IMPORTANT NOTICE
UPDATED Family Visits Guidelines
Thank you all for your ongoing patience and support in meeting the expectations set out regarding family visits on June 15, 2020. We are pleased to announce that effective July 22, 2020 you will be welcome to visit your son or daughter in the backyard of their home and we will also support individuals to have backyard visits with their close personal family friends.
All of these visits will continue to require that many of the directives previously established are still met as well as some additional requirements related to the actual home where your son or daughter lives.
As previously communicated, these directives have been established to ensure the ongoing health and safety of all.
At this point we will not be supporting individuals to have visits inside their homes and we will not be supporting individuals to visit in the homes of their families or friends just yet. Please know that we will continue to evaluate these restrictions as we move forward keeping in mind the safety and well-being of everyone.
It is important to note that everyone is required to adhere to the following expectations at all times. If this does not occur, the visit will be ended and may impact future visits until all restrictions have been lifted.
The following information outlines Community Living Mississauga’s family / friends visit requirements:
- There can be no more than 2 visitors present during a visit.
- We will do everything we can to ensure all visits can occur as planned however, there may be circumstances due to staffing or support requirements in the home where we will have to ask that visitors be flexible and work with the support staff to change or delay a visit.
- The home where your son or daughter / friend lives must have no active COVID-19 cases and all individuals who live at the home must be in good health. If anyone is ill no visits will occur.
- A designated time for the visit must be arranged with the support staff at the home.
- Your son or daughter /friend will be supported for the duration of all visits by a support worker.
- Prior to a visit, the visitor(s) will be asked specific screening questions related to COVID-19 including but not limited to:
- Do you have one of the following symptoms: fever/and or onset of cough or difficulty breathing?
- OR do you have two of the following symptoms: chills, fatigue, headache, sore throat, runny nose, stuffy or congested nose, lost sense of taste or smell, hoarse voice, difficulty swallowing, digestive issues (nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain)?
- Have you been in direct contact with anyone who has COVID-19?
- Have you recently traveled outside Canada or the province?
- If any of the responses to these questions are yes the visit will be cancelled.
- You will also be asked if you have reviewed the expectations of the visit as outlined in this document and posted on Community Living Mississauga’s website and if you are willing to follow these expectations. If you are not willing or able to do so the visit will be cancelled.
- It is expected that everyone will wear a mask throughout the visit. We ask that families, friends bring their own masks as masks will not be provided. Masks must be worn correctly, they should be secured properly, covering nose, mouth and chin area at all times. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qilLP_UnaHg
- Social distancing is required and visitors must maintain a minimum of 2 metres (6 feet) physical distance from the individual and support staff at all times. Visitors must refrain from close contact such as hugs. Everyone must practice social distancing at all times and assist the individual to do the same. During the visit if anyone is not able to maintain social distancing the visit will have to end.
- Hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette practices must be followed prior to and during the visit. Wash/sanitize hands regularly. Sneeze and cough into your sleeve. If you use a tissue, discard immediately and wash/sanitize your hands afterwards. Avoid high-touch areas, where possible, or ensure you clean your hands after.
- Support staff will also be required to sanitize any chairs/table that may be used prior to use and after the visit.
- Visitors will be required to call the home when they arrive for a planned visit to advise the individual and support worker that they have arrived. They will then be asked to make their way to the backyard.
- Visitors will be required to enter the backyard from the outside.
- Visitors will not be permitted to have access to the inside of the home at any time during the visit.
- Once visitors have arrived and are settled into the designated seating in the backyard, the individual will be supported to come out to the backyard to visit. Social distancing will be required at all times.
- Visits will be limited in time (no less than half hour and no more than one hour)
- It is preferred that there is no exchange of food or gifts between visitors, individual and/or support staff. If absolutely necessary, any items that are exchanged should be boxed and sealed and given to support staff upon arrival who will be responsible for sanitizing items.
- Any non-adherence to these expectations will be the basis for the discontinuation of visits.
We know these requirements continue to be abundantly cautious however we must continue to proceed carefully and slowly to ensure the well-being of everyone!
We sincerely thank you for your patience and understanding and remain grateful for your ongoing support!
Please continue to visit www.clmiss.ca for the latest updates and information.