Fuchsia Dragon | [email protected]
The Evergreens Foundation has laid out its safety procedures to help protect the health of Jasper鈥檚 seniors during the COVID-19 pandemic.
At this time, there are no cases of COVID-19 at any of Evergreens鈥� facilities in the region, though several tests have been performed on residents and staff who have had symptoms.
鈥淎s a foundation we are doing amazingly well,鈥� said Kristen Chambers, CAO of Evergreens.
鈥淚 am so proud to have such competent staff at our sites doing such a good job of keeping our residents safe.鈥�
Evergreens鈥� lodges have been closed to visitors since March 16 and access to all sites is extremely limited. All staff, homecare and urgent maintenance workers screened with a health questionnaire before entering.
Anyone showing symptoms, who has recently returned from travel or has been in contact with symptomatic, suspected聽 or confirmed COVID-19 cases would not be allowed in the building and put into mandatory isolation.聽聽
And the staff member who gave the questionnaire would take AHS鈥檚 online assessment tool and have a COVID-19 test scheduled.
鈥淭he questions are very broad and include many symptoms common to allergies and other illnesses,鈥� said Chambers.
鈥淩egardless, we take these symptoms very seriously.鈥�
If two or more people, including staff and residents, who have had a connection to one another at an Evergreens facility show symptoms and are referred for testing, the foundation is required to notify residents, staff and families.
This is called a 鈥榩robable case鈥� and puts the operation under stricter outbreak protocols.
Anyone with symptoms must isolate and be tested for COVID-19 and anyone entering the room of an isolating resident is required to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
Residents in isolation must not leave their rooms, even if they feel better and have no symptoms, until they are cleared by public health.
Non-symptomatic residents must stay on the property and only leave when absolutely necessary for essential appointments or short walks.
Dining continues for non-isolated residents with seating organized to maintain physical distancing, and meals are delivered to the rooms of anyone in isolation.
Those in contact with suspected or probable cases who follow proper handwashing guidelines and wearing PPE appropriately are not considered 鈥渆xposed鈥� and can safely enter public areas and resident rooms.
And any staff member feeling unwell, or who may have come into contact with a suspected, probable, or confirmed case of COVID-19, or who has recently been tested must disclose this information to their supervisor.
All group activities would be cancelled for the duration of the probable outbreak and only essential people would be permitted to enter the building.
Chambers said she anticipates that Evergreens will be in and out of this 鈥減robable case鈥� level of outbreak for most of the months ahead with either staff or residents being tested regularly.
If a test result comes back positive, a facility will be upgraded to a 鈥楥onfirmed Outbreak of COVID-19鈥� and all residents, staff and families will be notified within 24 hours.
鈥淲e cannot stress enough that we all need to work together to make good decisions for the safety of everyone in the building, and to support each other in controlling any potential spread,鈥� said Chambers.
鈥淭he better we are at following all the directives, practicing proper handwashing and physical distancing, and making some adjustments to our routines, the quicker we can get back to normal.鈥�
Chambers said the foundation has been planning for pandemics for over a decade and is well stocked with supplies, including PPE, and do not see any shortages in the future.
Evergreens has been keeping seniors connected virtually with their families and increased staff one-on-one time with residents.
鈥淲e realize that this can be a distressing time for residents, staff and family,鈥� said Chambers.
鈥淲e look forward to the day when we can welcome all of our dedicated family members back to our facilities.鈥�
