File Photo.
Image Credit: Shutterstock
March 21, 2020 - 3:49 PM
Interior Health has announced it is making changes to long-term care and community programs to protect those most vulnerable to COVID-19.
The changes include:
• Temporarily suspending inter-facility transfers (moving individuals from one care home to another), except in circumstances of intolerable risk. The client's place on the wait list for transfer will not be impacted by this change.
• Prioritizing admissions to long term care from acute care over those from community where possible.
• Temporarily suspending all adult day programs.
• Temporarily suspending in-facility respite care, except in circumstances of intolerable risk and for those who require palliative care.
"These changes will enable health care staff to focus on increased surveillance and infection prevention protocols and prevent the spread of COVID-19 to our vulnerable seniors," according to IH in a news release.
READ MORE: B.C. orders personal service establishments closed, including salons, spas
"Current clients will be contacted directly by Interior Health staff to discuss alternate services and supports where appropriate. Individuals or families who have questions should speak to their care manager or contact their local home health office."
As of March 21, there have been no COVID-19 outbreaks at IH long-term care homes. COVID-19 testing is currently included in all testing done for respiratory illness in long-term care facilities.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Carli Berry or call 250-864-7494 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.
We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.
News from © iNFOnews, 2020