OLDS — Seasons Retirement Communities (SRC), which operates two retirement homes in Olds (Seasons Olds and Seasons Encore) is in the process of having staff and residents vaccinated.
This move comes after one resident and one staff member at Seasons Olds tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.
As of late last week, no staff or residents at Seasons Encore had tested positive for the virus.
In an email last week, SRC chief operating officer LeighAnne Voll said as of that date, no one in either facility had died from the virus.
Seasons Olds was placed in outbreak status on Dec. 22 when one resident tested positive.
Voll said an “outside care provider” was identified as the source for that infection as a result of contact tracing.
One staff member at Seasons Olds also tested positive.
“Contact tracing suggests this case is unrelated to the outbreak at Seasons Olds,” Voll wrote.
Just before Christmas, Seasons retirement facilities were invited by health officials to obtain vaccinations.
Voll said now that Health Canada has approved the Moderna vaccine for COVID-19, vaccinations in those two facilities will begin “shortly.”
“In the coming days, Seasons will begin seeking doctor’s orders and consent from physicians, residents and/or substitute decision-makers, on behalf of residents,” Voll wrote.
However, she said under a decision made by health officials “team members and designated family/support person/caregivers will not be included in the Moderna vaccinations.”
Voll said staff are following all the protocols to fight COVID-19 as set out by Alberta Health Services (AHS).
She asked all Seasons residents in Olds to adhere to the following protocols:
• Self-isolate for 14 days if you did not follow provincial requests to remain on-site, instead choosing to visit with friends and/or family at another household, especially where infection prevention and control protocols were not followed.
• Wear a mask continuously when you are not in your suite.
• Practise good hand hygiene and physical distancing
• If you feel unwell, report it immediately to a Seasons staff member.
She asked all designated visitors to:
• Not visit a Seasons Community for 14 days if you visited with family and/or friends from another household within the last week.
• Wear a mask continuously while visiting a Seasons resident (this means not eating or drinking while you are visiting)
• Practise good hand hygiene and physical distancing
• If, after your visit, you become symptomatic or are notified that you had close contact with a COVID-19 positive individual, please contact Seasons immediately.
Voll asked all staff to:
• Refrain from visiting with friends and/or family that are not in your household .
• Practise all infection prevention and control (IPAC) protocols.
“We appreciate our team members’ ongoing vigilance and commitment to our residents, as well as the cooperation and support of our residents and their families,” she wrote.
Voll said the fact that on-site vaccines will be given shortly is “great progress and gives us hope for the future.
“In the meantime, we must remain vigilant,” she added.
“Thank you to our dedicated team members for the important work you do to keep our residents, and one another safe.
“Thank you to our residents and their families for your cooperation and understanding.
Voll recognized that it’s difficult for people to be apart from their loved ones during the holidays and said the company appreciates that sacrifice.
“There is no greater priority than the health and safety of our staff and residents,” she wrote.
