Dear Residents and Families,
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 communities and organization-wide.
- COVID-19 Vaccination Second Doses – Information on the second-dose roll-out plan.
- Visitation Guidelines – All the information you need to ensure a safe visit.
- Seniors Week – Let’s come together to celebrate June 7-13
- Recreation Calendars - Staying active, intellectually stimulated, and socially connected.
- Weekly Shout-Out – Celebrate the great work and activities happening at our AgeCare communities.
We hope these weekly updates helpful. Thank you all for your continued support.
Sincerely,
AgeCare Communications
COVID-19 Vaccination Second DosesEarlier this week, the Government of Alberta announced the roll-out for second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Second doses are critical in protecting you against COVID-19. While a single dose of vaccine offers at least 80 percent protection against severe outcomes, including hospitalization and death, the second dose provides further protection and, most importantly, provides long-lasting protection against the virus.
To ensure the correct window of time between doses, Alberta Health Services is booking second dose appointments based on when you received your first dose.
You do not need to wait to be contacted to book your second dose. Appointments for second doses can be made online through the AHS website by calling 811 or participating pharmacies and physicians’ offices.
Timing of second doses
Pfizer and Moderna: The window between doses is a minimum of three to four weeks.
AstraZeneca: The window between doses is a minimum of eight weeks or more for best effectiveness.
AstraZeneca
Albertans who received an AstraZeneca dose in March or earlier can now book second-dose appointments. However, anyone who received it in April or May should wait until eight weeks have passed since their first dose before booking.
Albertans who received the first dose of AstraZeneca will have a choice:
- book a second appointment for AstraZeneca by going to the online AHS booking site, calling 811, or going to a pharmacy listed on the Alberta Blue Cross website
- book a second appointment for an mRNA (Pfizer or Moderna) vaccine through the AHS booking site, calling 811, or going to a pharmacy listed on the Alberta Blue Cross website
Both choices are safe and effective and will further protect you and your loved ones from COVID-19.
Visitation Guidelines
It has been so wonderful to once again see so many visitors to our communities. Thank you to everyone who has booked a visit and followed all of the guidelines – your dedication to keeping our communities safe and COVID-free is very appreciated.
Remember,
- Continuous masking is required for ALL visitors while inside the community. Masks are not required for children under 2 years of age.
- All visitors must understand the risk of unknown exposure for themselves and residents and assess health before visits.
- All visits must be booked in advance and during reception hours to ensure staff can provide a health screening.
- Visitors must be screened if the visit is inside or you need to enter the building to reach the outdoor visit space.
- Rapid Antigen Screening is available for visitors at all sites. All visitors are encouraged to be screened for COVID-19 when possible. View RAS Clinic hours.
- Visitors must follow all safe visiting practices and COVID-19 protocols. Visits may be refused if a visitor is not abiding by their responsibilities.
Download our NEW Guides
- Designated Family Support Visits Guide (pdf)
- Indoor Social Visits Guide (pdf)
- Outdoor Visits Guide (pdf)
Virtual Visits
To ensure residents and family can stay connected, we continue to offer scheduled virtual visits. Residents and families can book one virtual technology session per week. All virtual visits will continue as long as the site is staffed appropriately and care needs are met.
- Check out this week's shout-out on our virtual visits below.
To book a virtual visit, contact your AgeCare community:
Seniors Week June 7 - 13
We are so pleased that this year as we begin our journey back to normal that we will be able to celebrate our residents once again.
Seniors week has been celebrated in Alberta since 1986 as a way to recognize parents, grandparents, mentors, friends and residents and the difference they make in our lives.
Each community is planning their own unique celebrations – make sure to check the recreation calendars below to learn more!
Recreation Programming
Our recreation team is working hard to create engaging activities that enrich the mind, body and spirit while reducing the risk of transmission and having the least impact on resident well-being.
At this time, recreation activities will be held in individual neighbourhoods where possible and in larger spaces. This is to ensure that all participants can maintain physical distancing.
View the May Recreation Calendar for your AgeCare Community:
- AgeCare Columbia
- AgeCare Glenmore
- AgeCare Midnapore
- AgeCare Orchard Manor
- AgeCare Sagewood
- AgeCare Seton
- AgeCare Skypointe
- AgeCare Sunrise Gardens
- AgeCare Valleyview
- AgeCare Walden Heights
Weekly Shout Out
This week we’re shouting out our phenomenal Hair Salon Operators!
COVID-19 has been tough for hair-dressers across the province – add to that the extra precautions needed to keep residents safe, and 2020/2021 has been hard, in particular for our incredible salon operators.
They have been tasked with adapting to ever-changing CMOH orders, public health guidelines, and site outbreaks. Even with these challenges, they remain a source of consistency and joy for residents. Going to the salon is a treat and a glimpse at our pre-pandemic lives that is critical to the mental health of many of our residents. Our salon operators know residents well, tailoring their services and approach to meet each individual’s needs. The level of customer service is unparalleled and is often a wonderful visit between operator and resident.
Thank you to all of our Salon Operators for your dedication, flexibility and passion!
