Dear Tabor Village Families and Friends:
Valhaven Outbreak Update
It has been nearly two weeks since a new COVID-19 case has occurred at Valhaven. Plans have been developed with Fraser Health public health officials to begin implementing a de-escalation of the isolation measures as soon as Monday, June 15. The first priority will be to ensure that the gains made in controlling the spread of the virus remain in place. De-escalation means that residents will spend more time in the dining room and outside. It is anticipated that the outbreak declaration will be lifted at the end of June. More information on the Valhaven Outbreak will be shared as the Outbreak continues to improve.
Visitor Restrictions
Fraser Health continues to require visitor restrictions in long term care and assisted living sites. Essential visitors are only permitted for actively dying residents/tenants and only one visitor at a time. It is anticipating that in the near future the provincial Ministry of Health will lessen the restrictions on visitors. We are aware of other seniors care organizations in Abbotsford allowing outdoor visits and we are consulting with the Public Health Officers to determine how such visits are being conducted if such protocols could be adopted safely with Fraser Health approval at Tabor Village. Until such time as the Orders restricting visitors change, the current visitor restrictions will remain in place.
Your Communication Matters
Thank you to all of you who have reached out to me to provide feedback on how visitor restrictions might be lifted going forward. I recently heard from a family member whose parent is nearly 100 years of age and how COVID-19 has taken a toll on her mom. She told me how concerned she is for her mom’s mental health resulting from being unable to see her family for three months. The family is especially appreciative of staff and management who she feels are doing their best under the circumstances. The family has not had any physical contact with their mom and other families reported to me that spouses separated by the pandemic have not held hands, embraced or kissed since mid-March. While letters, phone calls, teleconferencing and closed window visits fill a need they are not the same as real in person visits.
Families have expressed that a change in direction from the Provincial Health Officer is needed. Other families believe the restrictions are needed to protect seniors who are vulnerable due to low immunity and understand the risks of an outbreak in long term care and assisted living. Tabor Village has shared the impact on families and older adults impacted by the visitor and isolation restrictions and has increased mental health supports where possible to support people living at Tabor Village and the staff who you entrust to provide them with ‘Care from the Heart’.
Annual General Meeting
On June 16
th
at 7:00 p.m. Tabor Village will be holding an Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Zoom. Each year, Tabor Village sets aside one day to reflect on the year that has passed and to look ahead to the future. This year the keynote speaker is Isobel MacKenzie, BC Seniors Advocate.
There is much to celebrate looking back over the previous year and we certainly are facing the biggest challenge of this generation with COVID-19. Tabor Village serves hundreds of older adults every day. Over the past year there were new supporters of the capital campaign to replace the outdated complex care infrastructure. For those families that have loved ones living in Tabor Home and Valhaven you recognize the need to rebuild. Many supporters are needed to bring this dream to a reality. As the spotlight has been shined upon seniors care across Canada and around the globe, it is time for the government and society in general to replace hospital style institutions that amongst other risks were not built for the higher acuity levels and complexity in controlling infections.
After the AGM, the annual report that lists the accomplishments of the 2019-20 year will be posted on the Tabor Village website as will the new strategic plan 2020-25. You are invited to attend the AGM on Zoom as a delegate and to become more involved in helping to shape the future of aging in the Clearbrook area of Abbotsford.
If you are interested in attending please contact Miriam Bozman, Capital Campaign Administrator by email at
MBozman@taborvillage.org
.
Father’s Day Concert
Join us virtually in celebrating fathers and father figures, while supporting: The Tabor Village COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund. The concert features Singing Fathers, a talented group of fathers and grandfathers with decades of musical experience who are coming together to bless and uplift others in song. Their voices strong, their talent wide, and hearts even wider, as they work extra hard to bring this physically distant concert to reality for you.
For More Information
You may also learn more about Fraser Health and COVID-19 by visiting this website
Open Communication
In an effort to maintain open communication please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or would like clarification on the pandemic plan procedures at Tabor Village.
Yours sincerely,
Dan Levitt, MSc., CHE
Executive Director
604-859-8715 ext. 102
