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.

This weekly update includes:

1. Heatwave Safety – What AgeCare Harmony Court is doing to keep residents safe during the heatwave.
2. Vaccination and Staying Safe – What to expect from the vaccine and how to continue to keep yourself and loved ones safe.
   
3. Visitation Guidelines – How to stay safe during your visits
4. Recreation & Activities - An update on our recreation and activities as the need to stay active, intellectually stimulated, and socially connected never ends.
5. Weekly Shout Out - Sharing good news stories and gratitude for our residents, staff and community.

Thank you all for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Cindy Kahlon,
Administrator
Harmony Court Estate & Care Centre

Heatwave Safety

As you are most likely aware, Environment Canada has issued a Heat Advisory. We want to take this time to review what is in place to help keep our residents safe in this unprecedented heatwave.

Care Centre:

• Cooling stations have been created using portable air conditioning units in the following locations:
  • Care side first floor
    • social workers office
    • care conference room
  • Care side second floor:
    • small dining room
    • charting room
    • family room
    • palliative room
  • Fans are available in resident rooms as well as in the hallways
  • Hydration stations are ready and staff will provide hydration rounds every 30 - 60 minutes.
  • Cancellation of outdoor recreation and programs

Symptoms of heatstroke or heat exhaustion were reviewed with the team members. Staff are encouraging residents to ensure their fluid intake is plentiful.

Estate:

• A cooling station has been created in the following location:
  • Fireside Lounge (reception)
• Hydration rounds will be provided by staff to residents in their suites.
• Cancellation of outdoor recreation and programs

Symptoms of heatstroke or heat exhaustion were reviewed with the team members. Staff are encouraging residents to ensure their fluid intake is plentiful.

All residents are encouraged to:

• Hydrate often. Consider water, juice and fruits and vegetables.
• Wear light and loose clothing
• Keep all windows and curtains closed in their suites
• Avoid being outside between 10 am – 4 pm when the sun is the strongest.

Thank you for your support as we work together to keep our communities safe.

Vaccination and Staying Safe

The first thing to know about the COVID-19 vaccines is that they’re doing exactly what they were designed to do. Since the shots first started their rollout late last year, rates of COVID-19 disease have plunged among the immunized.

The second thing to know about the COVID-19 vaccine is that it is not a cure. It helps prevent infection but is not a barrier to getting COVID-19. Some vaccinated people are still getting infected, and a subset of these individuals are still getting sick.

Most importantly, in those who contract COVID-19, the vaccine reduces the risks of getting seriously ill from the disease. Some vaccinated individuals experience no symptoms, while others have milder symptoms.

Anyone with COVID-19, even those vaccinated can spread the disease.

So, what can we all do to continue to prevent the spread of COVID-19?

• Frequent and correct hand hygiene. When using soap and water, wash your hand for a minimum of 20 seconds. Use hand sanitizer with 60% or greater alcohol content.
• Wash your hands after using the washroom, before you eat, after contact with another person and after touching high-use surfaces.
• Avoid certain or busier public settings or go during non-peak times
• Maintain a physical distance of 6ft between others when in a public area, especially when indoors.
• Limit unnecessary travel out of province or country.
• Perform regular health checks for yourself to ensure you are not experiencing symptoms.
• Recognize when you don’t feel well and isolate as necessary.

Get fully vaccinated! Vaccination continues to be our best defence against COVID-19. You can still book your first or second dose – it’s never too late! Learn More

Visitation Guidelines

Harmony Court Care Centre Visitation Guidelines

It is no longer a requirement to pre-book your visits with a resident in the care centre. Any scheduled visits that are booked on or after the 19th are no longer required, however, You are welcome to still come at those times as the hours are still within the new visiting hours.

It is strongly recommended that long-term care visitors are fully vaccinated with two doses (the second dose received a minimum of two weeks prior).

Fully Immunized

• Must wear a medical mask in all indoor public/common areas, including to and from the resident’s room.
• Can remove mask while visiting the resident in their suite or designated area.

Not Immunized or Partially Immunized

• Must wear a medical mask at all times, including visiting with the resident in their suite or indoor public/common areas.

Time:

To allow for screening, visiting hours are:

Monday through Sunday

9:30 am to 12:00 pm
1:30 pm to 5:00 pm
6:30 pm to 8:00 pm

Location:

• Visits can occur in the resident’s suite, designated areas, or outside.
• Whenever possible, residents residing in shared suites-(semi-private), visits should occur in a designated area or outside. If the visit is occurring in a shared suite, the number of visitors may be limited to maintain physical distance from the other residents.

When entering, visitors must be screened and follow ALL safe visiting practices and COVID-19 protocols.

Our recreation team is working hard to create engaging activities that enrich the mind, body and spirit. We are taking a measured, phased approach to recreation activities. Each week we will be reassessing how these are going and make any adjustments that may be required.

In both Harmony Court Estate (Independent Living) and the Care Centre (Long Term Care), we are cohorting residents into groups. They may enjoy the activities with the same residents each time. All cohort recreation programs will involve no touching of each other or shared objects.

During all interactions, staff continue to practice exceptional hand hygiene, wear Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), and are using extreme diligence in enhanced cleaning and disinfecting procedures.

Download the Care Centre Calendars:

• Rosewood Calendar
• Wedgewood Calendar

Download the Estate Activity Calendar:

• Harmony Court Estate Calendar

Weekly Shout-Out

Aloha!

Thank you to everyone who helped make our tropical-themed day and party a hit for our Estate & Care Centre residents!

Held on two different days, visitors, staff and residents dressed in their tropical best and enjoyed mango cake and fruit punch. Thanks to Colleen Durden’s beautiful songs, residents could close their eyes and be transported to a tropical holiday!