COVID-19 Family & Visitor Bulletin: Safe Visiting Policy Changes to Designated Family/Support Visitors

Updates to BSF COVID-19 Safe Visiting Policy

Based on the prevalence of COVID-19 in the community, and in consideration of the current outbreak status and increasing cases within our sites, The Brenda Strafford Foundation (BSF) is temporarily introducing the following changes to our COVID-19 Safe Visiting Policy to ensure greater protection for our residents and staff.

These changes come into effect at all Foundation sites starting Thursday, January 6, until further notice.

Visitation is temporarily being restricted to two Designated Family/Support Persons per resident.

• Exceptions will be made for end of life or other extenuating circumstances approved by the Administrator for compassionate reasons.
• Designated Family/Support Persons can include children aged 5 years and older (exceptions for children aged 4 years and under to be approved by the Administrator).
• Visitors that are not fully immunized are strongly encouraged to reconsider their need to attend to the resident onsite, indoors and in person (in line with the Chief Medical Officer of Health’s recommendation issued October 19, 2021). It is strongly recommended that the DFSP be fully immunized for COVID-19.

How to name your Designated Family/Support Visitor:

• Residents with two previously assigned DFSP will automatically have the same two DFSP reinstated (as of May 2021). The resident (if own decision maker or the legal agent) may contact the site directly to make a current change to the DFSP if applicable.
• New residents that do not have two DFSP on file (from after May 2021) will be required to contact the site reception to name the two DFSP. Residents who are their own decision maker (or the legal agent) will be responsible for designating the two DFSP.

All persons visiting the site will be required to complete a rapid test upon entry (regardless of their immunization status).

• The visitor will be required to wait for the result of the rapid test before entering the site. Please allow an additional 15 minutes at screening to complete the rapid test.

All residents and families are strongly encouraged to assess their need for residents to attend unnecessary offsite outings.

• While there is no restriction on outings for residents that are not required to quarantine/isolate, BS strongly recommends that residents limit outings for essential reasons only (e.g., medical appointments other essential appointments/services that cannot be completed virtually), and do not leave the site to participate in social gatherings at this time.
• All residents returning from an outing of any length or purpose will be offered a voluntary rapid test upon their return to site. All residents returning from an outing of greater then 24 hours will be required to: wear a mask in common areas of the site, actively monitor twice daily for symptoms, complete rapid testing on days 1, 3 and 7 upon return to the site.

BSF Senior Management will continue to evaluate these new, temporary restrictions based on the prevalence and risk of COVID-19 in the community and the status of COVID-19 outbreaks across The Foundation’s sites.

Restricted Access Reminders:

• Temporary limitations on visitors may still occur in situations where the threat of COVID-19 is imminent and in situations where a risk tolerance assessment indicates increased/high risk of exposure to COVID-19.
• BSF reserves the right under any high-risk assessment (i.e. due to high rates of community prevalence, CMOH recommendations or other public health measures, or any other factor that may limit our ability as an operator to safely accommodate visitation) to implement further restrictions that are deemed necessary to protect the health and safety of residents, staff, families and visitors to our sites.
• Any additional restrictions on access would be communicated to residents, families, visitors and staff as needed and would be monitored on an ongoing basis.

Visitation Restriction Survey for Residents and Families/Visitors:

BSF is committed to understanding the risk tolerance of our residents and families and evaluating our policy changes considering consultation and feedback from our residents and families. The following Survey is available to all residents, families, and visitors to provide feedback on these current BSF restrictions and to inform our ongoing evaluation. The deadline to complete this survey is 12:00 p.m. on Monday, January 10, 2022

Updates Isolation Timelines

On December 31, 2021, the Government of Alberta announced a change to the isolation timelines (refer to www.alberta.ca/isolation.aspx). Effective January 3, Albertans are legally required to isolate as outlined below:

• Fully vaccinated: Isolate for 5 days from the start of symptoms or until they resolve, whichever is longer, if symptoms are not related to a pre-existing condition. For 5 days following isolation, wear a mask at all times when around others outside of home.
• Not fully vaccinated: Isolate for 10 days from the start of symptoms or until they resolve, whichever is longer, if symptoms are not related to a pre-existing condition.
• If you test negative and have symptoms, you should still stay home and away from others until symptoms resolve.

This change to isolation timelines does NOT apply to residents in continuing care. Affected residents are still required to isolate for the 10-day timeline as directed by Chief Medical Officer of Health Orders for continuing care that are separate to public health measures in the general public.

BSF Virtual Town Hall for Families

BSF is holding a Virtual Town Hall for all BSF families at 3:00 p.m. this Thursday, January 6, 2022. An invitation link to register for the Town Hall will be provided separately. A recording will be shared for those that cannot attend live.

The topics for the Town Hall will include:

• COVID-19 Situational Update and Recent Developments
• BSF CEO Update

Together, we remain BSF Strong!

Thank you for your ongoing cooperation and understanding. We wish you a happy, healthy, and safe new year!