An outbreak of an Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) has been declared for the Greenfield home area at Sunnyside Home. Residents who develop respiratory symptoms will be isolated and tested. Please see below for more details.
If you have questions about visiting Sunnyside Home or special requests, please call 519-893-8494 extension 6868. Please subscribe to our webpage to stay informed.
Outbreak Updates
An outbreak of an Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) has been declared for the Greenfield home area at Sunnyside Home. Residents who develop respiratory symptoms will be isolated and tested.
The following outbreak measures are in place for the Greenfield home area:
- Visitors may continue to visit one at a time in the resident’s room.
- If visiting with a resident in isolation, you must wear an N95, gown, gloves, and eye protection
- Residents are not permitted to leave the outbreak home area
- Casual and social absences are not permitted at this time but medical and urgent appointments will continue
- Small group programs will continue on the outbreak home area
- Staff who work on the outbreak home areas are being co-horted to work only on that area
Our infection control team will work with Public Health to work towards ending this outbreak as soon as possible.
If you have questions about this information, please email Sunnyside@regionofwaterloo.ca, call 519-893-8494 extension 6868 or speak to the team leader.
COVID-19 Updates
We would like to remind visitors to monitor themselves for symptoms and not to visit if feeling unwell or cannot answer no to all questions on the COVID-19 screening tool. All preventative measures continue throughout the home and we will continue to provide updates if new information becomes available.
If you have questions about this information, please send us an email or call the Sunnyside COVID hotline at 519- 893-8494 extension 6868.
| Pandemic Response and Visiting Information |
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We would like to remind visitors to monitor themselves for symptoms and not to visit if feeling unwell or cannot answer no to all questions on the COVID-19 screening tool. All preventative measures continue throughout the home and we will continue to provide updates if new information becomes available.
If you have questions about this information, please send us an email or call the Sunnyside hotline at 519- 893-8494 extension 6868.
| Outbreak Protocols |
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Sunnyside Home has a COVID outbreak plan to reduce the risk of spread. When a resident or staff case of COVID-19 is identified, Sunnyside works closely with Waterloo Region Public Health to identify who that individual has been in contact with before their symptoms started or the individual tested positive. Residents and staff who are determined to be at higher risk are contacted and monitored for signs and symptoms of COVID-19. All staff and affected residents may be required to isolate at the direction of Public Health to prevent further spread of illness at Sunnyside or in the community.
Preventative measures remain in place to ensure the well being and safety of the people who live at Sunnyside and the staff who support them.
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| Screening and Surveillance Testing |
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All caregivers, support workers, volunteers and visitors must participate in passive screening. Screening questions will be posted at the main entrance. Please review and do not visit if you can not honestly answer no to all questions.
If your answer to any of the screening questions is "yes", please contact the Registered Nurse in charge at extension 6355 for the Kenneth Building or 6373 for the Franklin Building to discuss what steps you need to take to visit safely.
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| Visiting and connecting with residents at Sunnyside Home |
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We recognize that being able to connect with friends and family is essential to the emotional health and well-being of the residents of Sunnyside.
Our team has developed a plan based on direction of the Ministries of Health and Long Term Care as well as Public Health to support opportunities to connect residents with family, friends and the community in a safe and meaningful way. Please review our Public Policy for Visiting.
As a visitor to Sunnyside Home, please do your part to protect residents from COVID-19 and other infections. Monitor yourself for symptoms, do not visit and get tested if you are feeling unwell. Please carefully review the information below before your visit to Sunnyside Home.
If you have any questions about this information, please call the Sunnyside COVID hotline at 519-893-8494 extension 6868.
| Caregivers |
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Caregivers provide direct care and support to the resident, which may include assisting with meals, mobility, personal hygiene, cognitive stimulation and emotional support. Each resident and/or their substitute decision maker (SDM) may designate caregivers to provide this support. These visits are unscheduled.
The following protocols must be adhered to for designated caregivers:
- All caregivers must pass screening before they enter Sunnyside Home. Please review the screening questions
- If visiting a resident who is symptomatic or in isolation, the caregiver will wear personal protective equipment as directed by Public Health
- Caregivers must complete a visitor sign in sheet at the main entrance before each visit
- Caregivers are asked to practice hand hygiene upon entering the building, before exiting and frequently during the visit. Hand sanitizer is available throughout the building
- Caregivers must be 18 years or older
- Caregivers must review Sunnyside Homes Visitor Policy and complete mandatory infection prevention and control training prior to visiting the Home
For more information, please contact a Team Leader, call the Sunnyside Hotline at 519-893-8494 extension 6868 or e-mail Sunnyside@regionofwaterloo.ca.
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Outdoor visits
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Outdoor visitors are required to pass screening. Please do not visit outdoors if you are feeling unwell or experiencing any signs or symptoms of respiratory illness or COVID-19
These visits do not need to be scheduled.
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| General Visitors |
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A general visitor visits for social purposes and is not a designated caregiver.
General visitors may visit residents provided the resident is not in isolation and the home area is not in outbreak. General visitors must enter through the main entrance, pass screening and complete a visitor sign in form.
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| Essential visitors |
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Essential visitors provide support a resident who is critically ill or nearing end of life or are contractors who provide critical care and services.
Family members with a loved one who is at the end of their life, is very ill or is in an emergency situation will be considered essential. If you have questions about whether this may apply to you, please contact your Team Leader.
The following protocols must be adhered to for essential visitors:
- Essential visitors must pass screening. If visiting a resident who is symptomatic or in isolation, they will wear full personal protective equipment as directed by Public Health
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| Day or Overnight Absences |
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Please contact the Team Leader or Registered Nurse at least 48 hours in advance to arrange for an absence.
The following requirements must be adhered to for day absences:
- Please inform the team leader or Registered Nurse as soon as possible if a resident was in contact with someone who subsequently tested positive for COVID-19 while they were away from the home
- Staff will continue to monitor all residents daily to detect the presence of infection, including COVID-19
- Visitors accompanying a resident on a short absence must follow the screening requirements
- Staff will review public health recommendations with the resident and the person accompanying them prior to going out
If the home area is in outbreak or if the resident is in self-isolation, absences may be postponed at the direction of Public Health until such time that the outbreak is over, or the resident is out of self-isolation.
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Other ways to connect
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We understand that you may want to connect with your loved one at Sunnyside and we hope that you will. In addition to the visits listed above, we would like to offer some support to keep you connected in other ways:
- If you are unable to visit in person, we invite you to connect by Skype, FaceTime or Zoom. Call the Sunnyside Hotline at 519-893-8494 extension 6868 to arrange a video call
- Send a letter by email to someone who lives at Sunnyside Home, we will be happy to share it with them. You can also send by mail to our address at 247 Franklin Street North, Kitchener ON. We encourage you to send photos and pictures along with your letters
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| Isolation and testing |
- Residents or staff who develop symptoms of a respiratory illness while in the home will immediately be isolated and tested for COVID-19
- If a resident tests positive for COVID-19, they will be isolated from other residents
- For staff who test positive for COVID-19, contact is traced back to prevent spread, and they will consult with the infection control team to determine a safe return to work
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| New residents to Sunnyside Home |
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When you become a member of the Sunnyside community, we will do our very best to introduce ourselves, make you comfortable and get to know you. We look forward to continuing your care, introducing you to new neighbours, and providing you with opportunities to socialize safely where possible.
Ensuring the health and safety of everyone who lives at Sunnyside requires that we take preventative measures for new residents arriving at Sunnyside Home in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19:
- Residents who are admitted to Sunnyside Home or returning from another healthcare facility will not be tested or isolated for COVID-19 unless they are experiencing symptoms or moving from another long-term care home or healthcare facility in outbreak
- New residents experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or who have tested positive will be isolated according to Public Health Guidelines
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| Additional safety precautions |
- Staff will continue to wear personal protective equipment as directed by the Ministry of Health appropriate to their role, duties, and contact with others.
- Sunnyside will continue to maintain a sufficient supply of this equipment
- Staff and residents continue to practice stringent hand hygiene
- Our team works closely with Waterloo Region Public Health to ensure the highest standards of infection prevention and control and maintains an onsite infection prevention and control specialist
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| Service changes in Sunnyside Home, Sunnyside Wellness Centre, and Dementia Services |
Sunnyside Home Hair Salon
Reflections Beauty and Barber Shop is open with enhanced safety measures in place. To inquire about pricing or book an appointment, please leave a message 519-893-8394 extension 6329 and the team will return your call.
Volunteer Services
Volunteers are active members of the Sunnyside Community. Volunteers are required to follow all infection control procedures.
Care Conferences
Care conferences are scheduled by the Team Leader of Registered nurse. Care conferences can be scheduled virtually or in person. Visitors attending care conferences must comply with all visitor guidelines, screening and infection control procedures.
Attending Physicians/Nurse Practitioners
Physicians and Nurse Practitioners provide support to the Home while following all infection prevention and control guidelines.
Fabulous Finds Gift Shop
The Fabulous Finds Gift Shop is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 11:30am to 3:30pm.
Sunnyside Wellness Centre
The Sunnyside Wellness Centre is open for physiotherapy, massage therapy and foot care services by appointment. To book an appointment, please call 519-894-0805.
Community Alzheimer Programs
The Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge Day Programs are open.
Young Onset Dementia Association
The Young Onset Dementia Association is open.
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| More information on COVID-19 |
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For more information, please visit these trusted sources:
COVID-19: Guidance for the Health Sector
Latest local information on the Novel Coronavirus
Public Health: How to stop the spread of germs (PDF poster)
Public Health Ontario resources (resources available in multiple languages)
How to self monitor (PDF)
How to self-isolate (PDF)
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