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Simply Ducky Manager
CEO Update on the R.K. as of March 16, 2020
March 16, 2020 6:00 pm
Good Evening Everyone:
The facility continues to work through the information shared from Department of Health and Wellness (DHW) as well as finalizing many parts of our pandemic plan.
Updates:
Phone System– As you know, our phone system unexpectedly collapsed. When we ordered replacement equipment, we realized we had a much bigger system issue. New equipment was ordered and is currently being programmed. We have indicated to the provider that we need that equipment on site and functional as soon as possible. We do not expect the technicians on site until the week of march 23, 2020(subject to change). We understand the difficulty this presents especially now that all visitation to RK MacDonald has been restricted.
CareQ: As you know we have purchased a rapid notification system. The information for residents has been collected and we expect the system to be up and running by end of day Wednesday. This will allow us to notify families more efficiently of changes and where to find updates.
Communicating with your loved one: We had a staff and resident meeting today televised on channel 1885 today. This provides an opportunity for us to reach out to residents in their rooms as well as residents and staff in common areas. We reviewed the current guidelines regarding COVID-19 and the reasons for the visitor restrictions. We were able to discuss some of the interim planning we have in place and the activities we are undertaking to prepare. We have purchased iPads for each of the care areas to facilitate video conferencing with residents. We are working through the IT pieces and hope to have more information on Tuesday.
Pandemic Planning: RK MacDonald has had a generalized pandemic plan for a number of years; it is a requirement of the LTC Licensing Requirements. We are currently In the process of overlaying the information specific to this virus to the pandemic plan. We received Long Term Care (LTC) Infection Control Guidelines today from DHW. We are doing one on one education with staff regarding infection control measures and staff are also watching educational/instructional videos to ensure everyone is updated on best practice. The staff at RK MacDonald have had this education many times before. This situation is reason for us to do a full staff refresher in advance of any cases of COVID-19 in the facility. We will continue to update the plan and processes as well as prepare for unforeseen circumstance to the very best of our ability. We have an experienced and dedicated staff here and I feel confident in our ability to make sound, practical decisions as scenarios arise. Department of health and Wellness and the Nova Scotia Health Authority are providing excellent and timely information to us. We feel connected to these partners and we are doing our very best to get the information they send out to all of you.
Michelle Thompson
CEO R.K. MacDonald Nursing Home
64 Pleasant St, Antigonish, NS
B2G 1W7
Phone: 902-863-2578 ext 232
Email: mthompson@rkmacdonald.ca
Fax: 902-863-4437
Stomach Flu Outbreak
- We are closed due to a stomach flu out break Visitation is restricted to Immediate Family only.
- No children under 12 should enter the facility as per Public Health instruction.
- Please reschedule non essential visits.
Phone Outage
The facility is experiencing difficulties with a portion of both the resident and business phones and faxes. This is related to equipment issues and we have been working towards a solution for a couple of days. Replacement equipment has been ordered.
All staff currently have to access their email accounts and can be reached through out Staff Directory.
All faxes should be faxed to 902-863-4437 until the situation is corrected
Week Days
From Monday to Friday, between 8AM and 4PM, please call 902-863-2578 ext 233 if you are having any difficulty reaching a care area or your loved one.
Weekend Days
From Saturday to Sunday, between 6AM until 4PM, if you are unable to reach your family member, please call 902-863-2578 ext 233 and someone will be able to take your message and ensure either your family member or staff member gets in touch with you.
After Hours (All Week)
Between 4PM until 6AM, every day of the week please call:
- Martha’s Inn at 902-870-4019
- Thistledown/Cobblestone at 902-338-0010
- MapleRidge/Brambleberry at 902-870-1238
- Tanglewood at 902-870-5024
Thank you for your patience with this ongoing issue.
Palliative Care Front-Line Education Course by NSCC
NSCC is offering a Palliative Care Front-Line Education Course
Where: RK MacDonald Nursing Home, Second Floor Board Room, Antigonish
When: March 3rd to April 2nd
Tuesday & Thursday from 6PM to 8:30PM
Cost: $175.00 (Includes textbooks)
Contact: Business Office to register – Call 902-752-2002
Generator Transfer Switch replacement completed
February 6, 2020
Effective today, the replacement of the generator transfer switch is completed.
This means that in the event of a power outage, the generator will engage automatically, as it did in the past, and there will be no significant period without power or any need for a manual generator start up.
Thanks to the Maintenance Department for managing this project so efficiently, to the staff working through the planned power outages and to residents and visitors for their patience as we addressed the issue.
It should be “business as usual” moving forward!
Thanks again Everyone
Dementia: Challenges & Rewards
Families, Friends, & Anyone Interested, please join Dominic Boyd—Education Co-ordinator from the Nova Scotia Alzheimer Society on Saturday, November 09th, 2019 at 3:30PM – 4:30PM. This education session will be held at the Rhubarb Patch.
Water main break
Water main break has been fixed and water has been restored to the building.
Water Main Break
The Town of Antigonish has experienced a water main break today that has significantly impacted the water supply at RK. They are hopeful the water will be restored this evening. We are prepared to manage overnight if it is necessary.
We have implemented the following:
- Drinking water is available in each of the care areas for staff, visitors and residents.
- Non-potable water is available on each care area to flush toilets.
- Potable water for handwashing and resident care has been made available to the care areas.
- We have converted to disposable plates and cutlery for the evening meals.
- We have reached out to St. Martha’s to assist us with linen.
- Additional staff will be brought in as required to support front line staff with activities such as dishwashing, laundry and to ensure that any missed showers or regular baths are done once the water is restored (or next business day)
We have had several meetings with staff throughout the day to keep them updated and to bring information back to staff and residents in each care area and department.
When water is restored we will post a note on the website.
Buddy Bench 2.0
We are very pleased to reproduce the below excerpt of an article by Richard MacKenzie of The Casket published on August 22nd, 2019.
Antigonight, R.K. MacDonald Nursing Home collaborate on project
Stella Merry decided a hand-print is nice but a foot-print is even better, when contributing to the ‘buddy bench’ Aug. 16, a collaboration between the R.K. MacDonald Nursing Home and Antigonish: Art after Dark Festival which will sit outside the People’s Place Library. – Richard MacKenzie (The Casket)
ANTIGONISH, N.S. — The ‘buddy bench’ created for the R.K. MacDonald Nursing Home’s garden last year proved so popular, a second one has been created for the People’s Place Library.
“Last year, Antigonish: Art after Dark Festival, in partnership with the R.K. MacDonald Nursing Home, crafted a buddy bench for their new garden. We brought the bench to Antigonight as a seating option for people during the festival and the library liked it so much, they wanted one,” festival director Emma MacDonald said Aug. 16, as the activity of putting hand and foot-prints on the colourful bench took place, just outside the library on Main Street.
You can read the rest of the article on The Casket’s website here.