July 3, 2020

Greetings Families and Friends,

As we head into July, we can be grateful for some well received GOOD NEWS from Dr. Bonnie Henry. We will be opening our doors, once again, for visits in both our Long Term Care and Assisted/Independent Living communities – thank heavens! You should all have received the good news memo from me but, in the event you didn’t, here is a link to the June 30, 2020 BC Government announcement: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020HLTH0211-001207

Over the next 7 to 10 days, they have asked Care Providers to prepare written safety plans to facilitate one designated family member or friend visitor to single designated areas at Care Providing Sites. As a result, we will be working to address their requirements as quickly as possible.

We know that residents and families are eagerly awaiting this opportunity as are we, and as soon as our safety plan is in place to receive visitors, we will share that information with you directly by email.

It has been difficult to continue these communications week after week without being able to add the one component friends and families of residents have been so desperately waiting for; an easing of restrictions on visitations. It warms our hearts to be able to share this good news with you and rest assured that we will be working hard to ensure that all levels of compliance are put in place as soon as possible. We anticipate receiving the necessary approval to move forward with what we have all been waiting for in the coming week.

We hope that you all managed to celebrate our national day with enthusiasm in spite of the non-compliant weather. Along with everything 2020 has brought to our tables, the weather, thus far, has served up a healthy portion of pathetic fallacy in its uncanny routine of aligning with our pandemic pain. I can only remark that when summer finally does arrive, I hope it falls on a weekend!

RECREATION

Our Recreation team continues to keep things as stimulating as possible in spite of all obstacles and you will have all received our updated LTC calendar recently, listing the various programs and activities in place.

General Store

 The General Store remains open with distancing restrictions (1 person at a time) and a good selection of treats and necessities.

Meals

 We are still waiting on permission to open our dining room and will announce this as soon as we receive a green light.

Deliveries

 All deliveries must come through the front entrance only and abide by guidelines set out in our previous communications. Once again, we remind folks not to leave deliveries on the carts provided after 4:30 PM.

Communication

 As always, feel free to access the website for community updates on COVID related issues.

In closing, I would like to thank you for the many kind responses I have received to the weekly letters and let you all know that I am proud and, above all grateful to be working in a capacity that makes a difference in the lives of the people I have become so fond of in my relatively short tenure at SSV – you are the many reasons we do what we do…

You are kind and we appreciate it!

Most Sincerely

Farid Nouisser

Community Relations Manager, S.S.V.