Visitor Protocol Update – September

To All Portal Village Residents & Families,

The Province has updated its guidelines on visiting – effective September 15 –, so we will be changing some of our protocols to remain compliant with their requirements.

Here is an overview of requirements for general visitors to the building, the new requirements are in red:

For family visits:

• A maximum of 2 visitors per resident – provided that the resident is not self- isolating, and the home is not in an outbreak
• Verbally attest to have completed the following:
  • Read the visitor policy (attached) within the last month
    Read Public Health Ontario’s document Recommended Steps: Putting on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) within the last month
  • Watch the following Public Health Ontario videos within the last month:
    • Putting on Full Personal Protective Equipment;
    • Taking off Full Personal Protective Equipment; and
    • How to Hand Wash

• Be actively screened on entry for symptoms, including temperature checks
• Attest to not be experiencing any of the typical and atypical symptoms of COVID-19
• Visitors must wear & supply their own surgical mask for indoor visits, outdoor visits may be cloth masks/other face covering
• Visitors must still maintain physical distancing of at least 6 feet from all residents and staff
• Visitors must only visit the designated area they are intending to visit and meet only with the resident; as of Monday Sept. 21st all indoor Retirement & Garden Terrace visits will be in the Library and the Care Area Residents will meet families in the Care Area Activity Center.For resident absences (appointments, outings etc.):

Residents may leave the building for appointments with the following conditions:

• Must pass active screening upon re-entering the front door of the building
• Must wear a face mask while outside of the building and maintain physical distancingFor overnight resident absences:

Upon returning to the building, the resident must follow 14 days of enhanced precautions including:

• Pass active screening
• Must not receive visitors for a 14-day period after return
• Monitor for symptoms
• Avoid use of common areas in the building (lounges, auditorium, coffee areas)
• Limit contact with all other residents and staff o Do not participate in group activities
• Maintain proper physical distancing

(Please note that during the 14-day period of enhanced precautions, the resident may leave the building for an appointment).

Visitors

There is an expansion on Visitors to include Caregivers. This includes someone designated by the Resident who will provide cognitive stimulation, communication, meaningful connection, relational continuity, and assistance in decision making. If you feel this is something you would like to talk about, please contact someone from our team for more information.

For your own review of the latest Reopening Retirement Homes, effective September 15, 2020, please view the link here.

I have included on this email the Voluntary Assumption of Risk for Visitors. You will find this is becoming a more common practice. We require the form signed prior to your next scheduled visit. While Portal Village will continue to do our best to keep everyone safe, this ensures that visitors understand the risk involved.

As announcements and protocols change, we will continue to keep the safety and well being of our staff and residents as our primary focus. Please feel free to reach out with questions.

Thanks everyone!

Tracey Dewar General Manager