COVID-19 Health & Safety
Visitor Information re: COVID-19
Posted Mar 19, 2020 Updated Sep 24, 2020
We take the health and wellbeing of the people who live and work at Ayre Manor very seriously.
As you are already aware, rules for visiting families at Ayre Manor have been eased somewhat. We are so pleased for our residents to be able to see family again. Those who are cleared to enter Ayre Manor will continue to be screened before being permitted entry. We continue to monitor the situation carefully and have plans in place to respond as needed. Please familiarize yourself with the information that follows.
As of March 30th, we cancelled all our outside entertainments/visitors and we are not sending newsletters/calendars until further notice. We apologize for any inconveniences and will keep you posted when we can invite everyone back.
Thank you for your patience and understanding during this difficult time. Stay safe and remember to wash your hands! Take care of yourselves and each other.
Any questions, please contact Linda Quigley, RN, Director of Care at 250.642.1750 ext. 105
Kerry Williams
Executive Director
Essential & Social Visiting Plan
Effective as of July 15, 2020
Residential/Complex Care & Assisted Living
- In consultation with resident family or POA, one designated visitor will be chosen.
- Visits must be booked in advance with a specific date and time, within the hours of 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.
- Visits are to be a maximum of 60 minutes.
- Visitors will be greeted upon arrival to be screened on every visit for respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms as well as fatigue, headache and conjunctivitis. Visitors with symptoms will be denied.
- Visitors must follow proper infection prevention and control measures for COVID-19, including regular hand washing or use of sanitizers, practicing respiratory (cough/sneeze) etiquette, mask use, and maintaining physical distancing of at least 2 metres from other visitors or staff whenever possible. If it is the first visit, visitor will be instructed on these procedures by the greeter.
- Visitors must bring their own medical grade mask. If unable to do so, we will supply a mask. The mask must be worn for the entire visit.
- All visiting will cease if there is a positive result for COVID-19 for a resident or staff member.
- All attempts will be made to have outdoor visits, as there are plenty of areas to allow safe physical distancing from other residents and visitors. Masks are not required when visiting outdoors unless unable to physical distance.
- Outdoor visits can also allow visitors to take residents in wheelchairs for a stroll around the building, as long as masks are worn by both parties.
- For residents with mobility issues or who are bedridden, visits can/will be done in resident rooms, as they are all private rooms.
- If visits occur in a resident's room, all surfaces will be sanitized by staff after the visit.
No food, drink or other items are to be exchanged during visits.- Visitors are to have no physical contact with residents.
- All outside visits will be cancelled in case of inclement weather.
Salon / Hairdresser
- The hairdresser is confined to the Salon in Residential Care only.
- Only one client is permitted in the salon at a time, with a 15 minute gap between appointments to allow for sanitization.
- Masks must be worn by both client and hairdresser for the entire appointment.
- A list of clients having appointments will be kept by Administration.
Social Outings & Appointments
Residential/Complex Care Residents:
No social engagements permitted outside facility. Only outings are allowed for essential medical appointments.
Assisted Living Residents:
As they reside in their own suites, Assisted Living residents can participate in social and external activities that are aligned with public health guidance. Residents should protect themselves by avoiding large gatherings and people who are ill, maintaining physical distancing and wearing a mask when in public indoor spaces such as stores.
We are creating two full time positions (housekeeper and residential care aide) from existing staff to assist in managing and monitoring visitors and supporting infection prevention and control practices.
We will inform families by phone or email of changes to visiting procedures. There will also be signage displayed to re-enforce procedure on the facility's front doors.
COVID-19 Health & Safety Plan
Infection Prevention & Control
- Signage is posted at the front entrance to notify staff and visitors of information about COVID-19, its symptoms, hand hygiene, and visitor policies. There is also a whiteboard inside of front entrance with a Stop Sign with duplicate signage.
- A greeter at the entrance asks screeninÂg questions as well as takes temperatures of any essential visitors. Essential visitors are to be gowned, gloved and masked while visiting.
- All staff have their temperature taken when arriving on shift. If elevated, they are sent home with instructions to call the reporting line for COVID-19 to assess need for testing. They are not to return to work unless no viable symptoms or tested negative for COVID-19.
- Staff are not to come to work if having any respiratory or gastrointestinal symptoms, cough, sore throat or difficulty breathing.
- Ayre Manor has an increased number of hand sanitizing stations and there is multiple signs about hand washing for staff and residents.
- Residents have their temperature taken twice per day. If elevated, they will be investigated and be put immediately into isolation until symptoms subside and are tested negative for COVID-19.
- Physical distancing will be followed by all staff to the best of their ability while on duty. Residents will be two to a table during meals as well as tables will be moved appropriate distances apart.
- All residents are in private rooms with private bathrooms.
- PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) is to be used for protection of staff and residents.
Elimination of Threat
- Staff wear masks for all direct care and masks are changed after meals.
NO VISITORS are permitted unless essential for resident needs (i.e. hospice, palliative or disability)- REDUCED VISITING PERMITTED as of July 15, 2020
- Policies and procedures of Ayre Manor re: hand hygiene, proper use of gloves, masks and droplet precautions have been reinforced to all staff.
- No physical barriers will be used due to job requirements.
Administrative Protection
- Ensured temperatures have been taken for staff and residents.
- Encouraged staff to do self-distancing when off duty, report if in contact with someone testing positive for COVID-19 or if they have travelled outside BC or Canada in last 14 days.
- Ensured multiple signage in hallways, front entrance, bathrooms, nursing station and staff room re: hand washing, self- distancing and respiratory etiquette.
Using Masks
- All staff wear masks when doing direct care.
- Masks, gowns and gloves are required for all precautions (droplet).
- All staff have been trained in mask use and donning/doffing personal protective equipment (PPE).
Cleaning & Sanitation
- Extra housekeeper daily to ensure increased cleaning to surfaces, door handles, counters and bathrooms.
- Increased number of hand sanitizer stations in hallways and entrances to units.
- Staff have been reminded of our hand hygiene policy and its importance for both staff and residents.
- Respiratory etiquette posters and instructions (cough/sneeze into elbow, do not touch face, eyes, nose or mouth) have been posted for staff and visitors.
- Equipment is cleaned and sanitized after every use.
Policies
- Anyone with any symptoms or illness is to self-isolate. If symptoms of COVID-19, they are to contact VIHA and BCCDC for possible testing and self-isolate until results are received if tested.
- Anyone who has travelled outside Canada is to self-isolate for 14 days.
- Staff to work only in one long term care facility.
- Violence Protection protocol is in place for any resident/families unable to deal with closure of facility.
- Activities Department practices distancing during activity time and decreases number of participants therefore adding second activity time. For those confined to room or for resident more comfortable staying in room due to closure, they will be doing more one-on-one visits.
- Families will be kept up-to-date with how their loved ones are faring and to any changes in routines or directives.
- Residents returning from outside appointments will wear a mask as well as their driver. Upon return to facility, their mobility aid will be cleaned and their clothes will be changed.
- There will be no new admissions/transfers into facility until directed by VIHA for both residential care and assisted living.
Outbreak Protocols
In the event of an outbreak; if a resident tests positive, Ayre Manor will:
- Isolate the resident on droplet precautions with signage
- Swab other residents on their unit
- Inform the family
- Post signage at front entrance of Outbreak
- Immediately inform VIHA and BCCDC
- Inform housekeeping re: enhanced cleaning protocols
- Serve all meals in-room on disposable paper or plastic dishes, cups and utensils
- Increase surveillance of all other residents
- Stop all visitors except for essential visitors (i.e. hospice, palliative or disability)
For more information, please visit the website for BC Centre for Disease Control on COVID-19 »