September 2, 2020 | September 2, 2020 PDF
re: Short-Term Outings

Dear Ongwanada Family Members,

Further easing of restrictions for individuals living in congregate care settings as communicated by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services allows supported individuals to leave the community residence premises with families for a short-stay absence or outing. Families who wish to participate in these outings are required to make arrangements for the outing with the residential home supervisor or the staff in the home a minimum of 24-hours prior to the planned outing, indicating a pick-up and drop-off time.

Participants in a short-stay absence or outing are required to meet the following criteria:

• Supported individuals participating will be picked up and dropped off by family outside of the community residence. Staff will assist with pick-up/drop-off.
• If the supported individual can tolerate wearing a mask they are encouraged to do so for the duration of the outing.
• Family members must wear a mask for duration of the outing.
• If eating or drinking during the outing, the mask can be removed but physical distancing should be maintained.
• Family members are expected to support the individual in maintaining physical distancing in public settings and avoid heavily populated areas. Outdoor activities are encouraged.
• Hand hygiene should be performed frequently by supported individual, companion and family throughout the outing (entering/exiting buildings, prior to taking off mask, after taking off mask, prior to putting on mask, once mask is on, prior to eating or drinking etc.).
• Upon return to the home the staff will screen the supported individual using screening questions, taking temperature and ensuring hand hygiene is complete.
• Families are required to provide a list of locations visited to staff upon return to the home. This is needed for contact-tracing purposes.
• The supported individual will be encouraged to maintain physical distancing from housemates when possible for a period of three days upon return and will continue to have twice daily screening temperature/symptom check.

Please understand that our approach to implementing these changes is being done in a manner that ensures the safety and wellbeing of all our supported individuals and our staff and we will take the necessary steps and time required to ensure that is the case.

I realize that COVID-19 has been a difficult time for everyone and trust that these tentative easings of restrictions benefit supported individuals and families alike. We will continue to further ease restrictions once it is deemed safe to do so. In the meantime, thank you for your patience and understanding and please accept my best wishes.

Sincerely,
Alastair Lamb
CEO