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.
The Brenda Strafford Foundation is currently planning for a potential ‘COVID-19 Wave 2,’ in conjunction with influenza season and ‘Back to School’ implications. We know that ‘Back to School’ plans and the implications of outbreaks in schools may impact employees and designated family/support persons with school-aged children and teachers in their families and households (or designated family/support persons who may be teachers or work in schools themselves). We also expect to see an increase in outbreaks and cases of community transmission once students return to school that may also impact employees and designated family/support persons ability to enter our sites.
With school returning in September, The Foundation is expecting more detailed information to be provided by the public health and school board authorities detailing outbreak responses in school environments. This information will inform The Foundation’s policies around both staff and visitors entering our sites if they are connected to an outbreak at a school.
In the meantime, we want to take this opportunity to provide some preliminary guidance to help those with school-aged children prepare for what to expect. Here are some examples of scenarios and what we currently anticipate the reponse to be.
1. If a child/teacher in your family, household or cohort has COVID-19 symptoms:
2. If the school is on outbreak, and a child/teacher in your family, household or cohort is in the same class or school cohort of the person who tested positive for COVID-19 (identified through contact tracing):
3. If the school is on outbreak, and a child/teacher in your family, household or cohort is not in the same class or school cohort of the person who tested positive for COVID-19:
This is an evolving situation and more information will be provided as public health and school board policy information becomes available.
We strongly encourage all residents, designated family/support persons or visitors to consider the impact of any close contact or exposure to children/teachers in your family, household or cohort attending school, how this might affect your individual risk assessment, and to adjust your visitation plans accordingly.
Please be reminded that any time anyone entering our site has had close contact to someone who is experiencing symptoms and is suspected/being tested for COVID-19 within the past 14 days, or has had close contact to someone directly connected to an outbreak at another location within the past 14 days, this information is required to be reported honestly at the screening station. It will also automatically restrict that person from entering our site. As such, if you know you have had exposure to someone that is experiencing symptoms and is suspected/being tested for COVID-19, or has had exposure to an outbreak at another location, we encourage you to be proactive. Knowing in advance that you will be restricted from entering our site, please do not arrive at the site and expect to enter.
Our employees are encouraged to report to their manager before reporting to work if they have concerns about their risk of exposure. Similarly, designated family/support persons or visitors coming to outdoor visits should also be aware of their risk of exposure before visiting the site. If you have any questions or concerns about your potential risk of exposure and ability to pass the screening requirements, we encourage you to contact us to discuss your concerns and complete a risk assessment before your arrival at the site.
It is critically important that everyone entering our sites (including all employees, designated family/support persons and visitors at outdoor visits) understand their risk of exposure in the community, adjust their behaviour and not enter or visit the site if they are concerned about their risk of exposure to COVID-19. Everyone is required to transparently disclose the relevant information at screening upon entry to the site. This is an existing expectation that we are taking this opportunity to remind you of, as students and teachers return to school and the risk of exposure to transmission of COVID-19 increases in the community.
The Brenda Strafford Foundation will continue to monitor the situation with regards to outbreak responses in schools and provide information affecting our visitation policies as necessary. Thank you once again for your ongoing cooperation and understanding.
Together, we remain BSF Strong!
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In the spirit of respect, reconciliation and gratitude, we honour and acknowledge that our services are provided on the traditional territories of Treaty 7, which includes the Blackfoot Confederacy comprising the Siksika, Piikani and Kainai First Nations, the Tsuut’ina First Nation, and the Stoney Nakoda First Nation including the Chiniki, Bearspaw and Good Stoney Bands. These territories are also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta Region 3. We are grateful for the many First Nations who have lived in and cared for these lands for generations. We acknowledge that we have ongoing responsibilities to protect, honour and celebrate all of life within our shared communities.
