Never a dull moment in LTC! We received an email at 3:00pm on Friday Aug 28 at the same time as the general public received the information that short stay outings and overnight stays for residents would now be permitted.
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. However, residents must be isolated in their rooms upon their return from their leave for 14 days.
For either type of absence, 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 call us to postpone your outing with the resident.
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 your loved one to your Home or other such locations.
We would also strongly encourage you to be COVID tested and have your results prior to you taking your loved one out.
Great ideas for short stay absences (that are low risk) could be:
Taking a walk around our neighborhood with your loved one.
Going for a drive in the Country
Taking a trip to Springside Park or other favorite park area
Having a picnic together with some 1:1 time
At JMPC, we remain very concerned and vigilant about the safety of all the residents who are at incredible risk. Our enhanced infection control practices in place are all designed to keep everyone safe and healthy.
We would encourage you to have the following items ready for your absence:
Hand sanitizer quickly accessible
Lysol wipes (or similar product) in your vehicle/space where resident will be to ensure surfaces are wiped down regularly to reduce risk of infection.
Facial covering required when out
In an effort to support residents visiting with their loved ones, we will no longer be requiring visitors to be separated in our outdoor garden areas. Please come and enjoy our outdoor areas at the front of the building, under our large balcony area or green space areas that you feel most comfortable in, bearing in mind the importance of physical distancing from other families who may also be in these spaces. You will need to come to the foyer, be actively screened including having your temperature taken, provide your name and phone number and the name of the resident you are visiting. You will need to wear a face covering for your outdoor visits and residents will need to wear a home provided surgical mask (if they can tolerate it). We will then arrange to have your resident brought to the front door area for you. Please be patient as we go and retrieve your loved one for your visit.
Indoor Visits: 10:15-11am; 11:15-12:00pm; 3:00-3:45pm; 4:00- 4:45pm (no change)
As the weather becomes cooler we recognize that residents will not want to go outside for your visits. For this reason, we will be setting up indoor visiting opportunities that will take place in MacDonald Hall (where the current indoor visiting is taking place) as well as the 2nd floor centre core area which would include the sun room area, library, and front balcony. We are carefully planning this out this week in hopes of having this plan ready to share with you in our newsletter this Friday. Please keep in mind that the current legislation for all visitors coming into the Home remains in place:
The indoor visitor must be able to verbally attest to a current COVID19 swab within 2 weeks of every visit
Visitor must wear a surgical mask (provided by the Home).
These visits will need to be pre-booked to allow us an opportunity to have the resident in the area that you wish to visit in.
Only 2 indoor visitors per resident at one time
At this time visitors will not be permitted on any Resident Home Area.
Restrictions may need to be put in place if the indoor spaces reach room capacity.
More to come on this plan at the end of the week.
If you plan to take your loved one out for a short stay absence or temporary absence where medication would be required please notify the Charge Nurse to the Home Area your resident is from in advance so appropriate plans can be put in place.
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.