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.
- Updated Provincial Restrictions – Stay up to date on the current public health measures.
- Vaccine Update – Update on the second dose of vaccines for our residents.
- Alberta Health Survey – Alberta Health has provided a link to participate in a Government of Alberta survey to help identify opportunities for changing and improving designated supportive living and long-term care in Alberta.
- In-Person Visits – How to stay safe and protect yourself and your loved ones.
- Recreation Calendars - We know the need to stay active, intellectually stimulated, and socially connected never ends.
- Weekly Shout-Out - Sharing words of gratitude messages from residents and families to our staff.
We hope these weekly updates helpful. Thank you all for your continued support.
Sincerely,
AgeCare Communications
Updated Public Health Measures
Last week, the Government of Alberta announced changes to the public health measures. Effective this week, here are highlights from their announcement:
- Outdoor social gatherings for up to 10 people are now allowed. Indoor gatherings remain prohibited.
- Personal and wellness services are open by appointment only.
- Funeral ceremony attendance has increased to up to 20 people. Mandatory mask-wearing and two metre physical distancing are required. Funeral receptions are not allowed at this time.
With the lifting of restrictions, it is essential that we all continue to follow all other health measures. Remember:
- Stay 2 metres apart when you can, wear a mask when you cannot.
- Practice good hygiene: wash your hands often and cover coughs and sneezes.
- Monitor your symptoms every day.
- If sick, stay home, get tested, and follow mandatory isolation requirements while waiting for results:
- if positive, isolate from others for 10 days or until symptoms are gone, whichever is longer.
- if negative, stay home until you're better.
- Avoid all non-essential travel.
Vaccine Update
We are pleased to announce that the first round of vaccination for our long-term care and designated supportive living communities is now complete.
This week many of our communities had their second vaccine dose date rescheduled. This was in part due to the vaccine supply shortages as per Premier Kenney's statement earlier this week. We have been advised that AHS has enough vaccines for continuing care resident's second doses; however, the date itself needed to be changed.
As announced by Alberta Health on January 12th, for other Albertans, second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine will be offered within 42 days after the first dose. Increasing the time from the first dose to the second dose will allow Alberta Health Services to use their early limited supply of COVID-19 vaccine to reach more high-risk people sooner with early protection. This aligns with the approach recommended by the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI).
For residents of long term care and designated supportive living facilities, Alberta Health Services (AHS) will continue to offer the shorter interval of 3-4 weeks (21-28 days), as this population is at the highest risk of severe outcomes.
AHS has a rollout schedule for our Retirement Living (Independent Living) residents as part of their phase 1B priority that includes all Seniors 75 years of age and over, no matter where they live. As soon as we have more details on this phase, we will share them with you. Learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine and phased rollout
Alberta Health wants to hear from YOU!
Alberta Health is beginning a review of the facility-based continuing care system. AgeCare has been asked to share with our residents, resident family members, and staff a preliminary survey to help identify opportunities to change and improve continuing care residents' lives.
While this survey will address how to better prevent and manage pandemics, please also consider the state of care before COVID-19 to create a full picture. You can access the survey until January 29th.
Staying safe during in-person visits
As vaccinations across facilities rollout, there may be a temptation to relax your behaviour when visiting a family member. Even with the initial vaccination, immunity has not been reached. You and your loved ones are still at risk if proper visitation guidelines are not followed. We are on the right path and need to stay committed to following visitation rules for the next several months.
Download our Indoor Visit Guide (PDF) for all the details to ensure a safe visit. *NEW* view our 5 min. learning videos right from the guide!
Please Note: For communities in outbreak status, visits to particular neighbourhoods will not be possible. 
Virtual Visits
To ensure residents and family can stay connected during this time, 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.
To book a virtual visit, contact your AgeCare community:
Recreation Programming
Our recreation team is working hard to create engaging activities that enrich the mind, body and spirit. We are continuously looking for ways to reduce the risk of transmission while 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 January Recreation Calendar for your AgeCare Community:
AgeCare Orchard Manor – Jan 2021
AgeCare Sunrise Garden – Jan 2021
Weekly Shout-Out
These challenging times have allowed us the opportunity to reach out to many of our families to provide updates on their loved ones and our communities. Many have expressed gratitude and support for our amazing staff, and for that kindness, we thank you.
We took quotes from families and residents over the past month to showcase the most common words and themes that connect us during this time. Here are just a few of the kind words that have been shared:
.
Your team is so helpful during video calls with my mom."
"The extra work your staff have taken on and covered is a tremendous effort that should be recognized and appreciated on a regular basis, so thank you from the bottom of my heart."
"Thanks for your call –your calls really help to lift our spirits."
"I can't believe the great work being done by everyone at the site to keep people safe and families informed."
