We are very appreciative of the many phone calls that members of the management team has had as they reached out to the POAs over the past week. It has provided us with an opportunity for some great discussion with you as we go through this pandemic together and answer any of your questions or concerns. We certainly appreciate the opportunity this provided to connect with you.
As has been the case since initiating our online booking platform Picktime, we continue to require you to book your visit or outing 24 hours in advance (for weekend visits please book by 2pm on Friday) so we can ensure that we are able to have your person down at the entrance and ready for your visit.
We have seen a significant rise in pop-ins which impacts how we plan to ensure staff support is available and in the right location at the right time. When there is downtime (meaning nothing booked), we utilize the RSA staff to support various other tasks and resident centered activities occurring in the Home. When people pop in, the RSA needs to be pulled from that task to go and get the resident you have come to visit or take on an outing. The resident may be busy or laying down etc which then takes a little longer to complete that request. Pre-booked visits will be prioritized ahead of those not booked.
As part of the most recent Ministry Directive, we are required to ensure training to any Essential Caregiver coming into the Home initially and then monthly thereafter. Please review later in this newsletter how we are meeting this expectation and your responsibility as it relates to this requirement.
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 at the bottom of the newsletter to unsubscribe.
Have a good weekend,
Angela Malcolm
Director
COVID-19 Testing for Visitors & Caregivers
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
Please note: when in a vehicle you are not maintaining the required physical distance therefore masks should be worn
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 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.
Mandatory Training Videos for Essential Caregivers: Discussed later in this newsletter
Program Schedule – Here is the week’s program schedule for Sept 20-26
Very Important!
For all persons coming into the Home (including essential caregivers), it is very important that at no time do you remove your mask while in the building. Drinks or food for yourself are not permitted as this would require you to remove your mask. Your mask must remain over your nose and mouth and tucked under your chin.
Isolation Supports
We are very excited to partner with Achieva Health (who provides our in house physiotherapy services) on an innovative solution to an unintended consequence of the 14 days isolation that is required for all new admissions. As a result of having to spend 14 days in isolation, we are finding that residents overall strength, mobility, and cognitive function is declining. In response to this, we have created 2 isolation carts. One isolation cart that focusses on Cognitive and Social Stimulation that will be kept in the residents room for 1 week. For the 2nd week of isolation we have partnered with our physio provider to create a physio focused isolation cart. The physio focused isolation cart features a biofeedback resistive pedal exerciser, graded pegboard, stacker pegs, hand balls, and a door pulley exerciser. We are very excited to see the impact these tools have for our newly admitted residents.
cognitive and social stimulation cart (left) and physio-focused isolation cart (right)
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 that took effect on Sept 9 includes a mandatory requirement for Homes to ensure that Essential Caregivers coming into the Home receives 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.
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:
Hand hygiene is the single most important step to preventing the spread of infection and keeping yourself and loved one safe. Frequent hand hygiene includes washing with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand rub (hand sanitizer). Soap and water needs to be used when hands are visible soiled, otherwise use hand sanitizer to wash your hands to remove any microorganisms.
Below are pictures of how to properly wash your hands. Ensure all areas of your hands are covered with hand sanitizer or with the soap and water when washing. Take care of your hands! Hands can become dry and cracked with frequent hand hygiene. These dry and cracked areas can harbor microorganisms. Apply lotion frequently after hand washing to ensure your hands stay healthy.
Message from the Chair of Family Council
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.
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!!