Karen Biggs, Menno Place CEO speaks to Ashley Burr of City News Vancouver about the staff shortage that we face since the Single Site order in March, 2020. Click to go to the Twitter page with the CityNews video.

Summary:

• Care homes in BC are suffering major staff shortage
• 675 staff at Menno Place – lost 39 casuals when we went Single Site only – Menno Place has vacant positions
• The single site order ensures that staff do not work at other care homes and thereby increase the risk of infection throughout the care home sector
• Menno Place, like all care homes, is working “short” every week and this is a risk as there is nobody to cover a shift for staff who are sick or on vacation

“When you don’t have staff available (and there is a COVID-19 positive case), care can deteriorate very quickly.” – Karen Biggs

• The highest risk is that care can deteriorate rapidly if there aren’t enough staff available and a positive case of COVID-19 occurs in a care home.
• Care homes are looking to the hospitality industry to hire housekeepers and dietary staff – finding ways of taking out-of-work Canadians and putting them into valuable employment

Family and Friends Visits Survey

Thank you to everyone (192 people) who has filled out the Family and Friends Visits Survey. We are so appreciative of your input as we put together the safe visits process for visits to begin at Menno Home, Menno Hospital and Terrace East Assisted Living. Take a look at the results of the questions – CLICK HERE

Visit Update Video (scroll down for video)

Sharon Simpson has done a video (scroll down) explaining the process and answering the questions that you asked in that survey. At this time, we are awaiting the funding to hire three full-time equivalent positions to assist with the visits. We are planning to have spouses / partners as first priority to visit their loved one. There will only be one designated visitor in our first phase of visits. Each visitor will have infection control protocols to follow. Those are some of the same protocols that we require of our staff, including wearing a mask. Our staff, by the way, also change their clothing each shift to wear freshly laundered clothing when they arrive at work. They wear goggles, masks and gowns. They are doing an incredible job of staying safe and keeping your loved ones safe!

As you wait for the in-person, no-touch visits to begin, please take full advantage of the Zoom calls and the Messages of Love programs that we’ve set up to communicate with your loved one. Some of you commented that you just want to see your loved one to know that they are doing okay. You can use Zoom for this, even if your loved one is non-verbal or unable to communicate, you can see how they are in their room on that day. This has worked for others to help ease the anxiety of not knowing how they are doing.

Here are the links:

Book a Zoom Call with Menno Home resident

Book a Zoom Call with Menno Hospital resident

Send a Message of Love (will be printed and delivered – you may include photos)

Smile Masks

On the mask-front, we have exciting news that 20 “smile masks” are en-route to Menno Place. They have vinyl where the mouthpiece is so that lips can be seen. They are $10 per mask, non-medical grade and hand-washable – created by a speech therapist who knows the importance of lips being seen when communicating. They fog up, so there’s instructions to minimize fogging that come with the mask. Call Terrace East Reception to order a mask: 604.851.4004 (Claire Colvin). We have also ordered 50 medical-grade smile masks, but don’t anticpate that they will arrive until late summer.

A Cautious and Phased Approach

We are saddened to see that there are outbreaks at two long-term care homes in BC (Vancouver Holy Family Hospital and Maple Hill) and, once again, deaths of residents who live in those homes. This is sobering and we are reminded how grateful we are that we are COVID-19 free – a tremendous feat with over 700 seniors on the same campus. Let’s continue to be vigilant and thank you for your patience as we await the promised funding and hire staff to do our best to ensure that we will continue to be COVID-19 free. Menno Place is committed to a cautious and phased approach to re-opening visits.

July 10 – Visitor Policy Update

Frequently Asked Questions – Long Term Care Visits at Menno Home, Menno Hospital and Terrace East Assisted Living

What are the requirements for me to have social visits with my family member or friend who lives at Menno Home, Menno Hospital or Terrace East Assisted Living apartment?

Family/social visits are limited to a maximum of one family member or friend. In the initial phase of visiting, residents will be able to visit with one designated family member or friend. This guideline does not allow for alternate designated visitors at this time.

What will I be required to do in order to visit?

1. Be verified as the one designated visitor for your loved one for the initial phase of visits. This will be a resident’s spouse/partner if applicable. Otherwise, it will be the primary contact identified in the resident’s medical record. A spouse/partner will be prioritized for the first visits when we open the safe visitation program.
2. Book your visit in advance. Menno Place will have an online booking calendar that will allow you to choose a date and time that is suitable for you. If you are not able to go online, you will call our Reception desk to book your visit.
3. Follow all infection control protocols and processes:

• Do not visit if you are sick. This includes respiratory infection or gastrointestinal infection or symptoms of COVID-19.
• Identify yourself as the one designated visitor for this resident. You may be asked for photo ID and may have your photo taken.
• Participate in the active screening process. This involves a staff member asking you questions about COVID-19 symptoms and exposure. They may take your temperature. These are the Active Screening Questions:
  1. Do you have a fever?
  2. Do you have a new or worsening cough?
  3. New or worsening sneezing?
  4. New or worsening sore throat?
  5. New or worsening shortness of breath?
  6. New or worsening fatigue?
  7. New or worsening aches and pains?
  8. New or worsening headaches?
  9. New or worsening vomiting?
  10. New or worsening diarrhea?
  11. Have you travelled outside the Fraser Valley?

• Bring your own mask for the visit.
• Receive instruction on how to wear your mask and any other required personal protective equipment during your visit.
• Wash your hands with soap and water prior to your visit.
• Use respiratory etiquette for any coughing or sneezing (into your elbow).
• Do not touch your face.
• Enjoy your visit in the designated area only.
• A staff member will supervise your visit from a respectful distance to ensure compliance takes place and that no objects are passed between resident and visitor.
• Maintain a distance of at least 2 meters from your loved one and staff at all times. This is a no-touch visit.
• Comply with the visit ending at the agreed upon duration (30 minutes).
• Wash your hands after your visit.
• Book your next visit!

4. What details do you know about the visits?
   • Length: At this time, we are planning 45 minute blocks of time for visits. Visits will be 30 minutes long, allowing for the visiting location to be disinfected between visits.
   • Number of Visitors: One designated visitor only. There will not be an opportunity in this initial phase to alternate or have multiple visitors.
   • Frequency of Visits: This is to be determined based upon demand and staff capacity to facilitate visits. We are taking a cautious and phased approach in order to
   • Location: Visits will take place both indoors and outdoors.
   • Weekend/Evening Visits: This will be determined by the staff capacity to facilitate visits. We consider this important to enable visits for those visitors who are unable to visit during the week or daytime.
   • Items/Gifts/Objects: No items can be brought into the care homes or passed between resident and visitor. The essential deliveries only policy remains in place.
   • Mobility: If a resident has mobility challenges, the visit will be assessed individually and a visit will be accommodated.
   • Plexiglass/Barrier: This is still to be determined as we plan the visiting locations.
   • Cancelling a Visit: Through the online booking calendar, you may cancel a visit if you are not able to attend. You may also cancel by phoning the Receptionist. Menno Place may cancel visits due to poor weather, staffing needs or non-compliance with protocols.
5. How does COVID-19 impact social visits?
   • COVID-19 Symptoms or Exposure: Visitors who have COVID-19 symptoms, are in social isolation or have recently travelled will not be permitted to visit.
   • COVID-19 Outbreak: Social visits will only be allowed if there is no COVID-19 outbreak at the care home.
   • COVID-19 Second Wave: If there is a second wave of COVID-19, it is possible that visits will, once again, be restricted.

This memo was delivered to the Assisted Living Residents (Terrace East) on 15/04/20:

Assisted Living Resident Memo 15/04/20 – CLICK HERE