June 2022

The Village of Humber Heights

Long Term Care Family Council Meeting

Tuesday, June 7, 2022, 7 p.m.

MINUTES

The meeting was brought to order at 7:05 p.m. by the Chair. He welcomed all attendees and Rebecca Thomas, Director of Recreation for Village of Humber Heights.

Rebecca provided the council with updates regarding recent outbreaks of Covid 19 at Alderwood and Brule neighbourhoods and the recreational programs

With all the new positions added to the home, members asked that we could possibly receive an explanation of all the new acronyms and perhaps an organizational chart.

Rebecca also provided updates on planned recreational programs:

- Any performances are still restricted to each neighbourhoods

- Outdoor programs restricted to each neighbourhoods held in the Lambton courtyard

- Pet therapy not yet due to outbreak but a volunteer with a dog is providing some pet therapy

- The “Hands on exotics” program is proceeding

- Recreation activities with volunteers will be offered on weekends starting end of July or beginning - of August

- Day trips are back.

- New Volunteers are being hired

Several questions from the last council meeting were submitted to the home, and addressed by the general manager.

Our questions were in related to: 1) How the reporting system works regarding any outbreaks; 2) Record keeping of visitors; 3) Medical coverage by physicians and 4) Contact information:

Pauline provided us with the following information:

1. The neighbourhood information is given on our updates that are emailed to families and capable residents and it is found on the covid boards upon entry to the swabbing area. Every neighbourhood status is listed and colour codes specifying the IPAC (Infection Prevention and Control) department requirements prior to entering the home. This has been in place for the duration of the pandemic.

(Council members raised some concerns as to the lack of timely communication during those times. There were still some inconsistencies regarding the posting of any relevant information It was noticed that there were postings for several retirement neighbourhoods, but only one for LTC (Alderwood was not mentioned in the postings even so there was an outbreak in this neighbourhood). Family members who visited that day were asked to self-isolate. The Information regarding the outbreak was not received by family members until that evening.)

2. Everyone who screens in and is tested is entered electronically into our system and tracked centrally by our support office. We are required to maintain this data for 6 months and then it is destroyed.

3. We currently have 3 Physicians. Dr. Giddens is our medical director and he covers 4 neighbourhoods. Dr. Kovacs and Dr. Rizk are attending Physicians and they each have 1 neighbourhood each. All three are part of a pool of doctors between VHH, Maynard and Fairview that rotate on call hours. This is funded by the government in the nursing envelope, not paid by us directly.

4. Any time a family cannot reach the Team Lead on the neighbourhood, they should call the charge nurse at 5505. It is best if possible to avoid meal times and just about an hour prior to mealtimes because the nurse on the neighbourhood will be giving medications and assisting with dining, supervising for any choking risks. It is best practice and safer to not interrupt the nurse while doing meds unless it is an urgent matter. It should also be noted that during COVID we have been cohorting to each neighbourhood for over 2 years now. The team has not had the benefit of our lunch room downstairs so they must take their breaks on the neighbourhood. Sometimes families are upset seeing them relaxing in one of the spaces but really they are usually on a break. They get 2x 15 minute and one half hour lunch break per full 7.5 hour shift just for reference. They should not all be on break at the same time however and they are to cover for each other and if there is any emergency they will respond regardless of break.

Business Arising from the Minutes:

Other Business

The members discussed future meetings and decided to cancel meetings for July and August

There being no other business and the meeting ended at 8:15 p.m.

Date of next Meeting: Tues. Sept 6, 2022, 7 p.m.