Prevention Plan COVID-19 Update May 8, 2020
We remain safe and COVID-19 free. Our collective efforts are working. Thank you.
The key measures we regularly hear about from Public Health are vital and we must continue to diligently practice these in our KinVillage residential settings – staying away from others if we feel unwell and especially if we have symptoms associated with COVID-19, maintaining at least 2 meters of physical distance from others, practicing cough etiquette, and washing our hands frequently. Thanks to everyone – residents, staff, families and visitors – for taking these measures so seriously.
We are grateful for the information updates, helpful resources, guidance and direction we regularly receive from Fraser Health and BC Housing. While we continue to emphasize prevention, we can’t predict the future. We do however feel prepared and confident we’ll be well-supported by Public Health should COVID-19 arrive in our buildings.
We miss our visitors, volunteers, clients of the Day Program for Older Adults and our Community Centre and its members.
The Community Centre and Day Program remain closed.
Visitor restrictions continue – there is no change at this time.
• We know that it is hard for families to be separated due to COVID-19 prevention and control measures particularly during special occasions such as Mother’s Day. These measures, including the one essential visitor restriction are critical in protecting the health of our residents, who are most vulnerable to COVID-19, must remain in place. In the meantime we encourage safe visits via the windows/glass doors of West Court, balconies of South Court and through FaceTime, WhatsApp and other technologies.
• Visitors are still allowed in North and Vidal Courts though asked to please not visit if they are experiencing any respiratory symptoms.
We continue to actively screen anyone entering the Care Home and Assisted Living Residence, including all staff. Residents are also regularly monitored for any symptoms indicating possible infection. Testing is done promptly for anyone who has symptoms.
We are not accepting packages (e.g. bouquets, food, personal items) for residents in the Care Home. Deliveries for Assisted Living residents of essential items only (e.g. breakfast and personal care items) are permitted however we ask that these be infrequent (e.g. maximum weekly).
What is Single Site Staffing and is it Happening at KinVillage?
This public health measure restricts staff from working in more than one location and helps reduce the risk of staff spreading COVID-19 to older adults living in congregate settings. Some employers (such as ProVita, which employs staff in our Assisted Living Residence) and some facilities (those which have experienced a COVID-19 outbreak) have implemented this measure. Soon it will be implemented more broadly under a provincial strategy developed to ensure resident safety – both reducing the risk of infection and ensuring coordination of staff assignments so sufficient staff are available to provide care and services at all sites. It is a complex process. KinVillage management is working closely with Fraser Health to coordinate implementation in our care home, assisted living and our region.
Our staff continue to practice a range of preventative measures including regular screening, timely testing if any symptoms are present, wearing personal protective equipment as directed by Fraser Health, and practicing thorough and frequent hand hygiene.
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:
• TSAWWASSEN MILLS: Thanks to the team at Tsawwassen Mills for donating Lindt chocolates to our residents and staff – just in time for Mother’s Day!
• DALUVA CONSTRUCTION: Fabian Daluva who generously donated 48 masks and 100 face shields for our care staff.
• PANAGO PIZZA – TSAWWASSEN: Varinderjit Gill of Panago donated a delicious pizza treat for all or care home staff. Thank you Kamal Dhaliwal and family for also contributing!
• And thank you to Tsawwassen resident, MARK PRITCHARD and family, for donating two IPads for our care home residents to connect with their families via Facetime and Zoom and for individual use for games etc.
• 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. You lift our spirits!
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 contact file, please call 604- 943-0155 ext. 221. In the event of a COVID-19 outbreak, KinVillage will provide a daily information release via e-mail and via internal postings.
Care Home - Resident Information - For regular inquiries about resident care, please continue to contact nursing staff. If there is a change in a resident’s health status, the Primary Contact will be notified by the nurse, as per our normal procedure.
Care Home – Connecting with Residents (Skype, Facetime, WhatsApp)
Bettina Salini - Director Wellness: 604-943-0155 ext 250 or bsalini@kinvillage.org
Care Home – General Issues or Concerns
Nadine Brown - Director of Care: 604-943-0155 ext 226 or nbrown@kinvillage.org
Assisted Living
General concerns:
Carol Howard - Director of Housing: 604-943-4805 ext 401 or choward@kinvillage.org
Clinical concerns:
Assisted Living Nurse: 604-943-4805 ext 412
General Concerns
Cynthia Langenberg - Director of Health Services: 604-943-0155 ext 232 or clangenberg@kinvillage.org
Donna Ellis – CEO: 604-306-2775 or dellis@kinvillage.org
Sources of Additional Information:
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 – Ministry Updates
www.healthlink.bc.ca - HealthLink BC