Good Afternoon,

We celebrate the discharge of the last known Covid-19 patient from hospital in the Island Health Authority last week; amazing news!  No one on site, including staff, are presenting with any Covid-19 symptoms. Selkirk continues to follow all directions from by the Provincial Public Health Officer, including the restricting all visitors. We understand your eagerness to come and visit your loved ones but we must follow the directions given.  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.

We have received many enquiries regarding the hair salon and when it will resume operation. Currently there isn’t a timeline of when it will reopen. With seniors being in the highest risk grouping for COVID-19, Selkirk is following all precautions and recommendations from the health authority and the Medical Health Officer to the letter and there hasn’t been any changes yet allowing their return to the building.

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 admitted to hospital, 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

UPDATE Deliveries for Complex Care:

In order to keep our residents safe, it has been communicated to families that Complex Care is only accepting deliveries of the very essential items (briefs, cigarettes, hygiene items not supplied by facility, etc.). This is due to the risk that Covid-19 could be transported into the facility on a delivered item. Currently, all delivered essential items are stored for 48 hours before they are delivered to the unit to ensure these items are not a conduit for Covid-19 spread.

We would like to remind families that on your loved ones birthday, our recreation team provides them with cake, and we have regular birthday celebrations here in our community. Families can contact recreation to set up FaceTime and/or Skype calls so you and your loved one can celebrate together.

Many families have requested to drop off non-essential items such as gifts or food. We have heard you, and have come up with a process that will keep the residents safe, yet allow them to feel the love and connection receiving a gift from a loved one brings. This process will allow small deliveries of non-essential items to our residents and ensure their continued safety while allowing the volume of items delivered to be kept at a manageable level for our staff.  Please see the process below:

Process

• Please keep amount of items per drop off limited (2 items / small grocery bag)
• 48 hour hold on all items to ensure the item is not a conduit for Covid-19 spread
• Food cannot be homemade (must come from a certified food safe kitchen as per licencing requirements)
• Food deliveries must be either

• Non-perishable
• Take out single serving delivered by service [skip the dishes etc.]
• Food from reputable food delivery service is the only exception for the 48 hour hold on items as this service is trained and regulated in strict infection control practices

• Non-essential item drop off to occur only on designated unit day

(Exceptions only on special occasions – Birthdays, Anniversaries, Etc.)

• Sunday – Aston
• Monday – Bolton
• Tuesday – Crofton
• Wednesday – Dayton
• Thursday – Eaton
• Friday – Fenton
• Saturday – Gladston

If you have any questions regarding this new non-essential item drop off structure, please reach out before you come to the facility with a delivery to Marta our Social Worker (ext.1158) or RN (1177) after hours.

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.  Stay safe, stay kind, and have a good week.