COVID-19 Updates - For Circle of Care Volunteers

Friday, March 13, 2020

COVID-19 Updates

In order to protect our clients, as well as our employees and volunteers and their loved ones, we are implementing a number of measures that will help us to limit the spread of COVID-19 among our employees, volunteers and clients. These measures are temporary and will be rescinded as soon as we feel that it is safe to do so.

The Ministry of Health and Public Health Ontario sends daily updates to all health organizations, and our Circle of Care COVID-19 Prevention Working Group meets daily to monitor and review this information.

We would like to remind all volunteers that if you (or a family member) develops a fever or an unexplained cough or has been asked to self-isolate, to please notify Volunteer Resources at 416-635-2860 ext 284 or ext 375 immediately and refrain from coming to any of our sites or visiting any clients.

Travel-Related Guidelines

While the COVID-19 situation evolves and continues to expand to multiple areas of the world, there have been a number of questions regarding travel. As we continue to deliver quality care and services, our primary objective is to reduce risk to our clients, employees and volunteers and align our efforts and decisions with Ministry of health and public health guidelines.

Remember that COVID-19 is a droplet infection and the best strategy to keep yourself safe is to wash your hands regularly, use hand sanitizer, do not touch your face, and consider avoiding large gatherings particularly in public places.

We want all of you to be safe on your potential upcoming travels. First, we ask that you watch travel advisories closely as these are changing regularly.

Guidelines on Personal Travel

Volunteers are asked to notify Volunteer Resources if you are travelling anywhere.
Upon return, please again contact the Volunteer department prior to seeing clients. It is important for you to notify us if there is any request for self isolation.
We will inform the program you are with or your clients when you are able to resume volunteering.

Group Cancellations

We are discouraging gatherings and large meetings of internal and external people until further notice.

The following groups/gatherings have been cancelled:

Let’s Get Together Groups for the remainder of March.
Bereavement support group is also cancelled; however our Hospice Case Manager will be in weekly contact with these clients.
Passover Group for Holocaust Survivors
Annual Volunteer Appreciation Night

We will continue to monitor the situation and make decisions about April groups/meetings in the near future.

Guidelines on Visitors to Circle of Care

Circle of Care is not restricting visitors at this time. However, we are requesting visitors not to visit our offices if they are not well.

Guidelines for Friendly Visitor and Hospice Volunteers

Friendly Vistor volunteers and Hospice volunteers are asked to please ensure you call your clients prior to each visit to ask your client if anyone in the home is showing any flu-like symptoms (cough and fever).

While your visits are extremely important to clients who are isolated and lonely, we do not want to place anyone’s wellbeing at risk. Please let Volunteer Resources know immediately if you need to stop your visits so that we can check in on the client and get them the medical assistance they may need.

I want to share an excerpt from Dr Diane Meier that was sent out through the Center to Advance Palliative Care network:

“The spread of COVID-19 virus is not only causing infection, but also panic, fear, and the media storm so often associated with these emotions.

I am reminded that we see this process every day in our work as we accompany patients and families confronting similarly frightening news and uncertain outcomes. The skills we use every day at the bedside in our work–listening, curiosity about what people are feeling, support for priority setting, and a calm presence–are the same skills we need to navigate this situation. Because our patient population–those living with serious illness–are in the highest risk group for complications and death associated with COVID-19, they and their loved ones are not only particularly vulnerable but also particularly stressed by the current situation.

As always, we will remember to be present for our patients as well as one another, listening, and contributing as best we can to an atmosphere of professionalism, calm, and focus on our top priorities–the needs and concerns of the patients and families we serve, as well as those of our colleagues, and our families.”

Reminders for Preventing the Spread of Respiratory Infections

Wash your hands regularly.
Use soap and water or hand sanitizer to clean your hands for at least 20 seconds, especially after moving through public areas, including communal office spaces like the kitchen and washroom.

Cough into your elbow or sleeve.
Avoid coughing or sneezing into your hands or into the air.

Please refrain from handshaking, hugging or kissing clients, other volunteers, or employees.
COVID-19 and other respiratory infections are easily spread through person-to-person contact. By refraining from these behaviours, we can decrease the risk of infection.

Clean your phone regularly.
Our phones can harbour harmful bacteria and viruses for long periods of time. Keeping your smartphone clean can reduce your risk of developing a respiratory infection.

Questions about the New Measures or COVID-19?

If you have any questions, please call Volunteer Resources at 416-635-2860 ext 284 or email lrae@circleofcare.com.

Questions?

Our mailing address is:
Circle of Care
4211 Yonge Street, Suite 401
Toronto Ontario

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Circle of Care · 401-4211 Yonge St. · Toronto, ON M2P 2A9 · Canada