In response to the continued increase of positive COVID-19 cases in Alberta, AgeCare will be implementing new visitor guidelines as of October 22, 2021.
These guidelines align with other care providers in the province and, in keeping with AgeCare's approach to person centred-care, they were developed in consultation with the resident and family councils. Resident and family councils participated in a survey, and the results were overwhelmingly in support of these new guidelines – with 83% in support of requiring visitors to show proof of vaccination before entering an AgeCare community.
Social Visitors
Social visitors are non-designated resident visitors.
At the time of screening, Social visitors must:
- Provide proof of full vaccination (two doses) completed at least 2 weeks prior to visit.
Designated Family / Support Persons (DFSP)
Four (4) individuals can be identified as a resident's Designated Family / Support Persons (DFSP). Children under 14 years of age must be accompanied.
At the time of screening, DFSP must:
- Provide proof of full vaccination (two doses) completed at least 2 weeks prior to visit.
OR
- Be COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Screened (RAS) before your visit.
So that families who have only received their 1st dose of the vaccine have the opportunity to receive their 2nd dose, we are providing just over 2 weeks' notice on this change. Prior to the effective date, we will share a new visitation guide with our residents and families, providing all the details you need to visit your loved one safely.
We understand this is a stressful and challenging time for everyone, especially our residents and their families, but the first priority must be controlling the spread of the virus and protecting residents. These visitor guidelines are being put into place to further protect residents, who are most vulnerable, and at greater risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and even death if they contract COVID-19.
We wish to thank all our residents and families for their continued support. We remain committed to doing all we can to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our communities and keep our residents and staff safe.
Sincerely,
The AgeCare Leadership Team