COVID-19

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been ever-changing rules and regulations put forth by the government. Find the most up to date information about how these rules and regulations affect us at Mount Carmel here.


Prevention

  • Only 3 residents are allowed in the elevator at a time to allow for social distancing.

  • Medical masks must be worn in all communal areas of the Home.

  • Social distancing is practiced in all activity and meeting rooms.

  • Staff must complete Rapid Antigen Testing for COVID-19 a minimum of twice per week.

  • Visitors have the option to receive a negative Rapid Antigen Test for COVID-19 before entering the Home.

  • There are increased hand sanitizer stations throughout the home.

  • All residents are required to use hand sanitizer before entering the dining room.

  • New residents or residents coming home from an admission to the hospital or overnight stays in the community are required to follow various screening, testing and isolation protocols, depending on length of absence/vaccination status. For more information in regards to specific situations, please contact the Home.

Mandatory Masks/PPE

  • Residents are required to wear medical masks over their mouths and noses throughout the residence. Masks do not have to be worn in their rooms (unless they have a guest), or when they are seated at the dining table.

  • Staff are required to wear masks at all times. The only exception to this is when they are on breaks. If staff are going to remove their masks while on break, they must practice social distancing and they cannot be in an area of the home where residents may be present.

  • Visitors are required to wear, at minimum, a medical grade mask for the duration of their visit. Additional PPE may be required, situation dependent.

Active Screening

  • Anyone entering the residence (staff members, outside care providers, visitors, etc.) are required to have their temperature taken and answer the COVID-19 screening questions provided by Public Health.

  • Residents are screened for symptoms of COVID-19 once daily, in the morning. They too have their temperature taken and answer questions about their health.

  • All staff receive a Rapid Antigen Test for COVID-19 before entry to the Home twice per week.

Visitors

  • Residents are permitted to have visitors in their rooms. In order to account for the required social distancing measures, a maximum of two (2) visitors will be permitted to visit in residents' rooms at one time.

  • We continue to offer indoor visits in designated areas of the Home for groups no larger than six (6), including the resident, to allow for social distancing in our common areas.

  • We continue to offer outdoor visits in the garden area for larger groups. Seating and shade for large groups cannot be guaranteed.

  • Residents and visitors must wear medical masks and practice social distancing for the duration of the visit, no matter the location of the visit.

  • For indoor visits, medical masks are required. Cloth masks will not be permitted.

  • Visitors are expected to provide their own masks.

  • Visitors will be screened for COVID-19 upon entering the Home, answering a series of health related questions and having their temperature taken.

  • Visitors are required to read the General Visitors Policies and Procedures before their visit, and attest to having done so upon entering the Home. A PDF of this document can be found here, or details can be found under the General Visitors Policy & Procedures page on our website.

  • All visits, no matter the location, must be scheduled in advance.

  • Residents and their visitors are permitted to briefly hug each other, but must maintain social distancing at all other times.

  • Virtual visits and window visits will continue to be available by request.

Resident Absences

There are 4 types of absences as defined by the Retirement Home Regulatory Authority. These include:

  • Medical Absences - absences to seek medical and/or health care

  • Compassionate/Palliative Absences - absences that include, but are not limited to, absences for the purposes of visiting a dying loved one

  • Short term (day) Absences - can be split into Essential Outings, which are absences for reasons of groceries, pharmacies and outdoor physical activity; and Social Outings, which are absences other than for medical, compassionate/palliative or essential outings.

  • Temporary (overnight) Absences - absences that involve two or more days and one or more nights away from the home for non-medical purposes.

Residents are permitted to go on Essential Outings, including walks either on or off the premises, at all times except when that resident is self-isolating and on Droplet and Contact Precautions, or as directed by Niagara Region Public Health.

Short term Absences (both essential and social outings) are permitted at this time, unless the resident is self-isolating. Residents must follow all public health measures during the absence, including masking and social distancing. Residents will be screened upon return to Mount Carmel.

Temporary Absences are permitted at this time unless the resident is self-isolating. Residents must follow public health measures during the absence. All residents, regardless of vaccination status, are required to have a PCR test on day 5 after their return. Isolation will not be required unless a positive test result is received or the resident has had known contact with a positive case of COVID-19 in the community or the resident develops symptoms consistent with those of COVID-19.

Expectations for Residents During Outings

Residents are expected to follow all public health guidelines for Reopening Ontario while they are away from Mount Carmel Home.

  • Masks should be worn for the duration of the visit (with the exception of eating).

  • Social distancing must be maintained, aside from a brief hug.

Vaccines

  • Public Health was on site on Thursday March 4th, 2021, at which time all consenting residents and Sisters received the first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. There were no severe adverse reactions to the vaccine.

  • The second dose of the vaccine was administered to our residents and the Sisters on April 23rd, 2021.

  • The third dose of the vaccine was administered to our residents and the Sisters on September 30th, 2021.

  • The fourth dose (or 3rd for residents that required it) was administered to our residents and the Sisters on January 25th, 2022.

  • Many of the staff have had the opportunity to receive their booster shot of the COVID-19 vaccine.

  • As of July 2022, the vaccination rate at Mount Carmel Home is 97%

  • The booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine is available at Mount Carmel Home for residents and staff that have yet to receive it.

  • There is a mandatory vaccination policy in effect for staff members at Mount Carmel Home.

Isolation

  • Isolation rules currently depend on vaccination status, and location of resident before admission. Situation specific details can be provided upon request.

  • Any resident that displays symptom(s) of COVID-19 must be in isolation until a negative COVID-19 test is confirmed.

  • Isolation requirements are subject to change as a result of instruction from Niagara Public Health at any time.



The COVID-19 Guidance: Long-Term Care Homes and Retirement Homes for Public Health Units document, which includes all details pertaining to Retirement Home rules and regulations in relation to COVID-19 can be located here.