July 20, 2020
This week marks the move from “restricted access” visits to “safe access” visits in Ontario retirement communities. The goal is to provide residents with meaningful opportunities to connect with those who support them while protecting the health and safety of residents and staff. These changes will become effective on Thursday, July 23, 2020.
We continue to follow the advice of provincial and federal governments, our sector regulators, and local Public Health agencies while working in partnership with residents and families in the coordination of safe access visits for all residents. Visits will occur when the assessed risk of COVID-19 exposure is low and retirement community and resident directed risk tolerance is deemed high. Seasons will continue to provide Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) education to residents and families.
Ontario
Indoor Social Visits are not restricted to specific friends or family members. Indoor social visits must take place in the resident’s suite only with no more than 2 visitors per resident at any given time. They must be coordinated and scheduled with the front desk during low activity hours (see schedule below). Additionally, residents who are not required to self-isolate are permitted to visit indoors with other non-isolating residents either in-suite or in a designated shared space.
Alberta
Designated Essential Visitors are to become Designated Family/Support Persons. Residents can now name up to 2 people as a Designated Family or Support Person. Please notify your location’s Business Manager regarding the name of the person to be added to this list.
Types of Visits Available, for Ontario & Alberta
Indoor Social Visits are not restricted to specific friends or family members. Indoor social visits must take place in the resident’s suite only with no more than 2 visitors per resident at any given time. They must be coordinated and scheduled with the front desk during low activity hours (see schedule below).
Additionally, residents who are not required to self-isolate are permitted to visit indoors with other non-isolating residents either in-suite or in a designated shared space.
Indoor Social Visit Schedule, available 7 days per week:
Outdoor Social Visits are not restricted to specific friends or family members. We can accommodate outdoor visits with up to five people in our designated space(s) for visits, during the outdoor visiting hours listed below. Residents who are not required to isolate are permitted free access to the outdoors with other non-isolating residents of the same residence.
Outdoor Social Visit Schedule, available 7 days per week:
Visits for Extenuating Circumstances refer to compassionate visits, such as those visiting residents who are palliative, those who are experiencing a change in health status (due to medical/social/spiritual crisis), or pressing circumstances (financial or legal matters, family crisis). Seasons will accommodate all such visits as best as possible, without a set schedule.
In order to visit a resident in their suite or outdoors, we ask that you:
A reminder that you may be declined a visit if we have a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 in our home. You may also be declined a visit if you do not pass our health screening checklist or if you do not comply with our visit protocols. If you begin to display symptoms of COVID-19 after your visit, please advise our retirement community immediately.
We appreciate resident and visitor cooperation of the above guidelines. Residents, just a reminder that we are encouraging you to wear a mask whenever you are not in your suites. Reusable cloth masks are acceptable. If you have trouble procuring masks, please advise your location’s General Manager.
Thank you to all Seasons team members for your ongoing commitment to keeping our retirement homes safe and healthy. Let us all stay vigilant and continue to keep COVID-19 out of our retirement communities.
Sincerely,
LeighAnne Voll,
Chief Operating Officer
For additional online resources for COVID-19 you can visit the following sites:
Canada Health
Alberta Health
Alberta Health Services
Public Health Ontario
Retirement Home Regulatory Authority