JMPC Newsletter for the week of February 4, 2022

Updated for the week of February 4, 2022

MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR

Hello Everyone,

All test results remain negative at JMPC… but during a pandemic that’s a great thing! We have one Home area under suspect outbreak. Those impacted will be re-swabbed on Feb 9, and if those results come back negative the Home area will be opened back up on February 10.

Programming: We have moved to programming on individual floors. Second floor residents will only attend programs on the second floor and same will apply to first floor. This will help to mitigate the potential exposure risks throughout the building but still ensure a balance of quality of life, social engagement and interaction.

Coffee: A new coffee machine (same as the one downstairs) has been ordered and will be installed in the next week or two in the library to support residents who live on the second floor in accessing this treat.

Positive Essential Caregivers: We are seeing positive tests by essential caregivers which can also have an infection control impact on multiple residents and multiple home areas depending on where the essential caregiver has spent their time while in the Home over the previous 48 hours to the positive test. For essential caregivers testing positive on a RAT, they are to isolate for 5 days but cannot enter the LTC Home for 10 days following their positive result.

Essential Caregiver engagement: At JMPC, we recognize the importance of the essential caregivers spending quality time with their person. If you wish to leave the Home Area the resident resides on, please be very mindful of physical distancing at all times so that we can minimize the risk of multiple close contacts to other residents throughout the Home.

NEW Directives: Yesterday afternoon new Directives were received that take effect on Monday February 7.

The highlights of those changes are as follows:

Increase from 2 designated essential caregivers to 4. (although still a maximum number of 2 at a time per resident)
Resume social day absences for residents who have had at least 3 COVID vaccine doses. While out of the Home, residents are strongly encouraged to wear a mask, limit their contact with large social gatherings and be mindful of physical distancing. Residents are also not to be in contact with individuals who are not fully vaccinated.

Social Absence Consideration: For those considering taking a resident out on a social absence, please be very aware of your own health symptoms and if you are feeling at all unwell, or were not feeling well the day before, please postpone your outing. You will need to be screened including a rapid antigen test prior to picking up the resident for the outing.

Also New: More changes that are currently targeted by the Ministry to take place effective February 21 2022 include:

Resuming all general visitors who are 5 years of age and older AND who have had at least 2 doses of COVID 19 vaccine.
Increase limits of visitors/designated essential caregivers to a total of 3 at one time.
Social absences for all residents
Overnight absences for residents who have had at least 3 COVID 19 vaccine doses.

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 February 18th 2022. If there are substantial changes prior to that, we will certainly send out a special update prior to our regular newsletter.

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 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

NEW CHANGES THAT TAKE EFFECT FEBRUARY 7 2022

Non-vaccinated Designated Essential Caregivers:

In order to be designated an essential caregiver, you are required to provide proof of full vaccination to be permitted into the Home. (This is a Ministry Directive)
For pre-existing designated essential caregivers (prior to Dec 31), you 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)
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.

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.
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 requests to be a designated essential caregiver must already be fully vaccinated and provide proof before they will be approved.
All residents may have a maximum of four designated essential caregivers. (For residents who already have more than 4 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 Impacts

The Ministry has reinstated social absences for those residents who have had at least 3 COVID vaccine doses commencing Feb 7 2022.
Residents are strongly encouraged to wear a mask along with everyone they are around when they are out of the Home.
The Ministry has suspended all social overnight absences at this time.
All residents are currently being offered a fourth dose of vaccine.

General Visitors

No General Visitors are permitted inside the Home.

This is targeted to resume on February 21 2022

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

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) 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.

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 February 7 - February 13.

Program

Here is the week’s program schedule from February 6 - 12 for across the Home. Please note: This link to the program calendar is updated each week and will take you to the current weeks calendar so you will have access to the two weeks of program calendars.

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

Important Reminder

This includes in the residents room, and in the tea room area.

This is a Ministry Directive that we must enforce.

JMPC Fundraiser

for our Outdoor Community Garden

Did you know?

HEPA FILTERS

You may have noticed a number of HEPA Filters placed throughout the Home. These have been supplied to all LTC Homes according to bed size by the Province.

We have 18 of these units. They are meant to go in common spaces throughout the Home for both residents and staff. Each unit is capable of handling 1000 sq ft.

Absences from the Home

Short Term Social Outings – Commences again on February 7

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

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.

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 4 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.

Next Family Council Meeting is scheduled for February 15 at 3pm in the JMPC Education Room.

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

Check out our Facebook post here for some great pictures from our Winter Wonderland Fun that will be happening each week at JMPC.

We even have an igloo!!!

Curious to explore our Winter Wonderland

Sweet sounds from the piano thanks to Ruth!

This beautiful mandala colouring piece was 4 months in the making!! Pat did a beautiful job on this and it is proudly displayed on Maple Lane.

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