I think you will agree that business is not as usual, and this period is one of great stress and uncertainty. The work we do is of the utmost importance right now. We provide essential services to high-risk individuals; our residents and their family members depend on us. I am not the only one who is grateful for the work you do; I received numerous emails from family members and see multiple posts on social media thanking you.
There is no instruction manual for how to feel right now, and I know this uncertainty is a source of stress. My list of worries is long and likely similar to yours. I am anxious about my family and friends’ health and our residents’ and employees’ safety, especially those who are already very sick. I am troubled by visitors not respecting regulations and our current staffing crisis. I anguish about what would happen if COVID-19 entered the Wales and the real harm that will be caused by the pandemic’s economic fallout across our communities, our province, our country, and the entire world.
Please take care of yourselves and your loved ones. I know that we will get through this pandemic together!
accreditation:
Erica Vander Wal is completing our 2020 CQA Accreditation process; the file is seventy-five percent complete. Due to COVID-19, the CQA has given the CHSLD Wales an extension until the end of October 2020 to complete the dossier. Many thanks for those of you who are juggling Accreditation and your regular duties, including the extra workload due to COVID-19.
RENOVATIONS:
We retained a technical specialists’ services for the laundry. We are exploring new equipment selections and layouts that will improve function, working conditions, and results.
The Wales recognizes the increased importance of providing intermediate care to its residents and to the wider community at large. Intermediate healthcare services are greatly lacking in our society and within our own building. Central is currently being converted to an intermediate care unit which will not only provide an additional level of care at the Wales, but also an unprecedented resource for the Anglophone community of Québec; the Wales Home’s R.I. will be the first in the Val-Saint François regional county municipality and the first Anglophone unit in the entire Estrie region.
The Wales R.I. project is slated to be complete in September 2020. Once we have proper staffing, the unit will open to residents from our ambulatory units who require this level of care, most likely in December 2020 or January 2021. The R.I. will be aimed towards semi-autonomous seniors who do not meet CHSLD criteria but need supervision and services that cannot be provided on the ambulatory units. Our new unit is designed to accommodate twelve residents with a private bedroom and washroom, along with care and services that fit their needs. This project will revitalize the oldest unit in the Wales Home building, which was erected in 1921, and will be a permanent installation in the Résidence Wales Home. The Government is anxious for the Wales to have sufficient staff as they will subsidize the twelve R.I. beds. Professional services will be provided by the CIUSSS/CLSC: for example, nursing care, therapy, social work, and more. The Wales Home will be responsible for housekeeping, laundry, food services, and caregiving.
Twelve large private bedrooms to improve infection control |
Adjoining private, wheelchair-accessible washrooms |
Ceiling lifts in select bedrooms/washrooms for physical impairments |
New ventilation in rooms and hallways for improved temperature control and air quality |
Laundry chute for improved work efficiency |
New state-of-the-art whirlpool room for a more relaxing bathing experience |
Coded doors to ensure safety/security |
“Maison des aînés” standard-design |
Large common area for complementary therapies |
Until the unit can be staffed, the Wales Home will designate Central as its Hot Zone should we have a positive COVID-19 case.
plumbing and hvac for the central project:
Ventilation for basement level storage area, food services office, and new storage:
This previous receiving area was not fitted with any outside air ventilation. A dedicated residential scale heat recovery unit is currently being installed to provide for appropriate ventilation of this former receiving and now storage room, adjoining office, and new storage room beneath the solarium.
Ventilation for the Main Living Room and offices:
This existing level was not fitted with any outside air ventilation. A 1,400 CFM ventilation unit is currently be installed on the solarium’s roof. This system will include exhaust air heat recovery at ninety-percent efficiency and artificial cooling of outside air. Ductwork is currently being installed to service offices at this level. Existing modular recirculating air conditioning units will be retained.
Ventilation for Central resident rooms:
The same technical standard as the Norton expansion will apply. Two ventilation temperature control zones will be created, thus enabling some similar bedroom cooling now delivered in the Norton Wing by way of radiant panels and the geo-exchange system. Outside air will now be introduced to the dining/living room thus improving air quality and the amount of outside air to bedrooms will also increase. This air supply will now be appropriately filtered and humidified, thus reducing the risk or spread of respiratory illnesses and the air will be cooled thus also avoiding the delivery of hot outside air to bedrooms.
CHSLD RESIDENT HANDS AND FACES:
Recently, I have been made aware that residents' hands and faces are not being washed before and after each meal. We must focus on infection control as the second wave is upon us. I have also been informed that the CHSLD units are missing face clothes and therefore do not have sufficient supplies to wash before and after meals. After investigation, we are at a complete loss as to where the new facecloths have ended up. Laundry personnel confirmed that in the last seven months, they have seen very little circulation and return of new facecloths to be washed. Where are these items ending up? Also, please note that when a facecloth needs to be replaced, the Laundry personnel does so and therefore replacements are not accounted for in the numbers below. These figures depict additional face cloths purchased on top of what we already have in stock for the CHSLD; crazy, right?
Year | Number of additional new facecloths given | Total |
2017 | 200 | 200 |
2018 | 451 | 651 |
2019 (including Central's supplies) | 512 | 1,163 |
2020 | 710 | 1,873 |
Also, the Laundry reported that they bleach one bucket of face cloths each day because they are very stained with what appears to be bowel movements. Please do not use face cloths for pericare; instead, please use toilet paper or wipes. If you can shine a light on our missing supplies, please see me as soon as possible. Thank you for your collaboration!
food for thought:
"Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try." - John F. Kennedy
Brendalee Piironen
Executive Director
819-826-3266 extension 247