Sunnyside Home Long-Term Care

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 an unlimited number of caregivers. These visits are unscheduled unless the resident is in self-isolation.

To designate a caregiver for a resident at Sunnyside Home, please complete and submit the Caregiver Designation Form. Please allow for 1-2 business days to support a request to designate a caregiver. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

The following protocols must be adhered to for designated caregivers:

• All caregivers must pass active screening. Please review the active screening and surveillance test requirements
• Caregivers must wear a surgical mask and other personal protective equipment as required which is provided by Sunnyside Home at all times while inside the building. If visiting a resident who is symptomatic or in isolation, the caregiver will wear full personal protective equipment as directed by the Ministries of Health and Long Term Care which includes a mask, goggles, gown and gloves
• Caregivers will be asked to review and sign off on Sunnyside’s infection prevention and control guidelines for visitors
• 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
• Food and/or drinks are not permitted during visits at this time. Caregivers are not able to purchase food or drinks from the Sandhills Café or the vending machine
• Caregivers must be 18 years or older
• Caregivers must review Sunnyside Homes Visitor Policy and complete mandatory training prior to visiting the Home

For more information, please contact a Team Leader or call the Sunnyside COVID Hotline at 519-893-8494 extension 6868.

Outdoor visits

Due to colder weather, outdoor visits will not be available after October 12, 2021.

Outdoor visitors must adhere to the following requirements for outdoor visits:

• All outdoor visitors must pass active screening. Visitors must report to the main entrance, put on a surgical/procedural mask and check in with security for active screening. 
• Residents and outdoor visitors may hug briefly, however physical distance must be maintained between for the remainder of the visit
• Physical distance must be maintained between groups of visitors
• Face coverings must be worn by general visitors at all times during the visit
• Residents are encouraged to wear a surgical procedural mask during visits if it can be tolerated
• Children may visit outdoors if they can follow all of the above requirements. Children under two are not considered one of the two general visitors
• Designated Caregivers who support residents with essential care needs are permitted to join these visits
• Visits will be 30 minutes long and must be booked at least 24 hours in advance
• Food and drink are not permitted at outdoor visits
• Pets are permitted at outdoor visits, advance notice is required
• Washroom facilities at Sunnyside are not available for use by outdoor visitors.
• If the visit cannot occur due to inclement weather, heat warnings (temperature of 26 degrees Celsius or higher) or other critical factors that affect resident health and well being, a window visit will be offered or the visit will be rescheduled
• If a visitor is not able to attend a scheduled visit, a new visit will need to be booked based on availability.

If you have special requests for your outdoor visit such as a larger group (over five people) or a celebration, please contact Sunnyside at 519-893-8494 extension 6868 so we can work with you to accommodate a safe and memorable visiting experience.

General visitors visit with a resident indoors for social reasons. This includes children. Up to two general visitors and two caregivers may visit with residents at the same time. Children two years old and under are not included in this amount.

The following physical distancing requirements are in place for indoor visitors:

• Indoor visitors who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (more than 14 days since last dose) may have close physical contact with the resident they are visiting if the resident is also fully immunized.
• Indoor visitors who are not fully vaccinated, unable to provide proof of vaccination status or do not wish to disclose vaccination status must maintain physical distance from the resident they are visiting. Brief hugs are permitted.

Indoor visitors must wear a surgical mask and other personal protective equipment as required at all times while inside Sunnyside Home. Indoor visits may occur in the resident’s room or home area, on the balcony, in the seating area outside of the Kenneth Building elevators, in the courtyard or outside. At this time, visitors are not permitted in the Sandhills Café. Physical distance must be maintained with other residents and other groups of visitors.

Essential visitors provide support a resident who is critically ill or nearing end of life or are contractors who provide critical care and services.

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. 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 active screening and are required to wear a mask and other personal protective equipment as required while inside. If visiting a resident who is symptomatic or in isolation, they will wear full personal protective equipment as directed by the Ministries of Health and Long Term Care which includes a mask, goggles, gown and gloves.
• Essential visitors a must follow the above requirements for indoor visits. For family members visiting residents who are very ill or at end of their life, the COVID testing requirement will be reviewed on a case by case basis.
• Essential visits may occur in a resident's room and are currently limited to two essential visitors and two general visitors per resident at a time. You must only visit the resident who requires your essential visit or care.

Residents may leave Sunnyside Home for a short stay (day) absence for health related reasons, essential trips, compassionate leave, social or other non-essential reasons. 

Please contact your team leader or a Registered Nurse at least 48 hours in advance to arrange a short stay absence and review the safety and screening requirements.

The following requirements must be adhered to for a short term (day) absence:

• Residents must wear a mask (if tolerated). Anyone in close contact with the resident must also wear a mask
• Visitors accompanying a resident on a short absence must follow the active screening and surveillance testing requirements
• Staff will review the importance of public health measures with the resident and the person accompanying them prior to going out, including the importance of physical distancing. Staff will also provide residents with a copy of the Safety Poster
• Residents will be actively screened upon return to Sunnyside
• Outpatient medical appointments or emergency room visits that take place over a single night are considered a short term absence

If Sunnyside Home is in outbreak or if the resident is in self-isolation, all absences will be postponed until such time that the outbreak is over, or the resident is out of self-isolation.

Residents may leave the property for a temporary absence of one or more days for social or non-essential reasons.

Please contact your team leader or a Registered Nurse at least 48 hours in advance to arrange a temporary absence.

The following requirements must be adhered to for a temporary absence (one or more days for personal reasons):

• Visitors accompanying a resident on a temporary absence must follow the active screening and surveillance testing requirements
• All requests for a temporary absence must be reviewed and approved by the Infection Control Coordinator (or delegate) in advance.  A case by case risk assessment will consider the following:
• The Home’s ability to support self-isolation upon return
• Local disease transmission and activity
• The risk associated with the planned activities
• The resident’s ability to comply with local and provincial policies and safety protocols
  • If the Home denies a request for a temporary absence this will be communicated in writing to the resident or substitute decision maker (as appropriate), including the rationale for the decision
  • If the request is granted, staff will review the importance of public health measures with the resident and the person accompanying them prior to going out, including maintaining physical distancing and will provide residents with a copy the Safety Poster
  • Residents must be actively screened upon return and will be required to receive a PCR test for COVID-19 and self-isolate until they have received a negative result.

If Sunnyside Home is in outbreak or if the resident is in self-isolation, all absences will be postponed until such time that the outbreak is over, or the resident is out of self-isolation.

Virtual visits and other ways to connect 

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 COVID hotline at 519-893-8494 extension 6868 to arrange a virtual visit
• 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.
• 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. Only non-perishable items will be accepted. Please make sure the package is clearly labelled with the first and last name of the person living at Sunnyside Home.