June 16th, 2020

UPDATE:  COVID-19 – # 15   CHANGES TO SHORT STAY ABSENCE, VISITS AT THE RESIDENCE, AND ADMISSIONS TO RETIREMENT HOMES.  

Dear Residents, Staff, Families, Partners, and Friends;

We continue to work together with our partner agencies, local and provincial governments to review and adapt to daily updates and information.    As of today, we do not have any confirmed cases of CoVID-19 within the Sundial Community.  We continue to work hard to ensure that precautions and actions are taken to limit risk where possible and keep the virus out. 

Updates as – June 15, 2020

We are currently continuing with our strategies to keep our internal community as safe from this virus as we can.   This is a community effort and includes actions from all residents, staff members and family/ friends.  

On June 11th the provincial government announced changes to the Emergency orders in the province.   We then received a revised directive from the Chef Medical Officer of Health. 

The new directive is effective June 18th, 2020. 

Going forward, it is essential that we continue to balance the social interactions with the safety and infection control measures.   It is very important that physical distances and great hand, cough, and mask hygiene stay at the forefront. 

Here are the changes we will be seeing:

Short Stay Absences (Leaving the Retirement Residence Property)

  • Retirement community residents who wish to go outside of the retirement community are permitted to do so if the following requirements are met:

    • The retirement community must not be in outbreak* (of any type)
      *an outbreak is when a resident or staff member has a lab confirmed case of illness (such as flu) and the Public Health Department issues orders relating to that illness.  Usually those orders include isolation of residents to slow the spread of the illness. 

    • The resident absence is limited to a maximum of 12 hours and cannot be overnight.

    • The resident must wear a mask while outside the retirement community.  The resident is responsible for suppling masks while absent. 

    • All other extended absence will result in isolation of 14 days. 

    • Any non-adherence to the requirements could lead to discontinuation of absences. 

Visitations

We have received many comments between the announcement and this memo.  All residents we talk to are happy that changes are occurring, however there are concerns.  Residents have expressed issues around visitation inside the home largely, and in keeping with these concerns we have put these guidelines in place.

  • Retirement Communities are permitted to allow visitation to the home.  The individual Retirement Community must develop policies and procedures to meet the minimal standards set forward by the Min. of Seniors and Accessibility.   We will begin a gradual resumption of resident visiting. 

  • Below is how Sundial Lakeview Retirement Residence will be proceeding;

    • Sundial Lakeview Retirement Residence will NOT be able to allow visitation while in outbreak*.   Visits can not occur in instances where outbreak has been declared.

    • Please confirm all visiting appointments with Sundial prior to appointment to avoid disappointment.   

    • We will start a visitation schedule.  This will be managed through the front office.  Please contact the front desk to plan the visit.  We will ensure that spaces are available in the required visiting areas and that the proper protective equipment is used. 

    • We will be starting visiting hours (this is a requirement of the new directive).  Visiting hours will be Monday to Sunday, 9:30am to 4:30pm. 

    • For each visit, the visitor must:

      • Be screened for COVID-19 by a staff member and be informed of any protocols or developments in safety initiatives.   This screening will require a signature asking visitor to attest to their screening responses and that they have been screened for COVID-19, with a negative result, in the 14 days prior to visit.

      • Follow the hand hygiene rules and other Infection control measures. 

      • All visitors must wear mask the entire time while on the property, residents will also be required to wear masks for the entire duration of the visit. 

      • Visitors must only visit one resident (One unit – couples) per visit. 

      • Any items being dropped off for residents must be dropped at the front door so we can disinfect. 

      • All visits will continue to employ proper physical distancing and PPE usage. 

    • Any visitor not complying to these initiatives and rules will be asked to leave immediately and discontinuation of visitation. 

  • We will be logging all arrival and departure of visitors.   All visitors MUST report to the front office on arrival and report their departure. 

  • At this time, visiting inside the building will be only by appointment and will be limited to a dedicated space within the building and not include resident units.  These visits will be limited to One (1) visitor per resident unit.  This will allow for proper disinfection of the room for each visit.  We will be limiting visits within the building to 30 minutes and will be having 30 minutes between appointments.   

  • We will be limiting outside visits to five (5) persons including the resident.  This is to allow further availability to these outside visitation areas.  (if you have a larger group, please let us know.  We will try to accommodate)

New Admissions to Sundial Lakeview Retirement Residence. 

  • We will slowly be engaging back into the practice of admission of new residents.   We are taking the following precautions:

  • We will not be taking new admission during outbreak*.

  • All assessments for new residents will be completed in a sanitized and controlled area within the building having outside access.    We will keep the visit to a minimum time length and no tours of the building will be occurring at this time. 

  • All prospective residents will be screened, this will include temperature and official screening questions before entering the assessment area.  If required, any accompanying persons will be subject to the same procedure. 

  • Once admission has been approved by the approval team, (including the Director of Wellness and Executive Director) a moving date and logistics will be confirmed.  We have investigated and confirmed a local moving company that has agreed to follow the infection control measures prescribed by Ontario Health. 

  • ALL new residents will be tested for COVID-19 with test results being no older than 24 hours of move in day. NOTE:  Evidence to be provided to Sundial Lakeview Retirement Residence on entry to the building.  

  • ALL new residents must be able to serve the required 14-day isolation starting on their admission day.   Visitors are not permitted to isolated residents. 

  • ALL new residents will be tested at the completion of their 14-day isolation for COVID-19 and once a negative result is produced the isolation will end. 

  • A maximum of two (2) family members may assist with the move in process.  They are to only travel directly to the unit and exterior of the building.  The limitation of unnecessary movement in and out of the building is to be observed.  The same two persons starting the move should continue throughout the move.  This assistance will be offered on the day of move-in only.   They must comply with all infection control protocols including masking and screening.  Failing to comply with Infection control measures will result in their removal from the building.   

Our appreciation to the residents, families, and community members for the support shown.  Our team continues working very hard.

Thank you all so much for being partners in this difficult time. 

Sincerely,

Martin MacDonald

Executive Director

Sundial Lakeview Retirement Residence