COVID-19 Preparedness Self-Assessment Tool for Retirement Homes
 
RHRA has revised its COVID-19 Preparedness Self-Assessment Tool designed to help retirement homes assess their readiness to prevent or effectively respond to an outbreak of COVID-19 and to take proactive steps to address any gaps:
 
RHRA’s COVID-19 Preparedness Self-Assessment Tool
 
Changes include reference to vaccination policies and partnerships with IPAC Hubs. RHRA strongly recommends that retirement home operators complete the self-assessment checklist and take immediate steps to address any gaps identified to ensure that your home is prepared to prevent an outbreak and able to respond effectively if one occurs.
 
RHRA’s preparedness self-assessment tool has been developed specifically for retirement homes; however, below are links to other resources including a checklist developed by Public Health Ontario that can apply to all congregate living setting:

• COVID-19: Infection Prevention and Control Checklist for Long-Term Care and Retirement Homes 
• Planning for respiratory virus outbreaks in congregate living settings
• Key features of influenza, SARS CoV, and other common respiratory viruses

 RHRA hopes that these resources will assist homes in doing everything possible to keep residents safe.
 
Reminder: Allowing External Care Providers Access to Homes
 
RHRA has been made aware of instances where External Care Providers (ECPs) were being denied access to homes. RHRA would like to remind licensees and operators that they must allow ECPs access to homes in order to provide care for residents.
 
As detailed in RHRA’s Guidance on the Implementation of CMOH Instructions for Mandatory Vaccination Policies in Retirement Homes, ECPs who provide services to residents and are not staff or contractors of the retirement home but are employees, staff or contractors of Home and Community Care Support Services (HCCSS) (formerly Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs)), public hospitals or ambulance services are subject to the vaccination policies required under CMOH’s Directive #6.
 
In addition, these ECPs are considered essential visitors to retirement homes and must comply with the requirements under Directive #3 and Retirement Homes Policy to Implement Directive #3. However, these visitors are not required to comply with the retirement home’s immunization policies.

If you have questions, please contact us at info@rhra.ca.

Residents are Invited to Join RHRA’s Resident Network
 
Do you know a retirement home resident looking to get involved?

The Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority (RHRA) invites seniors living in retirement homes to join RHRA’s collaborative Resident Network. Members of the Resident Network will have the opportunity to work directly with the RHRA to provide insight and counsel that is unique to residents and their families. The Resident Network allows residents across the province to exchange ideas with each other and engage in meaningful work. The Resident Network meets virtually at this time. Synopses from past meetings can be found here.
 
RHRA encourages operators to share this opportunity with residents. For more information about joining the Resident Network, please contact residents@rhra.ca.