Good Morning,

As we celebrate Seniors Week in BC, we recognize the contributions of our seniors who have spent their lives building and shaping our communities. While we are happy to report again that no residents/tenants or staff are presenting COVID-19 signs or symptoms, we are continuing to impose strict visitor restrictions as required by the Provincial Public Health Officer. Please do not circumvent our efforts and risk the safety of your loved ones by visiting outside. It has been observed that social distancing is not being reliably enacted; this puts everyone at risk. Family members coming to Selkirk from the community may be exposed and not aware that they are actually also exposing their loved ones through this activity/proximity. We understand your eagerness to come and visit your loved ones but at this time our no visitor policy remains the same.  An update will be sent out if we receive any other direction.

Should the status of our community change in any respect, please know that we will immediately inform all resident’s and tenant’s families/most responsible person.

Selkirk Seniors Village is fortunate to have a COVID-19 Coach provided by the Island Health Authority. This coach is on site Monday- Friday providing us with ongoing education and support, as well as being a great resource for all things COVID-19 related.

Protocols

We are following the direction of our public health officials to the letter, 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 with the exception of active palliation visits
• ensuring no staff member is working in multiple facilities
• requesting staff not come dressed for work, but rather bring their clean work attire with them to change into at start of shift
• staff are screened for their temperature upon entrance to the building, and midway through their shift
• social distancing is occurring among residents and tenants, including during mealtimes
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) has been provided and education given around the appropriate application and removal of it
• If someone is transferred to hospital (both unscheduled or for a scheduled appointment), upon return the resident/tenant will be under isolation precautions for 14 days
• ensuring ongoing, environmental cleaning and increased frequency of high touch surfaces in order to break the chain of infection
• staff and residents are committed to regular/proper hand hygiene to break the chain of infection, by washing their hands with soap and water and applying hand sanitizer. Each staff member has their own personal bottle of hand sanitizer that we are refilling as needed.

Recreation Program

Recreation programs have begun with small groups (5 or less) with a focus on activities that don’t require any shared supplies, and ensuring everyone keeps their social distance. Programs will be repeated in the day, so that more people have an opportunity to participate. We have had great feedback from the residents/tenants and staff alike and everyone seems appreciative of the programs being offered. Our recreation team will still be facilitating some 1:1 visits, as well as FaceTime and Skype calls. The FaceTime and Skype calls will be at set times that are away from peak resident activity hours. Please touch base with either Brian Del Raye, Recreation and Therapies Manager, or the recreation team if you have any questions in regards to this: Brian- 250-940-1028 x1102, Rec Office- 250-940-1028 x1120, or via email at bdelraye@retirementconcepts.com or Selkirk-recreation@retirementconcepts.com

Dining Room- Assisted Living

The Assisted Living dining room remains closed at this time, and tray service is being delivered to each suites.  It is still the Health Authorities recommendation to continue with the room service as best practice. The team has become very efficient in the delivery of the trays, and this system is working well.

Dining Room- Complex Care

Social distancing is occurring and we are limiting tables to 2 residents per table. Staff are assisting residents with proper hand hygiene before and after meal times.

Assisted Living:

All deliveries will be received at the front door. All will be sanitized and delivered to the resident’s suites. A notice has been placed on each floor as well as in the elevator reminding tenants that we strongly encourage them to continue to have their groceries and supplies delivered, as seniors are high risk for COVID-19

Dropping items off: We would ask that families please follow these guidelines to ensure your parent or loved one receives their deliveries.

1. Please use paper or plastic bags, no reusable bags
2. Make sure to label all bags with resident name and room number
3. Try to limit drop offs to essential items.

Complex Care:

At this time we are asking that only essential items (such as incontinence products) be delivered.

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-19 without delay and put on isolation precautions. If the resident is positive, they will be assessed for transfer to a dedicated COVID-19 unit at the hospital for specialized treatment and to reduce risk of outbreak in the LTC home.

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 your loved one of the following:

1. Practice social distancing (6 feet apart)
2. Perform proper Hand Hygiene (Wash hands frequently for 20 seconds or greater with the alcohol-based sanitizer or soap and hot water). This is very important
3. Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth
4. If exhibiting any symptoms (fever, cough and difficulty breathing) please inform staff immediately.

Thank You

Thank you to everyone who continues to be considerate and cooperative during these difficult times.  I’ve included a poem this week written about Dr. Bonnie Henry by our own Vancouver Island’s Phil Dwyer. Phil Dwyer is a Juno award-winning jazz musician who has also received the Order of Canada for his contributions to music and happens to be resident of Qualicum Beach.

She comes on the radio, just around 3

with the public health news for the folks of BC

and to talk of a crisis, of a scope yet unseen

with an ungainly moniker, Covid-19

From the start, at the top of her list of demands,

was we lather with soap and please wash off our hands,

and as things took a turn for the worse day by day,

that we keep friends and neighbours a good six feet away

She’s had lots of help in her search for a fix,

not the least of whom is Mr. Adrian Dix,

in the eyes of the public though, she’s been the one

that has been with us since this whole thing has begun,

As nurses and doctors proceed with their tasks,

and pray for enough ventilators and masks,

she asks us to all help and flatten the curve,

and that from her health policy we do not swerve,

If we all stick together and see this thing through

we can show what a civil society can do

when it’s faced with a threat that first seemed unreal

but that now, it is obvious, is the real deal

So please follow the guidelines that she has laid out

it is going to be worth it, of that there’s no doubt

and if you turn on your radio, just around 3

the voice that you hear is of Bonnie Henry.