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What is infection control?

Whenever a group of people live together in the same house or residence, it is possible to "catch" colds and other infections from one another. To decrease the chance of this happening, long-term care facilities practice something called "infection control." Infection control includes the practices used by staff to prevent and manage infections. We have a complete infection control program and we are committed to sharing information with you, so that you can help us keep a healthy environment for your relative and our staff.

How can you help?

Experts agree that hand washing is the best method of preventing infections. Hand washing with soap and water for 15 seconds remains the best way to prevent transferring infections from one person to another (hand hygiene). Hand washing and the use of waterless antiseptic hand rinses have been shown to reduce infection and terminate outbreaks in facilities. Our staff wash their hands often, and we encourage residents and visitors to do the same. Please wash your hands when you arrive and before you leave the building. Residents enjoy food from home and it is tempting to bring in treats when you visit. However, please do not leave perishable foods in residents' rooms. Label the container with your relative's name, date the food and give it to a staff member. We will be happy to put it in the refrigerator for future enjoyment.

Self-screening

We ask that you self-screen yourself for the following. If you do not feel well, have muscle aches, severe tiredness, severe headache, cough, shortness of breath or a cold, fever, vomiting or diarrhea, please do not visit the home. Your relative can catch these infections quite easily.

If you have travelled to a country where there is a noted infection, we ask that you do not visit your relative for at least 10 days.

You may be asked to complete a SARS screening questionnaire before entering the facility. If you do not pass, you will not be able to enter the building. This is to protect you and your relative.

Immunization

Another way of preventing infections is to make sure that you are properly immunized. It is important for people who live in or frequently visit long-term care facilities to be immunized against common infectious illnesses. We offer the following immunization programs to our residents, and we encourage families and visitors to learn more about the importance of these immunization programs:

• Pneumococcal vaccination
  Health and Welfare Canada recommends that all people over the age of 65 and people with heart and lung problems receive a one-time dose of pneumococcal vaccine. This will help to protect against pneumococcal pneumonia, which can be a serious illness in elderly people. On admission, we will ask you if you have been immunized. If you have not received this vaccine, we will arrange for you to receive it here.
• Influenza vaccination
  Each winter, we experience an outbreak of the "flu." Influenza can make elderly people seriously ill. It is recommended that all people over the age of 65 and people with heart or lung problems receive an annual "flu shot."
  
  Vaccination is the single most effective way to fight influenza. It will prevent or lessen the severity of an attack of the flu. Each year, we offer flu shots to our residents and staff.

What happens if there is an outbreak?

Sometimes, in spite of everyone's best efforts, there may be an infectious disease outbreak in a long-term care facility. If that happens at our Homes for the Aged, your relative is in good hands. We will implement our outbreak management procedures immediately. Our doctors and care team will collaborate with the experts at Toronto Public Health to plan the best way to get over the infection as quickly as possible. It is possible that we may ask family members and visitors not to visit during this time. This is to protect both our residents and their family and friends from the illness. If we ask you not to visit, we will stay in touch by telephone, so that you know how your relative is doing.

For more information

If you would like more information about infection control, don't hesitate to ask your Resident Team Leader or your doctor.