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As you may have heard from December 21st COVID-19 briefing shared by NS Premier Tim Houston and Dr. Robert Strang, additional restrictions will be in place for Long-Term Care facilities effective December 22nd at 6AM until January 12, 2022.
We are asking for everyone’s support, patience, and understanding as we go through these difficult times. Our utmost aim is to ensure the safety of our residents, staff, volunteers, and visitors.
The following additional restrictions will be in place effective December 22, 2021 at 6AM:
Visits
- Residents are permitted to have two (2) consistent fully vaccinated visitors. DCG’s are included in the total of two (2).
- Only ONE (1) visitor per resident is allowed at a time.
- Residents may have a brief close contact with visitors, such as a hug, but then need to maintain physical distancing for the remainder of the visit (DCGs may continue to have close contact while providing care such as feeding, and personal care)
- It is recommended but not required, visitors be rapid tested within 24 hours prior to the visit where possible.
- With our facility lay-out challenges, visits may occur in resident’s room only.
- All visits for both Seniors and Children Centers MUST be pre-booked by calling 902-678-7355 ext. 600. You will be prompted to leave a voice message. A designated staff will call back to confirm your schedule. Please do not visit unless your schedule is confirmed. Please take note, this line will ONLY be checked from 9am – 10am, Monday- Friday, excluding holidays.
- Monday - Friday visit check-in is from 10am - 3pm.
- Weekend and Holiday visit check-in is from 10am – 2pm.
- Screening will continue to be conducted upon entry. Please do not visit if you are feeling ill. Visitors are required to show their Proof of Vaccination and valid Government-issued ID.
- Masking and physical distancing are required during visit.
- If you wish to book a video chat, please dial ext. 555 and leave a message. A designated staff will call back to confirm your schedule.
- Visits on Christmas day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day will have to be pre-booked by Friday (thru ext. 600), no later than 11am.
Travel outside of a long-term care facility
Residents may not leave the facility except in the following circumstances:
- Community medical appointments are permitted. No other stops in community are permitted and public health measures must be maintained. Swabbing/isolation is not required upon return.
- Facilities may take fully vaccinated residents who have received their booster dose on bus rides. There is no stopping in the community.
- Residents who are fully vaccinated and have received their booster dose may leave the facility to go for a drive with their consistent visitors (as outlined above) provided there is no contact with anyone else.
- Drive-thrus are permitted.
- Unvaccinated residents may still attend routine medical appointments.
Cohorting
- All reasonable efforts will be made to cohort or group the same residents together for participation in group activities such as dining, recreation, and socialization.
- Residents are currently having meals in their own unit dining room.
- Recreation activities are scheduled per avenue per day.
- Physical distancing will be maintained as much as possible between cohorts and mixing of cohorts should be avoided.
- Visitors are NOT allowed to eat and drink with their loved one at this time.
Activities
- Residents who have not received their booster dose are not permitted to participate in group recreational activities or receive non-essential personal services from outside service providers (e.g. footcare nurse)
- Residents who do not have their booster dose are still able to participate in facility-based recreation not provided by outside providers.
- Residents may attend faith services held within the facility (see cohorting restrictions). The room may have 25% capacity up to 10 people.
- No congregational singing is permitted.
- A soloist is permitted and must be two (2) meters from congregants.
- Residents who have not received their booster may attend if they are socially distanced.
We will continue to monitor things closely and regularly re-assess the need for further changes.
Please reach out to Kristi Maxwell – IPAC RN at ext. 280 for further guidance
Thank you,
The Evergreen Community
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