COVID-19 guidance for long term care facilities and nursing homes in Indigenous communities
On this page
General guidance
- Educate staff and residents about COVID-19:
- how it spreads
- signs and symptoms
- appropriate infection prevention and control measures
- Proper hand sanitation techniques should be followed:
- frequently washing hands with soap and water
or - using hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol
- frequently washing hands with soap and water
- Use signage to inform on proper respiratory and sanitation practices
- Disinfect surfaces frequently
- Allow only essential visitors
- Cancel all group activities if a physical distance of 2 metres is not possible
- Residents with COVID-19 symptoms should wear masks
- FNIHB regional medical officer, provincial or territorial chief public health officer or local public health unit should be notified immediately of suspected or confirmed cases
Screening
- Active screening should be conducted for all resident admissions, re-admissions, volunteers, visitors, health care workers and students
- Re-admissions and new admissions can be screened over the phone to limit potential exposure
- If a visitor or anyone entering the facility has failed screening they should not enter the facility
- Provincial screening procedures should be in place at all times
- Provincial screening questionnaires are available online such as the Ontario Ministry of Health and Ministry of Long-Term Care questionnaire:
Self-monitoring and self-isolation
- Members of the care team and facility should frequently self-monitor for potential symptoms
- If any member of the care team or facility feels sick or has any of the COVID-19 symptoms they should stop work immediately or not come to work and should self-isolate
- Isolate patients experiencing symptoms. If possible, in a private room with a private bathroom. If room sharing is necessary, group patients who have known or suspected cases together
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Refresh staff -learning on proper PPE application and removal techniques
- If providing care to residents with COVID-19, follow droplet and contact procedures by wearing gowns, masks, gloves and eye shields
- When performing aerosol generating medical procedures, such as CPAP, use N95 respirators in addition to following droplet and contact procedures
- When performing aerosol generating medical procedures close the door to the room
- Administrative staff that have no direct contact to patients do not need PPE
Visitors
- It is recommended that visitor access is restricted to only essential visitors
- Essential visitors are considered to be:
- compassionate care or end of life care visitors. These should be assessed on a case by case basis
- visitors who are essential to care and well-being such as those aiding with feeding and mobility
- volunteers providing essential services. Volunteers performing non-essential services (such as barbers) should be restricted
- Visitors who are essential should follow proper hand washing techniques
- If visitors feel ill they should not enter the facility
- Visits should take place in resident's rooms and not common areas
Related links
- BC Center for Disease Control: Long-term care facilities and assisted living
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Coronavirus disease 2019, nursing homes and long-term care facilities
- Ontario Ministry of Health, COVID-19 guidance: Long-term care homes (PDF)
- Ontario Public Health: Updated IPAC recommendations for use of personal protective equipment for care of individuals with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 (PDF)
- World Health Organization: Infection prevention and control guidance for long-term care facilities in the context of COVID-19 (PDF)
- COVID-19: Interim guidance for long term care homes