We are certainly enjoying this unseasonably warm weather this week! We will soon begin decorating the Home for Christmas but we just can’t bring ourselves to bring in our outdoor furniture!! I guess that this is actually a nice dilemma to have to contend with!
The KFLA region continues to be very fortunate as we stay in the green zone with low numbers of COVID-19+ cases. However, the fast incline of cases provincially is certainly very alarming for us. For those of you considering visiting the Home coming from higher risk areas such as the Greater Toronto area or Ottawa, we would ask that you give serious consideration to the potential risks you may be bringing to your loved one you wish to visit here at JMPC. We continue to offer zoom visits and are happy to arrange this safe, virtual visit with your loved one. Napanee is very much in the centre between red zone areas and the rising numbers are a worry. We do work closely with KFLA Public Health who provides excellent direction that is regionally based. You may know of different approaches to visits, policies etc in other area LTC Homes, but it is important to understand that Public Health’s across the province are able to provide guidance based on each individual region’s experience.
We continue to encourage everyone to get their flu shot this year. Please check with your local pharmacy. This is another option if you are available tomorrow. Unfortunately, the online booking of appointments for this clinic is already full but they will be accepting some walk-in appointments as well.
Greater Napanee Flu Vaccine Clinic: Saturday, November 14, 2020 12 to 4 p.m. at the Napanee Community Health Centre. Limited walk-in appointments available.
Another exciting feature of the Napanee Assessment Centre is their on site Physician Respiratory Assessment Clinic. This may be something you wish to consider for your self should you need this type of service.
Physician Respiratory Assessment Clinic
An exciting new addition to the COVID Assessment Clinic is the Physician Respiratory Assessment Clinic. This is an appointment based clinic and is located at the COVID Assessment Centre at 12 Richmond Park Drive in Napanee.
If you are experiencing respiratory symptoms that are causing you some concern, you can call the COVID Assessment Centre at 613-354-8254 or go complete the online pre-registration form ( covid.screen.napanee.on.ca ) and indicate the need for a physician assessment. Primary Care Providers can also refer into the Assessment Centre by faxing a referral to 613-354-8255. If your breathing symptoms are causing you serious concern and are severe in nature, you should proceed to the Emergency Department or call 911.
The Physician Respiratory Assessment Clinic provides a safe environment for healthcare professionals and patients in a time where exposure to respiratory symptoms can be a risk.
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.
Stay safe,
Angela Malcolm
Director
COVID-19 Testing for Visitors & Caregivers
The Greater Napanee COVID-19 Assessment Centre is located at the Westdale Complex at 12 Richmond Park Drive, Napanee.
All swabbing tests at The Napanee Assessment Centre require an appointment. You can pre-book your appointment online here.
Hours have been extended to 8:30-3:30 seven days a week.
You will need to identify yourself as an essential caregiver/visitor coming into LTC in order to be tested.
Due to the increase in demand for this service it will be very important for you to plan to allow yourself at least 3 days to ensure you maintain a current COVID test. This will be the minimum time required to allow for a return call to book your appointment, attend your appointment and then wait for the results.
Who must have a negative COVID test every 2 weeks?
All caregivers and visitors coming inside the Home
All visitors visiting outside who are not physically distanced
The link to access your results for this testing is here.
IMPORTANT
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.
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.
Cedar Grove will be having breakfast club on Friday instead of Thursday
Breakfast club is moving in a slightly different direction. For the next 6 weeks,1 Home area at a time will be having breakfast club but it will be more of a “Champagne Breakfast” theme. We will be serving eggs benedict as the first choice, and a special pasty, fruit salad, and yogurt as the second choice. The dining room will be using our fancy dishes, serving sparkling fruit punch in our wine glasses, and using the white tablecloths. This is a picture of our first Champagne Breakfast in Cedar Grove today.
Program Schedule - Here is the week’s program schedule commencing November 15th
Gift Ideas - Silverts is a clothing company for seniors that you may be interested in accessing. Normally, we would have them come into the Home to offer a shopping experience but that won’t be able to happen this year. Here is the link to their website should this be of interest to you - https://www.silverts.com/giftideas
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 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 absences you will be required to have the form completed and approved prior to the absence.
As is the case for booking the window, 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.
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 residents Home area. Alternatively, if you would prefer, you can phone the appropriate manager and they will assist you.
Mandatory Training Videos
These 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.
Partnership with GIS Through the County
Has anyone checked out some of the low risk ideas suggested by our GIS Team?
“COVID–19 Friendly Ideas for Senior Community Members in L&A”
Click here and you will find low risk activities that you could do with your loved one. From walking to vehicle tours and historical interest to scenic interest…Take your pick!
We would love to hear how you have enjoyed these driving tours. Send us an email here to give us some feedback. We would love to hear from you!
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 formto 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, 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. To cancel an appointment, please contact Colleen at cyork@lennox-addington.on.ca or Earline (main line)
Annual Family Satisfaction Survey
This family satisfaction survey is open and we would encourage you to participate in this short survey here. This survey will be open until Nov 30 2020.
Infection Control from the desk of Emily Sarley
Masks worn by essential caregivers are not to be removed at any time during the essential caregiving visit
All essential caregivers are to go directly to the RHA and to their resident’s room
If essential caregivers are needing assistance, they are to ring the call bell in the resident room
If the essential caregiver is needing to use the washroom, they are to only use the washroom by the front screening desk (not in the residents room)
Essential caregivers are not permitted in any common areas of the home
Essential caregivers are not permitted to bring in drink or food items for themselves, as masks need to worn for the duration of the visit.
Message from the Chair of Family Council
We don’t know what the future will bring and what new directives will need to be implemented in the Home. If there is some feedback that you would like me to bring forward to the Home as a suggestion or an opportunity to improve what they are currently doing to keep our loved ones safe, keep us informed etc, please feel free to reach out to me. I’ll be happy to pass it along.
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
Community Connections with L&A County Library - Amherstview Branch
Community Connections with Cornerstone School
Mrs. Carpenter’s K/Gr1 class. The residents and this class write back and forth to each other. This is the students most recent letter to the residents.
We asked our residents their thoughts on the United States election and this is what the feedback was
Lilac Knoll did some brainstorming together to help them come up with ideas on their Remembrance Day Poem that they wrote
Remembrance Day Ceremony followed by a remembering tea
It is important to add that many residents have been really moved by the Art Gallery on the 2nd floor featuring the Remembrance Day art the residents made standing and taking their time looking at each one.
Forms You May Require
Paper Copies of the Weekly Newsletter – Available at the Resource Centre right behind the screeners.