Long-Term Care Homes COVID-19 Update

Last updated: May 26, 2020.

Should you have any questions, please reach out to a member of the management team at the home.

My loved one is currently a resident in a Regional long-term care home, am I able to visit them?

To ensure the safety of vulnerable residents in Durham Region’s Long-Term Care Homes (Hillsdale Estates, Hillsdale Terraces, Fairview Lodge and Lakeview Manor), visiting is now restricted to essential visitors only. Essential visitors are those who have a loved one who is dying or very ill. No other visitors are permitted to enter the premises, including volunteers, entertainers and church groups. Residents are encouraged to keep in touch with loved ones by phone or other technologies wherever possible. 

Essential visitors will be actively screened as they enter the premises, for the safety of facility staff and residents. The visit will also be limited to the one resident and must not visit anyone else in the home. The essential visitor must wear a mask while visiting a resident that does not have COVID-19. For any essential visitor in contact with a resident who has COVID-19, you will be provided with appropriate PPE.

The health and well-being of all Ontarians, including long-term care residents, their families, and staff, is our government’s number one priority.

Are all residents screened for COVID-19?

We are conducting active screening of all residents, at least twice daily (at the beginning and end of the day) to identify if any resident has fever, cough or other symptoms of COVID-19. Residents with symptoms (including mild respiratory and/or atypical symptoms) will be isolated and tested for COVID-19.

What preventative measures are being taken to keep my loved one safe?

All Regional long-term care homes are actively screening anyone coming into their homes. We continue to monitor the situation closely.

We have enhanced sanitation measures and continue to encourage those in our homes to practise good hygiene. We are limiting close interactions among those within our homes. Plus, we are isolating residents who show symptoms, to help prevent the spread of this virus; and employees are wearing personal protective equipment (includes a surgical mask with a shield, a gown and gloves) when caring for symptomatic residents.

As of March 19, staff employed at a Regional long-term care home are not permitted to work at more than one facility, as a further precaution to help reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19.

We have been following direction from the Ministry of Health since the pandemic began. This includes actively screening all employees and visitors, social distancing, reinforcing hand hygiene and ensuring staff do not report to work if ill.

These practices have been put into place to help ensure the continued health and safety of our residents, and the individuals who provide a high level of care in our homes.

All Regional homes were also closed to non-essential visitors, effective March 14. This practice will continue until further notice.

My loved one lives in a unit where someone tested positive. What are you doing to limit the spread?

When a resident tests positive for COVID-19, residents living in adjacent rooms to that person will also be tested. Further testing will be assessed, in collaboration with Public Health, using a risk-based approach based on exposures.  

Regional long-term care homes are committed to providing exceptional care, following all Ministry regulations. The health, safety and well-being of those within our care are the highest priority.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) must be changed between residents so if the employee gives care to the resident who tested positive, the employee will need to change their PPE before caring for your loved one.

Should your loved one test positive for COVID-19, in addition to maintaining our regular high level of care, employees are required to wear personal protective equipment (includes a surgical mask with a shield, a gown and gloves) when entering the rooms of any symptomatic residents. This gear is changed before and after any interaction with symptomatic residents.

Employees are diligent in the monitoring of these patients.

Plus, employees who work in a unit where someone tested positive will be asked to work isolate. This means that staff working in the impacted unit work only on that unit and then are required to self-isolate at home. They are also required to take their temperature twice daily and continue to self-monitor.

How are staff screened for COVID-19?

All staff are to self-screen at home and not to report to work if they are ill. Upon entering the building, they are actively screened using a screening tool developed by the Ministry of Health. This includes having their temperature taken at the start and end of every shift.

In addition, all employees who have worked in units where residents have tested positive, will also be tested, regardless of if they are showing symptoms.

What criteria is used to determine if a resident is showing symptoms of COVID-19?

Residents are being monitored for symptoms fever, unusual respiratory symptoms such as cough, runny nose, nasal congestion, sore throat. If symptoms develop, they are immediately placed in isolation and monitored closely. 

How are staff members managing social distancing for the residents? 

Group activities have been suspended throughout the homes since the COVID-19 measures were put in place. While the layouts of long-term care homes vary, staff are encouraging social distancing in group areas such as dining rooms. If residents are symptomatic, they are isolated in their room. For residents in isolation who are not compliant, staff monitor closely and redirect.

Are activities for residents ongoing in all the units?

In place of group activities, more one-on-one activities are taking place with social distancing in mind.

During an outbreak, are residents in the infected unit free to visit common areas of the home, such as the dining room?

When there is an outbreak of any sort in the home, whether it is rhino, influenza or COVID-19, affected residents are isolated to their room, including for meals, and the home area is closed.  Residents who are not affected are able to move freely through the home area, but are restricted from leaving.

Are staff wearing personal protective equipment in all areas of the homes?

We are following infection control protocols; staff are wearing personal protective equipment, including a surgical mask with a shield, a gown and gloves when providing care to residents in isolation.

In addition, all staff are required to wear surgical masks at all times for the duration of their shift whether the home is in outbreak or not.

Are families permitted to drop off cards, treats, or other items for their loved ones or caregivers during this current lockdown? 

Send a greeting card to your loved one in long-term care

Based on guidance from public health experts, we ask that you not drop off homemade food, gifts or other non-essential items. Cut flowers and plants are being accepted at the homes for residents.

Can I discharge my loved one from one of the Regions’ long-term care homes, due to concerns about COVID-19?

On March 26, the Region of Durham received notification that the Long-Term Care Homes Act had been amended, specifically the section pertaining to Admissions and Discharges. The amendments allow residents to leave a long-term care home if they wish to do so due to COVID-19; and expedite their return to the long-term care home when they need to come back.

Before the resident leaves the home, we are required to provide specific information, including information on care requirements and that the resident (or their substitute decision maker) assumes full responsibility for the care, safety and wellbeing of the resident. This would be done via phone.

During the time the person is away, the bed will be available for occupancy by another person.

The process for returning to the home differs according to the time the resident was away. For absences that are three months or less, the resident would be deemed eligible and accepted for admission by the home, and simply placed into the “re-admission” category (this category is the highest-ranking category for vacant beds; it ranks higher than the “crisis” category). For absences greater than three months an assessment by the placement coordinator is required and the home can refuse the admission if the circumstances for refusing an admission in the LTCHA exist. If accepted, the person would be placed into the “re-admission” category for that long-term care home.

This amendment is intended to free up valuable resources and bed space as the health care system continues to respond to COVID-19. 

Please speak to your Resident Care Co-ordinator, the Director of Care or the Administrator should you have any questions on this matter. 

Note: Residents are not permitted to leave the home for short-stay absences to visit family and friends. 

If my loved one passes away, what is the procedure for funeral home arrangements?

To reduce the risk of transmitting COVID-19 to the funeral home staff and the resident’s family members, when a resident dies, funeral home staff will now wait outside the home, while registered staff conduct all the preparations of the deceased and take the stretcher to the funeral home staff. Family members are not to be in attendance in the area. The family will be required to identify the funeral home. Assistance in making a choice will be available to families if funeral arrangements have not been pre-planned. This new protocol will be in place for the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak in Ontario.

Are new admissions and re-admissions to the home tested for COVID-19?

All new residents will be isolated and tested for COVID-19.  All new residents must remain in isolation for 14 days from arrival, even if asymptomatic. Patients transferred from hospital to a long-term care home must be tested prior to the transfer.

Have all staff and residents been tested for COVID-19?

As of May 15, 2020, all staff and residents were swabbed as part of the province’s surveillance testing for long-term care homes. All residents were negative. There were two staff members at Fairview Lodge and one staff member at Hillsdale Estates who tested positive. All three staff members were asymptomatic and removed from the workplace until they tested negative.

I’m a community member and would like to thank staff.

Your support and encouragement means the world to our team. A simple thank you goes a long way. You can send us a note electronically, and we will share it with the team. For the health and safety of our residents and staff, we are not accepting donations of homemade food or other gifts.

If you have other items you would like to donate, please check with our home administration first.

Last updated: May 26, 2020.
Should you have any further questions, please reach out to your manager.

What is the notification process if a resident tests positive for COVID-19?

Following confirmation from Durham Region Health Department of a positive test result, home staff will immediately notify family members and employees.

When are employees required to wear personal protective equipment (includes a surgical mask with a shield, a gown and masks)?

All staff are required to wear surgical masks at all times for the duration of their shift whether the home is in outbreak or not.

Employees are required to wear personal protective equipment (includes a surgical mask with a shield, a gown and gloves) when entering the rooms of any symptomatic resident. This PPE must be changed before and after any interaction with symptomatic resident. Hand hygiene must be performed before donning and after doffing.

If a resident tests positive on a unit, will everyone be tested?

All employees working in the unit will be tested. Residents living in adjacent rooms to someone who has tested positive will also be tested.  Further testing will be assessed, in collaboration with Health, using a risk-based approach based on exposures.     

If a resident tests positive on my unit, how long will I be in work isolation?

Employees who work in a unit where someone tested positive will be asked to work isolate. This means that staff working in the impacted unit would only work on that unit and cannot leave the unit to provide care in another home area. You will be required to self-isolate at home outside of work hours. This includes taking your temperature twice daily. All employees working in the unit will be tested. If you become ill outside of work, you will need to call Durham Region Health Department to coordinate assessment and testing. If you test positive, you will need two negative swabs before you will be allowed to return to work. 

I am displaying symptoms, should I return to work?

Please follow the advice of Durham Region Health Department. If you show symptoms at work, you will be swabbed before you go home. If you become ill outside of work, you will need to call Durham Region Health Department to coordinate assessment and testing. If you test positive, you will need two negative swabs before allowed to return to work. You will be given further instructions from your manager. 

I returned from a trip outside of Ontario, should I come back to work?

You will be required to monitor yourself for symptoms and self isolate at home for 14 days. Please follow the advice of Durham Region Health Department.

What procedures should I follow if I have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19?

Please follow the advice of Durham Region Health Department. Employees who work in a unit where someone tested positive will be tested. Staff working in the impacted unit would only work on that unit and cannot leave the unit to provide care in another home area. You will be required to self-isolate at home outside of work hours. This includes taking your temperature twice daily. If you show symptoms at work, you will be swabbed before you go home. If you become ill outside of work, you will need to call Durham Region Health Department to coordinate assessment and testing. If you test positive, you will need two negative swabs before you will be allowed to return to work.

I live with someone who is high risk, how do I protect them?

To help reduce the spread of this illness within our homes and the community, please follow the advice of Durham Region Health Department and home officials about preventative measures and proper precautions. You may also consider bringing a clean change of clothes with you to work and changing into them once your shift is complete.

Will all employees and residents in the home be tested?

All employees working in affected units will be tested. In addition, as of May 15, 2020, all staff and residents were swabbed as part of the province’s surveillance testing for long-term care homes. All residents were negative. There were two staff members at Fairview Lodge and one staff member at Hillsdale Estates who tested positive. All three staff members were asymptomatic and removed from the workplace until they tested negative.    

Are employees who work at Regional long-term care homes allowed to work at other facilities in the community?

As of March 19, staff employed at a Regional long-term care home are not permitted to work at more than one facility, as a further precaution to help reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19.

Additionally as of April 9, we will be cohorting staff to one Resident Home Area to the extent possible, to help prevent the potential spread of COVID-19.