February 8 Visitation Guidelines
Here to keep you updated! St. Michael’s family updates/news as things change and evolve. Links to information and resources can be found on smhg.ca/covid19
February 8, 2021 Visitation Access Guidelines
These visiting guidelines are critical public health safety measures and must be implemented and observed by all persons to help prevent the spread of Covid-19. Please review this information as it is important that we adhere to the guidelines as set down by the Chief Medical Officer of Health.
At St. Michael’s Long Term Care Centre (SMLTCC) and in keeping with province wide restrictions, the safe visitation policy is:
- All in-person Social Visits (visits for guests other than the DF/SP) are suspended at this time. Please note: when social visits are allowed, you will still need to set up a pre-arranged time and date.
- Indoor visits are restricted with the following guidelines: up to two (2) Designated Family/Support Persons (DF/SP) can visit based on the specifics itemized below; and secondly in cases where extenuating circumstances (EC) arise which include end-of-life is expected in the next 4-6 weeks; there is a change in health status; and pressing issues such as legal or financial matters that cannot be deferred. As indicated in detail below, please contact the Case Manager to make arrangements.
- Very Important: If you are not feeling well on the day of your scheduled visit or if you have any of the COVID-19 symptoms which are new or unusual for you – it is important to stay at home- do not come to St. Michael’s
Designated Family/Support Persons
Each Resident or alternate decision maker is to confirm up to two (2) Designated Family/Support Persons who will be recognized as part of the Resident’s care team and supported as essential to maintaining the Resident’s mental and physical health.
These persons shall be at least 18 years of age (unless there are exceptional circumstances to be considered) and may be a family member, friend, companion, support worker, legal guardian or any other person identified by the Resident or alternate decision maker.
If the DF/SP will be away and need a temporary change, please contact us.
Indoor Visits
Indoor visits are restricted to: up to two (2) confirmed Designated Family/Support Persons (DF/SP) can visit based on the specifics itemized below; and secondly in cases where extenuating circumstances (EC) arise which include: end-of-life is expected in the next 4-6 weeks; there is a change in the residents’ health status; and pressing issues such as legal or financial matters which cannot be deferred.
Note: If St. Michael’s is on outbreak the guidelines may be adjusted
Extenuating circumstances include:
- End of life is approaching (Resident is recognized as likely being within their last 4-6 weeks of life)
- There has been a significant change in the Residents’ health status with the Residents’ health suddenly compromised
- Legal or financial matters that require a visit with someone other than a DF/SP
Whenever extenuating circumstances exist, other individuals are able to attend indoor visits. Extenuating circumstance visitors may include other family, friends, accompanied minors, support persons or professionals
Visits may include a maximum of the two (2) Designated Family/Support Persons if the Resident is in a private room, or only one (1) Designated Family/Support Person if the Resident is in a semi-private room. Visitors are to undergo screening upon entry, remain 6 feet from the Resident whenever possible during the visit and to don all appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Visits will be held in the Resident room. If a Resident is in a semi-private room, only one (1) visitor can enter at a time
Visits will be pre-arranged and can be for up to the full time allotted below but to ensure a safe number of people on site at once, visitors must arrive and leave within the allotted time. All scheduled visits Monday to Friday at 5:45 pm must arrive punctually as the doors will be locked by 6:00 pm when reception staff leave for the day. Nursing staff will not be able to come open the door for visitors who are late.
Monday to Friday
9:00 am – 11:00 am
11:00 am – 1:00 pm
3:45 pm – 5:45 pm
5:45 pm – 7:45 pm
Saturday and Sunday
9:00 am – 11:00 am
11:00 am – 1:00 pm
1:30 pm – 3:30 pm
3:45 pm – 5:45 pm
To pre-arrange a visit, please contact:
Lia N. 780-472-4790 / LNudelman@smhg.ca for Residents on the 1st floor;
or Jackie K. at 780-472-4795 / JKwiatkowski@smhg.ca for the 2nd floor.
To safely accommodate all requested visits and visitors, two Resident visits per time slot will be scheduled in each pod (red, blue, green). This generally means each Resident would have 2 visits per week. The schedule will remain the same from week to week. e.g. For DF/SP scheduled visits, if the Resident is in a private room, the 2 DF/SPs can both visit at the same time up to twice a week. If the Resident is in a semi-private room, the DF/SPs must come at separate times and will each have one visit a week. Note: this may change if we are on Outbreak
Yes! To keep your loved one safe, during the visit you must keep your mask and eye protection on at all times. Every visitor will be given a surgical procedure mask and protection eye glasses when you arrive and go through the screening process at entry. Glasses are to be left when you exit. No other masks are allowed to be worn by visitors, family or staff.
If you cannot make the scheduled indoor visit time, that is fine. You do not need to notify anyone. However, please do not come at any other time – you will have to wait until your next scheduled visit to come on site.
Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms or recent known exposure to someone with COVID-19 must not enter SMLTCC at all.
Please arrive at the main Long Term Care Centre entrance. You will need to practice social distancing if there are others waiting to enter, sanitize your hands, apply a mask, apply protection eye glasses, record your arrival, complete a health screening questionnaire and temperature check and then proceed to the Resident’s room where you will remain for the duration of the visit. Upon completing your visit you must sign out at the front desk and leave through the designated exit door in the cafeteria where you will dispose of your mask and leave your eye glasses for cleaning.
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- While on site for an indoor visit, you cannot visit any other Residents besides your loved one, nor go to other areas on the site besides the Resident room
- Drop-in visits are not allowed – all visits must be pre-arranged
- All visitors are asked to help keep Resident rooms disinfected. When you go through screening, you will be given a bag with cloths to wipe down all surfaces you have touched in the Resident room during your visit. Used and clean cloths, and the plastic bag, can be dropped off in designated laundry baskets by the screening area as you exit
- No food or drinks are provided – the cafeteria is off limits to visitors and residents
- No food or drinks are to be shared between the Resident and visitor(s)
- No food is to be consumed during the visit by the visitor as you are to remain masked at all times
- If a visitor has a question or requires an item or assistance s/he should use the Resident’s call-bell system to obtain help (clean the call bell when done). It is important to avoid wandering through the unit looking for staff or trying to help yourself
- Visitors are to plan ahead and use washroom facilities prior to arriving on site
- If there is only one resident in the room and the resident is not on isolation, a visitor may use the Resident’s washroom during the visit immediately cleaning and disinfecting all touched surfaces
- Visitors must not:
- Travel unnecessarily into hallways or shared spaces, or visit other areas in the home (cafeteria, basement, Four Seasons Room, etc.).
- If visitors do not comply with the guidelines, visitation privileges can be suspended before reviewing whether it is possible to schedule visits again
Visitor Requirements
All visitors must:
- Be healthy and not be experiencing any Covid-19 symptoms
- Be vigilant in protecting the resident by practicing physical distancing, wearing masks in public, following proper hand hygiene, restricting visitors in your own homes, limiting travel in your daily lives, following all Provincial restrictions and not visiting if these practices are not being met
- Adhere to the schedule and arrive on time
- Adhere to and respect visitation guidelines and general rules
Restriction of Visits (could occur in case of an Outbreak as based on guidelines set out by the CMOH indicating temporary restrictions may be applied if there is imminent danger of a Covid-19 Outbreak):
- Social Visits may be restricted due to:
- A Risk Tolerance Assessment indicating low/no tolerance to exposure to COVID-19 or low/no tolerance due to increased COVID case levels in the community
- A confirmed COVID-19 Outbreak
- An inability to safely have more visitors on site
Duration and frequency restrictions on visits shall occur in a collaborative manner with Residents and Families impacted:
- Consultation may occur with members of Resident or Family Council, AHS Patient Concerns Manager, or Edmonton Zone Medical Officer of Health (MOH)
- SMLTCC will attempt to work collaboratively with Residents and Families when applying restrictions by considering and offering alternative options
- If limits conflict with the visitors schedule, SMLTCC will provide alternative options
- DF/SPs shall never be overly restricted in their access to the Resident they support. This means, during a confirmed site COVID outbreak the DF/SP visit schedule may be adjusted but not prohibited altogether
Visiting Restrictions shall be re-evaluated within 21 days
This is a lot of information, but these steps are necessary to keep your loved ones and you safe and allow your family to spend this precious time together.