All of the seniors’ facilities operated by the Rimoka Housing Foundation are adapting well to the many challenges presented by the constant changes due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Rimoka locked down every one of its facilities on March 12, following the implementation of directives from Alberta Health Services (AHS).
Rimoka CEO Jonathan Weir explained that, since then, the state of the facilities has been evolving rather quickly.
“It’s really been hour to hour. There are lots of changes that have come really quickly and we are implementing them the best to our ability,” he said on April 9.
“It’s about keeping people — our residents and staff — safe.”
READ MORE: Seasons Ponoka residents in self-isolation
At first, the provincial response was to limit visitors to all nursing homes, seniors lodges, and designated supportive living and long-term care facilities.
As time went on and the number of deaths in seniors care facilities grew, AHS tightened the standards.
As of April 6, this now includes no visitors unless a resident is dying or the visitor is essential to delivering care that can’t be done by staff; all staff and visitors are subject to health screening before entering; and, the requirement of wearing a mask or face-covering while inside.
“Every one of our facilities are under the same orders. AHS put every facility in the same box in order to move very quickly on this,” Weir said.
“It’s been tricky as our residents are not in a prison. All sorts of events have been cancelled, so after the long winter we’ve had we are trying to keep things positive. That is certainly at the forefront for us and it seems to be working.”
READ MORE: More than 90 per cent of Canadian deaths from COVID-19 are those over age 60
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