Exciting News!! Public health and CMO have decreased some restrictions in LTC.

What does that means for the Birches: DCG’s and visitors no longer have to show proof of vaccination to enter our facility. While there will be no longer a screening process we would ask that if you have any COVID symptoms please be respectful of others and do not come to visit.

Visiting hours will now be 9-9 daily, at this time we can only allow 3 visitors at a time per resident.

The main front door will be open, 9-8pm daily, there will be a sign in book in the foyer that you must sign this is for fire safety as we need to know who is in building in case of fire. You then press the white button located to the right of second door this will gain you entrance.

To leave the facility there will be a key pad that you enter a code. DCG’s will be given the code, visitors will need a staff member to let you out.

You must still wear a mask in the facility while in close proximity of other residents. If you are in a private area within the solariums, private rooms or outside you no longer have to wear a mask. Staff are still required to wear a mask and be vaccinated.

Your loved one can now go on overnight visits and community events with you, we would still like to have 12-24 hours notice to prepare medications if necessary.

With this great news our residents can now have the much needed contact with their families and friends.

June 20th, 2022

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Good afternoon,

We are so excited with this news and would like to share that the Covid Outbreak status is over at The Birches Nursing Home.

This means that visitation has resumed to everyone. Visitors will continue to be screened before entering. You must have proof of vaccination and while in the facility wear a mask.

As our facility is small, we can only allow 2 visitors at a time, but there are no restrictions to how many times a day visitors can come. We are opened from 10am to 6pm.

Residents are now able to go out as they wish with family and overnight visits.

The residents can go back to living as before in the birches, they can be with their friends, eating in dining rooms, walking throughout the facility, recreation programs can begin again.

It was a very challenging time for family, staff and especially the residents. I would like to thank you all for your patience and understanding, as we navigated through this unprecedented time, while we were under the directive of Public Health and Ministry of Health.

Hope to see you all back soon visiting your loved ones.

May 28, 2022

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Public Health has declared an official outbreak status for our facility due to positive cases of COVID-19 in our staff group and residents of our facility.  We are working closely with Public Health to determine best next steps, including extra precautions within the facility to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to keep everyone safe.

Out of an abundance of caution, our facility is CLOSED to general visitors at this time.  Designated Caregivers (DCGs) will be permitted in the facility but will be limited to 2 consistent DCGs per resident and must visit one at a time. DCGs may have to follow additional infection prevention precautions at this time.

We will share more information as we have it. In the meantime, if family members have questions related to their specific loved one, we encourage them to call the nursing team on the resident’s unit directly.

Click below to read the newest issue of our newsletter, the Birch Leaf News!

We are thrilled to share that we are no longer under a COVID-19 early investigation! We want to thank our residents and their family members and friends for their patience during this time, and want to thank our staff for stepping up in lots of ways during this time to ensure the safety of residents.

The end of the early investigation means that our residents are now able to do off site visits along with overnight visits!

Off site and overnight visits must be booked by calling the front desk 24 hours in advance! Please learn more about offsite and overnight visits at this link:
https://www.thebirchesns.ca/offsite-visits-to-family-home

Many of you may have heard today that Government has finally recognized the collective voices of the leadership teams and the labor movement in long term care that the CCA staff are underpaid and deserve better wages.
 

The Premier announced today, Feb. 9th 2022, that effective tomorrow CCAs will receive an immediate wage increase of approximately 23%. The top scale for a CCA will now be approximately $48,419 per annum.

This is a milestone to celebrate. More work needs to be done to make working and living in long term care better! But for now… we pause and celebrate the wonderful news for our CCAs!!

Congrats! 

Dion Mouland-Pettipas

The Birches is a proud member of the NHNSA. We invite our stakeholders to check out the NHNSA's Strategic Plan for 2022-2025, here: NHNSA StrategicPlan2022_25

With the holidays here, we wanted to share some reminders with visitors and Designated Caregivers to help us all stay safe throughout the festive season.

As you know, our facility is a bit older than others and space is often limited. Over the holidays as you are visiting, please be mindful that many others may also be visiting and remember that physical distancing is key.

Staff may request visitors to move to a different space with the resident, including the resident’s room or another common space, to help facilitate physical distance. We ask visitors to be patient and accommodating if this is the case – we are all working together to ensure the safety of all!

We also want to remind visitors that within our facility, masks must be worn at all times. The combination of masking AND physical distancing is the best way to help us prevent cases of COVID-19.

Did you know? Designated Caregivers can now access COVID-19 rapid tests at The Birches! Rapid tests can be picked up in our lobby and completed from the comfort of your own home! Simple instructions are included! Please sign the log when picking up a rapid test.

Things are changing rapidly, so over the holiday season please also keep an eye out for updated infection prevention information that may be shared when you arrive at the facility, or on our website!

We are wishing you happy holidays, and sending you the warmest of thanks for your patience and support at this time.

We are pleased to share this CCA Week message from Nova Scotia’s Minister of Seniors & Long-Term Care!

As per direction from the province, at this time all individuals except staff and Designated Caregivers must be fully vaccinated to enter our facility (unless they have a medical or human rights exemption).  Proof of vaccination must be provided each time you enter.
 

Effective November 30th, 2021 all designated caregivers and staff that visit or work in long term care will be required to be vaccinated in order to visit or work. Proof of vaccination must be provided by Designated Caregivers each time they enter.
 

UPDATE: Employees and Designated Caregivers are still required to provide proof of vaccination, medical contraindication, or human rights exemption by November 30th. However, employees/DCGs who receive their first dose before November 30th now have 70 days to provide proof of having received their second dose. This clock starts on the day the employee/DCG receives their first dose, and can extend pass November 30th without an employee needing to be placed on unpaid leave.

Please see the below message from the Nursing Homes of Nova Scotia Association regarding continued masking for visitors within NHNSA member operators’ facilities.

Click below to read the newest issue of our newsletter, the Birch Leaf News!

Click below to read our annual Report to the Community!