Our online visit scheduler has been updated for the new Designated Caregiver Visits (select “Designated Caregiver Visit”, not Fall 2020). If you have not already requested the information package, please do so by E-mail to [email protected]. Please note that the online scheduler is the ONLY way to book visits.

Unfortunately, Christmas visits out to family homes are out of the question this year. While we fully appreciate your desire to spend this Holiday with your family members, visits are restricted to Designated Caregivers in house once per week.

In other news, we recently announced the appointment of our new General Manager, Carol MacNeil. Please check back regularly for updates and stay safe!!

We are happy to provide this new link to those wishing to become Designated Caregivers with information specific to Retirement Homes created by our Ontario Retirement Communities Association and Ontario Public Health, available here.

Residents can now designate a caregiver who would be considered essential. A caregiver is a type of essential visitor who is designated by the resident and/or their substitute decision-maker and visits to provide direct care to the resident. Examples of caregivers include family members who provide direct care, a privately hired caregiver, paid companions, and translators.

To receive the information package and designation form, please make your request by submitting your request to be a Designated Care Giver by E-Mail to [email protected] and the package will be sent to you.

We will advise by E-Mail as soon as York Region is out of High Alert Status. Until then, there is, unfortunately, no change to our October 15 update, below.

As the Region moves into a modified stage 2, all Retirement Homes in York Region have been placed in High Alert Status, for enhanced Resident protection.

This means:

1. ALL non-essential visits are suspended pending a return to a lower status.
2. Outside service providers, including hair and nail care are not permitted.
3. Group activities are still on hold.
4. Residents are only permitted out for medical appointments, using precautions.
5. Admissions from hospital and the community can take place, with testing and isolation periods.
6. Tours are not permitted.

As the province moves into a second wave of COVID-19, Ontario has developed a risk-based response system to continue to balance retirement home resident and staff safety with well-being. For the retirement homes sector, this includes specific actions based on community transmission and infection spread within the retirement homes.  This evening the Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority and the Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility released the communities that are in Alert and High Alert status. A list of retirement homes in Alert and High Alert status can be found here. All retirement homes in a public health unit are included in the alert status.

Beginning today we expect to receive an email from the RHRA (Retirement Home Regulatory Authority) once each week to confirm the alert status of our home based on its location. The elevated alert statuses are HIGH ALERT and ALERT. Homes in areas that are not under an elevated alert status will also receive an email confirming this.  Buckingham Manor is currently under “ALERT” status.

Additionally, on October 5, 2020, the Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility released an updated Retirement Home COVID-19 Visiting Policy which goes into effect on October 13, 2020. The changes reflect a shift to a risk-based response system that includes specific actions based on community transmission and infection spread within the sector. Certain restrictions on visitors, resident absences, tours, and social activities go into effect if a retirement home is in an Alert or High Alert community.

As the COVID-19 outbreak evolves, direction on retirement home visits will be adjusted as necessary, keeping the safety and well-being of residents and staff at the forefront. In addition, supports are available for homes experiencing outbreaks including access to infection prevention and control resources. These supports are prioritized by outbreak status and community alert level.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR OUR RESIDENTS RIGHT NOW: Group activities are temporarily cancelled and Resident “outings” are restricted to urgent / medical appointments only.

We thank you for your patience and understanding during these unprecedented times.  Stay safe and have a Happy Thanksgiving.

Please note that the Provincial Guidelines for our visitation policy has been amended by removing the requirement that visitors be tested for COVID-19 and produce negative test results prior to a visit. All other terms remain the same and scheduling visits can only be done by using the “Schedule a Visit” button on the website.

We thank you all for your support and cooperation as we try to keep our Residents safe while navigating through this pandemic!

Effective today, all former visitation polices are rescinded and replaced by the following Provincial Guidelines.  You must agree to the following before proceeding with scheduling a visit (scheduling details to follow):

1. Visitation is currently restricted to one visitor at a time.
2. The same visitor may only visit once per week and will be required to adhere to all policies for all visits.
3. Visitors must have tested negative for COVID-19 within 14 days prior to the scheduled visit.
4. Visitors must provide proof of negative testing on the day of their scheduled visit. Prospective visitors may get tested at any COVID-19 Assessment Centre in the GTA. To facilitate this process and make it as easy as possible, we are able to look up your test results through the Public Health portal using your health card information, should you wish to provide us with this information. Otherwise, you will need to produce your test results either through your mobile device or in paper format.
5. On the day of your scheduled visit, visitors will be asked to present themselves at the main entrance on O’Brien Avenue at the time allotted for your scheduled visit.  If you arrive early, please remain away from the door until your scheduled time.
6. Late arrivals or check-ins will not see their visit time extended. All visits will end promptly at the time scheduled, regardless of start time, so please be prompt.
7. Visitors are not permitted to enter the building except to be screened and provide their attestation.  Directions to the location of the visit will be provided at that time.
8. Restrooms will not be available to visitors.  Please plan accordingly.
9. Visitors will be required to complete an active screening assessment at the time of check-in for their visit. This will include a temperature check and completion of a questionnaire pertaining to recent travel and interactions. The results of this assessment and the ultimate determination of eligibility to visit a resident on that day will be at the sole discretion of our Director of Care.  Failure to pass the screening process will result in the visit being postponed.
10. If admitted, visitors will adhere to physical distancing with no physical contact with the resident or any member of our staff. Visitors will be required to wear a mask at all times, and observe proper respiratory and hand hygiene. Hand sanitizer will be made available. Visitors are required to bring their own masks.
11. Visitors who do not adhere to all of the terms and policies outlined will be asked to leave immediately and further visits may be restricted.
12. Buckingham Manor reserves the right to cancel or modify any visits at any time prior to the scheduled visit if, in its sole discretion, it is of the opinion that resident health and safety may be compromised, a public notice of outbreak is received or if a symptomatic staff or resident is awaiting COVID-19 test results.
13. Residents and their visitors must remain in their designated area during the entirety of their visit. Residents may not leave the property.
14. All visits are 30 minutes in duration and will take place outdoors, under cover. In the event of sufficiently inclement weather, you may be asked to reschedule your visit.

We thank you for your continued support and cooperation in keeping our residents and staff safe and COVID free!

NOTE: THESE VISITATION POLICIES ARE NO LONGER IN EFFECT, PLEASE REFER TO RECENT UPDATES

Great News!!

The provincial government has announced that beginning on June 18, 2020, indoor and outdoor visits in designated areas or resident’s suites where physical distancing can be maintained will be permitted.

Visits
In order to facilitate safe visits, we must meet the following conditions before welcoming visitors:

• We must not be in outbreak;
• We must have and maintain an established process for communicating visitor protocol and the associated safety procedures; and
• We must maintain the highest infection prevention and control standards.

Prior to each visit, the visitor must:

• Pass active screening every time they are on the premises and attest that they are not experiencing any of the typical or atypical symptoms of COVID-19. Entry and visitation will be denied to anyone who fails to pass screening.
  • Attest that they, the visitor, have tested negative for COVID-19 within the previous 2 weeks and subsequently not tested positive. We are not responsible for or able to provide testing.
  • The visitor will comply with our infection and prevention control protocols, including proper use of masks.  Visitors are to use a face covering mask at all times if the visit is outdoors. If the visit is indoors, a surgical/procedure mask is required. Visitors are responsible for bringing their own suitable masks.
  • We will provide education on all required protocols prior to your visit.
  • Any non-adherence to these rules could be the basis for discontinuation of visits.
  • The visitor must only visit the indoor/outdoor area or suite they are intending to visit, and no other resident or area of the home.
• Any attempt to by-pass these requirements will be putting the entire home and all residents and staff at risk and could be the basis for discontinuation of future visits.

Additionally, the province has released new requirements for short absences and new admissions:

Residents Leaving the Premises
Residents who wish to go outside of the home (e.g., short absences with friends/family, shopping, medical appointments, etc.) are permitted to do so PROVIDED the following requirements are met:

• The retirement community must NOT be in outbreak status.
• The short absence is limited to a maximum of 12 hours and cannot be overnight.
• The resident wears a cloth mask while outside the retirement community. The resident is responsible for supplying a cloth mask while they are on short absences. The retirement community may, at its discretion, opt to supply masks for short absences but should avoid accessing the provincial pandemic stockpile for this purpose.
• Education on all required protocols for short absences will be provided by the retirement community.
• Any non-adherence to these rules could be the basis for discontinuation of short absences.

New Admissions
Consistent with the requirements set out in the CMOH Directive #3, new admissions from the community or from a hospital (including ALC patients) to a retirement community can occur IF:

1. The receiving retirement community is NOT in a COVID-19 outbreak.
2. The resident has been:
   • Tested for COVID-19 – has a negative result and is transferred to the retirement community within 24 hours of receiving the result; or,
   • Cleared of COVID-19 – residents being admitted who have been cleared of COVID 24-hours before move-in do not need to undergo 14-days of self-isolation (e.g., individual was positive and is no longer positive).
3. The receiving retirement community has:
   • Sufficient staffing.
   • A plan to ensure the resident being admitted (except for those who have cleared COVID-19) can complete 14-days of self-isolation, under Droplet and Contact Precautions, and is tested again at the end of self isolation, with a negative result. If the result is positive, the resident must complete another 14-days of self isolation.
   • Continue with other COVID-19 preparedness measures.

The number of new admissions may be limited, to ensure there is sufficient staffing and additional capacity to attend to residents who are self-isolating.

Check back for additional updates, particularly for our visitation process and scheduling. If you have any questions please contact us.

We are very pleased to say that our home remains Covid free!

Having said that, we are still in isolation from the outside.  Some family members have been having socially distant visits outside the main doors, which is wonderful, your family members miss the social interaction terribly.

In order to remain Covid free, some protocols are in place.  For example:

1. Outside visits are permitted on the premises provided social distancing is practiced and masks, where appropriate, are used.
2. Do not permit our Resident to leave the property, unless it is for a medical appointment of which we are aware. 
3. Retirement Homes have been grouped together with Long Term Care Facilities and all Long Term Care Directives now also apply to Retirement Homes.
4. In the event that the above protocols are not adhered to, these priviledges will be revoked by the Ministry and/or Public Health Unit and individual Residents, even the entire home, could be placed back into outbreak status, meaning isolation in their rooms due to the possibility of exposure to and possible spread of the Coronavirus.
5. Please remember, people can have COVID-19 and show no symptoms. 
6. Essential visits in the home are permitted under strict screening and protocols.  These visits are intended for Residents with an extreme health issue and/or distress and must be pre-arranged.
7. For any new or returning Residents, we have implemented a new “Isolation Protocol” which involves having a negative test result within 24 hours prior to entry, personal effects going through a sanitization process and isolation in their suite for 14 days then ensuring they are symptom free before being permitted access to the rest of the facility.  Meals, medication and care will be delivered to and provided in rooms by designated staff in full Personal Protective Equipment (“PPE”).

We again would like to thank all those who have donated snacks, masks, magazines, equipment, flowers and various other “goodies” to our staff and Residents.  Anyone contemplating doing so is encouraged to contact us directly to see if there are any specific needs.  Right now, individual hand sanitizers for the Residents with minimum 70% alcohol content would be most welcome.

Stay Safe!

Yesterday at 3:00pm, we had a “Getting Out of Outbreak” celebration of the outbreak having been lifted.  We handed out “invitations” with lunch and the excitement on their faces was wonderful to see.

The dining room was beautifully decorated by the staff and we had a socially distant party with all the fixin’s.  The local Baskin Robbins here in Stouffville even donated an ice cream cake, which was enjoyed by all. 

Residents are thrilled to no longer have to be isolated in their rooms.   They can come out of their rooms, walk the halls, enjoy the lounges, have meals in the dining room and interact with each other, as long as they maintain Social Distancing.

We are phasing in a return to socially distant activities starting with morning exercise classes today and will be adding more activities to the calendar over the next few days.

What does this all mean to you, the family members and friends?  It means that the COVID-19 precautions and regulations that were in place prior to our outbreak will remain in place for the time being:

• only essential “visitors” are permitted into the building (these are primarily service providers)
• everyone entering the building has to be screened, including the taking of temperatures
• all team members must wear face masks in the presence of Residents
• all Residents will continue to be screened and have their temperatures taken twice daily
• all team members will continue to be screened and have their temperatures taken at the start and end of their shifts
• any returning staff or Resident must be tested negative for COVID-19

We thank you for your for your patience, assistance and understanding through this most trying of modern times.

If you have a specific question or concern, please contact our Director of Care, Carol, at extension 405 or by E-Mail to [email protected] or the General Manager, Michelle, at extension 407 or by E-Mail to [email protected]

Continue to stay safe!!

We are free of outbreak and having a “Coming Out” party this afternoon!!!  Residents will be free to use the facilities in the home and enjoy their meals in the dining room effective today!!

Social distancing rules are in effect and still only essential visitors are permitted, but this bit of freedom for our Residents is very welcome!

Thank you to all our Residents, their families and our staff for everything they have done and continue to do!

The majority of test results are still pending; one has been returned and it is NEGATIVE!!

We are following up with Public Health for results and hope to have more good news shortly.

Although we have not officially ended our Outbreak status internally, and as we all wait patiently for the test results, residents have been given some freedom to roam about some parts of the facility practicing social distancing. 

We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their support and we are all looking forward to lifting all internal restrictions so that our Residents can return to some semblance of normalcy.

Stay safe and stay strong, we will get through this together.

Officially, Buckingham Manor was declared out of Outbreak late in the evening of April 28th. However, as a safety measure, Public Health has directed that all staff and Residents must be tested for COVID-19.

Rather than causing any undue stress to the Residents, we have chosen to preserve this information pending the results of this additional testing. If, and we certainly hope this to be the case, all tests are returned negative, the Outbreak will be officially over and our Residents will once again have free reign within the home. If, however, there is a positive result, the outbreak status will remain in effect for 14 days.

Members of Markham Stouffville Hospital’s assessment centre attended this morning to test all Residents and active staff members and test results are “expected” Friday.

We are preparing the Dining Room for the Residents’ return and hope that the restrictions can be lifted within a couple of days. Unfortunately, the no visitor’s rule will remain in effect for some time longer.

Please monitor this page for updates and feel free to share the link with family members.

Everyone at Buckingham Manor thanks you for your patience, assistance and understanding through this most trying of modern times.