What are staff doing to keep residents safe?

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The staff at Menno Place follow strict infection control protocols. These protocols are key to keeping residents and co-workers safe. We’ve added these protocols to the Family, Friends and Resident website so that you can clearly see the level of vigilance and protocols that are followed in order to protect the residents you love and in order for our staff to be in physical proximity to your loved ones. We hope that this helps you understand our efforts as well as the protocols that a visitor will need to follow when we allow in-person visits with loved ones.

We are pleased to tell you that the Fraser Health COVID-19 Prevention and Protection Audit was done on May 14th and 15th. We await the formal results of the audit but received verbal commendation for the vigilant following of protocols by our staff. This rigorous audit includes inspection of hand hygiene, PPE, social distancing, signange, enhanced cleaning including furnishings, education of staff, medical records and much more. We thank the management for their leadership and the staff for their vigilance.

Here are protocols that our staff follow:

  1. The first thing that a staff member does is enter the building through a designated staff entrance. There, they find hand sanitizer and a fresh mask for their shift. They must sanitize their hands and put the mask on before entering resident spaces. They line up, 6 ft from each other to clock in to begin their shift.
  2. Every shift, a staff member is asked the “Active Screening Questions” at the beginning and end of the shift. If they answer “yes”, they must immediately leave Menno Place and go for COVID-19 testing. This active screening takes place before they have any contact with a resident. The Active Screening Questions are listed below.COVID-19 testing for a Menno Place staff member – the staff member goes to the COVID-19 testing site and receives the COVID-19 swab test. They must then wait, in social isolation, for up to 72 hours to hear the results of their test. If negative and they have no symptoms of other illness (flu, cold), they may return to work.
  3. In the resident spaces, every staff member wears goggles (many donated through the community – thank you!) and a mask at all times. All staff must complete the PPE donning and doffing education modules for correct use of PPE (personal protective equipment) on Menno Place’s online learning modules. They wear full PPE if a resident has any symptoms of COVID-19 or flu.
  4. At breaks, the staff member must go to a designated area for their unit to have their break. These areas (like all areas of all our buildings) have enhanced cleaning so that they are disinfected multiple times during the day. We have removed seating so that the staff can socially distance during their break time and added additional spaces for staff to take their breaks safely. For example, Fireside Cafe (closed) is now the break room for E1 Menno Hospital. At the end of their break they get a new mask, hand sanitize and re-enter the resident space.
  5. During their shift, every staff member practices hand hygiene. They wash their hands with soap and water or hand sanitize between every contact with residents. All staff must complete the Hand Hygiene education that is done through Menno Place’s online learning modules. Care staff in Assisted Living carry hand sanitizer with them as they have limited access to non-resident sinks on the floors. Hand hygiene audits are done regularly to ensure these practices take place.
  6. All staff must practice social distancing during their shift. This may not be possible at all times – for example bathing a resident takes two care aides; dressing a resident is within the 6ft distance as is assisting with meals. They are as vigilant as possible in maintaining this 6 foot distance between each other and between themselves and the resident.
  7. At the end of their shift, they are asked the “Active Screening Questions” once again before exiting.
  8. To “clock in and out”, staff line up at six feet apart from each other – markings are on the floor.
  9. As per the Fraser Health Orders, all staff are single-site which means that they have chosen Menno Place as their ONLY employer during COVID-19. For some, this has impacted them financially as they may have worked at multiple sites as casual or part-time in order to make up their salary. There is a financial aide package available for staff who are facing financial need.
  10. The staff work on one unit and take their breaks on that same unit (no mixing between units). If they are called in to work overtime or casual on another unit, they must shower, change their clothing and hand sanitize before working on a different unit.
  11. Staff that have travelled freely between units in the past (Music Therapist, Chaplains, Managers, Occupational Therapists) must limit their travel between units as much as possible. They designate one unit per day if possible. They practice vigilant infection control protocols including cleaning goggles, hand hygiene and fresh mask if they go between units within a building.
  12. In their personal lives, staff are required to practice social distancing, hand hygiene and vigilant infection control in order to limit the opportunities that they could come in contact with coronavirus. Our staff are concerned that they may be the one to bring the virus into the building and work diligently to follow infection control protocols in order to reduce this possibility.

    Some have their partner as as the designated grocery shopper, etc. in order to avoid entering places that are either crowded or have the possibility of contracting the virus. Our staff are very aware that, with the no visitor policy, it will likely be through a staff member that the virus enters Menno Place. This is a significant mental burden that weighs on the people who love and serve your loved ones. They do not want to be the access point for coronavirus to infect our seniors.

We hope that this helps you to understand the “new normal” for our staff as they love and serve your loved ones. You have been so encouraging to them over the past weeks and we thank you for that. 

Active Screening Questions:

  1. Do you have a fever?
  2. Do you hae a new or worsening cough?
  3. Do you have new or worsening sneezing?
  4. Do you have new or worsening sore throat?
  5. Do you have new or worsening shortness of breath?
  6. Do you have new or worsening aches and pains?
  7. Do you have new or worsening headaches?
  8. Do you have new or worsening vomitting?
  9. Do you have new or worsening diarrhea?