As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, Chatham-Kent Hospice is continuing to monitor and take actions to protect our residents and their families, volunteers and staff. Please know that our Hospice residents continue to be our first priority and our professional care team continues to provide compassionate care. We are continuing with active screening and additional cleaning measures to keep our residents, visitors, and staff safe. In addition, we are asking staff to wear personal protective equipment which may include any or all of the following; masks, gloves, gowns, and face shields.
We also understand the importance of visits from those that are important to you and during this time of ongoing change we are continuing to review our visitor guidelines.
Reception Desk Hours
The reception desk continues to be staffed between the core hours of 8:30am-4:30pm, 7 days a week. We ask that any visitors arriving before or after these times, to please be patient with us as staff may be delayed in answering the door if providing care to one of our residents.
Visitor Guidelines
Our visiting guidelines are based on Ministry of Health (MOH) directives, local Public Health guidance, adequate personal protective equipment, and staffing levels. Residents and families will agree to limit visitors to 2 dedicated persons:
- 1 designated person may visit during all hours
- 2nd designated person may visit only during the core hours of 8:30am-4:30pm until the resident is in their last hours to days of life or PPS 10%
- An additional (3rd) person will be considered as an exception when the resident is in their last hours to days of life or PPS 10%.
- Visitors are asked to plan for their visits and avoid coming and going during the day
We understand that visitor restrictions make a difficult time even more difficult for your family. Please encourage additional family members and friends to stay in touch by scheduling a “garden visit” or by email, phone, video chats (FaceTime, Skype). Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.
Garden Visits
- Visitors must phone to pre-arrange their visits in coordination with the resident
- Visitors are required to wear a face mask for the visit
- Visitors may bring a lawn chair
- Physical distancing (2 meters) applies for garden visitors
- Windows in the suite will remain closed and the visitor will be provided with the hospice phone number and suite extension to facilitate phone communication or windows may be open if the resident and any visitors in the suite are 2 meters from the window.
Screening
All visitors will continue to be actively screened with each visit:
- Undergo and pass the screening questions and temperature check twice (upon entering and exiting)
- Perform hand hygiene
- Wear personal protective equipment which may include: re-usable mask, re-usable gown, and disposable gloves.
Any visitor who fails the screening or temperature check will not be permitted to visit. Visitors who are feeling unwell at any time are encouraged to immediately report their symptoms to the nursing staff for guidance.
We also ask that visitors stay in the resident suite once in the building with the exception of accessing the nutrition area outside the nurses’ station. All common areas within the residence are temporarily closed. The courtyard may be accessed by a resident and their designated visitors following isolation precautions.
We ask that you to continue to follow preventative measures to reduce the transmission of and exposure to germs and viruses, including influenza, common colds, and COVID-19:
- Wash hands often with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer;
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands;
- Practice good cough etiquette (maintain distance, sneeze/cough into your elbow or a tissue, not in your hands and put used tissues in a waste receptacle and wash hands immediately after using tissues)
- Practice social distancing to avoid coming into close contact with others including:
- avoiding crowded places and non-essential gatherings
- avoiding common greetings such as handshakes
- limiting contact with people at higher risk (older adults and those in poor health)
- keeping a distance of at least 2 arms lengths (approximately 2 metres) from others, as much as possible
If you have any questions regarding COVID-19 please follow-up with the Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit at 519-355-1071 ext. 1900 or visit https://www.ontario.ca/page/2019-novel-coronavirus
Donations
Because of your support, we are able to continue to offer compassionate, end-of-life care to our Hospice families even through this crisis. Thank You!
We are already experiencing the impacts of this pandemic on our fundraising efforts with the cancellation of many fundraising events in support of Chatham-Kent Hospice as well as the reduction in memorial donations with the restrictions on funeral gatherings. Because we rely on donations to cover everyday expenses (food, utilities, supplies), our Hospice families need your help now more than ever. If you are able, please consider how you can continue to offer support. Donations can be made by credit card online or over the phone. Cash or cheque donations can be dropped off at Hospice – please ensure your name, address, and phone number are included in a sealed envelope. The person at reception will provide you with instructions on where to leave the donation through the intercom when you arrive.
We want you to know that our priority is to ensure we keep residents, visitors, volunteers and employees safe while continuing to provide excellent care and services. We thank you for your assistance during this uncertain time.