Restrictions concerning visitation at personal care homes were loosened in Manitoba last week.
While outdoor visits are now allowed, Ada Husak, Director of Acute and Personal Care Homes for PMH North, still encourages virtual visits, such as video calls, phone calls, parades, and window visits.
“But we are excited to enter a new phase of visiting for residents and families. Recently, with our public health officers and Dr Roussin relaxing some of the restrictions on personal care home visits, we’ve been able to begin onsite, outdoor visits at our personal care homes in the region. Prairie Mountain Health is in the early stages of implementing our outdoor visits throughout the region. These have been positively received by residents and families.”
Husak says so far, most of the feedback from families and residents has been positive, adding that families have been very happy and thankful for the visits.
“One visitor shared, seeing her husband, how she felt the excitement of the anticipation of the visit, as it got closer that excitement was building. She shared that she felt like when they were young again and were visiting. So that’s very exciting.”
Each personal care home has specific plans for outdoor, onsite visits. The areas vary because of the different layouts and needs of residents and families.
In Dauphin, St. Paul’s has two spots socially distanced apart for visits. Their visits started last week.
Dauphin PCH has a larger area to work with and they’ve been able to set up 4 or 5 areas for visits within their outside patio in the courtyard. Their visits are due to start this week and they’re in the process of booking them.
Husak says appointments are required for visits.
“We can’t accept drop-in visitation at this time. Each resident or their primary contact that’s listed for them will have received or should have received a letter by now, advising them of the outdoor visits. The letter will also give them instructions on how to go about booking their visit. There should be a name and a contact number for them to call if they have any questions, concerns that come up in the coming days or weeks.”
There are still some restrictions to be followed. The primary contact is asked to provide the names of 4 essential visitors per resident. The limit is 4 in order to continue to limit the circle of contacts to the resident, thus decreasing the risk of COVID exposure. Children under the age of 14 should be accompanied by an adult.
All visitors should expect screening to ensure they don’t have any symptoms or exposure to the coronavirus. If visitors have cold, flu, or coronavirus-like symptoms, they won’t be allowed to visit. Husak asks that all visitors comply with the infection prevention and control measures, such as strict hand hygiene and maintaining social distancing. Visitors will be greeted by the screener, screened, and showed to the area of the visit. The resident will be brought to the visit by the staff.
Indoor visits remain suspended at this time except on a case by case basis for compassionate, end of life reasons.
