Dear Resident or Family Member,

We remain committed to providing updates to our residents, families, and staff at AgeCare. As such, we are providing weekly updates to keep you all informed on what is happening at our community and organization-wide.

These weekly updates will include:

1. Information and announcements – this week, we are sharing a guide to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
2. Recreation highlights as the need to stay active, intellectually stimulated, and socially connected never ends.
3. A weekly shout-out to celebrate the great work and activities happening at our community.

These updates are sent Friday each week. We hope that you find them helpful. Thank you all for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Cindy Kahlon
Administrator

Guide to Personal Protective Equipment

To minimize the spread of the virus in our communities, all staff and essentials visitors must wear the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). While most circumstances will only require a procedural mask, we have outlined the different types of PPE that you will see in our communities, who will be wearing them, and when.

Procedural Masks

Masks should be brought and worn by essential visitors during all visits. Staff also wear masks throughout their shifts and when providing resident care.

• A procedure or surgical mask is sufficient protection
• You must avoid touching your face even if wearing a mask
• A procedural mask will provide protection from COVID-19
• To put on a mask:
  • Put the loops over your ears
  • Bend the soft piece at the top over the bridge of your nose and pull the bottom down to cover your chin

 

Gowns, Eye Protection & Gloves

 

Gowns

Gowns are worn by staff when entering a room of a resident on isolation as a contact/ droplet precaution.

 

• Should have long sleeves that cover your arms to your wrist
• Should be closed using both ties at the neck and the back
• They should not be worn backwards and tied at the front.
• They should not be left open at the back or the front.

 

Eye Protection

Eye protection is worn by staff when entering a room of a resident on isolation as a contact/ droplet precaution.

• Staff put on eye protection after their mask.
• Eye protection is cleaned and disinfected between uses.
• Safety glasses, Face shields, and occlusive eye goggles are all adequate to use as eye protection.
• Regular eyeglasses are not an effective alternative.

 

Gloves

Gloves are used by staff when entering a room of a resident on isolation as a contact/ droplet precaution.

• Gloves are not used as a substitute for hand hygiene.
• They can’t be washed.
• Gloves are changed between residents and between care activities for the same resident.
• Gloves are never worn to cover the cuff of a gown.
• Staff do not wear gloves in the hallway.

 

N95 Masks

N95 masks are used by staff when entering a room of a resident on isolation as a contact/ droplet precaution.

• An N95 mask is a negative pressure air-purifying respirator.
• When you inhale, a negative pressure is created in the mask, and the surrounding air flows through a filter which removes the contaminants. The clean air continues into the mask and the lungs.

Essential visitors do not need to wear an N95 mask, and would not be present in the room when a specific aerosol-generating medical procedure requiring an N95 mask is conducted.

For more information on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), read AgeCare’s One Minute of Learning.

 

Recreation Highlights

The need to stay active, intellectually stimulated, and socially connected never ends – even during these unprecedented times. Our recreation team is working hard to create engaging activities to enrich the mind, body and spirit that maintain physical distancing.

• Download our highlights of the week from the recreation department (PDF).
  • Harmony Court
  • Harmony Court Estate

 

Weekly Shout-Out

Thank you to the entire reception team for your dedication, hard work and commitment to our residents and families. Your compassion and kindness is inspiring.