Ensuring the safety of everyone will be the highest priority as Niagara Health welcomes visitors back to our Extended Care Unit beginning Thursday, June 18.
“We are pleased that loved ones will be able to resume visits with our residents. We know how important that is for everyone,” says Debbie Smith, Administrator of the Extended Care Unit (ECU), the long-term care home at our Welland Site. “We also know how careful and cautious we need to be to keep everyone safe, and we will be following the strict health and safety guidelines and requirements set out by the Ministry of Long-Term Care to protect residents, visitors and staff.”
An outdoor visiting area, at the front entrance of the ECU off Plymouth Road, has been designated for residents and their loved ones to meet. Visits will be scheduled in 15- to 30-minute increments Monday through Sunday. We will be allowing each resident one visit per week at the beginning to ensure safety and allow every resident to see a loved one.
Details of the new visitation policy:
- Only one person may visit a resident at a time.
- The designated visiting area will be cleaned and disinfected between every visit.
- Visitors are asked to arrive five minutes before their scheduled visit and wait in their vehicles until a staff member invites them to the designated area.
- Physical distancing of two metres must be maintained throughout the visit.
- Pets or any outside food or drink for residents are not allowed.
Other requirements for visitors:
- Prove they have received a negative COVID-19 test within the previous two weeks of every visit. Information on how to get tested at a Niagara Health COVID-19 Assessment Centre is available here.
- Provide their own mask/face covering to wear throughout the visit.
- Pass a screening questionnaire administered by ECU staff.
A guide for families with more information about the new visitor policy, including how to schedule a visit, is available here.
Visit the Extended Care Unit web page here.
