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Hello Everyone and Happy Canada Day!

Once again, we are happy and thankful to report NO RESIDENTS or staff are presenting COVID-19 signs or symptoms at Kamloops Seniors Village.

As the Province proceeds toward Phase 3 and the recent announcements (please see formal announcement from our Corporate Office below), there is a lot of excitement and anticipation about having visits in our home.  Once again, we continue to follow the direction of our provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, and our NO VISITOR policy will remain in place until we are able to meet all the parameters for safe visits outlined by Dr. Bonnie Henry. We understand your eagerness to come and visit your loved ones, and we will be communicating the new guidelines as soon as they are in place.    We continue to appreciate all that you and your loved ones are doing to heed the precautions put in place to alleviate risk of exposure to Covid-19.

BC Health Minister Adrian Dix and BC Medical Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry announced changes to Assisted Living and Long Term Care Guidelines related to COVID -19, on Tuesday June 30, 2020.

Over the next 7 to 10 days, they have asked these Care Providers to prepare written safety plans to facilitate single designated visitors 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, and as soon as more detailed information is available, including the status of Sites and their readiness to safely receive visitors, we will share that information with you directly by email.

Here is a link to the June 30, 2020 BC Government announcement: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020HLTH0211-001207

Window Visits are continuing with the following guidelines:

  1. Plan to keep visits short with a limit of 2 people
  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

On Residential Care, recreation staff have reinstated small group Recreation Programs with a maximum of 5 residents per group. We are continuing to provide scheduled Skype visits for residents. Please reach out to Erica Buckingham, Recreation Manager by e-mail at ebuckingham@retirementconcepts.com or call 250.571.2958 to set up a time to Skype. We will be happy to confirm a date and time to connect you with your loved-one.

The Assisted/Independent Living tenants are very happy to have small group recreation programs reinstated with a maximum of five tenants per group.  In addition, the Assisted Living Exercise Room has also reopened with limits of 1 person at a time and full sanitizing after each use.  We have also opened the Library with scheduled times and limits of 2 people.

The question of the day continues to be – “when will the Hairdresser be open again?”  We have been working to ensure all the required guidelines are being met for reopening the Hair Salon and are awaiting final approval from the Health Authority . . . . hopefully within the next week.

Dining Room

We are so pleased and the tenants are so happy to have the Assisted Living Dining Room open again for Lunch and Dinner.  Dining times will resume with Lunch at 12 and 1pm and Dinner will be served at 5 pm and 6 pm with new physically distanced seating plans.

Deliveries and Drop-offs:

All deliveries will continue to be received at the front desk and can now include perishable items, groceries, non-perishables, gifts, flowers/plants. All items will be sanitized, bagged and we will call the tenants to come and pick up their items right away.

Our General Store remains open and well stocked with items to meet the needs of our residents.

Reminders for your loved one to Stay Safe:

Again, the following four points are still important to continue to emphasize with your loved ones. 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.

The staff and leadership team are continuing to plan creative ways to bring joy and smiles to the face of our residents, to take the time to have a little chat and to celebrate each one, the real ‘heroes’ in this trying time.

We want to thank everyone for their cooperation and patience during these ever-changing circumstances.