Dear Bethany Families,

As a follow up to our letter dated March 11, 2020, we are following the directive of Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health and Alberta Health, and we would like to inform you of extra precautions that Bethany Care Society (BCS) is taking over and above the current guidelines for the general public in Alberta at this time. We do not take these decisions lightly, however our resident safety is our number one priority and residents are at higher risk of serious illness from exposure to COVID-19 and respiratory illnesses.

ENTRY RESTRICTIONS AT OUR SITES EFFECTIVE MARCH 17, 2020 AND UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE:

Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer and Alberta Health has advised that ALL long-term care and other continuing care facilities LIMIT VISITATION to ESSENTIAL VISITORS only – We are asking that ESSENTIAL visitors are RESTRICTED to PAID/UNPAID COMPANIONS THAT PROVIDE ESSENTIAL RESIDENT CARE.

Paid/Unpaid Companions are:

• Family members who have been providing essential care such as assistance with feeding
• Independent care providers

*If you have NOT been providing this service before you will be restricted from accessing the sites.*

FOR THESE EXCEPTIONS SIGN IN AND COMPLETION OF EXPOSURE CHECKLIST WILL BE REQUIRED.
THERE WILL BE CASE BY CASE EXCEPTIONS ON COMPASSIONATE GROUNDS WITH THE PRIMARY REASON BEING IMMINENT END-OF-LIFE.

PAID/UNPAID COMPANIONS who have travelled from outside of Canada in the past 14 days (from ANYWHERE in the world, including as a passenger on ANY CRUISE SHIP) are RESTRICTED FROM ENTERING OUR SITES FOR 14 DAYS upon their return/entry to Canada.

Further to any travel-related precautions, PAID/UNPAID COMPANIONS are RESTRICTED FROM ENTERING OUR SITES FOR 14 DAYS if they are feeling unwell and are showing signs of illness including cold-like symptoms, fever, cough, and difficulty breathing.

We realize that these are drastic actions, and these decisions have been taken in consultation with our public health bodies and other continuing care providers. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation to help us all keep as healthy and safe as possible during this time of potential threat from the novel coronavirus. Once again, please be assured that BCS is taking all necessary precautions for the protection of your loved ones and everyone at our sites in line with our public health bodies.

We encourage using alternative methods of communication to stay in contact with your loved ones, such as telephone, FaceTime or Skype. We will be doing everything possible we can to accommodate this from a technology perspective.

We understand that these directives and precautions have difficult implications for all of you. We will continue to make our best efforts to support enhancing the quality of life for our residents and your loved ones, while also supporting these necessary and heightened measures for infection prevention and control at this time.

As ever, should you have any questions or concerns, please continue to contact your Site Administrator, or Care Service Manager

Yours sincerely,

Nancy Hughes. Vice President and COO, Bethany Care Society
cc: Jennifer McCue, President and CEO, Bethany Care Society