COVID UPDATE – APRIL 17 – TERRACE EAST AND TERRACE WEST – MEMO

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This memo was handed out to the residents of Terrace East and Terrace West on April 16, 2021

Dear Residents of Terrace East & Terrace West,

We were notified this morning that a staff member in Terrace East has tested positive for COVID. Because East and West share a dining room the Public Health Office has ordered a two week isolation for both Terrace East and Terrace West.

The following rules are in place from Friday April 16 – Saturday May 1:

  1. All residents must remain in their suites at all times. You are not permitted to walk the halls or go outside.
  2. The dining room is closed. All meals will be served in your suite.
  3. All recreation activities are cancelled. Recreation programming on
    Channel 10 will continue.
  4. Grocery delivery will resume. Your loved ones can drop off essential groceries and laundry from 9-11am, seven days a week.
  5. All visits to Terrace East residents have been cancelled.
  6. Registered Visitors are NOT permitted inside Terrace West during this time.
  7. All medical appointments will need to be rescheduled. If you have an urgent appointment please call the LPN for direction: 604 615-7652

If you have any questions please phone Claire at Reception: 604 851-4004.

Thank you for working with us to keep everyone safe. We understand how hard it is to be in isolation, especially in such nice weather. We hope to be able to get back to normal as soon as possible.
Cheryl Dawes
Manager of Community Enrichment

April 7, 2020

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April 7, 2020

Thank you for your continued love and support of your loved ones living in Primrose Gardens, Terrace West and Pavilion. As you know, Cottage Worthington which is 1.6 kms from Menno Place has COVID-19 in their building. We are working with you through the Registered Visitor Program to reduce the risk of COVID-19 entering our apartments. Thank you for your commitment to the agreement that you signed when you joined this program – Click Here

There have been a number of questions since our previous email. Here are some answers:

1. Can we have a birthday party outside with our loved one if we are all 6ft away from each other? OR Can we visit in the lobby of the building but far away from each other? OR Can we visit on the patio if we are 6 ft away from each other?
No. Your loved one is safest in their apartment. Those over 80 have a 1/5 chance of dying (higher if they are diabetic, heart condition, cancer, etc.) from coronavirus. Do everything in your capcity to avoid unsafe interactions.
What about yourself? Most children who are supporting their loved ones are between 55 and 75. You are also at risk.
Over 55? 1/77 will not survive – Over 60? 1/28 will not survive – Over 70? 1/12 will not survive
*Source: https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus
The  BC Public Health Officer is telling us ALL to STAY IN. Now is NOT the time to have a birthday party in person. Put together a group phone call or recording to celebrate a special birthday.

2. Should I do my loved one’s laundry?
Yes. Every time your loved one leaves their apartment to run an errand such as taking out the garbage, getting the mail or doing their laundry, they are exposed to risk of touching a surface or meeting someone asymptomatic or breathing aerosolized coronavirus. Minimize the risk to those who you love who do not have the same chance of survival as you do.

3. Can I continue to have Rexall Pharmacy deliver medications?
Yes. Rexall’s storefront in the Pavilion building is not open to walk-ups, but their delivery of medications continues. We prefer that you use Rexall if you are just starting the medication delivery process. This limits the number of med deliveries into our buildings.

4. Does Menno Place supply masks for the Registered Visitor and the resident?
No. You will need to supply your own mask. Yesterday, Canada’s chief public health officer, Dr. Theresa Tam said that wearing a non-medical mask will help you to not transmit COVID-19 unknowingly if you have no symptoms. This is a good thing for residents and we ask you to comply. A non-medical mask can be a bandana, scarf or balaclava.

5. How many times can you come to see your loved one?
The only reason you will come more than once / week is for personal hygiene for the resident. It is an expectation that you will minimize your visits to the least frequency as possible in the least time as possible in order to protect your loved one and the others who live in the building. We are all counting on you to use proper hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette (cough and sneeze into your elbow) and a mask to reduce risk. Use your elbows to press elevator buttons. Use your body to open doors.

6. What if I don’t want to touch the pen to sign in when I visit?
Bring your own pen. The sign-in and sign-out is a commitment you made as a Registered Visitor. We analyze the trends of visits through the Sign-In Sheets. It is mandatory. You will have your visiting privileges revoked if you don’t participate.

7. What kind of Recreation programs are happening for my loved one to do?
You can download the PDF of the Recreation Calendar on www.MennoPlaceLife.com. All Recreation is taking place through Channel 10 on the television. CLICK HERE for TV Schedule

As we all know, the people who live in these Apartments are at greatest risk of dying from COVID-19. Our highest priority is the safety of your loved one and the seniors who live here.

Our Objectives during COVID-19:
1. Reduce people-traffic in and out of the apartment building.
2. Reduce entry-points for coronavirus to come into the building.
3. Reduce reasons for the seniors to leave their apartment suite.
4. Reduce loneliness and boredom through Channel 10 TV programming (Recreation and Spiritual Care).
5. Be immediately aware of any possible casese of COVID-19 by actively screening every resident every day for symptoms.
6. Provide support for residents through Menno Place services (meals, snacks, recreation, etc), Registered Visitor services (groceries, medications, hygiene) and Approved Home Health services (Fraser Health, Nurse Next Door, etc.)
7. Bring peace of mind to the families through vigilant attention to protocols and communication during this unprecedented time.

May God’s comfort and peace be yours this week,

Sharon Simpson
Director, Community Enrichment
Sharon.Simpson@MennoPlace.ca

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Aware of someone in need in The Apartments? You may become aware of a senior in need.
If you do, please call or email Cheryl Dawes
Manager, Community Enrichment
Cheryl.Dawes@MennoPlace.ca
604.851.4020

April 5, 2020

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Thank you for signing up as a Registered Visitor for a loved one at Menno Place

Thank you for your registration as a Registered Visitor for a loved one at Menno Place Apartments – Primrose Gardens, Terrace West or Pavilion. To date, we have 141 Registered Visitors! This leaves 74 residents without a Registered Visitor at this point. (Terrace East’s 96 residents are enjoying the support of our care staff). Our team’s next week of work will be to arrange support for these remaining 74 residents.

This email is a new communication initiative to assure you that we will continue to communicate with you as you continue to support your loved one.

As you realize, COVID-19 is most deadly to those over 80 years old, particularly if they have additional health issues. One in six over the age of 80 who contract COVID-19 will not survive. It is most likely that our residents would contract COVID-19 from a loved one who visits them. This is why we continue to ask you for your vigilant work in supporting the Registered Visitor program.

Communication: New Registered Visitor Webpage: www.MennoPlaceLife.com/Registered-Visitor

How will you know if Menno Place has COVID-19? We will post it on https://mennoplacelife.com/coronavirus/ through our Twitter.com/MennoPlaceAlert feed.

UPDATE: You may have read on the News that Worthington Cottage has COVID-19. This is only 1.6kms from Menno Place. In an effort to reduce any risk of transmission through staff, effective 03/04/20, our staff may only work for ONE employer.

We have increased our screening and protocols and ask you to do the same. Here are some action points for you, the Registered Visitor to follow in order to exercise caution and effective infection control.

Registered Visitor / Family Member – New Action Points for You

The goal of this program is to limit the risk that residents who live in Menno Place apartment buildings will contract COVID-19. We are doing this by limiting the number of people who enter the apartment building and requiring all who do to comply with vigilant protocols. We have hired security to ensure that only registered visitors enter the apartment.

ACTION – Masks: Please wear a mask when you visit AND supply a mask for your loved one. Cloth masks (homemade, bandanas, scarves) may be sufficient for the general public who are not dealing directly with COVID-19 patients. These are ok for this time. You must cover both mouth and nose.

ACTION – Encourage Covering Face and Nose – A memo will go out to the residents early this week encouraging them to cover both mouth and nose with a mask, scarf or bandana when they exit their apartment. Please support this initiative and encourage your loved one to cover their mouth and nose. We have observed that the seniors are not aware of the large space that is required by social distancing, particularly if they are hard of hearing. Coming within that droplet range endangers them and puts them at risk.

ACTION – Tuck Cart: The tuck cart will be in your loved one’s apartment building once per week. Priority for the items on this cart will be given to the residents who do not have registered visitors supplying them with groceries. This cart carries only the basics such as milk, bread, soap, toilet paper. Please connect with your loved one to ensure that they have staples to last them for a minimum of one week.

ACTION – Active Screening: Each time you visit or speak with your loved one, ASK your loved one the five active screening questions for COVID-19. Do this when you are with them in person AND on the phone. 
All Menno Place staff must answer these questions at the beginning and end of every shift.
ASK:
1. Do you have a fever?
2. Do you have a new or worsening cough?
3. Do you have a new or worsening sore throat?
4. Do you have a new or worsening sneezing?
5. Do you have a new or worsening shortness of breath?
You will find a poster on their door that lists these five questions. (See below)

It also lists the action if your loved one says YES to any of them:

Yes to Active Screening Questions?
Call 8-1-1 for COVID-19 Assessment OR
Do online assessment: Covid.Thrive.Health OR
Call 9-1-1 for Immediate Medical Attention
AND
Inform Menno Place of COVID-19 Symptoms: 604.851.4020 (Cheryl Dawes)

ACTION – Mail and Garbage – Many residents see these two errands as vital to their routines. We are asking you to do these tasks so that the resident will stay in their apartment and not touch surfaces. We do have enhanced cleaning throughout the apartment buildings (2x per day) where disinfectant is used to clean the most touched surfaces.

Frequency of Visits: This is a reminder that unless you are providing personal hygiene, the expected frequency of your visits will be once / week. Social visits must take place on the phone or through the internet.

Personal Hygiene: We are aware that there are residents whose personal hygiene services have been relinquished by the company that previously provided this care. Please call Cheryl Dawes, Manager, Community Enrichment (604.851.4020) if your loved one is in need of this level of support (showering).

Recreation and Spiritual Care Survey: Our Recreation team is going to each resident apartment and asking the resident(s) what they would enjoy for recreation on Channel 10 TV. They are also asking them about their needs, such as groceries, supplies and spiritual care. For those who have a Registered Visitor, we will be calling you to see if they have shared that with you as well and inform you of their needs.

Aware of someone in need? You may become aware of a senior in need. If you do, please call or email Cheryl Dawes (604.851.4020), Cheryl.Dawes@MennoPlace.ca

Cheryl Dawes,
Manager, Community Enrichment
Cheryl.Dawes@MennoPlace.ca
604.851.4020

Thank you for all you, the encouragement you bring along with kindness and joy.
Bless you this week,

Sharon Simpson
Director, Community Enrichment
Sharon.Simpson@MennoPlace.ca