APARTMENTS DINING EXPERIENCE – UPDATE – NOVEMBER 25, 2021

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APARTMENTS DINING ROOM UPDATE – NOVEMBER 25, 2021

PAVILION – Residents in the Pavilion will begin having meals in the dining room on Monday, November 29, 2021. This will begin one floor at a time. A memo will be distributed tomorrow to the residents with details.

TERRACE WEST – Residents in Terrace West will begin having meals in the Terrace West Bistro on Monday, November 29, 2021. This will begin one floor at a time. A memo will be distributed tomorrow to the residents with details.

PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE WITH DINING EXPERIENCE

The Community Enrichment team will be meeting next week with our Infection Control Lead to discuss how we can improve the dining experience in the apartments while maintaining safety for residents.

Factors that we will consider are:

  1. The percentage of each apartment building that has 3 doses of COVID vaccine.
  2. The percentage of unvaccinated residents in the apartment building.
  3. The prevalence of COVID in the community, particularly in the churches. COVID in our Apartments has been traced back to church events.
  4. The installation of air-scrubbers to mitigate the possibility of airborne transmission.
  5. The social needs of the residents and the risks residents are willing to take.
  6. Commitment of the residents to vigilance with layers of safety from COVID.
  7. Creative ways that we can bring groups of residents together – similar to a restaurant environment.

As you know, we saw in the Terrace East Outbreak how very quickly COVID can spread. It was clear to us and to Fraser Health that the dining rooms were high risk environments for the residents of the Apartments. We continue to grieve the loss of life that happened as a result of that COVID outbreak.

We are very cognizant of the staff resources required to manage an outbreak and keep the rest of the seniors who live in the apartment safe. We developed cohorted teams of staff, moving 4 staff full-time to cohort in Terrace West and then in Pavilion. In order to allocate these staff to one building, we had to hire coverage for the other work that they did previously. All of this takes logistics and management. The demands and the responsibilities are heavy for the leadership. We continue to feel the impact of our Manager of Community Enrichment resigning her position after working 28 straight days during the Terrace East outbreak.

Our team will meet with hopefulness and understanding of the desire that residents have to “go back to normal”. We share that desire.

Thank you for your patience as we carefully plan for safe and meaningful dining experiences for those who call Menno Apartments their home. We will continue to keep you informed about these decisions. We will send out a memo about this to residents tomorrow.

Please send any input you have to Leonard.Klassen@MennoPlace.ca (Life Enrichment Coordinator).

PAVILION FLU SHOT CLINIC – NOVEMBER 23

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Memo will be delivered on Monday, November 20

PAVILION FLU SHOT CLINIC – November 23

Dear Residents,

The flu shot will be available on Tuesday, November 23rd for all Pavilion residents who would like to have one.  We will come to your apartment suite to get you. The clinic will take place in the dining room.

These times are estimated:

  • 9:30am – 1st floor
  • 10 am – 2nd floor
  • 11 am – 3rd floor

Here’s what you need to do to get your flu shot:

  • Wear a short-sleeved shirt.
  • Have photo ID ready to show.
  • Wait in your apartment. Staff will come and get you when it’s time to come down to the dining room to get your shot.
  • We will start at 9:30am and expect the clinic to run throughout the day.
  • When you get to the clinic we’ll have a consent form ready for you to sign.

If you do not want to get a flu shot, just let the staff member know when they come to your door.

Thank you for being patient with us as we get these vaccinations done!

PAVILION RESIDENTS: OFF ENHANCED MONITORING! – November 20, 2021

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COVID UPDATE – November 20, 2021 – Pavilion OFF Enhanced Monitoring

We are pleased to announce that Pavilion has been declared OFF Enhanced Monitoring by Public Health.

Residents may return to normal activities, including having social vaccinated visitors, going out for activities and visiting with each other.

As always, our lives now have layers of safety to protect ourselves from getting COVID:

  1. Wear a mask in all common areas of Pavilion and anywhere in the public including when you go to church
  2. Follow Public Health Orders, including the specific orders for Fraser Valley East: CLICK TO READ
  3. Exercise caution when you are visiting with people outside of your immediate bubble – wear a mask, stay 6 feet apart, use hand sanitizer
  4. Hand hygiene – carry hand sanitizer with you and use it every time you touch a “common” area such as elevator buttons, hand railings, door knobs, grocery cart
  5. Social distance – we continue to use the 6 foot distance to protect ourselves from the unintended droplets that are imperceptible from others when they speak, etc.  – Remember that some people without symptoms may be able to spread virus. Stay at least 6 feet (about 2 arm lengths) from other people. Keeping distance from others is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick.

We will provide information to you about returning to the dining room next week.

If you are fully vaccinated PLUS have the booster shot do you need to practice layers of safety? Yes. This is a time to be cautious as the prevalence of COVID is high in our community. There are several churches in Abbotsford that unintentionally became a place of COVID spread. You can read about Clearbrook MB Church’s experience here – READ HERE

As an elderly person, your risks for severe illness with COVID-19 are higher. If you have other health issues, this compounds the risk for you. With vaccination and a medical mask covering nose and mouth (available in the foyer), you have effective layers of protection to keep you safe when you are among others.

Should you wash the medical masks and re-use them? No. These masks are intended for single-use. They are provided to you at no cost through Menno Place. It is more important to protect yourself than to save money. If you wash them, you reduce their effectiveness and increase your risk of contracting COVID.

Thanks for all you do to keep yourself and others safe!

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NEW COVID POSITIVE CASES = 0

TOTAL COVID POSITIVE CASES = 2 (2 residents PAVILION | 0 staff)

MOST RECENT COVID CASE = November 4, 2021

TERRACE EAST – FLU SHOT CLINIC ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2021

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Memo delivered to TE residents:

TERRACE EAST FLU SHOT CLINIC

Dear Residents,

The flu shot will be available on Thursday, November 18th for all Terrace East residents who would like to have one. The shots will be given in the dining room.

Here’s what you need to do to get your flu shot:

  • Wear a short-sleeved shirt.
  • Bring your photo ID with you.
  • Wait in your apartment. Staff will come and get you when it’s time to come down to the dining room to get your shot.
  • We will start at 9:30am and expect the clinic to run throughout the day.
  • When you get to the clinic we’ll have a consent form ready for you to sign.

If you do not want to get a flu shot, just let the staff member know when they come to your door.

Lunch will be served to all residents in their apartments on Thursday. Thank you for being patient with us as we get these vaccinations done!

Menno Place and the Abbotsford State of Emergency – November 17, 2021

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November 17, 2021 – Update re: State of Emergency in Abbotsford and Menno Place

Menno Place and our residents are safe with no risk of flooding in our buildings.

We have no break in our supply lines.

Some staff who live in other communities such as Mission or Chilliwack have been stranded. Some are staying at Menno Place in guest suites or with friends.
There is currently a huge fire at Fraserway RV on the north side of the Sumas Prairie. Toxic smoke is blowing west, but not toward Menno Place at this time. All windows to be kept closed.
We will continue you to update you if information changes. At this time, we are grateful that all are safe and that we can continue as normal in our service of the residents.

November 15, 2021 – PAVILION (IL) COVID EXPOSURE – No new COVID positives

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COVID UPDATE – November 15, 2021 – Pavilion COVID exposure

NEW COVID POSITIVE CASES = 0

TOTAL COVID POSITIVE CASES = 2 (2 residents PAVILION | 0 staff)

MOST RECENT COVID CASE = November 4, 2021

Public Health had a meeting with the Medical Health Officer today to let us know that:

  1. Pavilion will continue on Enhanced Monitoring until Nov. 19th at midnight – this date will change if there are any new symptomatic or positive residents
  2. We will continue with enhanced cleaning, PPE audits, cohorting our staff to only Pavilion, 2x daily wellness checks and screening incoming visitors
  3. The dining room will be opened on a new schedule AFTER November 19th – details to be announced
  4. All residents in suites 201-214 are off droplet precautions! Isolation carts will be removed
  5. Social visits are allowed again for fully vaccinated visitors
  6. We do not need to do another point prevalence testing (PPT) for all residents and staff (YAY!)
  7. Our team will continue daily calls with Public Health to report the monitoring that we are doing for symptoms and the results of our audits

As we move forward through the winter season, we now have a much clearer picture of how a COVID outbreak or COVID Enhanced Cleaning impacts the lives of residents in the apartments. In this case, the first COVID positive in Pavilion was reported on October 22, 2021. This is a full month ago. Every life of every resident was impacted and all of the staff were pulled together to provide the required support. As you connect with your loved one, please emphasize the vigilance that is needed to protect their lives and the lives of everyone who shares their apartment building home. This includes mask wearing when they are with anyone who is not a VERY close and trusted person in their life; using hand sanitizer at every touch point like doors, elevator buttons and railings; avoiding situations where others are not practicing all the layers of protection (a church environment where people are unmasked); and practicing social distancing of 6 feet from others.

We are grateful that there has been no loss of life in this Pavilion COVID Exposure. We are grateful that COVID didn’t spread widely through the apartment building as it has in other settings. We are grateful for the dedicated staff who work tirelessly in a COVID exposure environment to protect those who live in the apartment building.

We thank you all for your support and cooperation. A month is a very long time to live with restrictions. We are grateful that we didn’t have greater transmission which would have escalated this exposure to an outbreak. An outbreak requires most, if not all, of the residents to be isolated for a minimum of 2 weeks. Some of the residents in Pavilion and Terrace West experienced this extended isolation and it is extremely difficult.

Thank you for all you are doing to help your loved one stay safe – and to the residents for the efforts they are making to avoid situations that could expose them to COVID.

Contact Dan Janzen at 604-851-1350 with any questions.

PAVILION RESIDENTS: COVID Booster Shots (3rd dose) Wednesday, November 10th

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Dear Residents, we have a last minute important update for you.

Fraser Health will be on campus on Wednesday, November 10 to give a third COVID vaccine shot (a booster) to all Pavilion residents who want one. We are grateful that we have been rescheduled so quickly.

Here’s what you need to do:

  • Wear a short-sleeved top on Wednesday.
  • Wait in your apartment. The immunization team will be going door-to-door and will come to your apartment to offer you the booster. We anticipate starting the clinic in the morning and expect it could take a good portion of the day.
  • Have your photo ID ready. We will have the form ready for you to sign as we come to your apartment.
  • We ask that you either have a chair available to put in your doorway, or use your walker to sit on. You will be asked to sit in your doorway/hallway for 15 minutes after your booster shot for observation.

Thank you for your patience as we make these arrangements. We are striving to make this as simple and efficient for you as possible.

If you do not want to get a booster shot, just let staff know when they come to your door.

If you have not received your first or second COVID vaccine dose yet, you can get it on Wednesday, just let the staff know when they come to your door.

If you have any questions please call Trish Giesbrecht, Interim Nurse Manager at
604-851-4020.

Independent Living (IL) Apartments Information: What to expect if you’re on self-isolation

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The following is a memo detailing what to expect if you’re ever placed on droplet precautions (self-isolation).

We want to share the information so you have an idea of what is involved when you hear that someone has been placed on droplet precautions. Thank you for your ongoing support and commitment to staying safe.

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What to Expect while on Self-Isolation for any Apartment Resident on Droplet Precautions:

 

We have placed you on droplet precaution. Reasons for this include having COVID symptoms, testing positive for COVID, being considered a close contact of someone who tested positive, or public health requiring you to self-isolate. We have placed an isolation cart outside your door with personal protective equipment for anyone who is required to enter your suite.

We directly communicate this with you. We encourage you and your primary contact to be in touch with any specific questions or comments.

You must remain in your suite while on droplet precautions. You can request an essential visitor to support you during this time. Please cancel all non-essential appointments. Do not leave your suite to do laundry or take out garbage. Do not have anyone socially visit you in your suite. Do not come out into the hallway. You must stay in your suite. We will deliver your meals to you.

We have arranged for 2 wellness checks daily; one will be when we deliver the meal and another one will be a telephone call. In the event you ill are feeling very unwell, do not hesitate to call 911 for help.

You will remain on droplet precautions UNTIL we hear from public health.

The length of time varies. For example, if you test positive for COVID, it is typically 14 days. If you are placed on droplet precautions due to a building outbreak, the time varies and is determined by public health. We will update you as soon as we have any information for you. You must stay in your suite until you have been told you no longer are required to do so. At that time, we will remove the isolation cart from outside your door.

November 7, 2021 – PAVILION (IL) COVID EXPOSURE – New COVID positive =0 (T=2)

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COVID UPDATE – November 7, 2021 – Pavilion COVID exposure

NEW COVID POSITIVE CASES = 0

TOTAL COVID POSITIVE CASES = 2 (2 residents PAVILION | 0 staff)

MOST RECENT COVID CASE = November 4, 2021

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The following memo was distributed to Pavilion residents on Sunday afternoon, Nov 7:

Pavilion residents will be tested for COVID this Tuesday, November 9th

Testing will take place between 2:30-4:00pm.

Public health has informed us that ALL Pavilion residents need to be tested for COVID. Please ensure that you are in your suites on Tuesday afternoon.

Beginning at approximately 2:30pm, a mobile testing team will go door-to-door in the building and test you for COVID. A Menno Place staff member will accompany the team as they come to your door to test you. Please wait in your suite.

You will have 2 options for how to get tested.

  • One option is a nasal swab.
  • The other option is a gargle test (see attached for more details). In order to have the gargle test, you must not eat or drink anything for at least 1 hour before your test.

Results are typically available within 24-48 hours. Results will determine next steps.

It is imperative that you get tested. The entire building is impacted by this public health order. (If you aren’t home on Tuesday afternoon, you need to make arrangements to go to the community testing centre and get tested on Tuesday.)

As a reminder, all the details from yesterday’s memo about enhanced monitoring still apply. But to be very clear, if you are on droplet precautions, you MUST stay in your suite. This is communicated to you directly by Menno Place staff. An isolation cart is placed at your door. Please note that public health has placed Suites 201-214 on droplet precautions effective immediately.

Contact Dan Janzen at 604-851-1350 with any questions.

Thank you.

November 6, 2021 – PAVILION (IL) COVID EXPOSURE – New COVID positive =0 (T=2)

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COVID UPDATE – November 6, 2021 – Pavilion COVID exposure

NEW COVID POSITIVE CASES = 0

TOTAL COVID POSITIVE CASES = 2 (2 residents PAVILION | 0 staff)

MOST RECENT COVID CASE = November 4, 2021

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On Thursday, Nov 4 we were notified of a second COVID positive resident in Pavilion. As a result, Public Health is investigating and contact tracing, and we are awaiting details on next steps for Pavilion residents. To improve communication, we are working on preparing an information sheet in terms of what to expect for anyone who tests positive for COVID.

We will communicate updates as we are able to when we get the information from Public Health. Here is an update of what we know at this moment.

COVID Testing for ALL residents. Public Health has asked us to prepare to have all Pavilion residents tested for COVID. We are awaiting the details as to WHEN this will happen. We have requested a mobile testing team to come onsite to do the testing. We will let you know when we have the date.

Booster Shot Clinic scheduled for Monday, Nov 8th is POSTPONED. The reason for the delay is that the booster shots (3rd dose) can impact testing results. We are advocating to have this rescheduled as soon as possible.

Pavilion continues on Enhanced Monitoring. As a reminder, here are some of the requirements during this time for ALL residents of Pavilion:

  • Meals will be delivered to your suites
  • All group activities are cancelled
  • Residents are NOT to visit in each other’s suites, or in common areas
  • Daily wellness checks – please report ANY symptoms
  • Residents are asked by public health to avoid public spaces that would make contact tracing difficult until after the testing has been completed – you are considered to have been exposed to COVID and should minimize your interactions with others while you await test results
  • Laundry room is limited to 3 people at a time – please wipe down equipment

As a reminder, only fully vaccinated visitors are allowed into the building. Please only have visitors if it is necessary – this is not the time to socialize.

Please continue to exercise vigilance in your layers of protection – mask wearing over nose and mouth; checking for symptoms each day; using hand sanitizer frequently – after you touch a surface someone else may have touched (elevator button, railing, door handle); wash your hands with warm, soapy water frequently, keeping social distance.

We are also informing you that the Menno Place staff lead for Pavilion during this time is Dan Janzen. His number is 604-851-1350. Please contact him with questions.

Thank you for doing your part to get us through this time. We will share further details as we have them.