Memo from Fraser Health – Terrace West (IL) Outbreak

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September 23, 2021

Dear Families of Menno Terrace West – IL,

We are writing to notify you that someone at Menno Terrace West – IL was diagnosed with COVID-19. The Fraser Health COVID -19 team is working with the staff at the facility to identify anyone who may have been exposed and to take steps to protect the health of all residents and staff.

This exposure does not mean that your family member is sick with COVID-19. Residents and staff will be screened twice-daily for any signs of illness. Those who develop symptoms will be isolated, tested for COVID-19 and provided the care they need.

The health and safety of our residents and staff is our first priority and a responsibility we take very seriously. To date, as part of our proactive management, Fraser Health has worked to ensure the following measures are in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at this care home:

  • ensuring that staff wear a procedure mask that covers their mouth and nose, eye protection and other personal protective equipment as recommended;
  • enhancing our daily cleaning practices;
  • maintenance of 2m of physical distance in dining rooms, staggered meal times, tray service or other strategies
  • cancellation of group activites and client gatherings, while providing one-to-one activity as appropriate;
  • visitor access restrictions and screening measures for essential visitors.

Additional measures being taken now that there has been a positive case identified include:

  • providing active staff screeners deployed by Fraser Health to support site to screen all staff
  • providing ongoing staff education by Fraser Health and facility based staff
  • priority access to necessary supplies such as masks, eye protection and gowns
  • grouping of staff and residents to prevent cross over between well and sick individuals

Your loved one may be required to isolate based on their exposure and COVID-19 vaccination status. We know that staying away form your loved one is very difficult and we appreciate your cooperation with the goal of keeping residents, staff and medical staff healthy.

Our staff will continue to provide care and services to our residents to enhance their safety and well-being while maintaining routines where it is safe to do so. We will also keep you up-to-date on any changes related to your family member’s health status.

For general information about COVID-19, call 811, or visit HealthLinkBC: https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/health-feature/coronavirus-covid-19.

If you have further questions, please contact Cheryl Dawes, Manager, Community Enrichment, 604.851.4020

September 23, 2021 – Menno Home W2 – OFF Enhanced Monitoring!!!!

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COVID UPDATE – September 23, 2021 – Menno Home W2 Off Enhanced Monitoring!

We are so pleased to bring you the announcement today that the Medical Health Officer has called Menno Home W2 off Enhanced Monitoring – all visits, activities and resident movement returns to normal!

We welcome you back to visit your loved one!

Although the fully vaccinated visitors is allowed to take off their mask when alone with their loved one, we are asking that you exercise caution and do not do so. As you know, a COVID exposure on a unit puts all residents into isolation in their rooms until the Medical Health Officer is assured that COVID will not be transmitted. As COVID continues to grow in prevalence in our community, the possibility of being asymptomatic and COVID positive increases – even for the fully vaccinated.

We are asking you to continue to provide the safest visits for your loved one and their neighbours by keeping your ask on throughout your time in all of our buildings.

See you soon!

September 23, 2021 – TERRACE EAST OUTBREAK/ TERRACE WEST EXPOSURE – New COVID positive = 0 (T=9)

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COVID UPDATE – September 23, 2021 – Terrace East Outbreak / Terrace West Outbreak

NEW COVID POSITIVE CASES = 0

TOTAL COVID POSITIVE CASES = 9 (8 residents TE / 1 resident TW | 0 staff)

PASSED AWAY TODAY: 0 (T=1 resident TE)

We are sorry to report that Terrace West is now on OUTBREAK. As per the Medical Health Officer’s recommendation, Public Health has now placed Menno Terrace West (Independent Living) on outbreak. We will know more tomorrow how families can support their loved one while on outbreak. Fraser Health will be providing staff for additional support in the apartment building. Please pray for the residents of Terrace East who are on their 11th day of isolation. Please pray for the residents of Terrace West as they, too, begin their time on isolation. Please pray for the staff as they navigate not only the infection control protocols at work, but also in their own homes and lives.

We are waiting for four resident’s swabs to come back from the PPT testing that was done in Terrace East on Sept. 21st. All received so far are negative! The same is true for the staff PPT results. These come more slowly as the results are reported through a different process. So far, also all negative!

What do Outbreak precautions entail?

No social visitors in Terrace West

Enhanced cleaning throughout

Meals provided to the tenants apartment suites

No gathering together, no dining together, no group activities

2 meter distancing to be maintained as much as possible

Staff cohorted to one building or one floor if possible

Restricted movement of staff and residents

Daily symptom checks for all residents

Signage placed at entrance to indicate Outbreak

Symptomatic residents will be tested and isolated – twice daily COVID symptom checks

Isolation carts with PPE outside symptomatic, COVID positive or isolation resident’s apartment suites

Staff actively symptom monitoring at start of shift by screener and self-monitoring

Symptomatic staff remain at home until tests results are received and they are cleared to return to work

Follow up guidance daily by Public Health and the Medical Health Officer. Additional liaison supports provided to Menno Place.

 

 

 

September 22, 2021 – MENNO HOME E1 – 3 addtional residents have passed away

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HOME E1 UPDATE – September 22, 2021

We are sad to report that 3 residents from Menno Home E1 Chalet have passed away since the outbreak has been called off on September 18th and one is palliative. There were also 2 residents who passed away during the outbreak and 1 just prior to the outbreak. We extend our condolences to all who are grieving the loss of their loved one. This is very difficult for the staff who love and care for the residents who live in Menno Home E1. Please be prayerful for the families and staff  who are grieving the loss of these residents.

September 22, 2021 – TERRACE EAST OUTBREAK/ TERRACE WEST EXPOSURE – New COVID positive = 1 (T=9)

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COVID UPDATE – September 22, 2021 – Terrace East Outbreak / Terrace West Exposure

NEW COVID POSITIVE CASES = 1 – TERRACE WEST 

TOTAL COVID POSITIVE CASES = 9 (8 residents TE / 1 resident TW | 0 staff)

PASSED AWAY TODAY: 1 (T=1 resident TE)

We are sorry to report that one resident from Terrace East(TE) has succumbed to COVID-19. Our condolences are with the family who will miss their loved one. In addition, we are sad to report that there is 1 positive COVID resident in Terrace West (TW). We have connected with the Public Health Officer who has ordered that the meals be delivered to residents in Terrace West. Several residents who were identified in contact tracing were tested for COVID. Families have been informed.

Yesterday, all residents and staff  in Terrace East were swabbed in our 2nd point prevalence testing. CLICK HERE to learn more about what Point Prevalence Testing is and why it is used in a health care facility. There are no positive COVID results from the ones that have being reported to us. Not all results are in.

There are several residents who are still in hospital as the disease has progressed. Please pray for these residents that they would feel the presence of God as they are living with the impact of COVID.

We will have more information about visits to Terrace West tomorrow after we speak with Public Health.

If you are supporting a loved one in Terrace West or one of our other apartment buildings, please raise the level of protection for your loved one by using all layers of protection –  hand hygiene, fewer visitors, mask wearing at all times, vaccination. Please ask your own loved ones about any mild symptoms they may be experiencing – CLICK HERE FOR SYMPTOM LIST.

September 21, 2021 – TERRACE EAST OUTBREAK – New COVID positive = 0 (T=8)

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COVID UPDATE – September 21, 2021 – Terrace East Outbreak

NEW COVID POSITIVE CASES = 0

TOTAL COVID POSITIVE CASES = 8 (8 residents | 0 staff)

There are no new COVID positive residents to report today. All residents and staff are being swabbed in our 2nd point prevalence testing. CLICK HERE to learn more about what Point Prevalence Testing is and why it is used in a health care facility.

Most of the COVID positive residents are managing with relatively mild symptoms. Unfortunately, several have gone to hospital as the disease has progressed. Families are aware. Please be praying for these residents and their families as they navigate these difficult times. We continue to recognize that the elderly are the most vulnerable, even with the layer of vaccination protection.

As Terrace East and West are connected with a shared dining room, we have also been carefully watching for any symptoms among the Terrace West residents. Please ask your own loved ones about any mild symptoms they may be experiencing – CLICK HERE FOR SYMPTOM LIST.

Thank you for your support as we are vigilant about the protocols that need to be in place as we support the residents who live in Terrace East. If you are supporting a loved one in Terrace West or one of our other apartment buildings, please raise the level of protection for your loved one by using all layers of protection –  hand hygiene, fewer visitors, mask wearing at all times, vaccination.

The Apartments – Going or Returning from Hospital – UPDATED Sept. 21/21

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Updated Instructions for Residents Going to Hospital or Returning from Hospital

Going to Hospital?

Call Reception to let them know that you are taking your loved one to the Hospital. Leave a message after hours: 604.851.4000

Coming Home from Hospital?

Call Menno Place to inform us of a return from a short (ER) or long (admitted) hospital stay: 604.851.4000 to let us know (see instructions for swabbing, below)

UNVACCINATED RESIDENT

MUST  have a COVID swab with negative result before returning from a hospital stay: Emergency Room or Admitted to Hospital)

FULLY VACCINATED RESIDENT

If you were swabbed for COVID at the hospital:

Isolate until you have the results and inform us of the results of your test.

If you were NOT swabbed for COVID at the hospital:

Isolate and contact us (604.851.4000) and we’ll do a rapid test for COVID. If the rapid test is positive, we will do a COVID swab test.

Leave a message and isolate if there is no answer. We’ll test you Monday – Friday. If you are able, please go to the COVID testing site for an immediate swab.

All COVID positive residents must isolate and receive direction from Public Health.

An updated poster will be put up on every door in the Apartments:

 

September 20, 2021 – TERRACE EAST OUTBREAK – New COVID positive = 1 resident (T=8)

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COVID UPDATE – September 20, 2021 – Terrace East Outbreak

NEW COVID POSITIVE CASES = 1 

TOTAL COVID POSITIVE CASES = 8 (8 residents | 0 staff)

We are sad to report an additional COVID positive resident in Terrace East today. Most of the COVID positive residents are managing with relatively mild symptoms. Unfortunately, several have gone to hospital as the disease has progressed. Families are aware. Please be praying for these residents and their families as they navigate these difficult times. We continue to recognize that the elderly are the most vulnerable, even with the layer of vaccination protection.

As Terrace East and West are connected with a shared dining room, we have also been carefully watching for any symptoms among the Terrace West residents. Please ask your own loved ones about any mild symptoms they may be experiencing – CLICK HERE FOR SYMPTOM LIST. Although several Terrace West residents have been swabbed, none are positive. We are thankful for this.

Thank you for your support as we are vigilant about the protocols that need to be in place as we support the residents who live in Terrace East. If you are supporting a loved one in Terrace West or one of our other apartment buildings, please raise the level of protection for your loved one by using all layers of protection –  hand hygiene, fewer visitors, mask wearing at all times, vaccination.

September 18, 2021 – MENNO HOME UPDATE

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Menno Home Updates

There will not be daily updates for Menno Home unless there is a change.
W2 Home will remain on Enhanced Monitoring until the Medical Health Officer deems that it is safe to go to routine infection control protocols. At this time, we are expecting that if there are no further COVID cases or symptomatic residents/staff this will happen by September 27th.

September 18, 2021 – TERRACE EAST OUTBREAK – New COVID positive = 1 resident (T=7)

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COVID UPDATE – September 18, 2021 – Terrace East Outbreak

NEW COVID POSITIVE CASES = 1 

TOTAL COVID POSITIVE CASES = 7 (7 residents | 0 staff)

We are sad to report an additional COVID positive resident in Terrace East. We continue to put into place all the infection control protocols that are required to keep residents and staff safe. These include enhanced cleaning, hand hygiene audits and personal protection equipment audits.

All residents of Terrace East remain on isolation in their apartment suites. This is the safest place for residents is to be in their apartment suite.

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Essential Grocery Delivery: We are pleased to open up grocery delivery to three days/week: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 1pm – 5pm. Please only deliver at the end of the day if you are unable to come earlier. Our Visitation Hosts will deliver the groceries to your loved one before 6pm when their shift is finished.

Television Announcements: John Dyck (Chaplain) and Leonard Klassen (Life Enrichment Coordinator) are now providing updates on the Channel 10 television station on Fridays at 11am. There will be a second time-frame, but it has not, yet, been scheduled. This will keep your loved ones in the loop about what is current at Menno Place and in their apartment as it relates to COVID. If there is a question that they would like answered, the resident or loved one can phone Leonard Klassen with the question: 604.851.4006 or email him: Leonard.Klassen@Mennoplace.ca