A message from Aly Devji — BCCPA President and board chair
The restrictions put in place a year ago by the Provincial Health Officer that required you to close your doors, have your residents dine in their rooms, and stay physically distanced from their friends and family are set to end on April 1st. The direction from the PHO to our care home operators outlines the following requirements:
- All residents can have regular, frequent and routine opportunities for social visitation
- Visits must allow for a minimum of 60 minutes
- Requirement for a ‘single designated social visitor’ removed to allow additional family and friends to visit
- Expanding number of visitors allowed at a time (up to two visitors, plus a child)
- Location of visits changed to enable family and friends to visit in resident rooms without staff monitoring
- Allowing physical touch to occur between visitor and resident with appropriate Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures in place (e.g., hand hygiene, masks)
Operators are being asked to support social and emotional connections by adhering to the following:
- Removing physical distancing requirements between residents
- Resume communal dining and small group social or recreational activities for residents, within a facility unit or floor
- Residents will be supported to go on outings with no requirements for isolation upon return
- Removing requirement for 14-day isolation for admissions into the facility, and providing immunizations if needed
Safety considerations are also to be observed:
- COVID -19 outbreaks have decreased in LTC & AL but current rate of community transmission remains a concern.
- Visitors and Operators will need to remain diligent with safety precautions to maintaining the safety and wellbeing of all.
- Strict adherence to Infection Prevention & Control practices are essential.
- Regular screening of residents and visitors for signs of illness.
- Visitors to stay home if they are feeling unwell
The following practices must continue:
- Social visitation will continue to require advanced booking, screening of visitors, use of medical masks, and practicing frequent hand hygiene.
- Social visitation will continue to be suspended during outbreaks.
- Essential visitation remains in place and any resident who requires an essential visitor is supported.
- The appeals process through the Patient Care Quality Office for Essential and Social Visitation remains in place.
The next steps set out by the Provincial Health Officer are as follows:
- Changes are effective April 1st to June 30, 2021.
- Posting updated Visitor and Infection Prevention and Control Guidance.
- Ongoing monitoring of implementation to ensure operators and residents are supported.
- Commitment to review and evaluate visitor restrictions as we move forward.
The board and staff of BC Care Providers Association and EngAge BC are there to support our members during this transition to a more normal life for residents and staff. Please reach out to the association if you have any questions or comments to share. We know that allowing hugs back into our care homes will bring much happiness.
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Media Wrap Up
Yesterday’s announcement by the PHO garnered significant media interest for a comment from Terry Lake, BCCPA & EngAge BC CEO. Here are links to several of the news reports.
COVID-19 and seniors: B.C. changing rules for visits to long-term care, assisted living | CTV News
Families of B.C. care home residents, advocates celebrate eased visitation rules | CBC News
Visits to be permitted in long-term care homes | Kamloops This Week
COVID-19: Friends, family allowed to visit B.C. senior homes April 1 – Coast Mountain News
