Retirement Home Summary Document (Jun 8)

COVID-19 Support for Retirement Homes
Discussion Forum – June 8, 2021

In an effort to support retirement homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, the East Toronto Family Practice Network (EasT-FPN), in collaboration with the Michael Garron Hospital (MGH), hosts a monthly virtual retirement home discussion forum. The forum is intended to connect care leaders with Dr. Ruth Hussman to provide clinical & practice recommendations, information and resources. Join us monthly to continue the discussion. Get additional clinical and practice support and help strengthen East Toronto, by becoming a member of the EasT-FPN.

Key Updates & Summary of June 8/2021 Discussion

  • Personal care services with staff that are employed by the retirement home and only work in the retirement home will be able to proceed. If the staff are not hired by the retirement home, they should follow the provincial requirement on when personal care services will be allowed.

  • The Ministry of Health will make an announcement regarding wearing face shields and masks. Currently, retirement home staff need to continue to wear masks when in direct contact with residents.

  • Retirement home residents and staff, who have not yet received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, continue to receive their vaccinations.

  • As the situation in Retirement Homes are improving due to the vaccination efforts in addition to the community spread decreasing, the group will meet with fewer frequency.

  • The retirement home forum will switch to meeting quarterly and the next meeting date will be September 14, 2021.

  • With the improving situation, time during this meeting was allotted to reflecting on the value this forum was able to provide to the group since its inception in 2020.

  • The retirement home forums have been extremely successful in providing support to all retirement homes by sharing information and resources through Michael Garron Hospital, the LHINs, and Toronto Public Health.

  • At the onset of the pandemic the Retirement Homes information was scarce and as management of a RH, it was extremely beneficial to have a community of practice to discuss ongoing challenges with colleagues and share lessons learned. These connections created during the pandemic should be leveraged to strengthen the care provided at RHs post the pandemic.

East Toronto Family Practice Network