Visitor Guidelines

Current Guidelines:

Vaccinations

Vaccination is not required to enter the Golden Manor.

Vaccination remains a key defense against COVID-19 and the province continues to encourage all those eligible to get vaccinated, including the booster dose.

Staying up-to-date with recommended doses restores protection that wanes over time. More specifically, booster doses help to increase protection against symptomatic infection and severe outcomes, such as hospitalization and ICU admission.

Ø  Up-to-date: Means you have completed your primary series and have received a COVID-19 vaccine within the last 6 months.

Regardless of a home’s specific vaccination policy, all individuals entering long-term care homes, including residents, staff, caregivers and visitors, are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated and stay up-to-date with recommended doses as per the Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance.

Surveillance Testing

Surveillance testing is not required to enter the Golden Manor.

Masking

  • Masks are recommended, but not required, in all areas of the home.
  • Masks are available at the front entrance if you prefer to continue to wear a mask. Please wash your hands and put on a new mask when entering the home.
     

Visitation

All visitors:

  • There are no limits on the number of visitors a resident can have at a time, however visiting needs to be done safely for all. If visiting in a basic room, we encourage groups to visit away from others, such as the lounge, common spaces or outside (weather permitting) 
  • Larger social group activities where potential crowding can occur should continue to be avoided, and IPAC measures should continue to be followed including: masking, physical distancing, cohorting.
  • You are permitted to visit more than one resident and more than one resident floor in the same day (unless in outbreak or isolation).

Types of visitors:

Caregivers:

  • Residents or their substitute decision maker can designate caregiver.
  • Changes or additions to caregiver designation must be completed by the resident and/or substitute decision-maker using the consent form.
  • Caregivers must be 16 years of age or older, if under 16 approval from parent or legal guardian required.

General Visitors:

  • A general visitor is a person who is not an essential visitor and is visiting to provide nonessential services related to either the operations of the home or a particular resident or group of residents. General visitors include those persons visiting for social reasons as well as visitors providing non-essential services such as personal care services, entertainment, or individuals touring the home.

When Resident Floor is in Outbreak or Resident is in Isolation:

  • General visitors are not permitted.
  • Caregiver are permitted and may offer support in resident's room. Caregivers must wear all required PPE.
  • A caregiver should not visit any other home or home area for 10 days after visiting: an individual with a confirmed case of COVID-19 or an individual experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.

Absences:

Whenever outside of the home, residents should do their best to:

  • Wear a mask;
  • Wash hands frequently;

Please inform the staff on the resident's floor of any absences in advance.

Residents are not required to test or isolate upon return from an absence unless the resident has COVID-19 symptoms. 

COVID-19 Screening and Isolation

Individuals who are confirmed or probable cases, OR have COVID-19 symptoms, OR have tested positive on a rapid antigen test, are recommended to:

  • Self-isolate until symptoms have been improving for 24 hours (or 48 hours if gastrointestinal symptoms) and no fever present.
  • For a total of 10 days after the date of positive test or symptom onset (whichever is earlier/applicable), cases should:
    • Avoid non-essential visits to high risk settings including the Golden Manor.
      • A visitor who is essential to the resident’s overall health and well-being (e.g., a caregiver) is able to visit within the 10-day timeframe if asymptomatic or symptoms have resolved, but must follow measures to reduce the risk of transmission for 10 days from their symptom onset/positive test, including wearing a mask.
  • Testing for clearance is generally not recommended.

If you have had close contact with someone with COVID-19, consider delaying your visit or wear your mask at all times while in the home and self-monitor for 10 days from last exposure.

DO NOT ENTER THE HOME IF YOU ARE FEELING SICK.


If you require clarification or have any questions regarding screening or isolation please reach out to the Porcupine Health Unit 705-267-1181 or Tiffany Rock, Infection Control Coordinator, 705-360-2644 ext. 4540.