JMPC Newsletter for the week of January 7, 2022

Updated for the week of January 7, 2022

MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR

Hello Everyone,

As we look back at 2021, we are thankful to have got through another year of this pandemic without any residents contracting COVID-19. This year has not been easy but we have done it together! We have grown and implemented many new ways of supporting residents, families and staff during this year. This newsletter has helped us to stay connected with you on a regular basis and to ensure you are informed of any changes (and there are always quite a few) as soon as possible. It has also allowed us to connect with families a significant distance away who may otherwise not have a connection to the Home. We look forward to all that 2022 has to bring and the opportunities and lessons it has in store for us.

First, I will begin with sharing with you that last night (Jan 6) we identified one positive staff case. We are working with KFLA Public Health and have begun the process of doing a PCR swab across 2 resident home areas as a precaution. This puts us in a COVID watch position (not a COVID outbreak) at this time. Once all the swabs come back, if no further positives are obtained, we continue as usual with all the existing precautions in place. If we do obtain another positive, we will move into an Outbreak position that will either affect one Home area or the entire Home depending on the results. I will provide a brief update on Monday Jan 10 via this platform.

As announced by the province on Dec 30 2021 which you may have heard on the news, all designated essential caregivers who are eligible by Dec 31 2021 to receive a booster dose will be required to show proof of their 3^rd booster dose by January 28 2022. (eligibility = received your 2^nd dose prior to Oct 8 2021). Please provide this proof to your manager contact via email or hand in at reception as you have done previously. We would like to thank those designated essential caregivers who have already provided us with a copy of your Booster dose.

For designated essential caregivers who are currently not eligible for their 3^rd booster dose, you will have until May 23, 2022 to obtain and provide proof of your 3^rd booster dose.

This announcement of mandatory 3^rd booster doses, also applied to all staff, students, support workers and volunteers. In addition, once general visitors are permitted back into the Home, this requirement will include them.

In addition to the announcement above, it was also announced that all LTC residents must be offered a fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine. As you are aware, a variant of concern called Omicron is rapidly spreading across Ontario and around the world. The Ontario Immunization Advisory Committee, a group of vaccine experts that provides scientific advice to Public Health Ontario, has made this 4^th dose recommendation. They have explained that the vaccine protection provided against infection slowly decreases over time. Given the changes in the immune response that occur with age, and the fact that third doses were offered 3-4 months ago to boost protection, there is a possibility that protection has decreased again, so this 4^th dose of vaccine will help increase levels of immune protection once again. Registered staff have begun reaching out to obtain consent and vaccinations will begin right away.

Over Christmas we saw an average of 80 essential caregivers entering the Home daily. This past week, we are seeing an average of 50 essential caregivers entering the Home per day. We have had multiple requests to alter our rapid antigen testing times. We have individuals asking for an earlier start to our daily rapid antigen testing times while others are seeking a later testing time. We are limited in our abilities to cover this task which we are diligently trying to maintain at seven days a week. We also need to be mindful that in a split second our staffing could be significantly impacted should we experience a positive case given the potential close contacts that may need to be isolated from the workplace. Having an additional 50 essential caregivers enter the building on a daily basis is not ideal given the rate of transmission of Omicron that we are seeing in the community. I would ask that you give consideration to the frequency of your visits and remind you of the zoom option that we have available to you as an alternative to some of your in person visits.

If this is your first time reading our newsletter, I would encourage you to go to this link where you will find the previous newsletters should you wish to view them. Should you ever not want to receive these newsletters, please follow the prompts on the newsletter at the bottom to unsubscribe. Also, if you ever feel that you would prefer to not have a picture of your loved one included in our Family Newsletter, please reach out to Bobbie-Joe at bblackburn@lennox-addington.on.ca or by calling at ext 7224.

Chat with you in our next newsletter which will be in your inbox on January 21, 2022. If there are substantial changes prior to that, we will certainly send out a special update prior to our regular newsletter.

Things are moving very quickly and we are doing our best to keep everyone informed in a timely manner.

Happy New Year,

Angela Malcolm

Director

Designated Essential Caregivers Booster Dose

All Designated Essential Caregivers who are eligible must provide proof of having their 3^rd Booster Dose

by January 28 2022 in order to maintain continuity of your visiting schedule at the Home.

For designated essential caregivers who are currently not eligible for their 3^rd booster dose, you will have until May 23, 2022 to obtain and provide proof of your 3^rd booster dose in order to maintain continuity of your visiting schedule at the Home.

Designated Essential Caregivers

Non-vaccinated Designated Essential Caregivers:

For those pre-existing (prior to Dec 15 2021), non vaccinated essential caregivers, you are required to provide proof of your first dose before you will be permitted back into the Home. (This is a Ministry Directive)
Once you have shown proof of your first dose, you are only permitted to go directly to the resident's room and must confine your visit to the resident's room only. Once your visit is finished, you must leave the building. (this does not apply to fully vaccinated essential caregivers)
You will then have until February 21 2022 to submit proof of your second dose (plus 14 days) in order to continue to be permitted into the Home with no disruption to your visiting schedule.
You will then have until May 23 2022 to have your third dose in order to continue to be permitted into the Home with no disruption to your visiting schedule.
Once you are fully vaccinated, you are no longer confined to the resident's room for your visit. (This is a Ministry Directive)
As has already been in place, rapid antigen testing is required every day you enter inclusive of the 15 min wait time for the results. (NOTE: this would not start until you have received at least your first dose)
Medical grade masks must be worn at all times whether visiting indoors or outdoors.
No consumption of food or drink on the premises at any time.
For those wishing to be a designated essential caregiver after Dec 15 – you must show proof of being fully vaccinated already.

Fully Vaccinated Designated Essential Caregivers:

There is a maximum of 2 essential caregivers per resident at one time for indoor visits.
There is a maximum of 4 essential caregivers per resident at one time for outdoor visits.
Regardless of whether the visit is indoors or outdoors, a rapid antigen test is required.
As has already been in place, rapid antigen testing is required every day you enter inclusive of the 15 min wait time for the results.
Medical Grade Masks must be worn at all times whether visiting indoors or outdoors.
No consumption of food or drink on the premises at any time.

Changes for those Not Yet a Designated Essential Caregiver:

All new requests to be a designated essential caregiver must already be fully vaccinated and provide proof before they will be approved.
All residents may only have a maximum of two designated essential caregivers moving forward. (For residents who already have more than 2 designated essential caregivers prior to Dec 15 2021, they can remain in place)

Changing Designated Essential Caregivers:

Within the COVID 19 guidance document the Ministry has stated that residents and/or their substitute decision-makers may not continuously change a designation in order to increase the number of people able to enter the Home. These changes in essential caregivers would be considered by the Home in very limited circumstances.

Window Visits: We will not be bringing residents to windows at this point in time due to our staffing levels. Should a person wish to see a resident (and they are not permitted into the Home), the other Designated Essential Caregiver will need to bring their resident to a window that doesn’t open in MacDonald Hall on the main level at the front of the building (picture below) where they can enjoy a window visit. I would suggest bringing a cell phone to aid in the communication during the visit. Please be mindful of the gathering limits that are currently set at 10 for outdoors when coming to the Home for a window visit. Please also keep in mind that we still do offer zoom visits if this is something that would be of interest to you.

There are many icy patches, and dips no longer visible due to snow coverage etc around the building, so please keep your visits to the designated windows at the front of the building.

Resident Changes

The Ministry has suspended All social absences at this time. (this includes drives, restaurants, short outings)
Residents are strongly encouraged to wear a mask along with everyone they are around when they are out of the Home for medical appointments.
The Ministry has suspended all social overnight absences at this time.
Residents can continue to leave the Home for medical or compassionate reasons. Those going out for these reasons will have a Rapid Antigen test 24 hours after their return and a PCR test on Day 3 and again on Day 7 following their outing.
All residents are currently being offered a fourth dose of vaccine.

Additional Changes

No food or drink is to be consumed by designated essential caregivers while on the property inside or outside.
We have returned to having essential caregivers who need to use the elevator, do so using the single elevator to the right of the screening desk.
If the area within the rapid antigen testing area is too full, please feel free to sit in MacDonald Hall while you wait (as long as there is no program occurring at the time).

Please note that 10am is a very popular time for Essential Caregivers to arrive – should you wish to reduce your wait time please consider coming at a different time.

General Visitors

No General Visitors are permitted inside the Home.

In keeping with Provincial gathering restrictions, a window visit can occur at one of the MacDonald Hall non-opening windows at the front of the building.

However, staff are unable to bring a resident to the window, so will need to be coordinated with the residents fully vaccinated designated essential caregiver.

Booster Doses

Essential Caregivers are required to get their 3^rd booster dose by January 28 2022 in order to maintain their continuity of entrance into the Home.

For those individuals who are able to obtain their booster dose (must be 84 days since their second dose), you are strongly encouraged to do so. This can be done at your physicians office, local area pharmacies, etc.

Here are 2 links that you can use to book your booster dose:

https://www.kflaph.ca/en/healthy-living/covid-19-vaccine.aspx

https://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/publichealth/coronavirus/docs/vaccine/COVID-19_vaccine_third_dose_recommendations.pdf

In addition, there are several locations for walk-in clinics for the booster dose including:

1) Cataraqui Mall

2) Portsmouth Olympic Harbour

3) KFLA Public Health Napanee Office

4) Selby Community Hall

Designated Essential Caregivers

Rapid Antigen Testing

Rapid Antigen test every day that you enter the building AND must wait the 15 min in the testing area prior to going to see your person. We have had many requests for an earlier start as well as a later end for this testing schedule. We simply don’t have the staff available to lengthen this schedule at either end.

Available times for this testing are as follows:

Seven Days a Week

10am – 12pm

1:15 – 4:15pm

5:45-6:00pm

In Addition Tuesday and Thursday

7:00pm – 7:45pm

What's New at JMPC

Here is the week’s menu for January 10-16

Program

Here is the week’s program schedule from January 9 - 15 for across the Home and Lilac Knoll specifically.

Need to do some Adaptive / Accessible Clothes Shopping?

Here are some Canadian Options for your shopping enjoyment:

Where Dragons Fly

https://www.wheredragonsflyperth.ca/

Perth, Ontario

(613) 466-0215

Geri Fashions

1-800-361-4374

https://gerifashions.com/

help@gerifashions.com

EasyWear Adaptive Clothing Inc.

Cambridge, ON

1-888-908-7177

easywear20@rogers.com

JMPC Fundraiser

for our Outdoor Community Garden

We are happy to report that to date we have raised $3665 towards our musical garden!

Thank you to all who have donated already. Our orchestra is going to sound like magic!

Did you know?

Absences from the Home

Short Term Social Outings – On Hold for all residents by the Ministry. This includes, day trips, out for coffee, drives etc.

Temporary Outing – On Hold for all residents by the Ministry

Medical Appointments - Residents who have medical appointments booked continue to be permitted to leave the building for this reason. They will be required to have a Rapid Antigen test 24 hours after their return and a PCR test 3 days following and again 7 days following the appointment.

Resident Home Areas -

Who to call when you have Questions?

These Resident Home area extensions below will take you to the Charge Nurse who is the RPN on your persons floor.

The RPN is a great person to connect with if you have questions related to medications, health status updates, or general resident centered information.

This is the best person to start with.

If they are unable to answer your question, they will be able to direct you as to

where to go next.

The RN Team Leader extension is an option if you are having difficulty accessing your respective home area or have further concerns.

If following speaking with the RN Team Leader, you continue to have questions or concerns, please reach out to

Emily Sarley RN who is the Assistant Manager of Nursing (ext 7227) or Carol Corcoran RN who is the Manager of Nursing (ext 7226).

Manager Point of Contact

For general inquiries related to COVID restrictions, overnight absences or to send your vaccination information:

(For absences please contact the charge nurse as outlined above)

External Healthcare Services

We have had a number of enquiries from families regarding trying to access various external services for their loved one.

Dental Hygiene Services:

Roving Dental Hygiene – Karen De Luca RDH – 613-770-3801

Hearing Services:

Miracle Ear - Scott Laidman, Reg AHIP – 613-354-7223

Foot Care Services:

Donna Chandu-Lall – 613-329-4914

Jennifer Morris – 613-329-0271

Gerrie Plaizier – 613-329-3182

These are privately based on a fee for service .

Feel free to reach out to them if this is something of interest to you.

Mandatory Training Videos

Training videos are mandatory for you to watch prior to entering the building

This training needs to be completed prior to your first visit and then monthly thereafter.

A component of the Directives that the Ministry released includes a mandatory requirement for Homes to ensure that Essential Caregivers coming into the Home receive training on putting on and taking off PPE as well as training on effective hand washing. Below are the 2 video clips for you to view. You will be asked to confirm at the screening table that you have watched these 2 videos prior to entering.

Here are short video clips to resources that will help you to understand how to use PPE properly and how to effectively hand wash.

How to put on PPE - https://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/videos/ipac-fullppe-on

How to Handwash - https://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/videos/ipac-handwash

Infection Control from the desk of Emily Sarley

Side Effects of mRNA vaccine:

mRNA COVID-19 vaccines can cause some side effects following vaccination such as fever, body aches, fatigue, sore arm and a general feeling of being unwell.

These symptoms are relatively common, occurring in the range of 20-60% of young healthy vaccine recipients.

However, they are significantly less common in older and frailer adults. These symptoms last a few days, and are typically mild.

Studies have found that these side effects were less common after third doses of vaccine, but we do not yet know how frequently they may occur after a fourth dose.

Essential Caregiver Designation

The Ministry of Long Term Care updated visiting policy requires written documentation that supports the essential caregiver designation. As a result, we have created a PDF form that you can open electronically and fill in the blanks. There are a couple of options to return the form to us via email or fax. Alternatively, we will have hard copies of this document available with the screeners at JMPC where you can complete and drop off to them.

Essential Caregivers must submit this form and be fully vaccinated to be approved as an essential caregiver. In the event that COVID restrictions are changed, it will be important to have this essential caregiver designation in place in advance as it is difficult to predict the restrictions that we may be directed to implement.

Should the resident/POA wish to change/add an essential caregiver, a new form will need to be submitted. There is no limit to the number of essential caregivers that a resident/POA can designate.

Essential Caregivers must submit this form and be fully vaccinated to be approved as an essential caregiver. On a go forward basis residents are permitted to have a maximum of 2 designated essential caregivers only.

Changing Designated Essential Caregivers:

Within the COVID 19 guidance document the Ministry has stated that residents and/or their substitute decision-makers may not continuously change a designation in order to increase the number of people able to enter the Home. These changes in essential caregivers would be considered by the Home in very limited circumstances.

Should the resident/POA wish to change/add an essential caregiver, a new form will need to be submitted and await the approval process.

ZOOM Visits

Zoom is a great way to connect with your loved one.

It allows you to see each other while talking together.

Book your Zoom Visits online using Picktime!

We ask that visits be scheduled a day ahead, and that weekend requests are completed by Friday at 2pm. For zoom visits, you will receive a confirmation email first. Then, 1 day prior to your zoom visit you will receive the zoom link emailed to you from the Home.

Please book your Zoom visit using this link: https://www.picktime.com/JMPC

If you have any questions or unable to access this online tool, please call 613-354-3306 and someone will help you Mon-Fri during business hours.

Need to Cancel your ZOOM?

The booking site doesn’t have that feature to cancel yourself online unfortunately. So to cancel an appointment: Please contact Colleen. Please email her at cyork@lennox-addington.on.ca or call her at reception during business hours(main line)

Message from the Chair of Family Council

Family Council, a time for sharing, caring and supporting.

Please feel free to reach out to me if you have concerns or simply need a listening ear.

Take Care

Gwen

Gwen Babcock

gbabcock@mycando.ca

Alzheimer's Society

The Napanee Alzheimer’s Society has many resources that can help you. The link to their website is here. It includes some very helpful resources and articles if you are interested.

Our contact person for our local Alzheimer’s Society

Lesley Deshane, First Link Care Coordinator

613 – 544- 3078 ext 208

LDeshane@alzking.com

Around the Home

Chris brought Mr. Pony Pants and Lady to the Home for a visit and walk around the building.

Always a big hit to see Chris’ horses but it seems to never fail that the day they come, the snow disappears hindering our plans for a horse drawn sleigh ride!

Santa came to visit us on Christmas Day!!!

Lilac Knoll Birch Tree Artwork

Creating our Winter Art Gallery

Working on our window art in Spring Meadow and Rose Garden

New Year Celebrations

Connect with us on your socials

Things to Do across Lennox & Addington County

Below are some interesting opportunities if you are looking for something to do in the area. Click HERE and it will take you directly to the items below:

Forms That You May Require

Paper Copies of the Weekly Newsletter – Available at the Resource Centre right behind the screeners.
Essential Caregiver Designation Form – Click here
Overnight Absence Request Form – Click here