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Restrictions loosening for vaccinated long-term care residents, caregivers, staff

Immunized residents and caregivers can 'go to the waterfront, go for ice cream, go to a patio...'
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After a long year of restrictions, long-term care residents will be looking forward to venturing out.

Cassellholme operations director Angie Punnett updated the long-term care facility's board of management during its most recent meeting on evolving health directives impacting residents and staff.

Punnett observed it is business as usual for day-to-day operations in keeping up with changing rules and regulations when it comes to protecting Cassellholme amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The two-dose vaccination rate of Cassellholme staff is expected to climb past 80 per cent this week. The resident rate with two doses of vaccine approaches 95 per cent.

"Our staff have certainly stepped up to the plate," said Punnett, "and so have our residents."

Although exact figures were not available, Punnett estimated the two-dose vaccination rate of essential caregivers to Cassellholme residents to be 90 per cent. Many caregivers received doses through clinics associated with long-term care homes.

The high rates of vaccinated residents, staff, and essential caregivers allow Cassellholme to transition and allow for increased interactions.

Beginning this week, per provincial directives, fully-vaccinated essential caregivers — each resident may have two — are able to take fully vaccinated residents out of the building and into the community while following public health measures.

Immunized residents and caregivers can "go to the waterfront, go for ice cream, go to a patio — those social engagements outside of our home."

Essential caregivers — often limited over the past year to outdoor visits except for approved compassionate reasons — may enter and move throughout Cassellholme, as of Wednesday. Caregivers will also be welcome to join residents to assist in the dining areas. Punnett advised Cassellholme will take the extra step of asking residents to fill out a tracking form of their movements and contacts throughout the community.

"We don't have a lot of control outside of them leaving our front door," she offered, "but, certainly they will only be leaving with an essential caregiver who has received both vaccinations."

Other changes at Cassellholme include the removal of plexiglass dividing the dining areas that had been in place for over one year. The residents have been split into cohorts for some time and will now be able to join larger group activities while remaining in groups according to their floor.

Punnett said Cassellholme is also planning an outdoor party for residents and caregivers, Wednesday, to celebrate the gradual loosening of restrictions.

"Although they seem very small in nature, they are major hurdles in our home and will hopefully bring back some normal living for everybody and for our staff as well," Punnett added.


Stu Campaigne

About the Author: Stu Campaigne

Stu Campaigne is a full-time news reporter for BayToday.ca, focusing on local politics and sharing our community's compelling human interest stories.
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