Good morning, COR family!
I continue to be amazed by all the incredible people here at COR! Your level of compassion, engagement and ingenuity match no other! You are all taking each day in stride and discovering meaningful ways to be engaged given our challenging circumstances. You care. You love. And it certainly shows. I am so proud to have you all a part of our family.
THANK-YOU for rallying together as one during this difficult time.... we need to stay strong, stay positive, and be even more intentional in finding ways to stay connected, healthy and positive! We will get through this — together!
Although there are further updates regarding additional measures that we must take to keep everyone safe, we also have some exciting opportunities arising from this challenging situation to share; not to mention some helpful resources to support wellness during this pandemic.
Below are our most recent updates:
(1) Effective immediately, upon direction of the Ministry of Social Services, we must restrict all non-essential visitors at our workplace, including the homes of the people we support. Limiting visitors will help to keep everyone safe!
(2) We will transition necessary meetings to an online platform to ensure fewer people are meeting face-to-face, further allowing everyone the opportunity to participate — details will be sent to all impacted employees. We will also be transitioning our April Leadership and Team Meetings online as well!
(3) In accordance with a new provincial law, all COR family members and employees returning from international destinations are required to self-quarantine for 14 days. If this impacts you, please contact your Home Supports Coordinator.
(4) Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is currently in short supply; rest assured we are actively working to secure more supplies to keep everyone safe. Unfortunately, like our fellow community partners, this is proving difficult. The PPE items that we are seeking include: gloves, masks, hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes and thermometers. Please know that COR currently has a supply of these items; however, they are only being distributed to where they are most needed. On the bright side, we have enlisted the support of a couple retirees to help sew masks for everyone at COR - these will become available in the next few days.
(5) As an essential service, COR employees are now eligible to receive childcare. The Government of Saskatchewan is re-purposing child care facilities in schools to provide child care support for employees working in areas associated with the pandemic response. Employees working directly in residential services (Community Based Organizations) connected to the Ministry of Social Services are considered eligible.
Click here for information regarding these child care spaces.
(6) Exciting partnerships are emerging! COR, in partnership with Adrenaline Personal Training, is launching 30 minute at-home workouts streaming twice a week via Facebook Live for the next 5 weeks! A weekly yoga class, tech club, book club and art group will also be introduced online! Jessie, Jasen & Shaun will bring you a weekly workout, while others will be cooking up a storm with an online cooking show, paint groups, dance offs and a few other surprises!
The COR community will also receive details to online team challenges, virtual scavenger hunts, games and competitions to play against each other over the coming weeks! We have a lot of PRIZES to award! Get involved and stay connected via the COR and Inclusion Regina Facebook pages! A shout out to Ben, Casey, and Kristyn for leading this new way of nurturing meaningful engagement — you are absolutely genius!
To keep everyone's spirits up, Morgan will lead a number of music therapy sessions over the coming weeks -- get ready to sing and dance!
More importantly, Rachelle, Kasey, Kathy, Morianna, Shannon and Aileen are all working diligently to support employee and family wellness, taking the time to reach out to everyone and check-in during this difficult time! Keep expecting a friendly phone call just to say hello!
Did you know that Mandy is our rock? She is busy attending to the health needs of everyone at COR; we are beyond grateful to have her looking out for us all during this time.
Finally, Amanda, Jim, Lill, Britt, Matt, Andrew, Michelle, Jessica and I are all working behind the scenes to keep everyone safe and supported during these difficult times. We are here for you — all of us! Please reach out if you have any questions, concerns or ideas! We’d love to hear from you.
Remember, be a model for 'Good Hand Hygiene'!
Respectfully,
Michael & Jim
Click here for the most up-to-date information on COVID-19 from the Government of Saskatchewan.
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How to Stay Emotionally Healthy During the Coronavirus Outbreak
Proven techniques for managing stress and anxiety over the outbreak.
Posted Mar 03, 2020
The World Health Organization has coached us about how to avoid contracting and spreading the coronavirus to stay physically healthy. But what about attending to our mental health in the midst of the current outbreak? How do we stay emotionally healthy when many around us are fearful?
Here are some strategies that I’ve been using that may help you, too.
Pay Attention to Your Body and Your Emotions. It’s natural to experience stress and anxiety in the face of a threat we cannot control. Because every person reacts differently, notice what your body and emotions are telling you:
- Listen to your emotions, noticing any anxiety, sadness, anger, or detachment.
- Listen to your body, noticing any change in appetite, new aches and pains, or feeling particularly hot or cool.
- When you notice troubling symptoms, pause to care for your body and mind. If you become unable to manage or function well, seek the assistance of a professional.
Embrace Best Health Practices
Though there’s much about the coronavirus outbreak over which you have no control, you can choose to embrace the kinds of practices that will keep you and your loved ones safe. The CDC suggests:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
Access Reliable Resources
You can choose how you will receive and consume information about the outbreak. If you rely on panicked phone calls from your anxious loved ones, you’re likely to suffer more than if you choose to rely on credible sources. Two reliable sources for health news include the CDC and the World Health Organization.
If you become consumed by breaking news about the spread of the coronavirus, you can also choose to step away from media reports for a time. At the same time, if you find yourself feeling overwhelmed by the news or compulsively checking the news, then you need to take a break and set limits for yourself.
Share Reliable Information
Another way to care for yourself is to care for others by sharing the best information you’ve discovered. When you find a reputable resource that’s particularly helpful, share it with a loved one. When you learn about practices that keep people safe, let a relative who is vulnerable to illness know. In a culture where people are feeling anxious, you can be a gift to others.
Practice Self-Care
In the midst of a stressful season or situation, many self-care practices are the same ones that prove helpful in everyday living:
- Maintain your normal routines.
- Connect with family and friends.
- Eat well and stay active.
- Get adequate rest.
- Do enjoyable activities; and
- Employ coping skills that nurture your spirit, like mindfulness exercises or prayer.
While it feels like there is a lot we can’t control amidst concerns over the coronavirus, every one of us can make choices to stay emotionally healthy. I know I will.
-Margot Starbuck
Click to view full article here. |
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