Fairhaven COVID-19 Employee Bulletin #40

Resumption of visits to long-term care homes

As I noted in yesterdays Bulletin #39, the resumption of visits, by family members, will start next Thursday, outside.  The exact location of the meetings hasn’t been determined fully yet but it will be in front of Fairhaven, either under the overhang by the front doors or in the accessible parking area under a tent of some sort.

I have attached a letter that will be posted on our internet main page, and will also be emailed to family members.  It contains a lot of information regarding the steps that visitors must take before they can take advantage of this opportunity.

There is also important information that I wanted to ensure that all direct care staff are aware of.  We have been able to secure 7 additional staff, through Achieva, to take on the porterring of Residents to and from the outside meeting spot and, when they are not busy, to help with some duties on the floor (ie. feeding).  All additional staff will be tested for COVID, with results received, before they start working at Fairhaven and they will be assigned to specific floors (bubbled) as you are.  We were worried about how the Ministry’s decision to allow visitors would impact already high workloads and we feel that we have been able to put a plan in place to mitigate any such issues.  Reception will start taking “reservations” next Wednesday.  Again, please refer to the attachment for much more information

Resumption of Admissions

Late this morning, the Province announced the second surprise announcement in two days;  starting next week, we will be expected to admit new Residents from the community and from the Hospital.  We haven’t had any time to read fine print yet but everyone can rest assured that we will refuse anyone that is COVID positive or is symptomatic.  We were hoping the hospitals would be able to use their capacity for ALC beds but apparently that is not the province’s plan.  Betty and I will continue to also refuse any admissions that show any history of violence on their admission package.  I’m honestly a bit shocked that the Premier spoke of supporting long term care, and has now chosen to make this significant changes concurrently, but he has….

The documentation sent, regarding the resumption of admissions, stresses the importance of cohort staffing to the Ministry of Health, so we are once again thankful that this is in place and staff are following best practices.

Please consider all Fairhaven COVID-19 Employee Bulletins to be official notifications of consultation with the Fairhaven Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee.

we>i   – “Together we are greater than the individual”

Lionel Towns, CPA, CMA

Executive Director