At the time of writing this, we remain in the yellow zone but please note this may change this afternoon as these announcements are generally made on a Friday afternoon and then take effect on the following Monday.
Some residents enjoyed a bus trip to see the beautiful Christmas lights in Napanee this past week. This was thoroughly enjoyed by all!!! There will be another group going this coming week as well.
We have received a number of requests from families for ways they can support the Home. Featured later in this newsletter is a great variety of ideas should you wish to make a donation to the resident program of your choice. Simply note on your donation what you would like the donation to go towards. We are very thankful for the ongoing support we receive from so many of you throughout the year.
If we remain in the yellow zone, we are needing to be prepared for any safe outings that you are taking a resident out for. Please ensure you have made arrangements for all resident outings taking place between Dec 23 – 29 inclusive by Dec 22 with the Manager assigned to the residents Home area. This will help us to ensure all appropriate notifications and planning occurs.
However, if we move to the Orange zone, we will need the following:
The resident/POA can designate only 1 essential caregiver who can visit with their resident in their room only. Please contact the Manager you typically reach out to for outings etc (listed later in this newsletter) to advise of the designated individual ASAP.
The essential caregiver must show proof of a WEEKLY negative covid test
All pre-booked outings would be cancelled as residents are only permitted to go out for Medical appointments while in the orange zone.
We continue to collect items for our Mitten Tree with these donations going to Interval House for Women and Children in Napanee.
A couple of important reminders to all essential caregivers and visitors coming into the Home or visiting outside:
You must have a mask on fully covering your mouth and nose the entire time you are here.
Unfortunately, you can not consume any food or drink within the Home as this would require you to take your mask off.
If you are visiting in the resident’s room, please ensure that you stay in this room. Please go directly to and from the resident room. It is important that you aren’t stopping to visit with other residents along the way or enter other residents rooms.
This has been an incredibly challenging year for everyone. You have missed out on special times throughout the year with your loved one, for which I am acutely aware of. Your presence in the Home is important and I hope that you feel a part of our Home despite how COVID has restricted your presence in the Home. I appreciate and remain sensitive to the impacts these restrictions have on you and your relationship with the Home and the resident(s).
It is my hope that the rollout of the COVID vaccine will lead to some positive improvements in health care and better balance the important contributions that families and friends provide to residents in LTC.
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.
On behalf of the John M Parrott Centre Staff, we wish you a wonderful Holiday season filled with hope and peace.
Stay safe over this Holiday Season,
Angela Malcolm
Director
Please Note:
There will not be a Family Newsletter next week (Dec. 25).
The next newsletter will be sent out Thursday, December 31.
COVID-19 Testing for Visitors & Caregivers
Greater Napanee COVID-19 Assessment Centre
Westdale campus at 12 Richmond Park Drive, Napanee.
You require an appointment. You can pre-book your appointment online here.
Hours are 8:30-3:30 seven days a week.
You will need to identify yourself as an essential caregiver/visitor
in LTC in order to be tested without symptoms.
Please plan to allow yourself at least 1 day grace to ensure you can
maintain a current COVID test.
Who must have (and show proof of) a negative COVID test every 2 weeks?
All caregivers and visitors coming inside or visiting outside on the Home’s property.
The link to access your results for this testing is here.
For LTC Homes in the Orange, Red and Lockdown zones essential caregivers coming into the Home are reduced to 1 person.
In KFLA our cases are going up.
Please be aware if our area goes into the Orange Zone there will be immediate and significant impacts to all of us connected to JMPC.
No non-essential visitors into the Home
Only one essential caregiver per resident that can come into the Home
Weekly COVID testing for all staff and essential caregivers
No outings outside of the Home for residents (except medical appts and compassionate purposes)
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 visit or 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. Visitors and Essential caregivers are not permitted to eat/drink in the Home.
All other items will be kept for 24 hours prior to being taken to the resident.
What's New at JMPC
Menu - Here is the week’s menu for Dec 21 - 27 2020
Program Schedule - Here is the week’s program schedule commencing December 20th
Opportunities to Donate to JMPC
Absences from the Home
Short Term and Temporary absences require a form to be completed (see link at bottom of the newsletter) and need to be pre-approved by the Home.
As is the case for booking the window, indoor 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.
NOTE: In the event of an outbreak in the home, or where the community is listed to be in an Orange or Red Zone indicating that there is evidence of widespread community transmission as per provincial direction, absences are not permitted except for medical or compassionate reasons.
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
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.
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
As the COVID numbers are on the rise, we want you to keep these great options in mind instead of coming to the Home in person.
Book yourZoom, Window, and Indoor 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.
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 Earline (main line)
Infection Control from the desk of Emily Sarley
This is from the KFLA Public Health page and contains some very good points to consider and prepare for if you are choosing to have added people in your Home over the Holidays.
Be clear with your guests coming into your Home about your expectations around wearing face coverings, distancing measures, and other details you have planned.
Keep celebrations small. Where physical distancing can be maintained, no more than 10 people are allowed at indoor parties and gatherings.
Make sure people from different households can be physically distanced. Arrange tables and chairs in advance so people can sit separately.
Greet guests in a way that avoids close contact gestures (e.g., hugs, shaking hands)
Consider meeting up with people at a park to go for a walk outside
Encourage guests to wear face coverings when physical distancing is difficult.
Provide individual one time use hand towels or paper towels instead of multiuse hand towels.
Ensure there is enough soap and hand sanitizer for people to use during the gathering.
To minimize the number of people touching serving utensils, choose to order in take-out, pre-portioned food.
Message from the Chair of Family Council
Family Council is composed of family and friends of the residents of the John Parrot Centre and dedicated to the promotion and improvement of the health, welfare and happiness of all residents at the John M. Parrot Centre.
Family Council, a time for sharing, caring and supporting.
For all of us this will be a difficult Christmas as we even more deeply feel the loss of contact with our loved ones. As windows of awareness and health decline it becomes even more stressful. Wishing all of you some sense of peace and joy this holiday season. As well, on behalf of Family Council I send our deepest appreciation and respect for all the staff do to keep our loved ones safe. Everyone from: administration, to nurses, to PSWs, Residents’ Aides, kitchen, custodial and secretarial staff we know these 10 months have put you under enormous stress. We thank you for all you do to make our loved ones’ lives one of care and comfort.
Looking for some ideas for someone special on your list?
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.
Free MP3 players with personalized music for people living with dementia in Ontario
This holiday season, anyone can give the free gift of music to someone in Ontario living with dementia!
"Listening to personalized music can be a powerful activity for those with dementia: music has the potential to increase physical and social activity; reignite older memories; and improve sleep, mood, cognition, communication, and overall quality of life." - Alzheimer Society Music Project
The Alzheimer Society Music Project provides free MP3 players loaded with personalized music to support people living with dementia. They are able to provide language-specific and culturally-specific music. Anyone can fill out a request form. Learn more or fill out a request form.
Around the Home
Chris and friends brought his horses all around the Home for everyone to enjoy again!! So many residents enjoyed this!!
Rose Garden Dining Room under construction this week.
Residents enjoying their meals in Macdonald Hall.
Short Story Written by one of our residents, Jean Beatens
Forms You May Require
Paper Copies of the Weekly Newsletter – Available at the Resource Centre right behind the screeners.