Updated: January 19, 2023
COVID-19 Vaccinations
Providing proof of vaccination is no longer required. Visitors can include unvaccinated individuals.
Surveillance Testing
All Essential Caregivers at Providence Manor must be tested for COVID-19 three times per week on non-consecutive days if they haven’t received a COVID-19 booster dose in the last 6 months AND submitted proof. Proof must be submitted to the swabbing clinic on level 2.
Otherwise, Essential Caregivers with an up-to-date booster in the last 6 months only need to be tested twice per week on non-consecutive days.
General Visitors require a rapid antigen test upon entry.
Essential Visitors (those visiting a resident at end-of-life or critically ill) do not require a rapid antigen test upon entry.
Children under the age of five are not required to complete a rapid antigen test to enter the building.
Visitors who require a COVID-19 surveillance test are asked to book an appointment at the Swabbing Clinic in advance of the day you plan to visit by calling 613-548-7222, ext. 0.
The Swabbing Clinic is open:
Monday to Friday from 7:00 to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 – 2:30 p.m.
Saturdays and Sundays from 6:30 – 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Self-swabbing is also available 7 days per week, 24/7 in the main lobby. If completing a self-swab, proceed to a self-testing station and complete a self-swab according to the instructions provided. If your test is negative, present it to the screeners if on duty. If the screener is not on duty, proceed to the Resident Home Area with the test strip and show it to the RPN before visiting. If your test is positive, DO NOT ENTER the home. For the ongoing safety of your loved ones, we ask that you call and inform us of your positive test result.
All visitors who are swabbed in the home must await negative test results before visiting. Results are received within 15-20 minutes. Please plan your visit accordingly.
With the Omicron variant, the sensitivity (accuracy) in detecting a positive result using a rapid antigen test has been found to be higher when the swab is collected from the oral (buccal), throat, and nasal route as opposed to nasal only. All three sites will be swabbed when testing for COVID-19.
Visiting Guidelines
The following people may visit residents at Providence Manor:
- Essential Caregivers: Designated by the resident or the SDM. They provide direct care to the resident and may include family members, a privately hired caregiver, etc.
- Essential Visitors: Individuals who have a loved one who is end-of-life or very ill.
- Designated Care Partners: Special designation of individuals who provide support (e.g. physical, emotional, etc) to a resident and is a part of the care plan
- General Visitors: those visiting for social purposes
A resident may have an unlimited number of registered Essential Caregivers. Complete the commitment form at Reception or email info@providencecare.ca to obtain a copy of the form. A total of four Essential Caregivers, Designated Care Partners, Essential Visitors or General Visitors may visit a resident at a time.
General Visitors (those visiting for social purposes) may visit the home on a scheduled basis per Resident Home Area (RHA). Sundays continue to be a compassionate visiting day for those who cannot attend during the week. As a result, the visiting hours on Sundays are different.
Masks/Face Coverings
Visitors no longer have to wear a mask when they are alone with a resident in their room. Masks do remain mandatory upon entry and can only be removed once you are alone with the resident and inside your loved ones room.
Providence Care and the Ministry of Long-Term Care highly recommend that visitors wear a mask.
For residents who reside in a double room, designated spaces have been identified if you wish to visit without a mask on. Available on a first-come, first-serve basis, the Islandview Room or Neighborhood Gathering Room on Resident Home Areas may be used to visit without a mask on as long as you are alone with your loved one in the designated room. If anyone else is in the room, you must keep your mask on. Please clean the chairs and tables/surfaces with sanitizing wipes before leaving the area.
If staff or a volunteer comes into a resident room, visitors must put their mask back on immediately. Staff, students, volunteers and physicians will continue wearing a mask at all times.
Food and Drink
Visitors may eat and drink only when they are alone with a resident in their room. Eating and drinking is not permitted elsewhere.
Indoor Visiting Areas
Residents and their loved ones may visit in other areas of the home, including exercising in the hallway of their RHA, on level 2 or McKinley Room. Residents who leave the RHA must wear a mask at all times.
The McKinley room is available to visit with your loved one. Effective May 30, 2022, the schedule is:
Level 3: Monday
Level 4: Tuesday
Level 5: Wednesday
Level 3: Thursday
Level 4: Friday
Level 5: Saturday
The McKinley room is closed on Sundays. Visitors and residents are not permitted to eat or drink while in the McKinley room.
Resident day absences
Day absences for social purposes (i.e. lunch, shopping, etc) are permitted for all residents, regardless of their vaccination status. Support and information will be provided to residents so they can safely follow public health measures.
Residents are no longer required to test or isolate upon return from an absence unless the resident does not pass screening.
Resident overnight absences
Overnight absences for social purposes are permitted for all residents, regardless of vaccination status.
If you plan to take your loved one on an overnight absence, notify the Registered Nurse (RN) or Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) at least 2 days in advance. If the absence is longer than 7 days, please notify the RN or RPN at least 7 days in advance. You must also fill in the sign-in/out sheet located at the nursing station on each RHA upon departure.
Support and information will be provided to residents approved for an overnight absence so they can safely follow public health measures.
Residents are no longer required to test or isolate upon return from an absence unless the resident does not pass screening.
Screening
All visitors will be screened upon arrival. Please answer our screening questions truthfully. If you do not pass screening, your visit will be postponed.
A staff member is present to screen visitors 7 days per week from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Outside of these hours, residents and visitors, including Designated Care Partners, can continue to enter the building using the intercom at the main entrance. Staff will respond to conduct COVID-19 screening practices over the intercom and open the doors.
You must answer the following questions:
- Do you have any of the following symptoms:
- Fever and/or chills
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Runny/stuffy nose
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Unexplained fatigue/muscle aches
- Decrease or loss of sense of taste/smell
- Nausea/vomiting and/or diarrhea
- Have you been tested for COVID-19 due to symptoms and are awaiting results? (Asymptomatic/Surveillance testing does not apply and is not a reason for exclusion)
- Have you tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 10 days?
- In the last 10 days, have you:
A) Had contact* with a suspected** or confirmed case of COVID-19? - Have you been instructed by a doctor, health care provider, Public Health or other government authority to isolate, quarantine, stay at home or not attend a high risk setting? (i.e. long term care homes)?
RAPID ANTIGEN TESTING REQUIREMENTS
- ESSENTIAL CAREGIVERS require testing 3 times per week on non-consecutive days if you haven’t received a COVID-19 booster dose in the last 6 months AND submitted proof to the swabbing clinic. Otherwise, testing is required 2 times per week on non-consecutive days.
- GENERAL VISITORS and SUPPORT WORKERS require a rapid antigen test day of or day prior to their visit (regardless of vaccination status).
- Essential Visitors DO NOT require testing.
*Contact: been advised by public health or your employer you have had contact with a confirmed case, provided care, had similar close physical contact, or had lived with or otherwise had close, contact without appropriate PPE with someone suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19.
**Asymptomatic or surveillance testing in one of your contacts does not apply.
If you have answered YES to any of the above questions, do not visit