Dear Families,

We hope you are all staying safe and healthy!

NO RESIDENTS are presenting COVID-19 signs or symptoms at The Wellesley. However, we recognize that this is an anxious time for you and your families, and we hope that by sending out bi-weekly updates, we can provide some reassurance to you on the care of your loved-one.

Should the status of this community change in any respect, please know that we will immediately contact families.

Protocols

We are following the direction of our public health officials, and have infection prevention and control precautions in place. Staff continue to monitor residents closely and are ensuring the following protocols are being implemented:

• restricting all visitors from the premises
• ensuring no staff member is working in multiple healthcare facilities
• staff are screened for symptoms and have temperature checked upon entrance to the building
• social distancing is occurring among residents
• Appropriate application and removal of personal protective equipment (PPE), and the use of individual slings (cloth component of a personal lift).
• ensuring ongoing, environmental cleaning and increased frequency of high touch surfaces
• Staff and residents are committed to regular/proper hand hygiene, by washing their hands with soap and water and/or applying hand sanitizer.

DELIVERIES:

All deliveries will be received at the front desk. This includes groceries, medications, gifts. All will be sanitized and delivered directly to the resident’s suites.

Dropping items off: please follow these guidelines as I am sure you want your parent or loved-one to get their deliveries in a timely manner.

1. Please use plastic bags, no reusable bags
2. Make sure to label all bags with resident full name and room number
3. Try to limit drop offs to essential items. There are days when staff are overwhelmed trying to keep up

Assisted Living Building/Dining Room

We are currently delivering all meals to individuals in their rooms. For lunch this delivery starts at approximately 11:15 and for dinner at 4:15. Our servers will be wearing gloves and a mask. After delivery of meals, they will then be calling the residents to ask what they would like for the next day and all will be given to the kitchen.

Independent Living Building/Dining Room

We have social distanced the main dining room as well as making use of the Dogwood Room. The tables are of 2s now and all odd suites eat their dinner at 4:30 and all even suites eat at 5:30. Although we understand this may not be the most ideal time, we hope you can understand the need to social distance everyone at this time. The other option would be to close the dining altogether, and have tray delivery. We are hopeful you will be patient with our servers at this time.

General Store

We continue to have a good inventory within our General Store. However, we now have to limit requests we are receiving. It has become difficult for staff to fill every item that has been requested. Most common items requested by residents are stock

Activities & Recreation Department

We have been increasing one on one visits and afternoon socializing which includes walks in the garden or around the building. We can arrange skype calls as well so please call  250-419-6804. The phone tree has been a great success with resident council members and floor representatives that we are expanding that to our leadership team making calls as well

 NexGen Hearing Aid – Cleaning Service

Mike from NexGen will be here on Monday, April 27^th at 9:30 to pick up hearing aids that need to be cleaned. We have given all residents a form and instructions. Sharon will sanitize and label all hearing aids to give to NexGen to clean. They will be returned same day. Sanitized and hand-delivered to residents. If your family member needs assistance please reach out to Sharon Unsworth at 250-514-5114 or sunsworth@retirementconcepts.com

 Messaging to discuss with your Loved Ones

Again, the following four points are so critical to discuss with your loved ones. Please help us by reminding each resident daily of the following four items:

1. Practice social 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 great is so important
3. Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth
4. If they are exhibiting any symptoms to please stay in their room and to call the front desk for immediate assistance

We just want to encourage everyone to hold to the measures put in place during this time. Again, thank you for all your support during this challenging time for the residents, staff and family and friends.

Team Wellesley