As government regulations and guidance change so, too, must ours.

Visitor protocol  

• Visits must be booked in advance and tracked for contact tracing.

• Visitors must be screened for signs and symptoms of illness prior to every visit.

• Visitors are required to wear a medical mask.

• Visitors and residents are expected to practice hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette
  - i.e. cough or sneeze into elbows sleeves and dispose used tissues properly.

• Visits are not allowed if there is an active COVID-19 outbreak

Essential visits

• Health authorities and facility operators shall continue to support visitors for essential visits. Health Authority or Facility staff will determine if a visit is essential. Examples of essential visits include, but are not limited to:

  • Visits for compassionate care, including critical illness, palliative care, hospice care, end of life, and medical assistance in dying

• Visits paramount to the patient/client’s physical care and mental well-being, including as follows:

  • Assistance with feeding mobility or personal care;

  • Communication assistance;

  • Assistance by designated representatives for persons with disabilities;

  • Visits for supported decision making;

  • Police, correctional officers and peace officers accompanying a patient/client for security reasons.

• Essential visits shall be limited to one visitor per patient/client within the facility at a time (except in the case of palliative/end of life care). A visitor who is a child may be accompanied by one parent, guardian or family member.

It’s been a challenging time for all, and we are putting the utmost care into making visits possible, while also keeping residents safe.

Your support & co- operation is sincerely appreciated, we understand that it’s tough to have visits so restricted, but we need your assistance to maintain a COVID free environment.

The following are updates to visitor policies as per the BC CDC:

Family/social visits are no longer limited to one designated family member or friend.

• Up to two adults and one child can visit with a resident indoors at a time. Residents may have more social visitors outdoors, in an appropriate location, and in alignment with current provincial health officer guidelines.

• Family and friends can visit in residents’ rooms or in designated common areas without staff present.

• There are no longer restrictions on the frequency or duration of visits.

• Physical touch between residents and their visitors is allowed with infection prevention and control measures, like masks and hand hygiene, in place.

• Every resident is entitled to regular, routine, frequent opportunities for social visitation, allowing for a minimum of 60 minutes if desired.

• Residents will be supported to leave the facility for appropriate outings and family visits (not just essential outings). Residents will not be required to isolate when they return from an outing.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Resident Services Manager at the facility where your loved one resides or Annamae Clarke, Vice President, at Belvedere Care Centre.