Second Wave – Be vigilant – We can do this together!
To the staff of Menno Place,
We are extremely proud of your vigilance and dedication in keeping yourselves and our residents safe from the coronavirus for NINE MONTHS!
You have seen many changes in your jobs and workplace since we locked the doors to visits in March. Masks, goggles, fog, hand sanitizing, separate staff rooms, changing clothing, no Starbucks coffee deliveries – and (on top of it all) the ongoing stress of keeping yourself safe from COVID-19. Many of you have expressed the additional stress and responsiblity you feel as you navigate your world to keep COVID out of Menno Place. Thank you for your dedication to these protocols and to our residents.
And still, this pandemic continues – the rate of new cases continues to rise. There are currently 26 care homes in BC that are on COVID-19 outbreak. The highest concentration of these cases is in the Fraser Health region. Several of our staff are currently isolating in their own homes because a family member who lives with them has been in contact with a COVID-19 positive individual. The coronvirus is here and it is closer to you than you may expect. The rate of new cases has risen from average 150 per day (Oct. 19th when Dr. Bonnie Henry declared the 2nd wave) to today – 254 new cases per day.
What do we need to do in the 2nd Wave?
- Healthcare Workers (everyone who works at Menno Place) must follow all the guidelines from the Public Health Officer – at work and in your life
It’s time to reduce the number of people you interact with. Dr. Bonnie Henry is asking us to choose a”safe six” (How to practise ‘safe six’), to limit visitors into our homes, to wear masks in public spaces like the grocery store. Do not risk your life or the lives of the residents by attending parties or gatherings during this 2nd wave. Be safe in your own home – ask all who live with you to comply to these rules. Even our best intentions (like a birthday party) can put ourselves and others at risk – Elderly woman (80 years old) dies after attending small birthday party. - Masks are now required in ALL areas of all buildings at Menno Place. Put your mask on immediately upon entering. Wear your mask if you are not eating/drinking in the staff room. Wear your mask when you are in line at the biometric handscanner. Wear your mask when you are in an office with others. If you are working alone in your office space, you do not need to wear a mask. Put it on when another person enters that space.
- Continue with your protocols – stay 6ft apart from co-workers if you are not providing direct care to a resident, wear your mask at all times, wear your goggles in resident spaces, wash your hands often, use hand sanitizer often. Don’t leave these protocols at work – take them with you in your life outside of work.
We can do this again! We have a great track record!
- We have implemented the Safe Visits program and now have 9 staff who have facilitated 899 safe visits for loved ones and residents (that’s a LOT of safe visits so far!)
- We have implemented the essential visitor program and continue to support our residents through these visits with full PPE
- We implemented our palliative care volunteer program and have welcomed the ministry and care of these volunteers into resident rooms
- In the apartments, we have doubled the number of Registered Visitors who can enter the Independent Living apartment buildings
- Our maintenance team continues to bring contractors into the buildings to do essential work
