Updated March 8, 2021
Eldercare Home Health does not currently take on new clients, who have tested positive for COVID-19.
If an existing client tests positive for COVID-19, the situation will be evaluated, and action will be taken, on a case by case basis.
The COVID-19 situation continues to rapidly evolve.
Read below to learn how Eldercare Home Health continues to provide care to our existing clients, and support our caregivers in the community, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you are experiencing any signs of COVID-19 please do NOT visit our office. We encourage you to visit your closest COVID-19 testing centre - see below for a link to the updated list.
Here’s what Eldercare Home Health is doing to help keep our clients and staff as safe as possible during the COVID-19 pandemic:
- We are requesting that all staff be inoculated.
- Most staff have received at least one shot, many have received two.
- We are focused on providing care to our current clients.
- We have an automated COVID-19 screen that all active caregivers must complete daily.
- We are providing personal protective equipment (PPE) to staff that is appropriate to their individual working conditions.
- If you are the primary contact or invoice contact for an existing client you should be receiving our email updates on COVID-19.
- If you are not receiving these emails please request to be added at: please add me
- The email updates include information on COVID-19, tips on things like proper hand washing technique, and links to authoritative resources.
- The emails also contain copies of much of the communication we are sending to our caregivers in the community, so that you are kept aware of what we are communicating to our caregivers.
- Our office continues to be open.
- We have posted signage on the entry doors to our office alerting visitors to the COVID -19 situation and asking them to self screen – and not enter the office if they do not pass the screen.
- We have implemented social distancing practices within our office, and we have made gloves, masks and hand sanitizer available to all staff.
- We communicate clearly to anyone who may be experiencing symptoms to not visit our office.
Updates:
June 14, 2021
Most staff have now received a their first COVID_19 shot. Many have also received their second and are fully inoculated.
We continue to encourage staff who have not yet received their shot to book it ASAP.
If you would like only inoculated staff to be assigned to your family member’s home, please notify us in writing
March 2021
Eldercare Home Health has just been alerted that Hospitals and Ontario Health Teams in the City of Toronto are currently accepting registration and/or appointment booking for the COVID-19 Vaccine
Vaccination appointments are available to individuals based on provincial prioritization guidance.
- People who are 80 years of age and older (born in 1941 or before)
- Health care workers in Highest Priority and Very High Priority risk groups
- Indigenous Adults
For further information on eligibility, please check with the individual vaccination site.
Click to see a full list of vaccination sites and to book an appointment or pre-register.
December 23, 2020
COVID-19 provincewide shutdown in effect as of Saturday, December 26, 2020 at 12:01 a.m.
Detailed information on the province of Ontario COVID-19 pandemic shutdown
July 31, 2020
COVID Alert – Government of Canada official COVID-19 app
The Government of Canada has launched COVID Alert – an app that will alert you if you have come into contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.
Make sure that you complete the setup – selecting the province you live in (the app is currently being tested in Ontario before being rolled out across Canada).
If you have tested positive for COVID you will also need to enter your one-time code.
Respecting and protecting your privacy was a key consideration in the development of the app.
The more people download and use the app, the more effective it is.
Download COVID Alert now:
Get the app at the Apple App Store
Get the app at The Google Play Store
July 30, 2020
The City of Toronto moved to Stage 3 of reopening the province on July 31st.
July 8, 2020
In an open letter titled “It’s Time to Address Airborne Transmission of COVID-19” signed by 239 scientists in 32 countries, the WHO is being called on to recognize that airborne transmission of COVID-19 is a possibility.
Once again, the WHO (World Health Organization) is late making essential information available to the public.
The letter states that there is “significant potential for inhalation exposure to viruses in microscopic respiratory droplets (microdroplets) at short to medium distances (up to several meters, or room scale.”
They are calling for the use of “preventative to measures to mitigate this route of transmission”.
Measures include:
- Providing sufficient and effective ventilation (supply clean outdoor air, minimize
recirculating air) particularly in public buildings, workplace environments, schools,
hospitals, and aged care homes – opening windows and doors can dramatically increase airflow rates in many situations. - Supplementing general ventilation with airborne infection controls such as local exhaust, high efficiency air filtration, and germicidal ultraviolet lights.
- Avoiding overcrowding, particularly in public transport and public buildings.
The letter goes on to alert readers that the recognition of airborne transmission of COVID-19 is of heightened significance now, when countries are re-opening following lock-downs – bringing people back to workplaces and students back to schools, colleges, and universities.
The learning here: continue to wear a mask whenever you are indoors in the company of others – even if they are more than 2 meters or 6′ away, and practice thorough, frequent hand washing.
June 22, 2020
City of Toronto COVID-19 monitoring dashboard – up to date data on the city of Toronto’s progress in response to the COVID pandemic. Charts and graphs help make sense of the data. Worth a look.
June 18, 2020
The Government of Ontario and the Federal Government have just announced that a contact tracing app will be available for smartphones as of July 2, 2020. Privacy has been a key consideration in the development of the app. Everyone in Ontario is encouraged to download the app when it becomes available.
June 9, 2020
June 9, 2020 – In this video from MSNBC, Dr. Ashish Jha of Harvard Medical School weighs in on World Health Organization officials announcing asymptomatic coronavirus patients aren’t driving the spread of the virus. He empasizes the importance of continuing to wear a face covering/mask and to maintain social distancing. In short, nothing has changed – we are all still at risk.
This page will be updated as the situation develops.
How to properly wear a non medical mask
A lighthearted approach to encouraging people to wear a mask. This video made by artist James Gurney as an entry in response to New York State’s call for entries, to create a public service announcement.
Inspiring efforts:
It’s amazing to see how something as scary as the COVID-19 worldwide pandemic can act as a catalyst and accelerator of new technologies as well as new, innovative uses for existing technologies.
MaRS discovery district in Toronto recently reported on 5 innovations that may help provide a safer return to the office.
There’s an office mapping to help understand how people are using the office so that safe distancing can be enhanced and contacts can be traced.
A company called Minetell that is working on applying risk assessment strategies learned from experience in the oil and gas industries.
A company called BioConnect that has developed a hands free security device to replace card readers often found at the entrance to offices, that can also coordinate with other COVID tracking and tracing apps to alert those who may have been exposed to the virus – while maintaining privacy.
A fascinating application by a company called Truscore of their temporary walls originally developed to separate livestock, to instead be used to help separate workers where it is not possible for people to be two metres apart. The walls are 100% recyclable, made of non-toxic , medical grade PVC and are anti-microbial coated.
And lastly a company called EnvisionSQ that is working on keeping surfaces virus free – for up to one year!
See the MaRS Magazinee for full details
Apple to manufacture face shields – this is what leadership looks like!
Helpful resources:
City of Toronto Covid-19 testing sites (including pop-up sites – scroll to bottom of the page – no appointment required)
Government of Ontario list of COVID-19 testing Centres
Terrific video on proper hand washing (about half way down the page)
Comparison of COVID-19 to the flu and cold (about half way down the page)
Government of Ontario self assessment tool
Government of Alberta online screening tool
Please feel free to contact us if you have questions about our COVID-19 response.
Malcolm Marcus
Corporate VP
Eldercare Home Health Inc.
