Special update July 06, 2021
MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR
Special Family Newsletter

 As you have no doubt heard there are a number of changes that will be taking effect commencing tomorrow July 7 2021. There are significant changes occurring that will affect everyone, so I would strongly encourage you to read through the newsletter completely. If you require clarification, please reach out to your manager point of contact.
Essential Caregivers and general visitors coming into the home are only permitted to visit one resident per visit (exceptions apply for married residents both residing at the JMPC).

Family, caregivers and visitors coming into the John M Parrott Centre have an equal responsibility to do their part toward a safe visit for everyone. We do commit to communicating with family and friends via our Family Newsletter to ensure you are kept current on the processes and status of the Home. We have signage posted in all areas of the Home that identify the occupancy status of each space.

All persons entering the Home are required to wear the PPE provided by the Home. There is to be no eating or drinking in the Home by essential caregivers or general visitors.

We ask that you be honest and accurate when answering the screening questions and if you are feeling at all unwell, to please postpone your visit.
 
As always, there will be bumps along the way and we will make modifications / improvements where we can to ensure a smooth process,
 
Enjoy the rest of your week,


Angela Malcolm, Director
Outdoor Visits 
All persons coming to visit outside must go through the screening process in the vestibule prior to visiting. Masks must be worn at all times while visiting with the resident. Children under 2 do not count in the total number of people visiting outdoors together. Please be mindful of other families space while visiting.

If the resident requires assistance to get outside and you are not able to enter the building to pick them up, the visit will need to be pre-booked using our online booking tool - picktime here.
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Indoor Visits
All indoor visits with general visitors must be pre-booked using our online booking tool here. This site will not be ready until tomorrow. 

For indoor visits we ask that you be mindful to not be in a common space while a resident program is going on. Locations for indoor visits for general visitors include most common spaces in the centre core of the building. These spaces include:
 
First Floor Options: main Macdonald Hall;
 
Second Floor Options: Library; Lounge (beside library); front balcony off of the library area.
Please see the pictures of these spaces below,
as we know many of you have not been in the home before.
 
Essential Caregivers entering the Home: Continue to have the same access to the Home. (as above plus includes resident room; hallway walking, Home Area Gardens)  Essential caregivers are not permitted to sit in the home area lounges or dining rooms.
 
We ask that the popular tea room on the first floor remain for residents use only please.
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COVID Testing
All persons entering the inside of the building will be required to have COVID Testing.
 
For Essential Caregivers – no change to your COVID testing process
 
For General Visitors Entering the Home for an indoor visit – In addition to the screening and temperature taking, you will need to have a Rapid Antigen test (nasal swab), conducted at the Home upon entry each day you come in. You will need to wait 15 minutes to confirm the results of your test before proceeding to the resident for your visit.
 
Rapid Antigen Testing Clinic – This test is done on site at JMPC. We will need to expand this service to Monday – Friday between 10am and 6 pm. No appointment is necessary in advance.

We would really like to encourage the essential caregivers to carry on with their testing routine that they have become accustomed to.  This allows for the spacing between your weekly rapid antigen test and your weekly PCR test.
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Visiting Hours
Given the increase in screening that will be required as we continue to gradually re-open our doors, we do need to initiate no entrance/exit between the hours of 12:15 – 1:00pm and 5:15pm- 6:00 pm. This will allow staff to take breaks and complete required tasks associated with the screening and infection control processes. 
 
If you (as an essential caregiver) are coming to assist your person during the meal time in their room, please ensure to arrive prior to these times as the door will not be manned during the non-visiting hours listed above.
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General Visitor Visiting – General visitors will be permitted into the Home Monday – Friday between 10am – 7:00pm. No general visitors inside on weekends. Please ensure to allow yourself enough time to have your rapid antigen testing completed prior to 5:45pm on the day of your visit.
Designated Essential Caregiver
Residents can now choose to have more than 2 designated essential caregivers if they wish. For residents (or their active POA), choosing to have additional essential caregiver(s), the resident must express this and the new caregiver must complete this form and submit it to the Manager overseeing the residents Home area. 
 
It is important to note that Designated Essential Caregivers who enter the Home more than once per week are required to have a weekly PCR test (Thurs – Sun) at a COVID Assessment Centre and a Rapid Antigen test at JMPC (Mon – Wed) every week.
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Overnight Absences
If you are planning to take your person out for an overnight stay please be aware of the following:
  • The resident must be fully vaccinated (both doses + 14 days)
  • You must give the Home a minimum of 48 hours notice (this ensures our ability to have medications on site and prepared)
  • You must reach out to the Manager who oversees your person’s Home area (as outlined in the newsletter)
  • You need to be able to come into the Home to pack the necessary belongings for the absence.
  • The resident will be on isolation in their room upon their return, need to have a COVID swab and cannot come out of their room until we receive a negative result which could take up to 48 hours.
 
Short Term Absences
If you are planning to take your person on a short term (not overnight) absence such as a drive in the car, dinner at your home or a restaurant etc please be aware of the following:
  • The resident must be fully vaccinated (both doses + 14 days)
  • You need to let the Charge nurse on the residents home area know in advance what time you are coming if you need assistance getting the resident to the door OR if you are able (or the resident is able) to do this independently, you just need to ensure the resident is signed out/signs themselves out for the outing.
What's New at JMPC
Menu

·     Here is the week’s menu for July 12 - July 18, 2021

  • By request from the residents, Black Forest Cake to replace the coconut cream pie.
  • On Tuesday, the second floor will be having their second Steak and Shrimp night.
The Damaged Brain
The John M. Parrott Centre is proud to have our own in house Behavioural Support Service. The staff at JMPC are committed to working to enhance the quality of life for residents living with responsive behaviours associated with complex diseases such as dementia, mental health, substance abuse and or other neurological conditions as well as providing enhanced support to families.

The focus of the Behavioural Support Service (BSO) is centered on supporting not only the Resident but their family members and the care team to ensure the needs of the Resident with responsive behaviours are met. Please feel free to connect with Michelle Hickey Clark, JMPC’s BSO Nurse with any questions or concerns you may have.

The Damaged Brain
A healthy brain is approximately 3 pounds. An individual living with severe dementia has about a 2 pound loss leaving brain to weight only 1 pound. Individuals living with this much damage struggle daily with language, motor skills, forming memories, understanding and reacting to the feelings of others, managing attention and much more. Because of these constant struggles, they often express themselves through a response that presents as a behaviour. These behaviours can be anything from loud vocal expressions like moaning, crying or repeated questions; repetitive motor expressions such as wandering, fidgeting, grinding teeth and even physical expressions such as pushing, grabbing or slapping. Along with these behaviours, damage to the brain from dementia and also cause individuals to exhibit changes in their personalities. Anxiety, depression, delusions and hallucinations are common in those living with dementia.
So what causes a responsive behaviour?
Responsive behaviours are a way those living with dementia communicate a need or a concern. When the need or concern is not met, the person with dementia will express their unmet need through a behaviour. You may find your loved one pacing or wandering from room to room. This could be a sign of them looking for the bathroom, or a bed to rest in.
Some common unmet needs or concerns are hunger, feeling tired, needing a bathroom, pain, fear, infection or feeling unwell, loneliness and boredom. By remembering there is a meaning for the behaviour and behaviour is a way a person with dementia communicates, care givers can then focus on figuring out what the individual needs or what is concerning them and then help them to fill that need or concern. 
Resources & Contacts
 
Ministry of Long Term Care Family Support Line 
1-866-434-0144  
This line is available to raise concerns or ask questions related to LTC homes across Ontario and is staffed seven days a week from 8:30am – 7:00pm
 
CONTACTS
  • Angela Malcolm, Director (Ext. 7222)
  • Carol Corcoran, Manager of Nursing (Ext. 7226)
  • Emily Sarley, Assistant Manager of Nursing (Ext. 7227)
  • Carolyn McConnell, RAI Supervisor (Ext. 7259)
  • Candice McMullen, Resident Services Coordinator (Ext. 7223)
  • Shane McKenny, Environmental Services Supervisor (Ext. 7230)
  • Kristin Richmond, Food Services Supervisor (Ext. 7228)
  • Stephanie Alp, Dietitian/P.T. Food Services Supervisor (Ext. 7229)
  • Bobbie-Joe Blackburn, Administrative Supervisor (Ext. 7224)
  • Michelle Hickey, Behavioural Support Nurse (Ext. 7237)