Our residents are at higher risk of serious illness from exposure to COVID-19 and respiratory illnesses. You can help us protect everyone living, working or visiting at our Manors by preventing any potential spread of COVID-19 and other illnesses.
This special bulletin is designed to assure residents, families and visitors to our Manors that The Brenda Strafford Foundation (BSF) is taking all reasonable precautions to prevent the occurrence or spread of COVID-19 in our sites.
As seniors living in continuing care communities are a population that is at higher risk, and out of an abundance of precaution, BSF is taking extra Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures within our sites that are considered over and above the current guidelines for the general public in Alberta at this time.
Dear Residents, Families and Loved Ones/Visitors
It has now been almost two weeks since The Brenda Strafford Foundation implemented a Visitation Ban restricting entry into our sites to protect our residents from the threat of the COVID-19 virus. We have been in regular communication with residents, families and designated contacts through a variety of methods during this time. We will continue to keep you updated on our progress and status with transparent information.
We greatly appreciate your patience, understanding and support of the important measures we are taking to safeguard our residents and staff from COVID-19.
While we are currently focused on enhanced health and safety measures, we continue to be guided by our core value ‘People First.’
People are always at the centre of everything we do.
All our measures are designed to safeguard our people – Our Residents, Employees, Families and Community as a whole. As follows is an update on some important prevention measures and preparations we are undertaking to ensure the safety of our people.
Therapeutic recreation and life enrichment activities continue to engage our residents. ‘Pop-up’ recreation is happening daily on the neighbourhoods in small groups to ensure social distancing. The modified recreation activities look a little different than usual, with more focus on small groups and individual activities, but we remain busy finding creative ways to stimulate and engage residents.
In-person visits are restricted at present, but we are finding other ways for residents and families to remain connected. Ask the recreation team at your Manor how you can arrange a video-call on the iPads we have provided for ‘Virtual Visits’. Or think about how you can make a fun trip to see your loved one through a ‘Window Visit,’ like this family did by waving to mom from a distance at Bow View Manor.
We know that members of the care team working at multiple sites remains one of the greatest risks for inter-site transmission of the virus in health care settings. Not only are we requiring our nursing and care staff to work only at one site at this time, physicians are only visiting residents within our sites when it is considered absolutely necessary. We are making the technology available to support virtual assessments and rounding by physicians in collaboration with nursing.
While restorative care’s large group classes have been cancelled to support social distancing in our programs, the team is getting out and about on the neighbourhoods to facilitate small group classes, with a ratio of one staff to four residents. Walking programs continue on the neighbourhoods, as well as individual strengthening programs. The department continues to address equipment needs with site-owned equipment, but have currently put a hold on ordering new wheelchairs and equipment unless it is necessary.
All staff across all departments have a responsibility to practice IPC and are frequently practicing hand hygiene and sanitization of equipment. However, our hardworking housekeeping departments have increased staffing levels to support enhanced cleaning throughout our Manors. Our regular in-services schedule has been modified to allow our expert educators to spend more time on the floor and support enhanced education based on IPC best practices.
Our dining services are modified to ensure social distancing measures at meal times, but our kitchen and dietary teams are working hard to ensure that meals and meal times remain an enjoyable experience for residents.
Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work hard to modify our services and find new ways to continue to support your needs under the circumstances. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your regular primary point of contact at your Manor.