The North Peace Housing Foundation has implemented visitor restrictions to protect the health and safety of residents and staff in our Lodges, in accordance with the Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH) Order 29-2020.
All essential outdoor visits must be booked in advance. Updated visitor guidance is available at: https://www.nphf.ca/lodge-visitation-guidance.html
All essential outdoor visits must be booked in advance. Updated visitor guidance is available at: https://www.nphf.ca/lodge-visitation-guidance.html
The COVID-19 crisis has had an enormous impact on the daily operations of the Foundation, whether it be Lodge, Senior-Self Contained or Community Housing. The information below pertains to our Seniors Lodges.
All items delivered to the Lodges are left in a drop box to be disinfected before being delivered to residents or staff. Grocery deliveries are being dropped in a separate service area, disinfected before being put away, and then the service area is disinfected. We are taking every precaution possible to help reduce the likelihood of an outbreak.
Our front-line Staff have been giving 110% to ensure that the residents they care for are protected. We have eliminated all shared items on the dining tables such as napkin dispensers, salt and pepper shakers, creamers, sugar packs, etc. Every condiment is now being served directly to the resident at the time of the meal in individual, sealed packets. We have implemented 2 separate meal settings combined with social distancing (i.e. 2 per table) where appropriate, and in some cases, because of adequate space, we have been able to simply social distance (again, 2 per table). Between each meal setting, every table, chair, tray and trolley is fully disinfected. To help ease the burden, we are bringing in additional staff to assist with the meal service and disinfect throughout the day.
All common areas and high touch surfaces (handles, doorknobs, handrails, elevator buttons, etc.) are being disinfected a minimum of 3 times a day. All high touch items such as puzzles, books, and magazines have been put away for the time being. For the most part recreation activities are being limited to groups of 5 people, all the while complying with social distancing rules.
Our Maintenance staff are trying as best they can to continue to take care of emergent work orders without coming into contact with our seniors or Family Housing tenants. For the most part, and whenever possible, they are working independently and focusing much of their efforts on unit renovations, while the general non-emergent work orders are being put on hold. This will result in a backlog of work orders once things get back to normal, but we need to take all necessary measures to keep not only our clients, but our staff safe and healthy.
As per provincial directive, North Peace Housing is now screening every employee before entering the building on each shift; the screening includes a questionnaire and temperature check. They will be allowed to start their shift only if they have passed the screening process. This same process is being followed by Central Office staff, Management and Maintenance.
Link to: Employee Screening Information
Additionally, in line with directives from Alberta Health, all NPHF staff providing direct resident care or working in resident care areas are wearing a surgical/procedure mask.
We remain hopeful that with the proper procedures in place, we can limit the impact that the virus will have across the Foundation.
We have all been consumed by the daily COVID-19 updates and flood of information. The information and support that North Peace Housing has received from Alberta Seniors and Housing, Alberta Health, Alberta Health Services, including our local Public Health Inspectors and the North Zone Home Care Manager has been phenomenal. We are in regular communication with these partners, trying our very best to ensure that our most vulnerable population and staff are safe and protected from the ongoing pandemic.
For Further Information from The Government of Alberta on the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) please go to:
https://www.alberta.ca/coronavirus-info-for-albertans.aspx
For further information from Alberta Health Services please go to:
https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/topics/Page16944.aspx
For further information from the Government of Canada please go to:
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection.html
For further information from the World Health Organization please go to:
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
All items delivered to the Lodges are left in a drop box to be disinfected before being delivered to residents or staff. Grocery deliveries are being dropped in a separate service area, disinfected before being put away, and then the service area is disinfected. We are taking every precaution possible to help reduce the likelihood of an outbreak.
Our front-line Staff have been giving 110% to ensure that the residents they care for are protected. We have eliminated all shared items on the dining tables such as napkin dispensers, salt and pepper shakers, creamers, sugar packs, etc. Every condiment is now being served directly to the resident at the time of the meal in individual, sealed packets. We have implemented 2 separate meal settings combined with social distancing (i.e. 2 per table) where appropriate, and in some cases, because of adequate space, we have been able to simply social distance (again, 2 per table). Between each meal setting, every table, chair, tray and trolley is fully disinfected. To help ease the burden, we are bringing in additional staff to assist with the meal service and disinfect throughout the day.
All common areas and high touch surfaces (handles, doorknobs, handrails, elevator buttons, etc.) are being disinfected a minimum of 3 times a day. All high touch items such as puzzles, books, and magazines have been put away for the time being. For the most part recreation activities are being limited to groups of 5 people, all the while complying with social distancing rules.
Our Maintenance staff are trying as best they can to continue to take care of emergent work orders without coming into contact with our seniors or Family Housing tenants. For the most part, and whenever possible, they are working independently and focusing much of their efforts on unit renovations, while the general non-emergent work orders are being put on hold. This will result in a backlog of work orders once things get back to normal, but we need to take all necessary measures to keep not only our clients, but our staff safe and healthy.
As per provincial directive, North Peace Housing is now screening every employee before entering the building on each shift; the screening includes a questionnaire and temperature check. They will be allowed to start their shift only if they have passed the screening process. This same process is being followed by Central Office staff, Management and Maintenance.
Link to: Employee Screening Information
Additionally, in line with directives from Alberta Health, all NPHF staff providing direct resident care or working in resident care areas are wearing a surgical/procedure mask.
We remain hopeful that with the proper procedures in place, we can limit the impact that the virus will have across the Foundation.
We have all been consumed by the daily COVID-19 updates and flood of information. The information and support that North Peace Housing has received from Alberta Seniors and Housing, Alberta Health, Alberta Health Services, including our local Public Health Inspectors and the North Zone Home Care Manager has been phenomenal. We are in regular communication with these partners, trying our very best to ensure that our most vulnerable population and staff are safe and protected from the ongoing pandemic.
For Further Information from The Government of Alberta on the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) please go to:
https://www.alberta.ca/coronavirus-info-for-albertans.aspx
For further information from Alberta Health Services please go to:
https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/topics/Page16944.aspx
For further information from the Government of Canada please go to:
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection.html
For further information from the World Health Organization please go to:
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019