Prevention Plan COVID-19 Update April 24, 2020

Things are going well here at KinVillage in these challenging times.  We remain safe and COVID-19 free.  Thanks to everyone for remaining kind and calm and for respecting the necessary precautionary measures in place.

Weare grateful for the information updates, helpful resources, guidance anddirection we regularly receive from Fraser Health and BC Housing.  While we continue to emphasize prevention, wecan’t predict the future.  We do however feelprepared and confident we’ll be well-supported by Public Health should COVID-19arrive in our buildings.

Wemiss our visitors, volunteers, clients of the Day Program for Older Adults andour Community Centre and its members.

• The Community Centreand Day Program remain closed.
  • Visitor restrictionscontinue – there is no change. 
    • Although there isincreasing media and political attention in our province and beyond to,over-time, reduce restrictive public health measures, visitors are not allowedin the Care Home or Assisted Living Residence except one essential adult visitor who passesscreening and is visiting a resident who is actively dying.
    • Visitors are still allowed in North and VidalCourts though asked to please not visit if they are experiencing any respiratorysymptoms.

Wecontinue to actively screen anyone entering the Care Home and Assisted LivingResidence, including all staff.  Residentsare also regularly monitored for any symptoms indicating possibleinfection.  Testing is done promptly foranyone who has symptoms.

Weare not accepting packages (e.g. bouquets, food, personal items) for residents inthe Care Home.  Deliveries for AssistedLiving residents of essential items only (e.g. breakfast and personal careitems) are permitted however we ask that these be infrequent (e.g. maximumweekly).

We are still receiving letters and cards via Canada Post.  Family members of Care Home residents who are considering mailing Mother’s Day cards are encouraged to ensure these arrive here by Thursday May 7^th so staff can deliver them to loved ones by Sunday May 10th.  (We hold mail for 72 hours before delivering to minimize the risk of COVID-19.)  You are also most welcome to contact staff as we will make every effort to connect you with your loved one via phone, Skype, Facetime or WhatsApp.

FraserHealth recently began providing us with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)supplies.  These, together with donationsreceived from local community members means at this point we have sufficientsupplies to protect our staff and residents. 

Wehave not yet received the anticipated Single Site Order that will restrict our CareHome and Assisted Living staff to work at only one facility.   KinVillage management is actively engagedwith Fraser Health to compete the steps necessary that will enable FraserHealth’s Medical Health Officer to issue the Order in the near future.  Our staff continue to practice a range ofpreventative measures including regular screening, timely testing if anysymptoms are present, wearing PPE as directed by Fraser Health, and practicingthorough hand hygiene. 

We’regrateful for the spring weather that encourages West and South Court residentsto safely enjoy the great outdoors in protected spaces.  The patio behind South Court is now securedMonday to Saturday during the day for use by Assisted Living residents.  (It remains open on Sundays for family“balcony visits” with loved ones.)  CareHome staff happily assist residents to one of three secured garden areas whichare now springing to life.

In this unsettling time, thank you for continuing to do all you can to stop the threat of COVID-19.  Stay home except for essential tasks, keep physical distances of 2 meters, don’t touch your face and wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands!

Sincere thanks this week to our community:

• Erin Little of Our Little Flower Company for the kind message and the daffodils left outside the Care Home for our staff to take on their way home.
• Wes Levesque of Sheila’s Catering Company for its generous donation of lunch for our staff.
• Marlene Ma and the Tsawwassen Multicultural Promotion Association for their thoughtful donation of 100 headbands for our care staff along with 500 protective masks, gloves and hand sanitizer.
• Linda Ding, Delta resident and rotary member donated 400 protective masks.
• The team at HerbaLand who kindly donated 180 bottles of Immune Plus gummies for our staff.
• Angela Lowndes of Wessun Supply who generously donated 500 protective masks.
• Anyone who is sending notes of thanks that we can post for our staff as well as all those in the community who “make some noise” for health care workers at 7 pm each evening.  We hear you!

p.s. If you would like to donate supplies, food or other items, please check with us first to ensure that there are no restrictions and that we will be able to accept your gift.  Please contact Sue Satterthwaite, Communications & Executive Assistant at 604-943-0155 x238 or ssatterthwaite@kinvillage.org.

Information Sources & Communication

Care Home - Resident Families: If you have not already added your e-mail address to our contactfile, please call 604- 943-0155 ext. 221. In the event of a COVID-19 outbreak, KinVillagewill provide a daily information release via e-mail and via internal postings.

Care Home - ResidentInformation  - For regular inquiries about resident care,please continue to contact nursing staff. If there is a change in a resident’shealth status, the Primary Contact will be notified by the nurse, as per ournormal procedure.

Care Home – Connecting with Residents (Skype, Facetime,WhatsApp)

BettinaSalini - Director Wellness:  604-943-0155ext 250 or bsalini@kinvillage.org

Care Home – General Issues or Concerns

NadineBrown - Director of Care:  604-943-0155ext 226 or nbrown@kinvillage.org

AssistedLiving

Generalconcerns:

Carol Howard - Director of Housing:  604-943-4805 ext 401 or choward@kinvillage.org

Clinicalconcerns:

Assisted Living Nurse: 604-943-4805 ext 412

General Concerns

Cynthia Langenberg - Director of Health Services: 604-943-0155 ext232 or clangenberg@kinvillage.org

Donna Ellis – CEO: 604-306-2775 or dellis@kinvillage.org

Sources of AdditionalInformation:

We recommend the following links for current,accurate updates on the extent of the COVID-19 situation in our province.

www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/coronavirus-(novel)

www.News.gov.bc.ca – MinistryUpdates

www.healthlink.bc.ca - HealthLinkBC