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With the arrival of the ‘second wave’ of the COVID-19 pandemic across Renfrew County, health care organizations are taking serious steps to stop the spread of the virus in order to protect patients, residents, and staff.
Effective today, at the direction of the Renfrew County and District Health Unit’s Acting Medical Officer of Health, residents taking short-stay absences from Long-Term Care Homes will be limited to those trips that are absolutely necessary, such as medical appointments. At the Four Seasons Lodge, approval for day-trips is required to ensure that these necessary trips can be made as safely as possible.
In addition to adjustments to short-stay absences, changes are also being made to visitation protocols in order to reduce possible spread of COVID-19. In the Four Seasons Lodge, residents may have 2 designated visitors, and only one visitor may come at a time unless both visitors live in the same home.
Any visitors coming to the Four Seasons Lodge for an indoor visit are required to be tested for COVID-19. At this time, testing remains available through the Renfrew County Virtual Triage and Assessment Centre’s (RC VTAC) rotating outdoor drive-through clinics, by appointment only. The Four Seasons Lodge staff are happy to assist visitors in finding their COVID-19 test results online, as the Renfrew County and District Health Unit will only focus on positive tests and is unable to assist visitors in locating negative test results.
This Thanksgiving weekend, families and loved ones of residents living in the Four Seasons Lodge are encouraged to pursue alternative ways to visit – such as virtual or window visits!
On the Hospital’s medical unit, Alternate Level of Care (ALC) and in-patients may also have 2 designated visitors, and only one visitor may come each day. At this time, visitors to the Deep River and District Hospital are not required to be tested for COVID-19. It is anticipated that testing requirements for hospital visitors may be implemented in the coming weeks.
Designated visitors for residents, ALC patients, and other patients may be reassigned on a monthly basis. Essential visitors for those receiving palliative care will be made on a case-by-case basis.
The Deep River and District Hospital and Four Seasons Lodge would like to thank everyone in advance for their understanding and cooperation during these challenging times. The organization will continue to make every effort to support the safety and emotional wellbeing of patients and residents. Further updates will be shared as direction is received from the county and province.
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