February 18-2021 Family Message Update

We had a busy weekend last weekend along with a HUGE snow storm! Thank you to all the staff and to Connie and her husband Colin who acted like our personal taxi driver ensuring the staff could get into work on Saturday when the buses and taxes were not running!

Health Record Updates – Once per year!

When was the last time that you and your loved one looked at their health record? The health record contains valuable information about a tenant’s medical history, medication as well as emergency contact information. Sabrina is reaching out to all just in case there have been changes to who that is. If you would like to supply us with the updated information, please do so by email: wel-familyvisits@retirementconcepts.com

MONTHLY Hearing Aide Pickups:

Please drop your hearing aids off at the front desk with Sheryl by Thursday morning am so NEXGEN can pick them up and return same day. Any questions – please see Sabrina

Family and Friend Referrals to the Wellesley

We are pleased to let you know about our referral program for present tenants at The Wellesley.

“A referral payment by way of a discount on your monthly rental for one time only is to be paid out to a resident referral source for a valid client that moves into the community. The prospect must sign a rental agreement and be living in the community for a period of a minimum of three months to qualify.”

Please speak to Sharon, the Community Relations Manager, for more details

BC Recovery Benefits

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/economic-recovery/recovery-benefit

We have had a few of our tenants asking about the BC Recovery Benefit. Please follow the link above to determine if your loved one here at Casa Loma and Comox Valley Seniors Village qualify.

How the benefit works

The BC Recovery Benefit (the benefit) is a one-time direct deposit payment for eligible families, single parents or individuals. Benefit eligibility is based on net income from your 2019 tax return. You must apply to receive the benefit.

Individuals

• $500 for eligible individuals with a net income of up to $62,500
• Reduced benefit amount for eligible individuals with a net income of up to $87,500

Using 2019 income tax data

As with the B.C. Emergency Benefit for Workers, in order to prevent fraudulent claims, applicants must provide 2019 income tax data to receive the benefit.

British Columbians need support now, and if the benefit relied on 2020 income tax data, payment wouldn’t be possible until approximately fall 2021.

Determine your eligibility

Generally, the benefit is available to people:

• Who are residents of B.C. on December 18, 2020
• Who are at least 19 years old on December 18, 2020, or meet specific eligibility criteria
• Who filed a 2019 Canadian personal income tax return, or meet specific eligibility criteria
• Who have a valid social insurance number, individual tax number or temporary tax number

Reminders for your loved-one to Stay Safe: Again, the following four points are so critical to discuss with your loved ones. Please help us by reminding each resident daily of the following four items:

1. Practice social 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. If exhibiting any symptoms (fever, cough and difficulty breathing) please alert staff immediately.

Dropping items off: 

We would ask that families please follow these guidelines as I am sure you want your parent or loved-one to get their deliveries in a timely manner. All deliveries will be received at the front door. This includes groceries, medications, flowers, and gifts. All will be sanitized and delivered directly to the resident’s suites.

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. There are days when staff are overwhelmed trying to keep up
4. Please sanitize, if possible, the items before dropping off. We will re-sanitize as well to be safe
5. Please leave all items in between the 2 glass doors. Once you are back in your vehicle we will retrieve those items, re-sanitize and ensure your loved ones receive the items

Protocols 

Aside from the single visitor policy, we are following the direction of our public health officials and have full infection prevention and control precautions in place. Staff continue to monitor residents closely and are ensuring the following protocols are being adhered to:

• Restricting ALL visitors from the premises/only those who have been deemed essential may enter the building at this time
• Ensuring no staff member is working in multiple facilities
• 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
• Ensuring ongoing, environmental cleaning and increased frequency of high touch surface cleaning in order to break the chain of infection
• Staff and residents are committed to regular/proper hand hygiene to break the chain of infection, and wash their hands with soap and water and apply hand sanitizer frequently.

Essential Visitors: These have all been contacted and updated in our system. ALL visitors have been approved to be on our property for the health and welfare of our residents. If you have any questions please ask Sharon. An Essential Visitor is deemed through careful consideration with our partnership with Island Health and us as the operators. We are trying to assist all requests and follow the provincial guidelines of what an essential visitor is. If you feel you fall under these guidelines as set out below, please contact Sharon as we have a form that needs to be filled out and submitted. Thank you.

Visits made by a family member or friend of a resident Only one designated family member or friend may visit. All visitors must wear a mask, clean hands before and after visiting (using soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer) and maintain a distance of two metres from others.

* Essential visits are limited to one visitor at a time. For palliative and end-of-life care, more than one visitor may be allowed at a time. Assistance with feeding, mobility and personal care. Communication assistance and supported decision-making for people with disabilities or cognitive impairment

Please note that all visitors are required to wear a medical mask when coming to visit their loved one. Cloth masks are no longer acceptable.  At this time, isolation gowns and gloves are NOT required. Our teams will be here to assist during your scheduled visit, should you have any questions. If you do not have a medical grade mask, one can be provided to you at the front desk when getting pre-screened.

A gentle reminder that our directives of one designated visitor remain the same. You MUST have a scheduled visit. Please do not j show up without a time and date or you may be turned away. No food or beverages during the visit and please ensure you socially distance 6’. Our visitation area is available and the hours are below along with the email you must use in order to book your visit. Please do not call the front desk as we are trying to ensure everyone can get a visit and would like everyone wanting to book HOLIDAY visits to email below ONLY:

wel-familyvisits@retirementconcepts.com

https://vancouverisland.ctvnews.ca/b-c-announces-new-restrictions-on-social-gatherings-travel-provincewide-1.5196709

VISITING:

Visits must be limited to 45 minutes maximum. Please familiarize yourself with our updated policies and procedures and thank you for your understanding and support in keeping everyone in our residence safe. Due to weather restrictions, we do have a new inside area to visit as well.

 ** Please note the change in time of visits due to meal times. 9-11 am, 1-4 pm, 6-7:45 pm

• Please do not visit if you are sick or have had contact with anyone who is sick.
• To minimize risk, any and all family visits at The Wellesley MUST be scheduled in advance.
• Only 1 designated visitor is permitted into visiting areas at a time.
• Anyone wishing to visit will be screened for signs and symptoms of illness – visitors may be denied access if there is failure to comply with protocols & regulations.
• Any and all family visitors must wear clean Medical Grade Masks for the entirety of the visit. If you do not have one, it will be provided. You must also adhere to all physical distancing and hand hygiene guidelines including coughing and sneezing etiquette.
• If you plan on visiting, please remember to adhere to physical distancing guidelines by utilizing the areas as directed. Please do not move any furniture in visiting areas.
• All disinfecting and sanitization will be completed by The Wellesley Team after your visit.
• Food & Beverages are not permitted during visits at this time.
• Visitors must leave facility directly after visiting Resident.
• NO visitors will be permitted at The Wellesley if an active outbreak is in progress (if you were scheduled, you will be informed).

Quadra Village Medical Centre – Dr. Behroozi has acquired some new residents and will continue to reach out to everyone individually who have expressed an interest in getting a new doctor. He is working with a few other local doctors, and we should have a plan in the New Year. Right now he makes his rounds on Thursdays. Any inquiries please see Sharon in her office or by email sunsworth@wcshm.com or by cell 250-514-5114.

Assisted Living ROOFTOP:  Our constructions teams and our maintenance manager Joe will be in and out of the building in the coming months. Please know they are following all protocol. We are hopeful that our amazing rooftop will be completed soon but for now, the 5^th floor is not accessible. If you have any questions in regards to this please let us know.

MOVE OUT Protocols:  Please reach out to Sharon should you have any questions about removal of furniture/movers and how we go about doing this to ensure the residents remain safe. We have been arranging one move out per day when needed and trying to assist families with what will work within their schedule. Please know that in both buildings, we do not want to interrupt their meal times, so move out times are 9-11 am, 1:30-4 pm. Please arrange with me so that we can alert the residents and put signs up. sunsworth@wcshm.com

Move Outs/Elevator in Main Building/AL Building: The 1^st elevator is utilized for move outs, and is locked for move outs. There is a note placed on the elevator as well. For your convenience we have asked all move outs to happen during the hours of 9-11 am and 1:30-4 so as not to disturb during meal time. Please be respective of the movers as they are following all protocol to get in and out in a timely manner. For the Assisted Living Building, we want to ensure that we are not disrupting meal times, so the same times apply.

2020 TAX RECEIPTS:

Please know that Mary our Finance Admin Coordinator is working on the tax receipts and will be mailing out to you shortly.

FURNITURE DELIVERY/DISPOSAL:

Please ensure you are reaching out to Sharon directly by email: sunsworth@wcshm.com or by cell phone 250-514-5114 to arrange and discuss protocol for anyone entering our building. Please be aware that these must be scheduled and will be turned away if they just show up to the building

MASK WEARING

Please be advised that if you can’t maintain a 6’ socially distanced are between you and another person, it is advised you wear a mask in the common areas and elevators. Please try not to congregate at the elevator and/or near the dining room doors and try your best to maintain the 6’ distance at all times.

NORTH TOWER ENTRANCE:

A gentle reminder that for anyone coming in or going out – you must come to the main building to be screened upon your return. We are trying to ensure to keep everyone safe.

UPCOMING WELLNESS PRESENTATIONS:

We will be working again with Quadra Village Pharmacy and Fort Royal Pharmacy in delivering some health conscious presentations by ZOOM. We will be setting up in the Magnolia Room in March at 1:30 on a Friday. We are waiting to confirm the 12^th or 19^th with the Pharmacy. We have some topics we were going to cover in 2020 but please if you have any suggestions please let me know sunsworth@wcshm.com . These will be accessible for family and friends as well so be sure to email me and let me know if you are interested!

VACCINATION CLINIC – ASSISTED LIVING BUILDING – CLIENTS:

Please know that we have received the date of our 2^nd round of COVID19 Vaccination which will be Sunday, March 7 from 1-3:30 pm. At this time, Island Health is concentrating on PHASE I (see attached additional information) as we wait for a date and time for the Independent Living Building. Please know that the Ministry has a mandate and we are awaiting for confirmation of when that will be. As soon as we know we will send out a memo and post in the common areas. We know this is a difficult time, especially because we are a mixed building but please know we as a building are top priority. Our staff have begun to be called for their 2^nd dose as well. Please also keep in mind that the residents will be receiving the MODERNA vaccination while staff have been requested to receive Pfizer off-site. A Memo is being hand-delivered to all Assisted Living residents as well as those residents who received the first dose on January 24^th. ALL essential visitors should have been vaccinated and been called for your 2^nd dose. Please do not call us to see when your next shot is, as this is handled through the call centre at VIHA. For those family/essential visitors that were on-site January 24^th for the first dose, please email me directly as I have included you in our numbers I have sent to Island Health.

Thank You, Team Wellesley