Vegreville Manor is Closed to all Visitors Because of COVID-19

Vegreville Manor is Closed to all Visitors Because of COVID-19

Rosanne Fortier News Correspondent

St. Michael’s Health Group, which owns and operates Vegreville Manor, has been closed to visitors since March 13.

Daria Luciw, Director of Fund Development and Communications, said this situation has been challenging but all of the staff is screened upon entry.

“There is only one entry to all of our sites now. When the staff comes in, there is a series of questions they have to answer before every shift that they come into the building. These questions were prescribed by the Chief Medical Officer of Alberta and Alberta Health Services. Then the staff also has to get their temperature taken.”

When asked how they are keeping the residents’ spirits up, Luciw replied that they still have an activity coordinator on the site and they are working to try to do small group or one to one visitations because they are really reducing access for any type of activities.

A sign that reads that Vegreville Manor is in lockdown because of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Rosanne Fortier/photo)

“We are now moving dining tables where we will not have any more than two people at a table. We will only do recreational activities with five residents at a time. We have to be really careful now that provincially there has been community spread. We need to ensure that we keep things under control as much as possible.

As well, certain games and activities have been put away because there could be areas where COVID-19 could be spread; if we can’t clean them or wipe them down properly or be disinfected, they are being removed for use until such time that would be appropriate to bring them out again. The library area with the book and magazines has been closed off. We are really looking carefully at all the recommendations that are coming from the Chief Medical Officer and implementing them as quickly and as reasonably as possible.”