Hope you were able to read over the changes in the special newsletter update sent out on Monday August 31st (click here if you missed it) These changes occurring effect your visits moving forward.
This week there is a lot of NEW INFORMATION that we want to share with you, so pour a cup of coffee, find a comfy seat, and let’s chat.
As I explained in the Aug 31st special newsletter we were provided with the legislative changes at the same time as the public on Aug 28 with the changes taking effect immediately. As I promised, we worked this past week on a coordinated plan that would be organized, fair, equitable and compliant with the new legislation. Unfortunately, on the evening of Sept 2 a brand new release from the Ministry of Long Term Care was sent to LTC Homes outlining the COVID-19 visiting policies that are expected to take effect Sept 9 2020. I cannot tell you how frustrating this was to receive given the changes we had already put in place as we had been directed, along with the improvements to this process we worked through this week, only to discover that most of that work would need to be redone!
As a result of this new release of policies, we will be remaining status quo for the next week and will release our new visiting plan to you on Sept 11 2020. Our new visiting plan will take effect on Monday Sept 14 2020. These are very big changes and we want to ensure that everything we put into place is coordinated with a high regard to infection control and safety.
Here’s the basics:
Residents can now leave the Home’s property for absences related to health care, social or other reason. There are two types of absence that are now available:
Short stay Absences (Non-Overnight Visits) – This type of outing is now permitted under the Ministry of Long Term Care legislation. Residents must wear a face mask (if they can tolerate it) while they are out. This medical mask for the resident will be provided by the Home. Residents will be actively screened including a temperature check upon their return but no COVID swab or isolation is required upon their return.
Temporary Absences (for one or more nights) – This is now permissible under the Ministry of Long Term Care legislation. Residents must be isolated upon their return for 14 days.
You are certainly welcome to participate in the short stay absence as outlined by the Ministry of Long Term Care, but we would encourage you to be very mindful of the risks associated with increased exposure to multiple people as you take them to your Home or other such locations.
High Risk Activity
Low Risk Activity
Going to a family reunion
Taking a walk/wheelchair ride around the JMPC neighborhood
Going to a funeral
Having coffee and a visit in our Front Community Garden
Going to see a sick relative
Going for a drive in the country and maybe grabbing an ice cream cone
Going to visit someone who has just travelled to Toronto or Ottawa
Having a picnic in our garden area
Going to the resident's daughter's house (where there is only 1-2 other people in the house)
We would also strongly encourage you to be COVID tested and have your results prior to you taking your loved one out.
If you, or anyone in your household (or anyone who would be interacting with the resident while they are out), feel unwell at all, please postpone your outing with the resident.
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.
Hope you enjoy this week’s newsletter,
Angela Malcolm
Director
Infection Control
From the desk of Emily Sarley (Assistant Manager of Nursing)
COVID-19 Testing for Visitors
All visitors coming into the Home must be swabbed within 2 weeks of each visit AND received their negative results.
You will need to call a COVID-19 assessment center to book your COVID-19 swab test and have it completed. It will take approximately 48-72 hours to obtain your results. The number for the Napanee Assessment Centre held at the Lenadco Complex (across the road from JMPC) is 613-354-8254. Other COVID assessment centers are available near you. The link to access your results for this testing is https://covid19results.ehealthontario.ca:4443/agree. The Home will require a verbal confirmation that you have been tested and have had a negative result in the past 2 weeks.
Indoor Visits: You will need to take your temperature in the foyer prior to entering each time you visit. Provide your temperature result to the screener. Answer the screeners questions. Sign the pledge. Verbally confirm and sign that you have had a negative COVID test within 2 weeks of each visit. You must wear a surgical mask (provided by the Home); Face shields are not acceptable. No physical contact with the resident.
Outdoor Visits: Outdoor visits do not require a COVID-19 test unless you plan not to stay socially distant. You are required to wear a facial covering that you supply (face shields are not acceptable). There is no separation from your loved one during these visits. Prior to any physical contact, please ensure you use the provided hand sanitizer. Please note the change for Outdoor Visits if you plan not to remain socially distant from the resident – COVID swab required.
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
We are going to begin major construction on our centre core roof commencing on Sept 3. There will be an adjustment to the location of the w/c parking which will be moved towards the physician parking area. Signage will be posted. The first row of parking will be utilized by a transport truck and a crane will also be utilized which will result in reduced access at the front of the building. You will see signage posted accordingly to provide clear direction to everyone. As a result, we will be bringing in a portable walk in fridge (for a short period of time) that we will utilize to allow for the cooling systems to be removed and roof work to be completed. This project will take approximately 6 weeks.
Hereis the menu for the week of Sept 7-Sept 13. We have made more than our usual changes to the menu to allow us to use up some items that we have in our freezer in order to prepare for the roof work that will begin shortly. Here are the changes we have made:
Monday Sept 7th: Shepherd’s Pie instead of Beef Taco Casserole & Chicken Cordon Bleu instead of Spiced Chicken Thigh
Tuesday Sept 8th is BBQ Day: Oktoberfest on a Bun with Sauerkraut instead of Roast beef sandwich
Wednesday Sept 9th: Greek Salad instead of Corn Salad
Friday Sept 11th: Butter Tart instead of Cranberry bar – working on getting these from Paradise Tarts in Stirling
Sunday Sept 13th: Honey Garlic Chicken Wings and Potato wedges instead of Chicken Salad with a Croissant
Here is the week’s program schedule for Sept 6 - 12th
Zoom, Window, Indoor & Garden Visits
Book yourZoom, Window, Indoor and Garden Visit 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. Please note that you can continue to enjoy your zoom visit along with an inside, Garden or window visit. You certainly can have more than one form of connection with your loved one.
Need to Cancel your Booked Visit?
The booking site doesn’t have that feature to cancel yourself online unfortunately. So to cancel an appointment you can:
The Activation Team is working towards their 2020 Goal and need your help…
The activation and Physiotherapy department have set a goal to have residents who require a walker or a wheelchair to be in their own custom wheelchair or walker by January 2021. The benefits of having a custom fit, is that it is made just for your loved one with their exact measurements and custom fitting from the mobility specialist of your choice and assessment from our Physiotherapist.
It is also important to note that you may qualify for the Assisted Devices Program which will cover 75% of the cost. We at the home will work with you to complete the paperwork to make the process as easy as possible.
We will be reaching out to you to start this process. Please note that we currently work with Motion Specialties and Align in house, however you may pick a provider of your choice.
Thank you for helping us achieve our 2020 goal and our prize of a dessert party!
Thank you,
Candice McMullen
Resident Services Coordinator
Message from the Chair of Family Council
Questions asked to Gwen during this past week and answers provided by Angela Malcolm, Director
Q. If we book an outdoor visit with our loved one can we take them for a walk around the property during that time? Is that considered a short term absence?
A. Yes, this would be a lovely way to spend time together. It would be considered a short term absence if you plan to leave the property.
Q. Are window visits going to be discontinued with the new arrangements?
A. We will continue with the booked window visits (that are currently only available at 4:10 and 4:30pm daily) until Sept 13 inclusive.
Next Family Council Meeting
Tues. September 15th at 1:30pm
Please contact Candiceif you can attend so we can set up the Zoom Meeting.
If you haven't had time please take a min or two to send a picture of you making a heart or holding a message of thanks to be included in a staff video as soon as possible. It is a surprise and with all the stresses the staff has been under a great way to show our appreciation. Please send your pictures to Candice McMullen at cmcmullen@lennox-addington.on.ca.
Please feel free to reach out to Gwen should you have any questions or wish to chat.
Sleep can look very different for those living with dementia. As individuals progress into the later stage of dementia, family, friends and caregivers often notice them sleeping more and more. This can sometimes be very concerning for the person’s family and friends, as they may worry that something is wrong.
Sleeping more and more is very common in the later stage of dementia. As seen in the picture above, the damage to a person’s brain becomes quite extensive in this stage. A healthy human brain weighs about 3 pounds. A brain in the later stage on average weighs about 1 pound. An individual in this stage has to work very hard to do relatively simple tasks such as communicating, eating and interpreting their surroundings. They are literally using every bit of the 1 pound that is remaining. This hard work can leave them exhausted, causing them to sleep more during the day.
Along with sleeping more and more, dementia can affect sleep in individuals in other ways. Remember the A’s of dementia and how each A represented a loss? Well, below are some examples of how those losses can effect sleep for those with dementia.
Apathy- those who lack the ability to initiate or engage in an activity may instead sleep during the day and be awake and restless during the night.
Altered Perception- a person may become disorientated in the dark if they wake up to use the toilet due to their loss of environmental perception.
Anosognosia- for those who are completely unaware of their deficits, they may get up in the early hours and think its day time and time to go to work. They often become angry when re-oriented as they don’t believe there is anything wrong with them and that they are still working.
Agnosia- an individual who has a loss of recognition may not be able to tell the difference between night and day, resulting in being awake all night and sleeping all day.
Caring for or living with someone whose sleep has been affected by dementia can be physically, mentally and emotionally exhausting. Sleep is crucial to everyone’s mental health, including those with dementia and it’s important to have strategies in place to help cope with disrupted sleep cycles. Below are some tips to consider:
Create an ideal sleep environment that includes a space that is cool, quiet and dark. Avoid lights from computers, televisions or hall lights and consider a 30- to 60-minute "wind-down" period to help enhance sleep.
Keep a regular sleep/wake schedule as often as possible.
Encourage the individual to get into bright light soon after waking by opening blinds in the room or sitting in front of a large window that filters natural light.
Create simple routines for accomplishing everyday tasks that doesn’t overexert the person, causing them to feel exhausted.
Get some form of exercise every day.
Lastly, if the person with dementia is sleeping a lot and it isn’t having a negative impact on them it is often best to just go with it and make sure they are comfortable. Take the opportunity to nap with them if you can. After all, who doesn’t enjoy a lovely mid-day nap? For more information on dementia and sleep, visit: https://www.alzheimer.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
Corn Husking - Sept 2
Beautiful Paint Pour Creations
Delicious S'mores
S'Mores Fun
Lilac Knoll Garden Haul
Fried Green Tomatoes
And our fresh garden veggies while watching the movie Fried Green Tomatoes!
First Outdoor Visit Without the Fence Barrier - Sept 1