IPAC Essential Caregiver Education
Infection Control Practices in the home are important for residents' health and safety. We would like to take a minute to refresh some important key concepts related to infection control. Please take a moment to review the information as part of your obligations as an essential caregiver.
Information below is from the attached package, here, April 17, 2025- Essential Caregiver Package
This letter and the attached information are to inform you of important Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) practices in the home to keep your loved one and yourself safe from infectious disease. Our home follows the guidance from Public Health, the Ministry of Long-Term Care, and the Ministry of Health.
Please review the information package, which includes, but is not limited to, infection prevention and control (IPAC), masking, visitors’ mandatory compliance with processes, hand hygiene, and maintenance of the highest level of IPAC standards prior to, during, and after visits;
• Public Health Ontario Resources
• Recommended Steps: Putting on Personal Protective Equipment
• Video: Putting on full personal protective equipment
• Video: Taking off full personal protective equipment
What are the ways we prevent illness in The Pines?
We have passive screening posted at the entrance to ensure we keep contagious viruses such as Influenza, Covid-19 and colds out of the home. Our residents are at risk of more severe illness if they catch these viruses. We also continue to follow public health measures including screening of all residents for covid signs and symptoms daily. We follow the Ministry of Long-Term Care guidance related to resident testing.
What happens if you have symptoms or test positive for covid?
Please do not attend the home if you are ill with any symptoms related to covid and ensure that you have resolved symptoms as well as have waited 10 days prior to returning to the home.
Can I visit my loved one if they have Covid?
Yes, we do limit the number of visitors an ill resident has. They may have 2 essential caregivers at a time. You will be required to wear personal protective equipment when you are in visiting your loved one. Speak with the registered nurse or IPAC lead to understand what this means prior to visiting.
What does it mean to be in “Outbreak”?
Outbreaks are declared with the support of Public Health. You will be notified if your loved one is impacted by an outbreak. The Home has many avenues for communicating with family members and friends. Essential visitors are the only visitors allowed into the home during an outbreak. If you have questions, please contact the registered nurse of the IPAC lead for more information.
How else can we protect our loved one from illness?
The Home will offer for your loved one to receive immunizations that are recommended by Public Health. These can include vaccines to protect against pneumonia, Influenza, shingles, and/or Covid19. Although vaccines do not always stop the transmission of viruses, they are proven to reduce the severity of illness, especially in vulnerable populations such as seniors, and individuals living in Long Term Care.
In this package we have included information on how to:
• Properly perform Hand Hygiene, your #1 way to help reduce the spread of infection;
• How to put on and take off Personal Protective Equipment, also called “Donning” and “Doffing”;
• And how to reduce the spread of infectious diseases If you have questions and need support about what this means for you and your loved one.
Please take the time to review the attached package above and the video links above.
Please contact us: Stephanie Albert, Infection Prevention and Control Lead at The Pines Extension 4752 or at stephanie.albert@muskoka.on.ca
