Statement of Purpose:
Visitors are a component to the well being of the residents. They support the mental and emotional well-being of the residents by reducing potential negative impacts related to social isolation.
Definitions:
An Essential Caregiver is a caregiver who is:
-a support worker who visits a home to provide support to the critical operations of the home or provide essential services to a resident;
-a person visiting a very ill resident for compassionate reasons including, but not limited to end-of-life care.
A General Visitor is a person who is not an essential caregiver and is visiting to provide non-essential services to a resident.
Procedure:
- Residents or their Substituent Decision Maker/POA have a right to choose who is a visitor and who will be deemed as an essential caregiver.
- Essential Caregivers and General visitors are encouraged to follow the recommendations from the Public Health Office of Medical Officer of Health regarding the recommended doses of the COVID- 19 vaccine and are also encouraged to get vaccinated in the fall of each year for Influenza.
- All visitors are strongly encouraged to submit their email to receive Family Newsletters to ensure they are up-to-date on all protocols and overall health status of the Home. Hard copies of the Family Newsletter are available at the screening area as well.
- All Visitors must follow the Policies and Procedures outlined by the Home based on the best practice guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care or Local Public Health guidelines.
- All Essential Caregivers and Visitors must complete screening at the main entrance before entry by answering all questions truthfully and pass the screening to enter into the Home.
- All Essential Caregivers and Visitors must complete a Rapid Antigen Test as directed by the Home, unless under 1 year old.
- Essential Caregivers and General visitors will be provided with a hand hygiene pamphlet on how to wash hands and apply appropriate PPE monthly.
- Essential Caregivers must submit in writing their desire to be approved as a designated Essential Caregiver. Essential caregivers are to be designated by the resident or their POA. The designated Essential Care giver designation remains in place for 28 days before another person can be designated as an essential caregiver. Each resident may have 2 Essential Caregivers at one time. During an outbreak they may visit one at a time.
- All Visitors and Essential Caregivers will be entered into a log book to log their entry/exit, in order to support contact tracing if required.
Visiting Hours:
Essential Caregivers and General Visitors may call the home and book a visit between the hours of 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Some exceptions may apply.
Health and Safety:
Everyone in the Long-Term Care Home, whether staff, student, volunteer, caregiver, support worker, general visitor or resident, has a responsibility to ensure the ongoing health and safety of all by following infection control policies and procedures.
Masks are mandated for every person that enters the Home. Medical grade masks to be worn are provided by the Home. The mask must be worn over the individual’s mouth and nose at all times while on Friendly Manor property.
There is no drinking, eating or smoking by General Visitors or Essential Caregivers at anytime while on the Friendly Manor property.
General Visitors are not permitted to enter the home in an outbreak or if a resident is on isolation precautions due to an infectious disease.
Essential Caregivers can enter outbreak areas one at a time.