Riverview Health Centre Personal Care Home Visiting Changes

23 July 2020

Dear PCH Resident Families

As you may have seen in the media, the Manitoba government, along with Public Health officials, are currently planning for phase 4 of “opening the economy”. Included in this phase, we are happy to share with you, are some enhancements to family caregiver presence within personal care homes in Manitoba while COVID-19 presence remains low. These changes are subject to change should COVID-19 presence in our province increase. As always, Riverview Health Centre will follow provincial public health direction at all times. Please note this caregiver presence is significantly different from social visiting.

“Designated Family Caregiver” is any person whom the resident and/or substitute decision-maker identifies and designates as their family caregiver. As partners in care, these individuals actively and regularly participate in providing care and may support care activities such as: feeding, mobility, personal hygiene, active cognitive stimulation, and assistance in decision-making, for example.

“General Visitor” is a family or friend who visits for social reasons, and does not have significant participation in care activities.

At Riverview Health Centre, beginning Saturday, July 25, 2020, residents and/or their substitute decision-makers may select and identify up to two Designated Family Caregivers who actively and regularly participate in care, as outlined above. Upon successful entry point screening, these Designated Family Caregivers will be authorized to be present on their loved one’s unit any time during the hours of 11:00 a.m. – 6:45 p.m. Please note on weekends and holidays, the latest a Designated Family Caregiver may enter the building is 4:45 p.m., due to our screening processes and hours of work.

All other visiting at Riverview Health Centre will stay the same at this time. That is:

• Social visiting by “General Visitors” will continue to be offered as outdoor visits (moved indoors for inclement weather), solarium visits, and virtual visits (e.g. Face Time), all by appointment.
• Hospital patient visiting principles will not change at this time, except that we are able to extend the visiting hours to the same time frames: 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily, with latest visiting entry at 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and recognized holidays.
• There is no change to our current process for imminent end of life visitation throughout our facility.

Please see earlier posts on this website for details of these other types of visits. Sincerely,


RHC Leadership Team Designated Family Caregivers: What You Need to Know

• Visiting hours during this time will be 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. However, last entry into the building is 4:45 pm on Saturday, Sunday and recognized holidays.
• Each resident may identify up to two Designated Family Caregivers, who regularly and actively participate in care of the resident.
• We are unable to welcome pet visitors at this time.
• Screening of all Designated Family Caregivers must occur, including assessment for symptoms or known exposure to COVID-19 prior to entry. Restrictions may apply to individuals who have travelled outside of Manitoba within the past 14 days. Restrictions will apply to individuals who have travelled outside of Canada within the past 14 days. No one shall be permitted if they have any cold/flu or other COVID-19 symptoms.
• Designated Family Caregivers will be required to provide their name and contact information (phone number and address) and be “signed in” by Entrance Screeners upon arrival. This information will be retained solely for the purpose of Public Health contact tracing should a COVID-19 case investigation be required.
• All Designated Family Caregivers must comply with Infection Prevention and Control measures. This includes strict hand hygiene and maintaining physical distancing (6 feet/2 meters apart) from staff and other individuals who do not live in the same household (except the resident) at all times.
• The proper wearing of clean, non-medical masks by Designated Family Caregivers is required. This means the clean mask must cover one’s nose and mouth. Designated Family Caregivers must supply their own masks. Please view this short (1 minute 24 seconds) Health Canada video for tips on how to properly use non-medical masks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFV0h4h3HzY&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR3sq78N9BJztRubWveFkfBSXyNtJgPmnLPHGCZyFLxgeQyLbZyzlBqR4uA
• Should personal protective equipment (PPE) needs be increased for the particular resident (that is, the resident is placed on isolation precautions), RHC will provide medical grade PPE and Designated Family Caregivers will be taught how to properly put it on and remove it.
• Care and visiting by the Designated Family Caregivers shall occur only with their loved ones (ie that one particular resident) within the resident’s room, or if the Designated Family Caregiver is able to independently take the resident outside for a walk on or near the property, this is allowed. However, physical distancing measures from other residents, other Designated Family Caregivers, etc. is required. Please ask staff for assistance with obtaining all needed items that are outside the resident’s room. For example, there is no access for Designated Family Caregivers to unit kitchenettes, refrigerators, meal tray carts, linen supplies, etc.
• Access to on-site food/beverages is available in our cafeteria and vending machines. However, we ask that Designated Family Caregivers not remain in the cafeteria to eat.
• Designated Family Caregivers may use public washrooms while visiting. These are located on the main floor near the cafeteria.
• Off-property visits are not permitted given the risk to patients and to the facility associated with unknown nature of contacts, exposure and other required safety measures.
• There is no change to our current process for imminent end of life visitation.

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