Guildford Seniors Village – Update April 24, 2020

We wish to thank all family members who have called to check on residents. We know this is an anxious time for you and understand that if your call hasn’t been returned, we apologize in advance. It’s because we are extremely busy in tending to the needs of your loved ones. But please know, if there is any change in related to a specific resident, we will contact the family immediately.

Status

There is NO resident or staff cases in the building and No residents or staff are showing any symptoms within our community. As noted previously, the one affected staff member remains at home in self-isolation.

We continue to ensure proactive measures are in place, including confining residents to their respective suites, where they are provided care and nutritious meals.

Protocols

We continue to follow the direction of BC’s Medical Health Officer and the protocols established by the Office of the Provincial Health Officer and BC Center for Disease Control, including real time education for all staff members as the most up to date information unfolds regarding Covid-19 and its prevention.

We continue to respect and implement direction by health officials in full infection prevention and control precautions, including the following:

• restricting ALL visitors from the premises
• ensuring no staff member is working in multiple facilities
• staff are working strictly within an assigned unit and not multiple units
• staff are removing outside clothing and footwear before entering the premises
• staff are screened for their temperature upon entrance to the building, and midway through their shift
• social distancing is occurring among residents in each facility, including during mealtimes when meals are delivered to each resident, in their suite
• appropriate application and removal of personal protective equipment (PPE), and the use of individual slings (cloth component of a personal lift)
• ensuring ongoing environmental sanitizing and cleaning with increased frequency of high touch surfaces in order to break the chain of infection
• staff and residents are committed to regular/proper hand hygiene to break the chain of infection, by washing their hands with soap and water and applying hand sanitizer

We continue to act upon the latest advice of BC’s health ministry and adapt our operations as necessary and as recommended.

Communication

We continue to provide daily email updates on the status of the Guildford Seniors Village to all resident families and loved ones. You can also find updates on www.Retirementconcepts.com  website and ‘Retirement Concepts’ Facebook page.

Social calls continue to be arranged with families to residents through the support of our Recreation Team to the best of their ability with priority given to resident care. Thank you for your compassion and patience. Feel welcome to send a message to your loved one via email message, photos or children’s artwork to recreation-gsv@retirementconcepts.com

Nurses continue to prioritize care to residents, and because of the overwhelming number of phone calls, their ability to accept calls at this time simply isn’t possible. But please know should any resident experience a change in their condition, the family will be contacted immediately.

Dining Room 

All meals are being delivered in disposable containers to each resident in their suite to support cautionary isolation and support infection control.

Deliveries

All deliveries will be received at lobby entrance vestibule. Only if necessary, this includes medications deliveries from pharmacy, floral, gifts, mail. All items will be sanitized and delivered directly to the residents’ suite.

Dropping items off:  we would ask that families please follow these guidelines to ensure loved ones will receive their deliveries in a timely manner.

1. Please use plastic bags; no reusable bags
2. Make sure to label all bags with resident name and suite number
3. Try to limit drop offs to essential items, for infection control and in consideration of staff to resident care priorities.
4. Please sanitize, if possible, the items before dropping off. We will re-sanitize as well to be safe

Staffing

Staffing levels remain stable, with sufficient personal protective equipment for staff to support maximum safety and confidence in providing care to resident.

Acknowledgements

We wish to extend our thanks to community members, including postal carriers, suppliers, Handi-dart and equipment specialists who are continuing to provide essential services and showing their devotion to our community, while observing all safety protocols.

And of course we want to thank staff for their dedication and family members for showing patience and support during this difficult period.