July 23, 2020
Dear Families of Health & Transition Services:
We are very happy to share that Manitoba Public Health is recommending enhanced visitation in all Long Term Care facilities as part of Manitoba’s continued reopening plan. The most significant change is the implementation of visits within the facility for up to two designated family/caregivers.
While we are thrilled to be able to enhance the ability for you and your loved ones to connect, we also recognize that for some this may be an uncomfortable change. I would like to reassure you that we are committed to the continued safety of all the people we support and our staff, and while we are doing everything we can to implement these new processes quickly, we need some time to ensure that what we are developing both maximizes the safety and minimize the risks for all people supported within Health & Transition Services (H&TS), as well as our staff.
Starting Monday, July 27, we will accommodate visitors between 11 am and 4 pm. These visits do not require an appointment and you are welcome to stay as long as you wish within the defined visiting hours. We plan to expand these hours as we evaluate the success of our processes and make any required adjustments over the first week of “going live”.
Initially visits will take place in your loved ones rooms only; access to the Buhler Gardens will need to be balanced with other outdoor activity, visits, and programming, and we will need the first week to determine how to best do this. Please note that any outdoor or window wishes visits you currently have scheduled will remain as is unless you tell us otherwise.
Please reach out to the appropriate contact person listed below, to let us know the names of your two designated caregivers as soon as possible; only documented, designated visitors will be allowed to visit in the facility.
Program, Name, Email, Extension 204-256-4301 ext. ####
Behaviour Stabilization Unit (formerly known as the Cottages): Sheena Brown, shbrown@stamant.ca ext. 4244
Adult Services: Laurie Romanica, lromanica@stamant.ca ext. 3337
Adult Health Services: Alishia Dumontet, adumontet@stamant.ca ext. 4338
Child & Young Adult Health Services: Tamara Coombs, TCoombs@stamant.ca ext. 4308
Finally, please see the attached document for more details on what to expect when you arrive for your visit, along with what is expected from you as a visitor. We are asking for your attention to, cooperation with, and understanding of these expectations so we can work together to ensure your visits are safe and meaningful. The ongoing success in keeping COVID-19 out of our facility requires us all to work together.
Thank you for your patience and support as we work through these details to ensure that we can support this change in a safe, respectful and hospitable way. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call the manager responsible for your loved ones’ unit.
Sarah Mankelow
Director, Health & Transition Services