News Briefs from the December 2020 Blue Water Rest Home Board Meeting…

Suspension of General Visitors

In November, Huron Perth moved into the Orange Protect Level of Ontario’s COVID-19 Response Framework.  We have followed the Ministry of Long-Term Care and Huron Perth Public Health’s directive and suspended all indoor visitors. We are still offering the option for residents to enjoy virtual calls and window visits with family and friends.  Santa came early and everyone was able to enjoy a window visit and express some holiday spirit.  

Even though our holidays celebrations have looked different this year, December is going to be a busy month at Blue Water Rest Home celebrating the festive season.  

Virtual Family Christmas Dinner

Although this is a new concept, residents and their families have embraced the idea and have really enjoyed the opportunity for some family time.  We have two more upcoming Virtual Family Dinner’s on December 13th and December 20th.  

Other Holiday Seasons Events Planned

We plan on celebrating the holiday season all month long.  There will be festive crafts, happy hour, Advent, virtual entertainment, Ugly Sweater Friday’s, virtual concern with Craig Manning, target practice, along with many other games and activities.  The month will end with Santa’s Elves delivering gifts on December 24th and 2020 will go out with a bang with a Fireworks show on December 31st.  More details about the Fireworks will be posted on Facebook. 

Media 

We have been sharing our celebrations and successes on our Facebook page so please be sure to like us on Facebook @whccbwrh.  This will give you an opportunity to see the various activities, programs and celebrations happening under the roof at the West Huron Care Centre. 

Donation of an Enable Table

We are extremely grateful for the Zurich Has Beans hockey team, who generously donated an enable table from their social fund proceeds.  Our residents are enjoying it.  Thank you  to the Zurich Has Beans!

Season’s Greetings

On behalf of everyone at Blue Water Rest Home, we wish you a safe and happy holiday season! Despite the pandemic, we hope that you can still feel the joy of the season. 

News Briefs from the November 2020 Blue Water Rest Home Board Meeting…

Remembrance Day

We take a moment to honour, reflect, and remember those who have gave and continue to give, the ultimate sacrifice.  Lest we forget.

Virtual Family Christmas Dinner

As we look ahead to our Family Dinner, we recognize that our celebrations will look, and may even feel different this year.  We know that regardless of hos we celebrate, we are committed to providing experiences that are deeply routed in connecting residents and loved ones, while celebrating the joy of the season.  

Family Dinner will be done virtually this year.  Families of each resident can schedule a virtual meal, where they can connect and celebrate together with their loved one, while enjoying good food and conversation.  Residents and families will connect with the other, using video calling technology (eg. Skype or Facetime).  Pre-registration is required for our Virtual Family Dinner.  BWRH Christmas Pudding can be pre-ordered and purchased too.

For more information, to register for your virtual meal, or to order Christmas Pudding, please contact Chelsey Passmore, Outreach and Programs Manager at c.passmore@bluewaterresthome.com or 519-236-4373 x 631.

Staff Service Awards

On September 28, 2020, we were proud to celebrate and recognize our staff reaching years of services milestones. 

Congratulations to:  Rachael Bryson (10 years), Joanne Stephen (10 years), Denise Dietrich (20 years), Elze Groot (20 years), Elaine Harburn (20 years), Brenda Sheppard (20 years), Carol Deichert (30 years), Brenda Grenier (40 years), and Cheryl Gelinas (45 years).  

We enjoyed good food, provided by Pine Ridge BBQ, the sharing of memories, and had lots of laughs during our Staff Appreciation Luncheon and Service Awards.  

Tractor Donation

Blue Water Rest Home was the recipient of a generous donation from the Derik Whiting Foundation in January 2020 to be put towards property maintenance.  With this donation, a new tractor was purchased in October 2020.  We are extremely appreciative for this generous donation.  

Blue Water Rest Home is a Non-Profit Charitable organization and donations of $10 and greater are receipted and $500 and greater are recognized on a Donor Plaque.  

News Briefs from the October 2020 Blue Water Rest Home Board Meeting…

New Virtual Family Christmas Dinner

As we look ahead to the holiday season, we recognize that our celebrations will look, and even feel different this year.  One thing we have learned, is that we are adaptable and capable of successfully navigating our ever-changing normal. 

We have begun to plan our annual Family Dinner where families can sign-up to share a virtual Family meal with their loved one (Sunday’s starting Nov 15th-Dec 20th).  Details are being shared with families.  

Our goal is to support a meaningful opportunity for families and loved ones to connect, while ensuring a safe environment.  We are looking forward to the Virtual Family Dinner, and appreciate the support and understanding of the community as we navigate this new opportunity.  

Virtual Memorial Service

We are currently planning our Memorial Service, which like many other things, will look different this year.  We will video the service on October 22, 2020, then send to families.  We will not have any guests attend the services in-person.  Dianne Loerchner, Board Member has agreed to host the service.  Residents will form an honour guard, socially distanced, while we walk our Memorial Flowers through the guard.  After the video is complete, we will share it with residents and post to our Facebook page.

Flu Clinics 

We have planned our Resident and Staff Flu Clinics to take place before for the end of October.  Outreach Community Flu Clinic will be held, but date is to be determined.  The most effective way to decrease complications and reduce the impact of the flu is to get the flu shot.

Blue Water Rest Home is a Non-Profit Charitable organization and donations of $10 and greater are receipted and $500 and greater are recognized on a Donor Plaque.  

News Briefs from the September 2020 Blue Water Rest Home Board Meeting…

Visiting at Blue Water Rest Home

**UPDATE TO INDOOR AND OUTDOOR VISITING**

Visitors welcome!

We are looking forward to welcoming visitors back in to BWRH, as of September 15, 2020, in a more traditional way. Scheduling of Indoor Visits is no longer required. Each resident may have up to two visitors at one time during visiting hours. Daily Visiting Hours are 9:30-11:00 am, 1:30-4:00 pm, and 6:30-8:30 pm

*All General Visitors must attest to a negative COVID-19 test result in the past 14 days, successfully pass screening upon entry, adhere to hand hygiene practices, wear a surgical mask for duration of the visit (supplied by BWRH), and leave all non-perishable items for residents in the drop-box. Upon arrival of your first visit, you will receive a ‘Indoor and Outdoor Visiting Policy’, that provides all the necessary details and guidelines that pertain to indoor visitors.  

Outdoor Visits will continue if weather permits. Our goal is to provide as much notice of cancellations as possible; however, we may need to cancel without notice if weather changes quickly.  

We are approaching the new directive with caution, as we transition into the next phase, to ensure the safety our residents and staff remains priority. 

Thank you for your continued understanding and support as we navigate these changes.

Christmas Celebrations

Like many things this year, Christmas is going to look a little different because of COVID-19.  We are looking at ways to do things differently so that we can still celebrate the joy of the Christmas season.  While we await further direction from the Ministry, we will begin brainstorming ideas in the coming weeks and we will provide residents, their families, and our supporters with updates in a timely manner.

Foot Care Provider

Our new Foot Care provider, James Miles, will run his first community clinic on September 15th and 21st, then run BWRH clinics one day per week from September 28th-October 19th.  If community members are interested in attending the community clinic, please contact Stacy 519-236-4373 x 632.

Blue Water Rest Home is a Non-Profit Charitable organization and donations of $10 and greater are receipted and $500 and greater are recognized on a Donor Plaque.  

News Briefs from the August 2020 Blue Water Rest Home Board Meeting…

Visiting at Blue Water Rest Home 

We resumed indoor visiting at Blue Water Rest Home in late July and it has been wonderful seeing so many familiar faces.  Our commitment was to approach this with great caution and evaluate the process on an ongoing basis.  The safety of residents, staff, and visitors remains our priority.     

To Schedule Indoor & Outdoor Visits 

Email bwrh.visits@bluewaterresthome.com or call 519-236-4373 x 640 and leave a voicemail.      

Testing

As a reminder, indoor visitors must verbally attest that they have tested negative for COVID-19 within the two previous weeks.  

Virtual and Window Visits

Where an in-person visit is not possible, virtual and window are welcome.  

Blue Water Rest Home is a Non-Profit Charitable organization and donations of $10 and greater are receipted and $500 and greater are recognized on a Donor Plaque.  

News Briefs from the July 2020 Blue Water Rest Home Board Meeting…

ANNOUNCEMENT - Outreach and Programs Manager
We are pleased to announce that Chelsey Passmore joined our team as Outreach and Programs Manager on July 13, 2020.  Chelsey brings a variety of frontline and management experience from the health and social services sectors that will assist her in this dynamic role.  She has connections to long-term care, community and support services and has provided community health teaching and promotion.  Chelsey and her family reside in Exeter and she is excited to be working in a leadership role in her neighbouring community.

On behalf of everyone at Blue Water Rest Home, we want to thank Patty Groot for 35 years of dedication to the organization.  Patty has been an instrumental member of the leadership team overseeing Programs, Community Support Services and Outreach.  Patty’s last day with us is July 30, 2020 and will support Chelsey’s orientation.  We wish Patty the best wherever this next chapter takes her.

Update to Visits at LTCH's 
On July 15, 2020, the Premier announced an Update to Visits at Long-Term Care Homes.  Indoor visits will not take effect until July 22, 2020 and we will communicate our plan to resident families on July 21, 2020 to make sure indoor visits are meaningful and safe for residents, staff, and visitors and comply with ministry guidelines.
Outdoor Visits - effective July 15, 2020 - COVID-19 testing for outdoor visits is no longer required but visits still need to be screened, physically distance, wear face coverings, maximum of two visitors at a time and schedule visits by emailing t.steckle@bluewaterresthome.com. 
Virtual visits and window visits are available if unable to schedule an in-person visit.

Staff Surveillance Testing
All Blue Water Rest Home employees and contracted service providers were tested twice in the month of June.  We are pleased to report that we had 100% compliance and NO COVID-19 was detected.  Testing will be taking place every two weeks until further notice and we are working hard to make testing as accessible as possible by offering testing during work shifts, to avoid staff from having to come in on their day off. 


Our Continued Appreciation
We want to express our continued gratitude to our many friends and supporters in the Zurich and area community for their contributions and support during the COVID-19 pandemic.  We are blessed to work in such an amazing community during these unprecedented times. 

Blue Water Rest Home is a Non-Profit Charitable organization and donations of $10 and greater are receipted and $500 and greater are recognized on a Donor Plaque. 

News Briefs from the June 2020 Blue Water Rest Home Board Meeting…

COVID-19 Pandemic

Blue Water Rest Home staff have done a tremendous job during the COVID-19 pandemic and we want our community to know it.  Despite challenging times and so many government directives, our entire has worked together to make this the best possible experience for our residents.  #BWRHstrong

We want to express our continued gratitude to our many friends and supporters in the Zurich and area community for their contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic.  There have been an outpouring of donations including meals, gift cards, monetary donations, personal protective equipment, hand sewn masks, medical caps, homemade mask holders, iPads, and plenty of treats.  We love you for your consideration and these gestures are making a difference as we work diligently to contain the COVID-19 outbreak.  We very much appreciate the community rallying together to show their support during these uncertain times.
Thank you!   


Blue Water Rest Home is a Non-Profit Charitable organization and donations of $10 and greater are receipted and $500 and greater are recognized on a Donor Plaque. 

News Briefs from the May 2020 Blue Water Rest Home Board Meeting…

COVID-19 Pandemic

Blue Water Rest Home is excited to announce that our COVID-19 Outbreak has officially been declared over as of May 13, 2020.

Moving forward, we will continue to follow the guidelines from the Ministry of Long-Term Care and will continue to work closely with Huron Perth Public Health.  Visiting restrictions remain in place and social distancing will continue.  We will continue to be proactive in our screening, testing and monitoring for any display of symptoms. 

On behalf of the staff at Blue Water Rest Home, we want to express our gratitude to our many friends and supporters in the Zurich and area community for their contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic.  There has been an outpouring of donations including meals, gift cards, monetary donations, personal protective equipment, hand sewn masks, medical caps, homemade mask holders, iPads, and plenty of treats.  We love you for your consideration and these gestures are making a difference as we work diligently to contain the COVID-19 outbreak.  
Thank you! 


Blue Water Rest Home is a Non-Profit Charitable organization and donations of $10 and greater are receipted and $500 and greater are recognized on a Donor Plaque. 

News Briefs from the March 2020 Blue Water Rest Home Board Meeting…

Annual General Meeting
Blue Water Rest Home’s 55th Annual General Meeting on held on Wednesday, March 4, 2020 at 7 p.m.  The Board wished farewell to Dr. Doug Thiel, Member at Large who served three terms from 2011-2020 and Colin Haskett, who represented Zurich and District Chamber of Commerce from 2018-2020. Sandra Shaw was appointed to represent Zurich and District Chamber of Commerce and Clasina DeBont was voted in as the new Member at Large.  The eleven-member board is complete.  

Blue Water Rest Home is a Non-Profit Charitable organization and donations of $10 and greater are receipted and $500 and greater are recognized on a Donor Plaque.

News Briefs from the February 2020 Blue Water Rest Home Board Meeting…

Retirement
After 20 years of Service, Elaine Harburn, PSW celebrated her retirement in January 2020.  We appreciate her years of dedication and commitment and wish her all the best in this next chapter!

Welcome to the Team
Blue Water Rest Home welcomes four new Personal Support Workers to our team – Patty Stephenson, Josee Potcnik, Raquel Murray and Nicole Corbett.
We are also pleased to welcome Alyssa Arthur, Registered Nurse to the team.

Disease Outbreak
On January 31, 2020, the Huron Perth Public Health declared BWRH in an Enteric Outbreak.  The outbreak lasted 12 days, ending on February 11, 2020.  A very special thank you to our staff for their extra efforts made to care for residents throughout this difficult time.

Upcoming Events at West Huron Care Centre / Blue Water Rest Home
Blue Water Rest Home 55th Annual General Meeting – Wednesday, March 4, 2020 at 7 p.m.
World Day of Prayer – Friday, March 6, 2020 at 2 p.m.
Caregiver Education Event – Tuesday, March 10, 2020 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.

Blue Water Rest Home is a Non-Profit Charitable organization and donations of $10 and greater are receipted and $500 and greater are recognized on a Donor Plaque. 

News Briefs from the January 2020 Blue Water Rest Home Board Meeting…

Upcoming Events at the West Huron Care Centre / Blue Water Rest Home:

• 55th Annual General Meeting – Wednesday, March 4, 2020 at 7 p.m.
• World Day of Prayer – Friday, March 6, 2020 at 2 p.m.

Blue Water Rest Home is a Non-Profit Charitable organization and donations of $10 and greater are receipted and $500 and greater are recognized on a Donor Plaque.