The following temporary measures at long-term care homes will go into effect at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, December 30, 2021:
Access to long-term care homes by general visitors will be paused. Designated caregivers may continue to enter long-term care homes. Day absences for all residents for social purposes will be paused.
Additionally, all individuals entering The Golden Manor will be required to receive a SAME-DAY RAPID TEST, EACH DAY YOU VISIT.
As per current process, caregivers are required to wait for their negative test result prior to going to the resident’s room.
Vaccinations
General visitors
- Effective December 15th general visitors must be fully vaccinated (or have a valid medical exemption) to come into the home, unless they are visiting a resident receiving end of life care.
Caregivers
- Caregivers designated prior to December 14th must show proof of their first dose by December 20th (or a valid medical exemption), unless they are visiting a resident receiving end of life care. These caregivers will then have to show proof of all required doses by February 21st. Until fully vaccinated, these caregivers will be limited to visiting in the resident’s room and must follow day of testing requirements.
- Caregivers designated after December 14th are required to be fully vaccinated.
Surveillance Testing
Enhanced surveillance testing requirements as followed:
Staff, students, volunteers, and caregivers:
If fully vaccinated, an antigen test at a minimum of 2 tests per week, on separate days
- Caregivers: test must be taken before proceeding to visit; do not need to wait for results
- Staff, students, and volunteers: test must be taken as soon as possible after beginning a shift
If not fully vaccinated, day of antigen test required (tests are valid for 24 hours)
- Test must be taken before full entry into home; must wait for negative results before proceeding to visit
General visitors and support workers:
- Regardless of vaccination status, day of antigen test or demonstrate proof that they received a negative antigen test taken on the previous day (tests are valid for 48 hours)
- Test must be taken before full entry into home; must wait for negative results before proceeding to visit
Testing clinic hours will be:
8:00 am – 9:45 am; 10:00 am – 12:30 pm; 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Please make arrangements to have the required testing completed. If you visit after 4:00 pm, you are permitted to come into the home to have a test completed during testing hours and return later in the day for your visit.
Visitation
Caregiver designation
- Residents can designate a maximum of two caregivers, unless more than two caregivers were already designated prior to December 14th.
- Additions to the caregiver list are no longer permitted. However, a resident and/or their substitute decisions-maker may change a designation. Changes to caregiver designation must be made using the consent form. Any newly designated caregivers must be fully vaccinated.
- Caregivers must be 18 years of age or older.
General visitors booking
- Visits must be booked at least 24-hours in advance and during business hours (Mon – Fri 8 am – 4 pm) by calling 705-360-2644 ext. 4500.
- If your visit has not been booked in advance, you may be turned away.
Indoor visits
- Maximum of two (2) caregivers/general visitors per resident may visit at a time indoors.
Visitation for children under 12 years of age
- As all general visitors must be fully vaccinated, children under 12 years of age are not permitted to visit until such time as they are fully vaccinated.
Activities
Dining
- Caregivers and general visitors must keep their masks on when around any other residents. Fully vaccinated caregivers and visitors are only permitted to remove their mask to eat or drink in the resident’s room or if meal booked in auditorium/main dining. Caregivers and general visitors must not remove their mask in common areas i.e. Tuck Shop, lounge, etc.
Large group activities (over 10 people) are not permitted. Activities will be co-horted to one floor. Mass will no longer be occurring in person, alternate arrangements will be made for residents to participate in mass in the home.
Absences
Day absences
- Absences for social purposes are permitted for fully vaccinated residents only. Upon return, residents will be actively screen and receive a rapid test and PCR testing on day 3, followed by a PCR test on day 7. Isolation not required unless positive result received.
- Essential medical or compassionate absences are still permitted, regardless of vaccination status. Routine screening required upon return, no testing or isolation if no known exposure to a case, as the environments are controlled and all precautions must be followed.
- Please inform the staff on the residents’ floor of any absences in advance.
Overnight absences
- Overnight absences for social purposes are suspended, regardless of vaccination status. Residents who wish to leave the home for overnight social absences will be temporarily discharged and need to follow re-admission protocol in order to return at a late date.
Whenever outside of the home, residents should do their best to:
- Wear a mask;
- Wash hands frequently;
- Limit contact with others, avoid crowds, large social gatherings and gathering with unvaccinated people;
- Physically distance and only be in close contact with fully vaccinated people.
Fully vaccinated
• Full series (two doses) of a COVID-19 vaccine authorized by Health Canada, or
• One or two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine not authorized by Health Canada, followed by one dose of a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine authorized by Health Canada, AND
• Received their final dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days before providing the proof of being fully vaccinated.
If the resident is self-isolating or symptomatic or the Golden Manor goes into outbreak, general visits and social absences will be cancelled. All guidelines are subject to change based on Ministry and Porcupine Health Unit directives.