IPAC update Oct 1, 2025

Dear Families

We are pleased to inform you that in cooperation with Public Health we are discontinuing the precautionary measures, including universal masking, that have been in effect on Pathway Home Area since Sept 22/25.

We kindly ask that you:

• Self-screen for symptoms before visiting.
• Stay home if you are feeling unwell, especially with respiratory symptoms.
• Practice good respiratory etiquette, including covering your cough and using hand sanitizer when entering and exiting the home area.

Thank you

IPAC Team

IPAC Update Sept 22/25

Dear Families,

We are writing to inform you that, based on guidance from Public Health, we are putting additional precautionary measures in place in the Pathway Home area due to an increase in respiratory symptoms among some residents.

Please note: This is not an outbreak, but rather a preventive step to keep everyone safe.

Effective immediately:

· All staff working in the Pathway Home area will be wearing masks at all times.

· Residents will be closely monitored with enhanced symptom screening twice daily.

· Any resident showing respiratory symptoms will be placed on Droplet/Contact precautions and will receive PCR testing as a precaution.

· Masks will be available and encouraged for all visitors to the Pathway Home area.

We kindly ask that you:

· Self-screen for symptoms before visiting.

· Stay home if you are feeling unwell, especially with respiratory symptoms.

· Practice good respiratory etiquette, including covering your cough and using hand sanitizer when entering and exiting the area.

These measures are in place to help protect your loved ones and our staff. We appreciate your understanding and support as we work to maintain a safe and healthy environment for everyone.

We will continue to provide updates as we receive them from Public Health.

Thank you

IPAC Team

Respiratory season is fast approaching. We encourage everyone to visit the link below for information from Public Health Ontario – How to Protect Yourself and Others from Respiratory Viruses: How to Protect Yourself and Others from Respiratory Viruses

During the months of October and November we will be offering Influenza and Covid vaccines to our residents. We will be contacting any POA(s) who may not have given consent or non consent for their resident to receive the vaccines. Simultaneously we will be asking for consent/non consent for an antiviral, such as Tamiflu, if we experience an Influenza Outbreak.

Public Health Ontario has of great information available to the public at any time related to vaccines and health conditions. Please see the link below to Public Health Ontario related to vaccine safety: Vaccine Safety in Ontario

Self Screen for illness prior to every visit, using the Self Screening tool posted at our entrance, throughout the home and on our website. If you have any signs and symptoms of respiratory illness, please do not visit until you are afebrile (no fever) and symptoms have been improving steadily for 24 hours/or resolved and wear a mask for 10 days after onset of symptoms. If you have gastrointestinal symptoms, please do not visit until symptoms have fully resolved for 48 hours.

Please remember to keep your hands clean by washing and/or alcohol-based hand rub. Complete hand hygiene every time upon entering and exiting resident room and entry/exit to SJF. We remain mask friendly with masks available at the entrance to SJF.

As part of our quality improvement plan, we are reviewing our UTI program, and I wanted to share some information that you may find useful/interesting.

Urinary Tract Infections are one of the most common types of infections in LTC and treating them based solely on a “urine dip” test or one symptom without completing urine testing at the laboratory is one of the reasons for antibiotic overuse and resistance.

Please see the link below to Public Health Ontario that contains some valuable information:

<<Frequently Asked Questions for Residents and Families>>

We have available at the sign in desk information for families and friends of the residents related to applying and removing personal protective equipment when signage is in place on a resident room, hand hygiene and other IPAC information. Pleases help yourself to a brochure and a pamphlet.

We ask that you please continue to self screen for illness prior to every visit, using the “Self Screening Tool” posted at our entrance, throughout the home and on our website. If you have any signs and symptoms of respiratory illness, please do not visit until you are afebrile (no fever) and symptoms have been improving steadily for 24 hours/or resolved and wear a mask for 10 days after onset of symptoms. If you have gastrointestinal symptoms, please do not visit until symptoms have fully resolved for 48 hours.

Please remember to keep your hands clean by washing and/or alcohol-based hand rub. Complete hand hygiene every time upon entering and exiting resident room and entry/exit to SJF.

We remain mask friendly with masks available at the entrance to SJF.

Please be aware that the news continues to talk about the significant increase in the number of Measles cases being reported in Ontario.

We would encourage everyone to be aware of the signs and symptoms of Measles and ensure your vaccines are up to date.

Please Self Screen prior to every visit, using the tool posted at the entrance and throughout the home and website, for any illness prior to visiting SJAF and do not visit if any symptoms are present.