Friday, June 5-2020– Beacon Hill Villa – Update

Hello families and friends,

These past few months have been challenging, I want to take a minute to thank you all for your support and trust in BHV as we ensure the health and safety of our residents. This is a difficult time in history right now. BHV cannot thank you enough for working with us to ensure we can bring the best care and joy to your loved one in these uncertain times.

I have some good news to share: the recreation team will be reinstating small group programming. We are unrolling this on Sunday June 7th. We have to be strategic about this and adhere to various safety precautions such as limiting program size numbers and ensuring physical distancing. Additionally, we will not be releasing a monthly calendar at this point in time to allow the recreation team to ensure we have safe numbers in our programs. We will also be consolidating our virtual/window visits to allow our recreation team to have more time to provide safe programming for all of our residents here at BHV. I will be reaching out to families where schedule adjustments may be required.

We appreciate your understanding and flexibility during these ever changing times. The recreation team appreciates your patience and support as we get on track for bringing back some safe fun programs to BHV, as we all adjust to this “new normal”.   Please do not hesitate to reach out to me if you have any questions, comments or concerns.

Take care and stay safe,

Kassandra Keszthelyi, BRLS | Recreation Manager

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While we are happy to report again that no residents are presenting COVID-19 signs or symptoms, we are continuing to impose strict visitor restrictions as required by the Provincial Public Health Officer. We know this continues to be an anxious period for residents, families and loved-ones – but we ask that everyone be respectful of this measure, for resident and staff safety.

Should the status of this community change in any respect, please know that we will share this information.

Updates on Admissions and Transfers:

Admissions will be resumed following strict Ministry of Health guidelines and safety precautions (new admissions and residents returning from hospital will have isolation precautions with staff wearing PPE)

Any resident that shows symptoms will be tested for Covid without delay and put on isolation precautions. If the resident is positive, they will be assessed for transfer to a dedicated Covid unit for specialized treatment and to reduce risk of outbreak in the LTC home.

Protocols

We are continuing to follow the direction of our public health officials and have infection prevention and control precautions in place. Staff continue to monitor residents closely and are ensuring the following protocols are being implemented:

• Strict visitor restrictions are in place
• Ensuring no staff member is working in multiple healthcare facilities
• Staff are screened for symptoms and have temperature checked upon entrance to the building
• Physical distancing is being promoted and enforced among residents, including during mealtimes
• Appropriate application and removal of personal protective equipment (PPE) and disinfecting of equipment
• Ensuring ongoing, environmental cleaning and increased frequency of disinfecting high touch surfaces
• Staff and residents are committed to regular/proper hand hygiene by washing their hands with soap and water and/or applying hand sanitizer.

Recreation Program

We are pleased to share that in addition to facilitating virtual connections with families, we are also now offering:

– Virtual pet visits— Lynne & Teddy the Dog- Wednesdays at 2:30pm
– Virtual volunteer visits—Saturday afternoons with Karl
– Virtual music therapy—bi-weekly sessions on Tuesday mornings and Friday afternoons.

We are also maintaining our connection to our local school and will start a Pen Pal program with weekly mail exchanges.

Those who normally pick up the paper version of our newsletter will get an email copy for this month. If you wish to not receive the newsletter, please respond back and we will take you off the list.

Please contact our Recreation Manager Kassandra at kkeszthelyi@retirementconcepts.com if you would like to schedule a video chat or telephone call with your loved one. Please contact Cheryl, the Director of Care, cmoore@retirementconcepts.com  if you would like a general update on the health status of your loved one.

Dropping items off: Please coordinate all item drop-offs with the Recreation Manager, Kassandra kkeszthelyi@retirementconcepts.com

We would ask that families please follow these guidelines to ensure deliveries in a timely manner.

1. Please use plastic bags, no reusable bags
2. Make sure to label all bags with resident full name and room number
3. Try to limit drop offs to essential items.
4. Consider using Canada Post where precautions have been put in place
5. items may be quarantined for 48hrs

Reminders for your loved one to Stay Safe:

Please remember these important public health measures:

1. Practice physical distancing (6 feet apart)
2. Perform proper Hand Hygiene (Wash hands frequently for 20 seconds with the alcohol-based sanitizer or soap and hot water) 20 second or greater is so important.
3. Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth
4. Cover your cough or sneeze with your arm or a face covering
5. If exhibiting any symptoms (fever, cough and difficulty breathing) please stay in your room and contact the front desk immediately

Thank You

The Beacon Hill Villa Team