Virtual Town Hall Frequently Asked Questions

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Last Updated: March 1, 2021

Each week on Tuesday, Tyndall Seniors Village (TSV) and Joseph Brant Hospital (JBH) will hold a virtual Town Hall with families to keep them informed about the COVID-19 outbreak and the recovery plan, and provide them with the opportunity to ask questions and share their thoughts.

Below are frequently asked questions from our virtual Town Halls, which are continuously updated. Please note that provincial guidance, including testing requirements and visitor policy, is subject to change over time. This information is current as of the above date.

If you have any further questions for Tyndall Seniors Village, including the status of a resident, please call the home at (905) 624-1511 or reach out to Shannon Sprung, Program Services Manager at ssprung@svch.ca, and the appropriate staff member will get back to you within 24 hours.

If you have any further questions for Joseph Brant Hospital, please contact the hospital at info@josephbranthospital.ca or call 905-632-3737. For more information and helpful resources, please visit: www.josephbranthospital.ca/tyndall

General Home Questions

Infection Prevention & Control

COVID-19 Testing & Recovery

Resident Wellness

Vaccination

Hospital Transfers & Readmissions

Communication to Families

General Home Questions

1. Could you provide some background and context on the COVID-19 outbreak at Tyndall Seniors Village?

Public Health confirmed a COVID-19 outbreak at Tyndall Seniors Village on November 5, 2020, and on November 25, Joseph Brant Hospital assumed temporary management of Tyndall Seniors Village under a mandatory management order issued by the Ministry of Long-Term Care.

On January 30, 2021 Peel Public Health declared the outbreak at Tyndall Seniors Village over.

Despite this good news, we remain vigilant in all infection prevention and control measures and the collaboration with Joseph Brant Hospital continues while the home is in its recovery phase.

2. What does the mandatory management order mean for my loved one and how long will Joseph Brant Hospital be in the home?

On November 25, Joseph Brant Hospital assumed temporary management of Tyndall Seniors Village under a mandatory management order issued by the Ministry of Long-Term Care for up to 90 days.

Under the order, Joseph Brant Hospital supports the management of the home and leads monitoring, investigating and responding to the outbreak. They have developed a management recovery plan and are working closely with Tyndall Seniors Village and other health system partners, including Peel Public Health and Ontario Health, to ensure appropriate policies and procedures are in place to support residents and staff, as well as to keep residents, families, staff, the community, health care partners and the Ministry of Long-Term Care informed.

3. Are Tyndall Seniors Village staff working exclusively at the home or are they working in multiple care settings?

Staff are required to work exclusively at Tyndall Seniors Village. The Ontario government has implemented emergency orders that restrict long-term care or retirement home employees from working in more than one location as of April 22, 2020.

Additionally, agency staff working in a home with an active COVID-19 outbreak cannot work at another long-term care home or other congregate care/health care setting, even if they receive a negative test result as part of the province’s ongoing testing initiatives for staff in long-term care homes.

4. When will I be able to visit my loved one again?

Peel Region remains in a Grey-Lockdown level zone. Only essential visitors are allowed in the home. This means that, until further notice, only the following visitors are allowed in the home:

People performing essential support services (e.g., food delivery, blood testing, ambulance, mobile X-ray, maintenance).
A person visiting an extremely ill or palliative resident.
Essential caregivers, whether a family member or a hired caregiver.

These rules are in place for the safety of all our residents, their visitors, and for the community.

Tyndall Seniors Village continues to connect families with their loved ones by phone or video. Please contact Shannon Sprung at ssprung@svch.ca to book a virtual visit with your loved one.

5. Am I able to take my loved one out of the home?

Some individuals and families may decide to take their loved one home during this time. However, a resident’s clinical and personal support needs may be too much for a family to provide at home. Tyndall Seniors Village staff are trained in the specialized care of seniors who may have multiple health issues.

We encourage families to consult their loved one’s physician before making a decision and discuss the type and level of care that resident requires and whether that level of care can be provided in a different setting.

6. What are the procedures for leaving the home for essential appointments? (E.g. Doctors appointments, dentist visits, etc.)

Tyndall Seniors Village has put a procedure in place to ensure that necessary appointments can be made while also protecting staff and residents in the home. If you have a loved one who needs to leave the home for a medically necessary appointment, we ask that you contact the nursing manager to have a conversation about the best plan to suit you and your loved one’s needs.

Tyndall is also ready to assist with any online or virtual appointments if the provider offers this as an option.

7. What will happen after the COVID-19 outbreak is officially over?

Now that the outbreak is over, Tyndall Seniors Village is working to slowly reintroduce programs and activities. Tyndall Seniors Village will work closely with Joseph Brant Hospital and Peel Region Public Health on how these programs and activities can be resumed in a safe way and we will keep families informed of any changes.

8. When will residents be allowed out of isolation to interact with other residents or gather together in TV rooms?

Tyndall Seniors Village must follow all Public Health directions regarding infection prevention and control measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 and ensure the safety of everyone within the home. This means that, at this time, residents can access virtual socialization activities but are not permitted to gather in TV rooms. Staff are working hard to enhance their one-on-one activities with residents.

Additionally, a plan underway to ease restrictions and re-introduce social programs within the home in a safe and orderly way.

9. When will group dining and other group activities resume?

A plan is underway to slowly ease restrictions and re-introduce social programs including communal dining within the home in a safe and orderly way.

10. Can you clarify the process to renew a health cared for a long-term care resident?

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Service Ontario notes that health cards have an extended expiry date until further notice. This remains true for all Tyndall Seniors Village residents. If you have any further questions with respect to the health card renewal process, please email Mike Parthiban at pr@svch.ca.

11. When will residents be allowed to move back to shared rooms? Will my loved one be able to return to their original room?

At this time, the government of Ontario has restricted the number of residents in a four-bed room to two. This allows residents to maintain a 6-foot distance at all times. Until the province directs long term care homes otherwise, rooms with four beds will only house two residents.

We understand that Tyndall Seniors Village is home to our residents and each resident has their own preferences for room choice and associated comforts. We are working hard to ensure that we maintain a home-like environment while also carrying out new directions and infection prevention and control measures as mandated by the province.

12. What is the difference between an essential worker and an essential caregiver? Do both require a negative test result for entry to Tyndall?

According to the Ministry of Long-Term Care, an essential caregiver is a type of essential visitor who is designated by the resident and/or their substitute decision-maker and is visiting to provide direct care to the resident (e.g., supporting feeding, mobility, personal hygiene, cognitive stimulation, communication, meaningful connection, relational continuity and assistance in decision-making). Examples of caregivers include family members who provide meaningful connection, a privately hired caregiver, paid companions and translators.

A support worker is a type of essential visitor who is visiting to perform essential support services for the home or for a resident at the home. Examples of support workers include health care workers that are not staff of the long-term care home as defined in the Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2007.

Essential workers are deemed by the government to be critical in preserving life, health and basic societal functioning.

Both essential caregivers, workers and support workers must have a negative COVID-19 test result before entering the home.

13. At what point would an external health professional be allowed to pay a medical visit to a resident? Would they have to provide a negative COVID-19 result?

A visit from an external medical professional can occur at any time if it is deemed as medically necessary for the resident. This is an example of an essential worker. The determination for this decision should be made in partnership with the practitioner who will be visiting the home, clinical staff of the home, including the attending physician, the resident and/or their substitute decision-maker.

Any external health care professional will be required to produce a negative COVID-19 test result before entering the home.

14. Can the type of items we drop off for our loved one be expanded to include food, flowers, etc.?

For the ongoing health and safety of residents and staff at Tyndall Seniors Village we are following all infection prevention and control measures set out by Peel Region Public Health and the Province of Ontario. Unfortunately, this means that flowers, plants and home cooked meals can not be accepted at this time as we cannot sanitize these items thoroughly enough.

We understand how difficult it is to be physically separated from a loved one and we know that tokens like food and flowers are one way that we show affection to our loved ones. In the current circumstances however, we must remain diligent until we are past this pandemic.

To keep families in touch with their loved ones, staff are working hard to connect residents through virtual visits either by phone or other technologies. If you would like to book a virtual visit, please contact the home at (905) 624-1511 or reach out to Shannon Sprung at ssprung@svch.ca.

Additionally, there are some items that can be appropriately quarantined, sanitized and shared with residents. These items include:

Cards
Clothing
Toiletries
Packaged food items
Shoes and slippers

If you would like to drop off an item contained the list above, please contact the home at (905) 624-1511 or reach out to Shannon Sprung at ssprung@svch.ca. to coordinate a drop off.

15. What are the procedures for leaving the home for essential appointments? (E.g. Doctors appointments, dentist visits, etc.)

Tyndall is also ready to assist with any online or virtual appointments if the provider offers this as an option.

Infection Prevention and Control Measures

1. What is being done to keep residents safe?

Tyndall Seniors Village’s care team continues to work closely with Joseph Brant Hospital leaders to provide care to residents, including education and implementation of infection prevention and control best practices to protect the home from COVID-19 and to sustain these practices going forward.

Measures currently in place include:

Wearing the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at all times;
Encouraging staff diligence with their hand hygiene;
Bringing in a professional cleaning company on site to do a deep clean in all areas of the home including resident personal areas;
Providing residents with care and personal support;
Actively screening all staff and other essential workers entering the home;
Strict physical distancing of all team members while inside the home;
Ongoing vaccination efforts of staff and residents; and
Supporting the coordination of additional caregivers through agencies and the LHIN and supporting the home’s physicians.

2. What are IPAC procedures?

IPAC stands for Infection Prevention and Control and refers to evidence-based practices and procedures that, when applied consistently in health care settings, can prevent or reduce the risk of transmission of microorganisms to health care providers, clients, patients, residents and visitors.

We know that COVID-19 is spread through droplets, so IPAC procedures in long-term care include wearing a mask, washing hands regularly and wearing a gown and gloves. These are some of the ways to prevent the spread of this virus.

3. Are staff getting temperature checks before the start of shift?

Yes. All staff are receiving temperature checks before the start of their shift and at the end of their shift. Additionally, all staff are required to go through a full screening process alongside the temperature checks which includes answering a series of questions and thorough sanitization.

4. What does droplet and contact precaution mean? Aren’t staff required to wear personal protective equipment all the times?

Depending on the situation, different personal protective equipment is required. Current direction from the Province of Ontario requires that all staff wear a mask and face shield at all times whether a long-term care home is in outbreak or not.

Droplet and contact precautions mean that enhanced personal protective equipment is required. When a floor or home is on “droplet and contact precautions,” any individual who comes into contact with a resident is required to wear a face mask, goggles, gown and gloves.

Tyndall Seniors Village’s care team continues to work closely with Joseph Brant Hospital leaders to provide care to residents, including ongoing infection prevention and control measures.

5. If droplet and control precautions are in place for the second and third floors only, why not include the fourth for good measure?

Two of the three floors were previously associated with the outbreak as defined by Public Health. To prevent the spread of COVID-19, floors two and three were placed on droplet control and precaution as they may have been exposed. There was no exposure to the fourth floor.

Now that the home is out of outbreak, all floors have the same IPAC measures in place to ensure the continued safety of residents and staff.

COVID-19 Testing and Recovery

1. Will family members be notified when resident cases are resolved?

All resident cases of COVID-19 have been resolved and families have been informed of the health status of their loved one. If you have further questions about your loved one, please call the home at (905) 624-1511 and the appropriate staff member will get back to you within 24 hours.

2. Are rapid tests available and in use at Tyndall Seniors Village?

The Government of Ontario is currently piloting the Panbio rapid test in select long-term care homes in the province. This testing produces results on-site and within minutes. The government has done this to help quickly identify and manage outbreaks to stop the spread of COVID-19. However, rapid tests are not as accurate as lab-based RT-PCR tests, so those who test positive must get a follow-up test to confirm the result.

Tyndall Seniors Village is not currently part of this pilot, but more information will be shared as the rapid tests are validated and deployed to long-term care homes in Ontario.

3. What is the turnaround time for tests on staff and residents?

The turnaround time to receive COVID-19 test results varies among regions and labs. For the Region of Peel, it usually takes between 3 to 4 days, and up to 7 days or longer depending on the number of people getting tested at one point in time and the laboratory system’s capacity.

It is important to note that laboratories have been increasing their capacity to receive and produce COVID-19 results faster.

Further details regarding COVID-19 testing in the Region of Peel can be accessed here: https://www.peelregion.ca/health-professionals/covid-19/pdf/covid-19-testing-handout.pdf

4. How do you determine when a staff member can come back to work?

A staff member who has tested positive for COVID-19 is only able to return to work after they meet all of the ‘return to work’ requirements set out by government and our local public health unit, which includes, but is not limited to, self-isolating away from work for 14 days from last exposure or 10 days from symptom onset. Detailed infection prevention and control instructions are provided to each staff member upon returning to work to ensure the health and safety of themselves, their colleagues and residents.

We are pleased to share that all staff members who tested positive for COVID-19 have had their case resolved and we have welcomed them back to the home.

Further details on Public Health’s guidance on testing and clearance can be found here: http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/publichealth/coronavirus/docs/2019_testing_clearing_cases_guidance.pdf

5. Are you prepared for the COVID variant that is expected to enter Ontario?

Together with our local Public Health unit, the governments of Canada and Ontario and our health system partners, Tyndall Seniors Village and Joseph Brant Hospital are monitoring the spread and corresponding guidance of the new COVID-19 variant.

At this time, we are continuing to follow all infection prevention and control measures to protect the home against all strains of this virus.

6. Do our loved ones need another COVID-19 test before receiving their second dose of the vaccine?

No. Residents will not need another COVID-19 test to receive their second dose of the vaccine.

Individuals cannot receive the vaccine if they are currently showing symptoms of COVID-19. At this time, there are no active resident cases of COVID-19 at Tyndall Seniors Village.

If there is a change in the health status of your loved one, the home will reach out to you directly to discuss their care needs.

Resident Wellness

1. What is Tyndall Seniors Village doing to support resident’s mental health and other personal support and clinical care not related to COVID-19?

Isolation and disruption to regular routines during an outbreak can be difficult for residents. Staff strive to continually provide compassionate care during these challenging times. If you have a specific question about a resident at Tyndall Seniors Village, please call the home at (905) 624-1511 and the appropriate staff member will get back to you within 24 hours.

Staff are also able to connect families with their loved ones by phone or video. If you would like to book a virtual visit with your loved one, please email Shannon Sprung, Program Services Manager, at ssprung@svch.ca.

2. As residents are isolated in their rooms, are they in bed all day or are they able to get out of bed and sit in their wheelchair?

One-on-one social activities, which includes residents being out of bed and in their wheelchairs, are being provided safely. Please contact Sharon or Shannon for more information about other safe activities planned to promote the wellbeing of residents.

Additionally, one-on-one physiotherapy and restorative walking has continued throughout the outbreak in the home with additional precautions in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Vaccination

1. What is the timing for COVID-19 vaccine roll-out? When will Tyndall get the vaccines for residents and staff?

The Ontario government has developed a plan to vaccinate priority populations including residents and staff in long-term care.

At this time, all residents who have provided consent themselves or through their power of attorney have now received the first dose of the Moderna vaccine. The vaccine was administered to residents on January 7, 2021. Second dose clinics are scheduled in early February.

Vaccinations for staff have also started and will continue throughout January. As more vaccines arrive in Ontario, more healthcare workers and essential caregivers who work in hospitals, long-term care homes, retirement homes and other congregate settings caring for seniors will be vaccinated.

Further details on Ontario’s vaccination roll-out plan can be found on the government’s newsroom website here: https://www.ontario.ca/page/ontarios-vaccine-distribution-implementation-plan.

Additionally, the Ministry of Health has developed a number of educational documents on the COVID-19 vaccine that may be of interest:

2. Can a resident decline the COVID-19 vaccine? Will people who are not vaccinated be able to visit a loved one in a long-term care facility?

Every resident and individual has the right to engage in health care the way they see fit, and that includes whether or not they make the choice to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

There has been a lot of discussion regarding vaccine hesitancy and we feel it is important to highlight two points that have been made by the provincial government:

Health Canada, who has an active role in ensuring you have access to safe and effective health products, conducted an independent and thorough scientific review for safety, effectiveness and quality, and they will continue to diligently monitor the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines.
Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier of Ontario and Minister of Health, has previously mentioned there may be restrictions placed on people who don’t receive the COVID-19 vaccine. It is unclear what these real-life impacts for refusal may be, but it was mentioned during the Minister’s address on Tuesday, December 15, that there might be restrictions on travel, going to theatres and other public places.

The team at Joseph Brant Hospital and Tyndall Seniors Village will provide further updates regarding the COVID-19 vaccine as more details are released by the provincial government.

3. Are staff going to be required to get the COVID-19 vaccine?

The COVID-19 vaccine marks a pivotal moment here at Tyndall Seniors Village and is a positive development that will help protect your loved ones.

Policies around mandatory vaccines are developed and communicated by Public Health Ontario. At this time, as per Ontario guidelines, the COVID-19 vaccine is not mandatory for staff to continue working, however, we continue to strongly encourage all staff to be vaccinated as soon as possible and continue to work with our hospital partners on providing accessible times for team members to receive their first dose.

As with any new technology or treatment, there is always some trepidation. We continue to provide ongoing education to our residents and our front-line staff on the benefits of being vaccinated. We know hesitancy will ease over time as staff see more and more people get vaccinated successfully.

Mitigating COVID-19 in our home relies on successfully curbing the spread of infection in the community. While a vaccine is a much needed and welcomed step in ending the pandemic, all infection prevention and control measures remain firmly in place for the continued health and safety of everyone in our community and the appropriate personal protective equipment continues to be used by staff at all times throughout the home.

4. If a resident or staff member has recovered from the virus is a vaccine still required?

While there is a growing body of scientific evidence that suggests antibodies can be present for months after a COVID-19 infection, the actual length is unknown at this point in time. Therefore, medical experts agree it is still important to get the vaccine.

5. Will residents who have recovered from COVID-19 get the vaccine? Will family members receive the COVID-19 vaccine so that they can see their loved ones in long-term care?

The Ontario government is currently implementing a phased plan for distributing the COVID-19 vaccine, focusing first on vulnerable populations who are at the greatest risk of COVID-19. For the most up-to-date information, please visit the government’s website: https://covid-19.ontario.ca/covid-19-vaccines-ontario

6. What plans are in place to handle allergic reactions to the vaccine?

It is recommended that individuals with known allergens to any of the ingredients in the COVID-19 vaccine, should not receive it. The list of medical and non-medical ingredients can be found here:https://healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/hc-sc/2020/74543a-eng.php

A doctor will also be present for all vaccinations of staff and residents.

7. Have Tyndall Seniors Village residents received the flu shot?

The flu shot was successfully administered to all Tyndall Seniors Village residents back in October. Resident power of attorneys were notified of the commencement and completion of this flu vaccination program.

8. When will the residents receive their second vaccination?

The next vaccination clinics for residents will be held February 4 and 5. We are not expecting any delays at this time.

If Public Health communicates any potential delays in administering the second dose to residents, we will contact families immediately.

Please note, there is a minimum of four-weeks required between doses. However, a longer period between doses does not affect the efficacy of the vaccine.

Further details on Ontario’s vaccination roll-out plan can be found on the government’s newsroom website here: https://www.ontario.ca/page/ontarios-vaccine-distribution-implementation-plan .

9. What is the percentage of staff who have received their vaccination?

All staff who have consented to be vaccinated have received their first dose. For privacy reasons, we are unable to share the exact percentage.

As with any new technology or treatment, there is always some trepidation. We continue to provide ongoing education to our residents and our front-line staff on the benefits of being vaccinated.

10. Moderna is reducing its supplies by 25% this week. Will Tyndall still receive their dosages for residents?

The media has reported a significant delay in vaccinations across the country. Peel Public Health has managed and allotted their current inventory, which has included second doses for Tyndall staff and residents. We are expecting that those supplies will be delivered on time on February 4 and 5.

Hospital Transfers and Readmissions

1. If a resident needs to be transferred to hospital will they now be transferred to Joseph Brant Hospital? If a resident is transferred or has been, when will they be readmitted to Tyndall Seniors Village?

If a resident requires transfer to hospital, they are likely to be transferred to Trillium Health Partners (THP). Our new relationship with Joseph Brant Hospital will not impact our traditional referrals to other health institutions in the community.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, a Tyndall Seniors Village resident would be readmitted to the home once the hospital and their care team determined they were able to return. Now that the outbreak is over, re-admissions from hospital have begun and we have been pleased to welcome many of our residents back home.

Please note, when a resident returns from the hospital, they will require an additional 14 days of isolation at the home.

2. Is Tyndall Seniors Village admitting new residents? If not, when readmissions resume, will you continue with full capacity in rooms with 4 beds?

Now that the COVID-19 outbreak at Tyndall Seniors Village is over, staff at Tyndall and Joseph Brant Hospital are working with Peel Region Public Health on a safe admissions plan for new residents. The health and safety of all current and new residents remain our top priority and any new admissions will be required to isolate in the home for 14 days.

Communication to Families

1. How will you continue to keep families informed?

We will continue to update families about Tyndall Seniors Village through four ongoing avenues:

Weekly email updates on Mondays regarding the status of COVID-19 at Tyndall Seniors Village along with any other relevant information and updates. If you are not currently receiving these weekly updates, please email info@josephbranthospital.ca to be added.
Bi-weekly Town Halls on Tuesdays at 6:00 pm where a brief update is provided from the clinical and management leadership at both Tyndall Seniors Village and Joseph Brant Hospital, followed by a question and answer session. We encourage families to submit questions before these sessions so that we can share information about the issues that matter to you most.
Weekly resident wellness calls to power of attorneys to ensure families have the most up-to-date information on the wellbeing of their loved one.
Regular updates to the Joseph Brant Hospital website (www.josephbranthospital.ca/tyndall).

If you have any questions about the information you receive, please feel free to contact the home at 905-624-1511 and leave a message, or email Shannon Sprung, Program Services Manager at ssprung@svch.ca. A staff member at Tyndall Seniors Village will get back to in 24 hours.

2. I have a question about my loved one at Tyndall Seniors Village.

Private information about a specific resident at Tyndall Seniors Village cannot be shared during a Town Hall or in broad communications to families or staff. If you have a specific question about a loved one, please call the home at (905) 624-1511 and the appropriate staff member will get back to you within 24 hours. If you prefer email, please reach out to Shannon Sprung, Program Services Manager at ssprung@svch.ca