Happy Holidays Everyone!

Welcome to our latest updates at Kamloops Seniors Village! We had such a great time celebrating with our tenants and residents and staff throughout the month of December.  It is always a time of year that brings us all together.  From fun “ugly” Christmas sweaters, Christmas entertainers to door decorating and everything in between. 

 From our family to yours, we wish you and your loved ones Happy Holidays, and all the joy, hope, and peace of the Holiday season. Best Wishes in 2022 for it may bring further memories for everyone!

 Also, with the new variant now rampantly circulating, just a reminder to remain diligent with protecting yourself and your family member by wearing the proper PPE and hand hygiene throughout the holiday season and into the New Year! And please refer to the Provincial Medial Health Officer’s guidelines for updates to holiday gatherings and celebrations. Please refer to new visitation parameters below.

Current Events: Recreation & Dining Programs

As we round up the year with Treat Trolley’s and New Year’s Eve socials will celebrate the ending of one year, and the start of a new. On New Year’s Day, tenants and residents will enjoy a delicious brunch.

In January, we will celebrate Robbie Burns Day and recognize Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, along with our weekly pub nights.

We also wanted to inform you that as of January 2022, we will be moving to only a monthly newsletter email unless any pertinent information arises or changes in restrictions, and of course any emergent information such as outbreak communication. We will start including our Recreation Calendars so families are aware of the schedules to assist in planning visit times. Please reach out if you have any questions.

LICENSING & ACCREDITATION UPDATES

As a licensed Complex Care community with Interior Health, we have to be accredited by a national accreditation body with certain standards of care that we must meet. In 2018, KSV was Accredited with Commendation by Accreditation Canada. In February 2022, we are being accredited by CARF-Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. Therefore, our KSV Leadership teams are busy preparing for this to ensure we meet their standards for quality of care. Surveyors will be visiting our community in February 2022!

For Assisted & Independent Living, we are going through a similar process through BCSLA – BC Seniors Living Association to receive a Seal of Approval for our standards of care & services. We are just waiting on the surveyors to come to KSV to conduct their evaluation.

EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENTS

A change you will see in our Complex Care Neighbourhoods in the new year is some new signage! With input & voting from our Complex Care Residents, we have named all the neighbourhoods, instead of just A, B & C! But we kept the same letter theme, but with a twist! It will be a learning curve for everyone, but here is a sneak peak of the new names:

VISITATION CHANGES *New*

We continue to work within the parameters set out by Retirement Concepts in addition to those laid out by the Health Authority to ensure that we are putting forward every effort to keep all those who work and live within our home safe.

Some of the things you can expect to see to help keep us all safe are rapid testing of all staff on a regular basis as well as the following:

 Visitor Mask & Eye Protection Mandate

Effective Immediately, per Interior Health, all visitors (ages 5 years and up) are now required to keep their mask on at ALL times while in the building, including while in their family member’s/friend’s private room, until further notice.

Eye Wear protective equipment parameters, will also be implemented for Long Term/Complex Care visitors only, we are just waiting for further details on these logistics.

 Children Visitors

With children ages 5 and up now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, and with community outbreaks in daycares and schools, the Provincial Health Officer has implemented some changes to the mask mandate for children until they are fully vaccinated in order to keep our community safe. It will be similar to the provision with the adult vaccine out.

• Effective immediately, children ages 5 years and up will now be required to wear a mask for their entirety of their visit inside KSV until they are fully vaccinated, including while in their family member’s private suite
• Ages 4 and under are still exempt by the visitor mask mandate

Visitor Rapid Testing

As many of you know, the Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Henry, and Minister Dix announced a number of new orders and public health measures last week, to reduce COVID-19 transmission in B.C.— especially the Omicron variant, which is spreading rapidly in jurisdictions in Canada and around the world.

A provincial order was recently released that will require all visitors ages 12 years and older to get a rapid COVID-19 test upon entry into all seniors care communities.  The order will be implemented tentatively by January 7, 2022 (subject to product delivery). Once we receive any updated details, we will immediately share them with you.

We thank you for your cooperation in implementing all the necessary measures to keep KSV residents, staff, and families safe during the pandemic. We will keep you updated and continue to share more details as rapid POC test kits are distributed to communities.

VISITATION REMINDERS

• As of October 26, 2021, ALL visitors to long-term care, assisted living, and acute care facilities will need to show proof that they are fully vaccinated with at two doses of COVID-19 vaccine (excluding children under 12 years or those with an approved medical exemption).
• All visitors will no longer need to schedule or book in advance to visit loved ones
• KSV Visiting hours will be now from 8AM-9PM daily, with all visitors exiting the building by 9 PM
• All visitors will be screened for signs and symptoms at the main entrance and be required to practice hand hygiene before and after their visit, wear a medical face mask at ALL times while within the building, including the resident/tenant’s private suite (effective December 29) and physical distancing when in common areas.
• A new medical face mask will be provided at the entrance for all visitors.
• Indoor gatherings may now include residents and staff across various neighbourhoods (not family/friends) for activities and entertainment.
• A Reminder that visits must be in your family member’s suite. Visits are currently still prohibited in common indoor spaces such as the Bistro and outdoor Tenant Spaces including the Outdoor AL-IL Patio

The Provincial Health Office has provided additional guidance surrounding vaccinations:

• It is strongly recommended that visitors ages 5 and older be fully immunized against COVID-19 with two doses of vaccine and provide proof vaccination status prior to entry.
• Staff, Volunteers, contractors, and personal service providers entering long term care and assisted living settings must be fully immunized.
• Each site will continue to maintain a sign in list for contact tracing purposes and actively promote adherence to all infection prevention and control protocols.

When being screened, every visitor will be asked to show proof of full COVID-19 immunization for both doses every time you come to KSV, so please get in the habit of always carrying your Vaccine Passport or Vaccine Card.  Showing either the immunization record card or your digital immunization card through Health Gateway.

We have attached the screening form that you can print out prior to your visit and then the screeners will need to view and confirm your immunization details upon arrival.

VIRTUAL VISITS

We are continuing to provide scheduled virtual visits for residents & tenants with families from afar upon availability. Please reach out to our recreation team by e-mail at ksv-rec@retirementconcepts.com or call 250.571.1806 to set up a time via Skype or FaceTime. We will be happy to confirm a date and time to connect you with your family member.

SOCIAL OUTINGS & SIGNING OUT:

• For those on Complex Care, if you would like to take your family member/friend out of the building we request:
  • A minimum of 2 hours’ notice to ensure that your loved one is set up for success for their outing.
  • Please contact the nurse on your loved one’s floor to arrange the outing, and then you can come into the building, be screened & personally take your loved one out.
  • A reminder that ANYTIME you take your loved one out of their Complex Care neighbourhood (for an outing or to the Courtyard/Balcony for your visit), please sign them out on the white board by the door to notify staff they are out of the area in the event we have an emergent situation
• For those on Independent-Assisted Living – remember tenants will need sign out prior to leaving for their outing; and for extended visits, inform the AL team in the event they need medications

VACCINE PASSPORTS

• For Complex-Care residents, we created laminated vaccine passports on a KSV lanyard for our residents to take when they are out on a recreation outing or for appointments. If families have previously taken them, we ask that you please return it to the nurse as we are missing a few. Thank you so much for your cooperation.

Complex Care Family Council

Kamloops Seniors Village’s Family Council is made available to Family Members of Complex Care residents. We invite new resident’s families to join the council, participate in the meeting, and provide a voice for your loved one! Meetings are held on the 4th Monday of every month via ZOOM during COVID, excluding December July and August. The Zoom link and minutes are sent out the week prior. The meetings are self-directed by the families with KSV Leadership present for support. Our next meeting is in on Monday, January 24, 2022 at 6 PM.

 Deliveries and Drop-offs:

All deliveries will continue to be received at the front desk and will be sanitized, bagged and we will call the tenants &/or resident care staff to come and pick up their items right away.  Please ensure you label all items with a name and room number to ensure all packages are received as quickly as possible.

For floral deliveries, please ensure there are no LILIES in the arrangement for allergy precautions.

Reminders for your loved one to Stay Safe:

Please help us by reminding each resident daily of the following four items:

1. Practice social/physical distancing (6 feet apart) when required
2. Perform proper Hand Hygiene (Wash hands frequently for 20 seconds with the alcohol-based sanitizer or soap and hot water) 20 seconds or greater is so important.
3. Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth
4. If exhibiting any symptoms (fever, cough and difficulty breathing) please alert staff immediately.

 Cheers,

The KSV Team