July 2023 Update
In response to the June 26, 2023 Version 4 updated from the
Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility COVID-19 Guidance Document for
Retirement Homes in Ontario, the following policies have been updated at
Cardinal Place.
Guiding Principles:
• Safety: Any approach to visiting, absences, and activities must balance the
health and safety needs of residents, staff, and visitors, and ensure risks of
infection are mitigated.
• Mental Health and Emotional Well-being: Welcoming
visitors, absences, and activities is intended to support the overall physical,
mental and emotional well-being of residents by reducing any potential negative
impacts related to social isolation.
• Equitable Access: All residents must be given equitable
access to receive visitors and participate in activities consistent with their
preferences and within restrictions that safeguard residents, staff and
visitors.
• Flexibility: The physical characteristics/infrastructure
of the home, its staffing availability, whether the home is in an outbreak, and
the current status of the home with respect to infection prevention and control
(IPAC) including personal protective equipment (PPE) are all variables to
consider when administering home-specific policies for visiting, absences, and
activities.
• Autonomy: Residents have the right to choose their
visitors. Residents also have the right to designate their caregivers. If a
resident is unable to do so, substitute decision-maker(s) may designate
caregivers.
• Visitor Responsibility: Visitors play a role in reducing
risk of infection by adhering to the IPAC requirements and recommendations
described in this policy or the visitor policy of the home (as applicable).
• COVID-19 Vaccination: The goal of the provincial COVID-19
vaccination program is to protect Ontarians from COVID-19. Homes are highly
encouraged to continue to promote vaccinations and boosters to all eligible
residents, staff, and visitors. Staying up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccines helps
to reduce the number of new cases and, most importantly, severe outcomes
including hospitalizations and death due to COVID-19.
REQUIREMENTS:
Retirement homes are responsible for ensuring that residents
receive visitors safely by implementing visiting procedures that help to
protect against the risk of COVID-19.
Cardinal Place has a COVID-19 Outbreak Preparedness Plan.
On an ongoing basis, Cardinal Place implements and ensures compliance with
Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) measures according to the Ministry of
Health’s (MOH) COVID-19 Guidance and the Windsor-Essex Public Health Unit
(WEPHU).
THREE TYPES OF VISITORS:
There are three categories of visitors: Essential Visitors, General Visitors,
and Personal Care Service Providers. WEPHU may require restrictions on visitors
depending on the specific situation. When a Member is isolating, General
Visitors are not permitted, and Essential Visitors must use Droplet and Contact
Precautions.
General Visitors should avoid entering the home for 10 days
after COVID-19 symptom onset, if possible. If the visit is essential to the
resident’s mental/physical well-being, the visitors may come into the home,
wearing a mask at all times.
The government has provided and Cardinal Place makes
available free Rapid Antigen Tests at the front door for Members and Visitors
and Staff to use.
When providing services, Personal Care Service Providers
must:
• Follow required public health and IPAC measures for
retirement homes;
• Follow the masking requirements outlined in Section 3.2.3;
and
• Practice hand hygiene and conduct environmental cleaning
after each appointment.
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) USE:
All Visitors and health care workers must also follow staff
reminders and coaching on proper use of PPE.
Indoors and Outdoors
• Masks are required for staff, students, volunteers and Essential Visitors who
are health care workers, including HCCSS workers based on a point-of-care risk
assessment.
• Masks are recommended but not required for staff and Essential Visitors who
are not health care workers (e.g., families, friends, and Essential Caregivers
who are not health care workers), as well as General Visitors. Staff, students,
volunteers, and Essential Visitors who are health care workers should consider
masking during direct resident care to protect high-risk vulnerable residents,
particularly during prolonged direct close care (within 2m for over 15
minutes).
Exemptions are according to MOH Guidance.
SCREENING
Passive screening is required for any individual entering the retirement home.
Passive screening means that those entering the setting review screening
questions themselves, and there is no verification or attestation of screening
required by staff (e.g., signage at entrances as a visual reminder not to enter
if symptomatic).
SYMPTOM ASSESSMENT OF MEMBERS
Although daily symptom and temperature assessments are no longer required,
Cardinal Place staff remain highly aware that elderly individuals may present
subtle or unusual signs and symptoms of COVID-19. Because we are a relatively
small retirement home we understand Member’s baseline health and functioning,
and continue to monitor each Member’s status on an ongoing basis.
There are no requirements for Member absences or admission*.
There are no requirements for home tours*.
There are no requirements for social gatherings, events or
communal dining*. Frequent hand hygiene is recommended for all individuals.
Cardinal Place has installed and maintains many hand sanitization stations
throughout the building for everyone’s convenience.
* except the above masking, etc.
Thank you again for your support and cooperation. Thanks to
you and our Cardinal Place Team, we have maintained one of the most COVID-safe,
if not the most COVID-safe, retirement homes in Ontario.
All the best,
Mike Cardinal
Cardinal Place
July 2023
Check out our latest BLOG post:
Cardinal Place is 100% vaccinated against COVID-19. Why is this important?