Visitor Guidelines during Pandemic
Updated January 22, 2021
At the direction of the Medical Health Officer, the provincial guidelines for Protecting Residents of Long Term and Personal Care Homes will apply to Hospice at Glengarda.
We continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation in Saskatchewan and appreciate your willingness to uphold safe practices to limit the effects of COVID-19 on hospice patients, visitors, and staff. We are so fortunate to have a talented and skilled group of staff at our hospice, however, like most health care facilities we are faced with a very limited staff reserve. Should COVID-19 be introduced to our facility, there is a high risk that we would have to close.
Our staff are screened before every shift, and wear masks, face shields and other PPE as required, but
we also rely on visitors to keep staff safe.
We will not restrict visiting hours at this time. Our visitor guidelines during pandemic are as follows:
These restrictions are in place to keep patients, families, and staff safe during the pandemic.
Thank you for your patience during these exceptional and difficult times.
Jennifer Dunne
Site Lead
Hospice at Glengarda
At the direction of the Medical Health Officer, the provincial guidelines for Protecting Residents of Long Term and Personal Care Homes will apply to Hospice at Glengarda.
We continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation in Saskatchewan and appreciate your willingness to uphold safe practices to limit the effects of COVID-19 on hospice patients, visitors, and staff. We are so fortunate to have a talented and skilled group of staff at our hospice, however, like most health care facilities we are faced with a very limited staff reserve. Should COVID-19 be introduced to our facility, there is a high risk that we would have to close.
Our staff are screened before every shift, and wear masks, face shields and other PPE as required, but
we also rely on visitors to keep staff safe.
We will not restrict visiting hours at this time. Our visitor guidelines during pandemic are as follows:
- Each visitor must pass screening criteria (including temperature checks). You are encouraged to self-screen before your visit and a pre-screening tool is attached.
- The screening questions can seem complicated – essentially, if you have COVID-19 symptoms or have been around anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19, you will not be able to visit the hospice.
- Visitors are required to wear medical-grade masks, face shields, and isolation gowns while in the building. These will be provided to you when you are screened at the front door.
- Each patient can have one designated visitor who can be with them at any time of day or night. This designated visitor, often a spouse or family member, does not change during the patient’s stay.
- In addition, each patient can have a 2nd visitor, who can be a different person every 24 hours. The 2nd visitor can come and go from the building if needed during this 24 hour period. It is up to the patient and visitor how long each visitor stays.
- The 2nd visitor and the designated visitor can be in the patient’s room at the same time.
- Children will also be screened for any signs of illness and may come to visit if they are healthy – children over 2 years of age are included in the visitor count.
- Visitors must ring the call bell in the patient’s room for assistance instead of seeking out staff in the hallway.
- All visitors must follow the public health orders and absolutely minimize their activity outside their homes and hospice to reduce the risk of exposure.
- The patient (and/or the designated visitor) will provide a list of approved visitors for end-of-life visits. These will be used by the screener or staff at the front entrance. Visitors will sign in with their name and contact information for contact tracing.
- The clinical care team will identify when end-of-life is drawing near (i.e. Palliative Performance Scale of 20 or less). At this point, changes to the visitor guidelines include:
- Screened and approved visitors can visit on a more relaxed schedule and rotation (two visitors in the patient room at any given time continue to support social distancing and safety for our staff).
- Any other exceptional circumstances must be discussed in advance with the Social Worker and/or Clinical Manager.
- Unfortunately, during pandemic, all common spaces (kitchens, dining rooms, quiet rooms, music/play room and multi-faith room) are closed to visitors.
- Visitors will be required to use the washroom in the patient’s private room during their visits.
These restrictions are in place to keep patients, families, and staff safe during the pandemic.
Thank you for your patience during these exceptional and difficult times.
Jennifer Dunne
Site Lead
Hospice at Glengarda
| Family / Support Pre-screening Tool |
| Info for Family / Support When Entering SHA Facilities |
