminder for our general visitors coming in to MacDonald Hall: These visits must be pre-booked at least 24 hours in advance during the weekday. All weekend visits must be pre-booked before 2pm on Friday’s. All of these visits are to be no contact and physical distancing must be maintained throughout the entire visit.

Please remember that staff are not permitted to assist residents in the transfer in or out of your personal vehicle. Residents needing this type of added support would be best in a wheelchair taxi service.

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

COVID-19 Testing for Essential Caregivers

You are required to have 2 COVID tests each week.

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.

What's New at JMPC

Here is the week’s menu for March 8 - 14, 2021

Program Schedule

Here is the week’s program schedule commencing March 7 - 13, 2021

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.

How to put on PPE - https://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/videos/ipac-fullppe-on

How to Handwash - https://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/videos/ipac-handwash

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 this form to 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 is hard to believe that it has been almost a year since we started using zoom as a way to connect with your loved one! Check out these fun facts of our zoom use!

It allows you to see each other while talking together.

Book your Zoom, 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.

Please book your indoor, outdoor, window and/or zoom visit using this link: https://www.picktime.com/JMPC

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

We are receiving many questions around what happens/what changes when we get vaccinated. Can we stop the health measures set in place such as wearing a mask, physical distancing, and washing hands often? The simple answer is no.

The vaccine can give you a false sense of security that you are protected. The vaccine does help the body learn to fight the virus without getting sick or a severe case of COVID, but it doesn’t decrease the exposure and that is why we need to keep the measures in place.

Also, the immunity doesn’t come instantly with the vaccine shot, it takes time to build your immunity and commitment from all to do their part.

The COVID variants are being studied for response to the vaccine, so that is also another reason to continue the Public Health Control Measures. This is certainly not the time to relax the health measures. The studies have said that we need to achieve a herd immunity and they have used a figure of 70% of the population to achieve this.

So here is where we stand right now. There has been approx. 268,000 people vaccinated in Ontario. Ontario has a population of 14 million. This comes to approx. 1.82 % vaccinated. As you see we have a way to go before we can change the routine of masks, social distancing and washing your hands.

Please continue to do your part, get the vaccine and follow public health’s measures.

Benefits of the Resident Support Aides at JMPC

Up for the challenge

How resident support aids are making a difference in long term care

The concept of Resident Support Aides was created in the summer of 2019 as a direct result of the ongoing shortage of PSW’s across the province. The hope at the time of conception was that this role may give those considering PSW work a method to expose themselves to the LTC setting in hopes of them furthering their career through a PSW college program. When the COVID 19 pandemic hit, the RSA role evolved and now provides different supports for the JMPC residents. We have focused the role on the resident’s emotional and social support, due to the limited engagement with their family and support networks during the pandemic. This has been vital for new residents and current residents. Along with their support in meals, bed making, nourishment and tidying home areas, the resident support aides help make the days of the resident’s at the John. M. Parrott centre a little brighter during a challenging time in our world. We are fortunate to have this dynamic group of ten staff which brings a new light on resident care in our home. We asked the resident support aides who were the first to enter this role at the John. M. Parrott Center, to share their thoughts on what it is like to be an RSA and the meaning this new role brings to them and the residents they serve every day.

“A resident's smile when I enter the room”

“Enjoying conversations and learning from someone's past life experiences”

“Realizing that life is made up of many small but important moments”

“At the end of the day, the feeling that maybe you've helped make someone's life a little brighter”

“Extreme pride and fulfillment in helping resident’s with their needs”

“Hearing a resident laugh aloud, and watching them dance with glee and having fun”

“It is a privilege to spend time with people who are unable to be with their families”

“Our number one goal is to help improve their quality of life in any way we can. We are that extra boost of support to help brighten a resident's day”

“I cherish this job for the chance that it gives me to make the lives of those who are in their autumn years. People who I feel deserve the utmost respect and dignity”.

Message from the Chair of Family Council

Family Council Meeting Tuesday March 23rd at 1:30pm via ZOOM

It has been quite a while since we had a Family Council Meeting. I do think it is important to have family voices especially now that essential care givers are in the home on a regular basis. Those residents who may not have the ability to be part of the Residents' Council need those that care for them to ensure that their needs are met.

Please consider joining us so that we can all bring to the table improvements and concerns that may have been observed. Please forward me any items you would like to see addressed as part of the agenda. We need to have at least 3 people willing to attend, so if you would be so kind as to let myself or Candice know if you are able to attend as soon as possible that would be great!

gbabcock@mycando.ca

cmcmullen@lennox-addingthon.on.ca

Take Care,

Gwen

Gwen Babcock

gbabcock@mycando.ca

Alzheimer's Society

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!!

Around the Home

Fascinator Friday

Complete with High Tea, homemade baked goods and 40’s music!

Pizza and Fashion!

Today we made our own pizza’s and then talked about fashion

from the 1940’s and 50’s.

Residents are now FULLY vaccinated!

Forms That You May Require

Paper Copies of the Weekly Newsletter – Available at the Resource Centre right behind the screeners.
Essential Caregiver Designation Form – Click here
Short term or Temporary Absence Request Form – Click here