Visiting At Shalom Village

Good Evening to all family members at Shalom Village Long Term Care,

Effective July 7, 2021, the Ministry of Long-Term Care (MLTC) has amended its directives to support residents in receiving the care they need and maintaining their mental and emotional well-being. , Step 3 (Roadmap to Reopen) will be effective starting July 16, 2021.

To ensure that you understand these changes, we have included a summary below of the changes to the directives.

Highlight of Changes

Pan Bio Testing / Screening/ Vaccinations  – for Staff, ECGs and Visitors

• All individuals are still screened coming into Shalom – anyone failing screening does not enter Shalom
• Individuals who are fully immunized will no longer be subject to taking a Pan Bio Rapid Test when attending Shalom Village. If an individual chooses not to disclose their vaccination status, then a Pan Bio Rapid test will be required before entry as per current guidelines. This will include all visitors, essential caregivers, essential workers, staff, students and volunteers.
• All visitors, essential caregivers, essential workers, staff, students and volunteers must show proof of being fully immunized every time they come to Shalom Village. A copy of your vaccination receipts are available online:
• 1. Click https://covid19.ontariohealth.ca/
• 2. Enter health card info
• 3. Click on Vaccine Receipt
• If you don’t have a health card or the process doesn’t work for you, email us again and let us know, we’d be happy to help.
• Every time you visit Shalom Village, there is a requirement to provide a copy of the vaccination receipts or simply show copies uploaded to your iPhone or another mobile device. Without proof of being fully vaccinated, a Pan Bio Rapid Test will be required to be administered as per current Shalom’s COVID 19 Surveillance policies.

Step 3 – Road to Reopen (Effective July 16)

• Returning to LTC Homes being able to set their own maximums for visitors based on operational capabilities with potential guidance on minimums.
• Permitting buffet and family style dining, allowing activities such as karaoke, singing and dancing.
• Changing daily symptom screening of residents to at minimum once daily (compared with twice daily).
• Permitting all residents to go on day and overnight absences regardless of immunization status and enabling the resumption of off-site group excursions for residents.
• Removing requirements/rules contingent on homes’ immunization coverage rates.
• Updating the definition of “fully immunized” to reflect the allowance for receiving different COVID-19 vaccines for first and second doses.
• Adjusting eye protection requirements for all staff and essential visitors providing care within 2 meters to a resident who is on Droplet/Contact Precautions and/or directly in an outbreak setting. Otherwise, the use of eye protection will now be based on Point of Care Risk Assessment.
• Updating the testing and isolation requirements for new admissions and transfers into the home. The Ministry of Long-Term care Guidelines will be updated soon to remove the requirement of asymptomatic testing for residents who are fully immunized.

Outdoor Visits (Effective July 7)

• The limit on the numbers of visitors per resident during an outdoor visit is now up to 10 visitors. This includes essential caregivers and general visitors combined.
• General Visitors younger than the age of 14 years must be accompanied by an adult to allow an outside visit if all applicable public health measures are in place and adhered to.
• Outdoor visits may also take place in the general vicinity of Shalom village especially when in large groups up to 10 people. Physical distancing of 2 meters and masking applies to all visitors and essential caregivers.
• All outdoor visits must be scheduled and booked with the Recreation team by calling 905-529-1613 extension 365.

Indoor Visits (Effective July 7)

• The limit on the numbers of visitors per resident during an indoor visit is now up to 2 essential caregivers and 2 general visitors at a time. This maximum of 4 visitors will only apply when the indoor visit is in one of the designated indoor visiting zones at Shalom Village. Please keep in mind that an indoor visit will only occur if an outdoor visit is not possible due to a resident’s physical or health condition.
• Indoor visits will not automatically occur if outdoor visits are not possible due to weather or rainfall. When bad weather makes an outdoor visit not possible, all outdoor visiting will be cancelled for that period.
• If an indoor visit in a designated indoor visiting zone is not likely or possible, due to a resident’s health or physical condition, the indoor visit can occur in the resident room to a maximum of one visitor at a time. This would include a general visitor or essential caregiver.
• All indoor visits by general visitors must be scheduled and booked with the Recreation team by calling 905-529-1613 extension 365.

Designation of Essential Caregivers (Effective July 7)

• There is now no limit to the number of persons who can be designated as an essential caregiver for a resident. The designation of an essential caregiver should be made in writing to home. Please contact Shalom Village to speak with Rachel Belletti to coordinate a new essential caregiver designation or email info@shalomvillage.ca and your request will be forwarded to Rachel. Rachel will contact all requests in a timely manner.

Personal Care Services (Effective July 7)

• Personal Care Services such as hairdressing and barber services are now permitted at Shalom Village under the Step 3 Reopening Ontario Act. Residents will be encouraged to wear masks where possible or tolerated. Further communication will be sent out at a later date once the hair salon at Shalom Village opens for residents.

Resident Cohorting (Effective July 7)

• When outdoors, cohorting requirements amongst residents can be relaxed to enable for greater ability for socializing. This will enable residents from SVO to socialize with residents from SVToo if it is outside. This could occur during a resident program outdoors or when residents simply want to be outside to enjoy the sunshine and engage with other residents. When residents are not cohorted, it is important that public health measures are followed as best possible, with physical distancing and residents wearing masks where possible or tolerated.