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.

We’re sending our update a day early this week so that we can share new information around visitation before the weekend.

1. Update of Operational Changes – Information on the remaining changes coming into effect July 31st.
2. Visitation, Outings, Overnight Stays, and Screening – Our new guidelines are now in effect.
3. Recreation Calendars - Staying active, intellectually stimulated, and socially connected.
4. 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

Alberta’s government will take a two-phase approach for easing restrictions at continuing care communities. In addition to the changes outlined last week around visitation, outings, overnight stays and screening, our team has continued to implement additional changes over the past week so that we are now fully in line with the Alberta Health requirements.

Resident Dining and Mealtimes

You may have already noticed changes to our dining rooms. Our hospitality teams are ready to welcome back the vibrant atmosphere that can be felt at mealtimes.

• Dining tables are no longer required to be six feet apart
• Residents can dine at any time with other residents at the same table
• As many as four residents can now eat at a single table.
• Private dining can now be booked for group events
  • When more than one household is in attendance at a private dining function, unvaccinated visitors should remain masked when not actively eating.

When possible, we ask that visitors consider dining with their loved ones outside or in the resident's suite especially when physical distancing cannot be maintained in the dining rooms.

Group Recreation and Activities

There is no doubt our recreation teams have been some of the most creative and dedicated minds throughout COVID-19 restrictions. Our teams are excited to start returning to normal programming.

• All activities that residents enjoyed pre-pandemic may resume
• Musical performances can resume as long as the performer wears a mask in indoor commons spaces (some exemptions apply)

Cleaning and Disinfecting

Common spaces will have high-touch areas cleaned and disinfected twice per day. High touch areas can include but are not limited to doorknobs, handrails, elevators buttons, dining areas, etc.

Visitation, Outings, Overnight Stays, and Screening

Visitation

We are pleased to share that visits no longer need to be booked ahead of time. All visitors will continue to be screened upon entry to the building. If your visit occurs outside of reception hours, please submit your screening documents to the nursing station.

While we are pleased to lift these remaining restrictions, all visitors are strongly encouraged to be fully vaccinated with two doses (the second dose received a minimum of two weeks prior).

During your visit, visitors are required to:

• Wear a medical mask when in common areas or while travelling around the building.
• Maintain physical distancing while in groups.
• Practice proper hand hygiene frequently.
• Whenever possible, residents residing in shared suites-(semi-private), visits should occur in a designated area or outside. If the visit occurs in a shared suite, the number of visitors may be limited to maintain physical distance from the other residents.
• Continue to self-screen for COVID-19 after your visit. Notify AgeCare if any symptoms arise within 14 days of the visit.

Resident Outings, Overnight Stays and Screening

Residents can engage in any activity off-site as they would pre-pandemic. This includes public outings, overnight stays and more. Residents are also no longer required to be screened upon re-entry to the building or required to quarantine if they have gone off-site.

We encourage everyone to continue to follow all public health guidance while off-site.

Rapid Screening

Rapid Antigen Screening (RAS) will continue to be offered to all visitors in our communities. RAS is the best way to prevent COVID-19 from entering our communities.

Click here to view RAS clinic hours

Thank you to everyone who has followed our guidelines over the past 18 months – your dedication to keeping our communities safe and COVID-free is very appreciated.

Thank you to our incredible residents and their families for all of your support this past 18 months.

It is because of your dedication to keeping our communities safe that we can enjoy new freedoms today. No one has had to sacrifice more than you. So this week, YOU are the shout out.

Thank you for your commitment to keeping our communities safe.

Thank you for your flexibility to changes with orders, guidelines and protocols.

Thank you for your trust while we navigated this pandemic together.