Sunnyside Home Long-Term Care

The Province has directed long term care homes to declare an outbreak if a resident or staff member tests positive. This is to help control the spread of COVID-19. Outdoor visits must be suspended and no new admissions to Sunnyside Home will occur until the outbreak is over.

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 in the 48 hours before their symptoms started. Residents and staff who are determined to be at risk are contacted. All staff and affected residents will be re-tested for COVID-19. Those who are determined to be higher risk will self-isolate for 14 days from the date of exposure to monitor for symptoms and prevent further spread of illness at Sunnyside or in the community.

Sunnyside Home has developed a COVID outbreak plan to reduce the risk of spread. The plan includes the use of a dedicated outbreak area, isolation of affected residents and COVID testing for all staff and affected residents. All other preventative measures remain in place to ensure the wellbeing and safety of the people who live at Sunnyside and the staff who support them.

Visitors to Sunnyside Home must follow these requirements:

• All visits will be held outside at a designated, numbered location on the Sunnyside grounds.
• Outdoor visits are for 1 visitor and one resident only. Pets are not permitted at outdoor visits.
• A physical distance of 2 metres (6 feet) must be maintained throughout the visit. We understand that it may be difficult not to touch or hug your family member, but for their safety and the safety of others it is very important that you do not.
• Visits will be 30 minutes long and must be booked in advance.
• All outdoor visitors must pass active screening. Visitors must report to the sign in table inside the main entrance vestibule and answer a series of active screening questions as well as have their temperature taken prior to their visit. If visitors are unable to answer NO to all questions or have a temperature above 37.5 degrees Celsius, they are not permitted to visit.
• All visitors must be tested for COVID-19 within the 14 days prior to their visit and provide evidence of a negative result. Please note the 14 days means from the date of the test and not receiving the result. A list of the testing centres in Waterloo Region has been included in this package.
• All visitors are asked to bring their own mask and must wear a mask during the duration of the visit.
• The resident will also be wearing a mask for the visit if they can tolerate it.
• Pets, food and drink are not permitted at outdoor visits.
• Washroom facilities at Sunnyside are not available for use by visitors.
• Please leave any items you bring for a resident in the box at the main entrance so they can be quarantined for 72 hours before they are delivered.
• Due to demand and the need to support equity, a maximum of one visit per week will be scheduled at this time.
• If the visit cannot occur due to inclement weather, heat warnings (humidex of 30 degrees Celsius or higher) or other critical factors that affect resident health and well being, a window visit will be offered as an alternative.
• If a visitor is not able to attend a scheduled visit, a new visit will need to be booked based on availability.

• All staff are actively screened when they enter the building and when they leave. If symptomatic, they cannot enter, will be provided with a mask to wear and will self-isolate immediately at home.
• All residents and supportive housing tenants will be actively screened for symptoms at the beginning and the end of the day. If symptomatic, they will be provided with a mask to wear, isolated and tested.
• All delivery people will be actively screened and deliveries will come to a designated area. If the delivery person does not pass screening, they will be denied entry and the delivery will be left outside the building.

• Residents, supportive housing tenants or staff who become symptomatic 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 not be permitted to return to work until approved by Public Health.
• New or returning residents or supportive housing tenants will self-isolate for fourteen days. Staff who have contact with them will continue to wear personal protective equipment.

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.

In spite of the measures taken below, Sunnyside will do its very best to introduce ourselves, make you comfortable and get to know you while helping you pass the time. We look forward to continuing your care, introducing you to new neighbours, and providing you with opportunities to socialize safely where possible

• All new residents will need to be tested for COVID-19 upon admission
• New residents will be actively screened upon arrival. Sunnyside staff will meet new residents and their family member at the main entrance to welcome them into our care and complete the required paperwork. Family members will be asked to say goodbye at the main entrance to ensure the safety of our residents.
• New residents will be escorted by staff to a private room in a home area designated for self-isolation. Staff will need to wear personal protective equipment including a mask, face shield, gloves and gown. This is to ensure safety for you, staff and other residents.
• New residents will need to self-isolate in their room for 14 days. This means that they will remain in their room for all care and meals. All staff who enter the room to provide care must wear personal protective equipment. That includes a gown, gloves, mask and face shield.
• Staff providing care to new residents will only work in this designated home area and will use an entrance and exit separate from the rest of the building. They will be actively screened upon entering each day to ensure safety for all.
• If after 14 days of self-isolation, a new resident does not have any symptoms of respiratory illness, they will be welcomed to the permanent room they accepted as a valued member of our Sunnyside community.

• All resident care staff will continue to wear masks, goggles, gloves and gowns as directed by the Ministry of Health appropriate to their role, duties, and contact with others.
• When staff are not able to maintain a physical distance of two meters from others, they are now required to wear a surgical mask
• Sunnyside will continue to maintain a sufficient supply of this equipment.
• Staff continue to practice physical distancing and stringent hand hygiene. 

• Essential visitors provide critical care and services or family members visiting a resident who is critically ill or nearing end of life.
• Essential visitors must pass active screening and are required to wear a mask while inside. If visiting a resident who is symptomatic, they will wear full personal protective equipment as directed by the Ministry of Health which includes a mask, goggles, gown and gloves.

How to determine if you are considered an essential visitor

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, and will be screened upon entry. If you are uncertain if this applies to you, please contact your Team Leader.

We will do all that we can to connect loved ones while these restrictions are in place, and we thank everyone for their patience and understanding.

Protocols for essential visitors

If you are an essential visitor, please limit your visits to one person per resident at any given time and you must only visit the resident you are intending to. Please do your part to protect residents from COVID-19 through safe practices of hand washing, use of hand sanitizer and by coughing or sneezing into your sleeve or tissue. 

Activity on or off Sunnyside campus

• Residents  are not able to leave to visit family or friends in the community due to risk of exposure. They must stay on the property and keep two meters (six feet) from others.
• Only essential medical appointments will be permitted and residents and tenants will be actively screened when they return.
• Staff with more than one job have been requested to work at only one healthcare facility during the pandemic to minimize risk of COVID-19 spread.
• The set up of resident and tenant dining rooms has been adjusted to allow for physical distancing at meal time. 

Non-essential visitors: How to connect with your family member

We understand that you may want to connect with your loved one and we hope that you will. We would like to offer some support in helping you to do that. Here are a few ways to connect:

• Arrange a visit with your family member. Outdoor visits, window visits and virtual visits are available at this time. Visits must be booked in advance, please call 519-893-8494 extension 6868 to book.
• 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.
• Communicate any special requests that we can try to assist with during this time.
• If you would like to drop off a care package, please leave it in the box located between the two sets of main entry doors between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Please note that packages will be stored for 72 hours before they are delivered. Only non-perishable items will be accepted. Please make sure the package is clearly labeled with the first and last name of the person living at Sunnyside Home and the date the package was dropped off.

We are receiving a higher than usual call volume. When calling the Registered Practical Nurse with questions about your family member, please call during off hours between 10 and noon, 1 and 3, and 5 to 7. Thank you.

Hair Salon, Foot Care and Dental Care. Unless it has been deemed an emergency, all non essential services will be on hold until further notice. This includes the Reflections Beauty and Barber Shop, foot care and dental care. 

Volunteer Services. Only volunteer services that are deemed essential will be employed, examples of this might include comfort care volunteers for end of life support.

Care Conferences. In-person care conferences with people from outside of Sunnyside Home are on hold unless it is deemed essential. In these circumstances, these conferences will be done by phone or video call whenever possible.

Attending Physicians/Nurse Practitioners. Physicians and Nurse Practitioners are still providing support to the Home however they will be adapting their rounds to minimize any potential exposure. Wherever possible they will be providing support remotely.

Sunnyside Wellness Centre

The Sunnyside Wellness Centre is open for physiotherapy services only. All services other services have been suspended. This will remain until further notice.

Convalescent Care and Respite

Convalescent care and respite are not accepting new admissions at this time.

Community Alzheimer Programs

The Kitchener day, evening and weekend programs as well as the Waterloo and Cambridge day programs are closed. The Kitchener overnight stay program is also closed.  

Young Onset Dementia Association

The Young Onset Dementia Association (YODA) is closed.

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)