Note to Families and Friends of CHSBC

Dearest Families and Friends,

CHSBC would like to provide an update to all families, friends and associates with measures that we are practicing organization-wide to help protect the clients we serve against COVID-19.

Elderly individuals and people with medical conditions are the most vulnerable to severe complications from COVID-19. Therefore, CHSBC is providing guidance to ensure that programs can reduce the risk of introduction of COVID-19, and that all programs are ready to identify cases promptly for early management.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, we are ensuring clients are supported to understand and be diligent with the following:
- Social and personal distancing of a minimum of 2 meters, as per the order by BC’s Health Official Dr. Bonnie Henry. To assist our clients with the understanding, we have presented visuals throughout the programs and physical demonstrations and education of social distancing with staff supports. We are enforcing this daily, ensuring that clients remain safe and educated during these extraordinary times.
- Staff and clients are increasing hand hygiene and practices. We have COVID specific, hand-washing visuals around our residential programs to assist our clients to continue with hygiene practices. Staff are around to remind and demonstrate proper handwashing and hygiene procedures at any time.
- CHSBC is only allowing essential visitors during this time, to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and promote social distancing practices.
- Staff are initiating and encouraging at-home activities for all clients to assist them to tackle boredom. We are collectively encouraging all clients to remain home. 

As we move through this crisis, each day brings new challenges.  We are staying in touch with the public Health Authorities and other government bodies and personnel, to clarify issues as they are presented to us. Our CHSBC team has been working diligently in putting plans in place, as we continue through this pandemic. In anticipation of it getting more challenging in the forthcoming weeks, we have identified various levels of staffing for each program, should we be faced with staffing shortages. It is crucial that we have the plans in place to continue meet essential service levels for your friends and family members who we support each day. While we are all facing some overwhelming challenges, we are hearing of some great stories of creative ideas and solutions to ensuring that services carry on for our clients as we try to find a way through this crisis. 

We would also like to publicly thank our dedicated staffing teams who continue to work hard each day and night providing continuous quality care to our clients. Front line workers, our management team and our administrative staff are putting in long hours to ensure the protection of our most vulnerable in this time of global crisis. We want to recognize and acknowledge all our workers for your continued dedication to the people we serve, it is truly appreciated!

Further information can be found in the following resources:

Fraser Health Website:  Coronavirus
https://www.fraserhealth.ca/health-topics-a-to-z/coronavirus/coronavirus-questions-general-public#.XmaZ92aouuU

BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC)
http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19

BC Government:  BC Pandemic Preparedness
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/office-of-the-provincial-health-officer/current-health-topics/pandemic-influenza

or Call Health Link BC 8-1-1

Sincerely,
Cheshire Homes Society of BC