Hello Everyone!

Welcome to our latest updates at Kamloops Seniors Village! The 12 Days of Christmas are wrapping up with Christmas Day just around the corner! We are happy to report, with the lovely snowfall we got the other day, our residents, tenants and staff will be enjoying a white Christmas after all here in Kamloops!!

With the continuing increase in COVID-19 numbers, especially in the Lower Mainland and other health authorities, restrictions will remain in effect for our tenants and residents and families.  We will be continuing to follow the direction and recommendations of our provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, and our general NO VISITOR policy remains in place.

Please check out our most recent updates/changes:

• All visitors, staff, tenants and residents will be required to wear a medical grade mask while in Kamloops Seniors Village. The mask MUST be worn at all times and for the duration of your visit to the building, as well as the entirety of the 30 minute visits.
• The Provincial Health Officer directive further states persons living in the Fraser Health and/or Coastal Health regions are required to remain in their home area, and not to travel in or out of their Health Authority. This has resulted in visits from out-of-town areas such as the Lower Mainland and Alberta being cancelled until at least January 8, 2021.
• The December 2020 & January 2021 Visit Schedules are underway and visits can still be scheduled every 7-10 days depending on availability. Please submit designated visitor requests to Carollyn Anderson at canderson@retirementconcepts.com.  This person will be changed ONLY in cases of extreme emergency, or in the event that the family member lives in one of the restricted areas.
• Email Carollyn with requested date(s) for visitation which are filled on a ‘first come, first served’ basis and allow 72 hours for reply. A waitlist will be set up for cancellations.
• Should you need to cancel your visit, please let us know, as we have a waitlist for most dates
• We ask that our resident/tenant families give your very best effort in reducing community outings 14 days prior to your scheduled visit and be mindful & aware of your immediate bubble to keep your loved ones safe
• AND PLEASE NOTE: Should the community have any type of outbreak, visits will cease immediately

You, as family members play a key role in the continuing success of this Visitation Plan.  As we all work together to closely follow Health Authority protocols, should any family member not adhere to the safety parameters that we have in place, they will be asked to leave.

Window Visits are continuing with the same following guidelines:

1. Please plan visits with a limit of up to 6 people (window Visits only)
2. No open windows, please use telephones
3. For all residents in Complex Care, window visits can still be safely scheduled and supported through the care staff.

 Recreation Program

The KSV Team has been working hard to bring some Christmas spirit to our residents and tenants. We have been incorporating Christmas decorating, music, carolling, crafts, baking, movies, and stories all throughout the month and will continue to do this up until Christmas Day. We have had a total of 8 Christmas Light Drives and Christmas Carolling was heard throughout the halls this week, performed by our leadership & recreation teams.

On Residential Care, we will be delivering Christmas cards to all residents. In addition, on Christmas morning, all residents will have a present to open from their staff “Secret Santa”. They will also be offered a special treat with their morning coffee!

At this point, all virtual Facetime/Skype visits on Christmas morning are now booked, but if you would like to book a Skype or Facetime over the holidays to visit with your loved one, please email our recreation team ksv-rec@retirementconcepts.com.

On Assisted/Independent Living we will be doing a Wine and Cheese delivery on Christmas Eve along with a small gift from Kamloops Seniors Village. On Christmas Day, brunch will be served with delicious waffles, strawberries, & whipped cream, along with a special treat for their coffee! A traditional Christmas Dinner will be served in the evening. We are also offering Skype/Facetime visits over the holidays, (unfortunately, not including Christmas day). If you would like to book a Skype or Facetime visit with your loved one please email ksv-rec@retirementconcepts.com.

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 to come and pick up their items right away.  Please ensure you label all items with name and room number to ensure all packages are received as quickly as possible.

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)
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.

BC Recovery Benefit

The Benefit applications are now open. It is a one-time, tax-free payment of up to $1,000 for eligible families and single parents and up to $500 for eligible individuals. You have until June 30, 2021 to apply on behalf of your loved one. Please visit https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/economic-recovery/recovery-benefit for more information or email our Finance Admin Kristine at koconnor@retirementconcepts.com if you require assistance.

We want to thank everyone for their cooperation and patience during these ever-changing circumstances.  We sincerely wish you all a safe and healthy Christmas and Holiday Season! Best Wishes in 2021! Happy New Year!