A message to visitors of Macassa and Wentworth Lodges
March 24, 2020
Regular updates will be shared to ensure we stay connected and keep you informed while the no-visitor policy remains in effect.
Our top priority is to ensure a healthy, safe and secure environment for residents. The Ministry of Long-Term Care continues to communicate regularly with long-term care homes so that together we can move ahead with a coordinated response to COVID-19.
Some of the preventative measures we’ve put in place include:
- The no visitor policy as directed by the Ministry of Health. This includes no visiting in front of the home.
- Active screening of ALL staff each day upon entering the Lodge(s)
- Personal protective equipment is available and used for any resident with symptoms
- Care conferences for March are on hold and will be rescheduled (details to come)
- All appointments – unless deemed essential – are cancelled until further notice
- Personal laundry will be done on-site for the duration of the closure
If you have labelled items you would like passed onto your loved ones, we are happy to help. Please leave items on a cart located inside the front door of the Lodge and we will deliver them to your loved ones within 24 hours. Please ensure that all items are labelled. We will accept items such as:
- Hearing aid batteries
- Personal hygiene items
- Packaged chocolate
- Case of pop
- Books, newspapers, cards, mail
NOTE: No prepared foods will be accepted.
Residents are keeping busy. These are some of the daily activities happening in the Lodges:
- Tuck shop cart going from resident home area to home area
- Recreation programming (respecting physical distancing)
- St. Patrick’s Day celebrations with green milkshakes
- Spring planting indoors to help bring the sunshine in
- Connecting with family members through phone and video chat calls
- Travelling movie cart making the rounds
There are no staffing shortages in either Lodge at this time, nor have there been any interruptions to the food and supply chain.
We are working on a communication schedule with residents and waiting for phones and tablets to be redeployed from other areas in the City so we can roll out this plan. Additional details will be provided in the coming days.
For more City of Hamilton COVID-19 information and regular updates:
- Visit www.hamilton.ca/coronavirus and www.hamilton.ca/covidclosures
- Call Public Health Services’ COVID-19 Hotline 905-974-9848
- Email [email protected]
Thank you again for your understanding and cooperation during this challenging time. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to connect with us. Let’s all do what we can to stay healthy and safe!
Holly Odoardi
Senior Administrator
Macassa & Wentworth Lodges
Karen Allcroft
Administrator
Wentworth Lodge
March 14 Update
The health and safety of our residents, staff, family, volunteers, students and other visitors remains our main priority. As part of the coordinated response to COVID-19 and to ensure a safe and secure environment for residents, Macassa and Wentworth Lodges will have a no-visitor policy until further notice.
These added precautionary measures follow the direction of Dr. David Williams, Chief Medical Officer of Health, Ministry of Health and are effective immediately.
Exceptions will only be made for residents who are extremely ill or receiving palliative care. We will continue to have a staff member at the main entrance with an up-to-date list of residents who are actively palliative – these visitors must continue to be actively screened before entering. Those who fail screening cannot enter. All other visitors will be denied entry.
We are looking for other opportunities to keep residents connected to their families during this time. We ask that you use the phone, Facetime, Skype, and/or other technologies as available to stay in touch with your loved one.
We will continue to monitor and reevaluate these measures in the coming weeks as the situation evolves. This is a difficult time that we recognize will be challenging for you and your loved ones. We appreciate your understanding and thank you for your cooperation. If you would like to receive email updates from us during this closure, please email [email protected] OR [email protected] and include in the email your full name and the name of your family member.