Dear Residents and Families,

As we move into a different stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, we remain committed to providing updates to our residents, families, and staff at AgeCare Walden Heights. As such, we will be providing weekly updates to keep you all informed on what is happening at our community and organization-wide.

These weekly updates will include:

1. Timely information and announcements – this week we are covering resident and family visitation options during the COVID-19 pandemic.
2. Recreation Highlights, as the need to stay active, intellectually stimulated, and socially connected never ends – even during these unprecedented times.
3. A weekly shout-out to celebrate the great work and activities happening at our community.
4. These updates will be sent late in the day on Thursday each week. We hope that you find these weekly updates helpful. Thank you all for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Holly Johnson
Director of Care
AgeCare Walden Heights

Visiting During the COVID-19 Pandemic

We recognize that the last few weeks have been immensely difficult for residents and their families and that you have not seen your loved one for some time. Please know, we are so appreciative of your efforts in supporting the visitor restrictions at AgeCare Walden Heights, and the incredible sacrifices both your loved one and yourselves have made to ensure everyone’s collective safety. Thanks to you, those who live and work in our community remain safe and healthy.

As the broader community begins to open, our first priority remains controlling the spread of the virus, and we believe that if we continue on this path – working together – that we can remain COVID-19 free. We ask that families remain strong throughout this transition and continue to be patient in supporting the visitor restrictions that have proven successful.

We highly encourage all our family members to take advantage of our virtual visits (phone, text, video, or email) and outdoor in-person visitation options provided by our recreation team. These visits allow you to stay connected with your loved one and give the residents a much-needed sense of comfort and reassurance during this difficult time.

AgeCare Walden Heights offers up to 250 outdoor in-person, window visits and virtual visit sessions per week for residents and family to choose from.

To sign-up, contact our Recreation Manager, Kerri Firmaniuk at kfirmaniuk@agecare.ca or 587-349-6055.

Virtual and in-person visits must be booked in advance to ensure staff is available to assist, and resident care needs can continue to be met. To ensure everyone has the opportunity to schedule a visit with their loved one, visits will be limited to 30-minutes.

Virtual Visits

Virtual visits can be done via phone, text, email, Skype, Facetime or Facebook.

Virtual visit options available each week:

• Monday-Friday between 9 am – 7:30 pm.
• At this time, Recreation staff are not available to support on evenings and weekends for virtual visits unless specific arrangements have been made.

Outdoor In-Person Visits

In-person visits will occur in designated outdoor spaces. For these visits, some guidelines must be adhered to including:

• Visitations will only occur outside the building. There will be no visitations occurring inside the building – including indoor (enclosed) courtyards.
• Families must observe the limits of 2 adult visitors only. Visitors must be 18 years or older, and no pet visits at this time.
• Masks must be worn by all visitors and the resident. If you are unable to bring your own mask, one will be provided to you.
• The visits will be fully supervised by staff and are weather dependant.
• Visits may be discontinued if physical distancing of 2-meters and masking cannot be adhered to by the resident or family members.
• Families must not bring food or drinks but are welcome to bring cards or flowers. Staff will help ensure residents get the items.
• Residents who are in isolation are not permitted to visit outside. We encourage you to continue to meet with them through one of our virtual visits.
• Members of Recreation and AgeCare volunteers will help monitor these interactions to ensure appropriate physical-distancing.

On the day of your visit:

• All visitors are required to come to the the white Vista Courtyard gate at the North West corner of the building each time they visit, perform hand hygiene, and complete a Visitor Acknowledgement Form.
• Families should not bring resident laundry or belongings; these items should be dropped on the table between the front doors near Reception.

Outdoor in-person visit options available each week:

• Monday-Friday between 10 am – 12 pm & 1 pm – 5 pm.
• At this time, Recreation staff are not available to support on evenings and weekends for in-person visits unless specific arrangements have been made.

Thank you again for your continued support in maintaining the visitor restrictions and helping keep our community COVID-19 free. AgeCare remains committed to supporting the wellbeing of all residents and staff during this time.

If you have any questions regarding the visitation restrictions, please feel free to reach out to Carol Law, General Manager, at 403-873-4701 or claw@agecare.ca or Holly Johnson, Director of Care, at 403-873-4702 or hjohnson@agecare.ca.

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, while ensuring residents can maintain appropriate physical distancing.

Recreation Highlights of the Week

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

Weekly Shout-Out

A great big thank you to the AgeCare Walden Heights Recreation Team for working tirelessly to facilitate both the virtual visits and the outdoor in-person visits so that residents can communicate with their loved ones.