Announcement – Care in Place

During the second and third waves, Regional Care Units served as an important part of Nova Scotia’s response to the second and third wave of COVID-19. Regional Care Units were designated areas that residents could be transferred to during the time in which they had contracted COVID-19. Our designated Regional Care Unit was Valley Regional Hospital. Due to capacity and the support structures developed across the sector over the past year, NS Health and the Department of Seniors and Long-Term Care will support a Care in Place Model for all residents with Covid-19 within the LTC sector.

Now, the goal of the Care in Place Model is to provide care for a resident with active COVID-19 who lives in a LTC facility within their home, including the residents who reside and receive care in Residential Care Facilities (RCFs) and nursing homes.

A single case of COVID among either staff and/or residents would put into place increased precautions and testing and would be called a suspected outbreak. In the event that there are two or more positive cases there would be an actual outbreak. Staff can feel reassured that in either event there would be support from the Infection Prevention and Control team of the Nova Scotia Health Authority for the purpose of swabbing, education, and infection control on the units.

The source of COVID-19 would determine the necessary follow-up actions. These changes are a result from several factors. Firstly, the Regional Care Unit from the second and third wave only contained one resident from long term care and a full nursing staff. This is not a sustainable model due to the continual short staffing that both continuing care and long term care facilities are facing. Secondly, each outbreak that has occurred in LTC facilities over the last few months have been relatively small and controlled largely due to the vaccination rate of staff and residents.

If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to the Infection Prevention and Control Nurse:

Randi Levasseur, RN
Phone: 902-538-3118 ext 8002
E-mail: Randi.levasseur@grandviewmanor.org

Please note that we are receiving a higher than normal volume of calls and e-mails. We are trying our best to respond to all concerns in a timely manner. We appreciate your patience as we try to navigate around the current mandates.

Thank you,
Grand View Manor Management