TSIIONKWANONHSO:TE LTC VISITATION PROCEDURES UPDATE

The Tsiionkwanonhso:te Long Term Care (LTC) Facility has been provided with updates to the Long-term Care Visitation Procedures, which are effective as of July 7, 2021. The LTC is required to comply with the Ministry of Health’s protocols. All other previous versions of the Visitation Program are revoked and replaced with this version.

Tsiionkwanonhso:te will expand indoor visits for Designated Caregivers and general visitors, to be held on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. To ensure resident safety, the LTC reserves the right to make changes to the days and times of the visitor schedule, depending on staff availability.

• The limit of two (2) designated caregivers per resident is removed. However, the process to identify persons as Designated Caregivers continues to be in place. A resident may request as many Designated Caregivers as needed. The designation must be made in writing to the LTC.
• Up to 10 people at a time can come for a scheduled outdoor visit with a resident.
• All residents may have up to two (2) general visitors and two (2) Designated Caregivers at a time for an indoor visit. 
• Personal care services, such as those provided by hairdressers/barbers, are permitted. Please note that personal care service providers are considered general visitors if they are not staff of the LTC or Designated Caregivers.
• Cohorting of residents can be relaxed during outdoor activities.
• The Administrator may restrict the number of times weekly that a caregiver visits, based on the LTC’s ability to ensure resident safety.
• If a resident is in self-isolation or symptomatic for COVID-19, a maximum of one (1) caregiver may visit that resident at a time.

Tsiionkwanonhso:te will aim to be as flexible as operationally feasible to ensure residents are able to receive visitors. The LTC will not limit or restrict visits unnecessarily or unreasonably, in accordance with the Residents’ Bill of Rights, which states that residents have a right to receive visitors of their choice. Per the Guidance document, the LTC has the discretion to require general visitors to:

• Schedule their visits in advance.
• Limit the length of visits, however, each visit should be at least 60 minutes long.
• Limit the frequency of the visits, however, the LTC should allow at least two (2) visits per resident per week.
• Visit during specified hours.

The Administrator must review and approve all requests for compassionate or palliative visits for both Designated Caregivers and general visitors. 

At the discretion of the Administrator, visiting hours may be reduced or cancelled altogether due to staff shortage. Every effort will be made to notify family of reduced or cancelled visitation hours ahead of time.

General visitors younger than 14 years of age must be accompanied by an adult and must follow all applicable public health measures that are in place at the LTC (active screening, physical distancing, hand hygiene, mask-wearing, etc.). 

The LTC’s testing requirement still remains in place. Staff, students, and volunteers who work in the LTC regularly will still be required to take a PCR test/antigen test. Any Designated Caregivers, support workers, and general visitors will be required to take a PCR test/antigen test to maintain regular visits, unless requiring immediate access due to an emergency or palliative situation.

As the Ministry of Health continues to progress and provide updates to LTC visitations, Tsiionkwanonhso:te LTC will continue to keep our residents’ families and the community updated. Should you have any questions regarding the visitation procedure being implemented, or to obtain a full copy of the Visitation Procedure document, please call 613-932-1409.

 

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