Hello Everyone:

We hope you are all staying safe and healthy!

Last week we communicated changes to our visitor restriction and outlined Monterey’s new Safe Visitation Process.  The Safe Visitation Process was written to accommodate a less restrictive visiting policy that balances the care community, residents, family and loved ones, collectively mitigating risk. The process is intended to help people remain socially and emotionally connected in a safe and measured approach –as congregate living residents remain uniquely vulnerable to the effects of COVID-19.

We encourage all families and loved ones to use extreme caution, to assess their own risk of unknown exposure to COVID-19 and consider the impact that such visitations may have on those who live and work in our community.

Visiting hours at Monterey Seniors Village are between 8:00 am–8:00 pm daily, seven (7) days per week.

All visits must be reserved, please call Monterey reception – preferably 48 hours but at least 24-hours –before your visit, at 403-207-2929 to book your visit.  Unfortunately we cannot accept walk-ins unless it is of an urgent nature.

A reservation is not required if you would like to take your loved one offsite for an appointment, outing or family visit.  Please be aware that all protocols are still in effect when offsite such as full screening, social distancing, continuous masking, not touching your face and hand hygiene.  If a visit is longer than 24 hours, your loved one will be required to self-isolate for two weeks for precautionary reasons.

The following revised parameters are currently in effect for indoor and outdoor visits:

• Up to two people can visit in a resident room, not including the resident, if physical distancing can be maintained. In end of life circumstances, up to three people at one time, not including the resident, is permitted.
• Only one designated family/support person is permitted a time in shared care areas such as a dining room or bathing room.
• Where permitted, groupings in designated indoor spaces should be limited to three, including the resident. These designated spaces will be marked throughout the site.
• Up to five people, including the resident, per grouping is permitted for outdoor visits, if physical distancing can be maintained.
• Gifts: Family/support persons and visitors are permitted to bring gifts, which now include homemade or purchased food and flowers/plants.
• All items are required to be cleaned and disinfected by the individual and left on the designated table outside the main entrance.

All designated family/support persons and visitors must:

• Undergo Active Health Assessment Screening at entry and self-check for symptoms throughout visit.
• Be educated on and adhere to Safe Visiting Practices and related site policies that include hand hygiene and screening.
• Only visit with the resident(s) they are supporting.
• Wear a mask and gown continuously indoors; and a mask, if physical distancing cannot be maintained, outdoors.
• Notify the operator of any symptoms that arise within 14 days of visiting with a resident.
• Entry may be refused if there is reason to believe an individual is not abiding by these responsibilities.
• Use of PPE to Enable Safe Physical Touch: The risk of transmission of COVID-19 increases with close proximity. If a resident and their family/support person(s) or visitor(s) understand this and they wish to include physical touch in their visits, this may be done by following the additional guidance:
• Stop close contact with the resident and inform staff immediately for further direction if they are or become symptomatic during the visit.
• Continuously wear a mask that covers the nose and mouth and gown while within 2 metres of the resident.
• Though a resident does not need to also wear a mask, they may choose to do so based on their own risk of unknown exposure from off-site activity.
• Perform hand hygiene (hand washing and/or use of alcohol based hand sanitizer) both before and after direct physical contact with the resident.
• If resident is isolated due to symptoms of COVID-19: Operators must ensure that the family/support persons and/or visitors have or are provided with the required PPE (based on precaution required), are trained, and have practiced the appropriate use of the PPE.
• Temporary limitations will still occur in situations where threat of COVID-19 is imminent at the site.

Protocols

We continue to ensure ongoing deep cleaning and sanitization of the entire community, with additional housekeeping staff in all areas of the building, and enhanced cleaning in high touch areas. We will continue to act upon the latest advice of public health officials and adapt our operations as necessary and recommended, to reduce the risk of infection and transmission as much as possible.

Communication

Please know that should the condition of any resident change, their family will be notified immediately.

If you wish to be removed from these emails, please let me know.