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.
On September 15, 2021, the Government of Alberta declared a state of public health emergency and announced new public health measures to reduce the impacts of COVID-19 in response to Wave 4. COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to rise, largely in unvaccinated Albertans. New measures to protect the health care system, stop the spread, and increase vaccination rates came into effect throughout the province starting September 16 – including access to businesses and services based on vaccination status.
Furthermore, previously on August 31, 2021, Alberta Health Services (AHS) announced they will now require all employees and contracted healthcare providers to be fully immunized for COVID-19, by October 31, 2021. Contracted continuing care providers are included in this AHS governed requirement. This means BSF staff (and contractors) are required to be fully immunized in compliance with this mandatory condition of employment for all healthcare workers.
As part of our ongoing commitment to review our COVID-19 Safe Visiting Policy, BSF recently conducted a survey to seek feedback from residents and families on potential changes specifically based on the vaccination status of visitors. A total of 531 responses were received.
An overwhelming majority of 85% of respondents supported a requirement for visitors to show proof of vaccination status or a negative rapid test prior to visiting. The strong majority of respondents also agreed that visitors without proof of vaccination or a rapid test should be restricted only to Outdoor Visits, Window Visits or Virtual Visits.
As community transmission rises, a growing number of continuing care sites are once again experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks. As a preventative measure for the protection of our residents and everyone living, visiting, and working within our sites, BSF is introducing the following changes to our COVID-19 Safe Visiting Policy.
Find out more by viewing the BSF Safe Visiting Policy available at: www.BSF.ca/COVID19.
We appreciate the understanding and cooperation of the majority of our residents, families and visitors. We take this opportunity to remind you that these changes have also been made in consultation with our residents and families who have informed and strongly supported this approach to visitation based on the vaccination status of visitors.
We do understand that everyone’s individual risk tolerances vary and that a small minority of our residents, families and visitors will have a differing view on this new restriction. That is why we are still committed to offering a choice (i.e. the option for a rapid test instead), and supporting alternative visitation solutions (i.e. Outdoor and Virtual Visits).
However, please also be reminded that BSF takes a ‘zero tolerance approach’ to non-compliance with our COVID-19 Safe Visiting Policy and mandatory Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH) Orders for Continuing Care, including the mandatory requirements for screening, masking, and any other safety instructions or precautions that may be provided by our staff. BSF also takes a ‘zero tolerance approach’ to any abuse of our people including our frontline screening, reception and nursing teams or any other staff members in any role or position required to ensure adherence to our COVID-19 Safe Visiting Policy or CMOH Orders.
In the unlikely event of heightened conflict, BSF will engage law enforcement to address issues that might arise and, moreover, BSF will seek remedies through the courts to prevent issues from recurring.
Any concerns or complaints with the BSF COVID-19 Safe Visiting Policy should be respectfully and constructively directed to the Site Administrator. Alternatively, you can contact the BSF Quality and Innovation team via the online form available at: thebsf.ca/contact/online-feedback.html for your concerns to be addressed by a representative of the BSF Senior Management team.
Should a resident choose to participate in an offsite outing, it is the resident’s and their family’s or visitor’s responsibility to understand and follow all mandatory public health measures if applicable in the community. This currently includes restrictions on private social gatherings, masking requirements in indoor public places, and proof of immunization records when accessing businesses and services under Alberta’s Restrictions Exemption Program.
If you are accompanying a resident on an outing to a business or service operating under the Restrictions Exemption Program, please ensure you support the resident to access their Government of Alberta issued proof of vaccination card easily available for all vaccinated Albertans online at: www.alberta.ca/CovidRecords.
Immunization against COVID-19 is the most effective means to prevent the spread of COVID-19, to prevent outbreaks in healthcare and continuing care environments, to preserve workforce capacity to support the healthcare system, and to protect our residents, families, visitors, staff and all others accessing our sites. Evidence confirms that being fully immunized mitigates potential harm to patients and continuing care residents and healthcare workers. Thank you for your ongoing cooperation and understanding.
Together, we remain BSF Strong!
.JPG)
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.
