JMPC Newsletter for the week of December 20, 2021

Updated for the week of December 20 2021

MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR

Hello Everyone,

Today’s newsletter is largely a review of last weeks newsletter with some important clarifications based on the questions we received. We are also trying to balance the importance of family and friends over Christmas along with our own staffing abilities to meet everyone's needs as best as we can.

I would like to take this time to thank all of you for your support over this past year. This has been so incredibly challenging for everyone for many different reasons. The time you spend with your loved one is precious and COVID has in no way helped you. We all recognize the toll that this year has taken on you, those who reside here, the staff, and all those who support The John M Parrott Centre. We appreciate your kindness that you have provided us and the grace, in times of stress and constant changes. As staff, we extend our most sincere wish for all of peace, happiness and love this Holiday Season. Our hope for all, is an end to the chaos that this year has brought and a return to some sort of improved normal.

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 7, 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 Holidays,

Angela Malcolm

Director

Designated Essential Caregivers

Non-vaccinated Designated Essential Caregivers:

You have until today, December 20 2021 to submit proof of having your first vaccine dose in order to not cause any disruption in your regular visits with your loved one. If you do not, or are unable to get your first dose, you will no longer be permitted into the Home effective Dec 21 until you are able to show proof of receiving a first dose. (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 being fully vaccinated. (2^nd dose plus 14 days) 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.
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.
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.
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 the changes last week, 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), a Designated Essential Caregiver will need to bring the 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.

There are many icy patches, dips no longer visible due to snow coverage etc around the building, so we are strongly discouraging walking around the perimeter of the building to visit at the lower level windows.

Resident Changes

Fully vaccinated residents are permitted to leave the home for day absences (Not Overnight)
Residents are strongly discouraged from interacting with unvaccinated individuals while on social outings outside of the Home.
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.
Residents can continue to leave the Home for essential, medical or compassionate reasons. The same swabbing tests will apply as outlined in the bullet below.
Vaccinated residents who go on social outings (these outings include drives) will be swabbed upon their return and then a PCR swab on Day 3 day and again on Day 7. This is so that we can quickly respond to limiting contact with other residents should a positive result occur.
Unvaccinated residents are not permitted to leave the Home for social absences.

Additional Changes

No food or drink is to be consumed by designated essential caregivers while on the property inside or outside.
Anyone who has purchased a meal ticket for over the Holidays will be reimbursed. Please see Colleen at reception.
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).

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

For those individuals who are able to obtain their booster dose (must be 6 months since their second dose), you are strongly encouraged to do so. This can be done at your physicians office, area local 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

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

Staff Recognition

This is the time of year when many of you want to express you appreciation to the staff. We are so thankful for your generosity and kindness.

Our success depends on all departments working together. We are not able to run this Home with only one department or one Home area, it is most certainly a team effort.

If you are considering bringing something in for the staff, I am asking that the items be individually wrapped. Alternatively, if you would like to make a monetary donation with reception, and indicate that you would like this to go to the staff, we can arrange for a food treat day in your name (such as pizza, subs and cookies etc) for all to enjoy.

What's New at JMPC

Here is the week’s menu for December 20 - 26

Program

Here is the week’s program schedule from December 19 - 25 for across the Home and Lilac Knoll specifically.

Please help us Stuff Our Sled with your donations of mittens, hats, scarves.

The sled is located beside the tuck shop on the first floor.

We will take the donations to the Morning Star Mission.

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

Absences from the Home

Short Term Outings – Leaving the property for social or other reason but not overnight. This does not need to be booked or approved.

Anyone picking up a resident must come into the building, be rapid antigen tested, wait 15 min for results, and then go and get their resident.

Residents who are able to complete these short term outings independently need to ensure they complete the Sign Out Book located just outside the nursing station on the counter.

Temporary Outing – On Hold for all residents by the Ministry

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

Be aware of the vaccination status of the individuals entering your Home over the Holidays.

Have hand sanitizer readily available in gathering areas of your Home.

Ask those coming into your Home to wear a mask when they are not eating.

Consider ways to increase the space between your guests while they are eating/drinking. (which is a higher risk activity)

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.

Questions submitted to Gwen this past week:

1. If we bring in gifts for a resident, do they need to be quarantined for 24 hours?

Answer by Angela: No quarantine period required.

2. Can non-essential care givers visit outside a window if an essential care giver brings them down just to wish them a Merry Christmas?

Answer by Angela: Yes, bearing in mind provincial gathering restrictions of up to 10 people.

Please Note: 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), a Designated Essential Caregiver will need to bring the 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.

3. Is going for a drive, considered a social outing?

Answer by Angela: Yes, it is.

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

Jo enjoyed a Unicorn Ice cream Float on Friday.

Pat listened to Christmas music with Angela.

Generous and kind donation of Christmas Cactus and Kalanchoe plants for every resident at JMPC from Dahlia May Flower Farm located in Stockdale, ON. The farm created a Community Christmas gifting program and with the help of local sponsorships have been able to provide flowers to 3625 residents in local nursing homes, hospitals, hospices and shelters this year!

In connection with our shopping trips, we then had to get to work getting all those great purchases wrapped up. Here is one of our Activity staff helping get the wrapping all done and put under the tree as well as getting Christmas cards completed and mailed out

Spa Day

New art in the making for our Art Gallery Wall

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