Bradford's The Elden Retirement Residence will be taking in 26 long-term care patients from Southlake Regional Health Centre in order to free up hospital space.
“Our community partners in the Ontario health-care system are faced with a potential crisis of being overburdened, as has already occurred in many other countries,” Dale Beasse, president of The Elden, said in a press release sent out on Tuesday.
“There are numerous patients at Southlake who are currently awaiting placement in a long-term care home," Beasse added. "The Elden will provide a comfortable and safe temporary home for these patients while they wait for a long-term care bed to become available and help free up much-needed space in the hospital.”
The Elden says there will be strict safety measures in place to keep everyone safe.
“Southlake is thrilled to partner with The Elden on this innovative model of care,” said Gayle Seddon, director of community programs and partnerships at Southlake. “With strict health protocols in place, we are confident that this is the best way to care for these seniors and help provide more space at Southlake in the coming months for people who need hospital care. We would also like to thank Ontario Health for their support of this important initiative.”
“I would like to congratulate The Elden and Southlake on this exciting collaboration,” said York-Simcoe MPP Caroline Mulroney. “This partnership can demonstrate the value of organizations working together to create new ways of delivering care, which can then be replicated in other communities across the province.”
The 152-unit retirement residence has been in lockdown procedures since the start of the pandemic, with strict public health protocols in place including regular testing, staff only being permitted to work at The Elden, regular disinfecting throughout the residence and other measures including:
- Elden staff are allowed to only work at The Elden and no other health care, retirement or LTC facility.
- All Elden staff wear masks at all times while on shift. Residents, in enhanced precautions, wear masks in common areas and on the premises.
- Elden staff are not permitted to work here if there are others in their home that work in health-care environment.
- Elden staff are required to self-isolate for two weeks at any sign of illness including common cold and seasonal flu-like symptoms.
- It is mandatory that all Elden staff are COVID-tested on site bi-weekly.
- Screening of all personnel entering The Elden.
- Residents are to quarantine upon return from any overnight stays.
- Undertaking twice-daily temperature checks of residents and staff. All other visitors, including contractors or non-essential visitors are symptom screened and have their temperatures taken upon entry.
- Hourly disinfecting of high touch common areas, washrooms, elevators, etc.
- Distancing of dining room seating to minimize contact between residents.
- Disinfect all dining room tables and seating after every meal; and
- Disinfect all parcels entering the building.
Everyone coming from Southlake will require negative COVID-19 tests before moving from the hospital to the residence and will be quarantined for 14 days upon arrival.
Hiring is currently underway to help accommodate the new temporary residents, with some moving in as early as yesterday.
