Saskatchewan is expanding visitation guidelines to facilities including acute and long-term care, personal care and group home settings starting July 7. (ID 178932047 © Riccardo Cirillo | Dreamstime.com)

By paNOW Staff

Visitation guidelines expanded to SHA facilities and long-term care homes

Jul 3, 2020 | 2:11 PM

Saskatchewan is easing restrictions for visits in hospitals, long-term care homes and assisted living facilities across the province, allowing residents to have in-person visits for the first time since March.

A public health order by the Chief Medical Health Officer will be amended to expand the visitation guidelines starting July 7. Two family members or support persons can be identified as designated visitors. The changes allow for a single visitor to be present in the facility at a time. Two people can be present at one time if social distancing can be maintained for:

• Critical care/intensive care patients
• End of life/palliative care patients or residents
• Maternal Services Units (Maternal and Postpartum Units, Neonatal Intensive Care Units, Pediatric Intensive Care Units, Pediatric Units)

“We made several changes early in the pandemic event in order to protect our most at-risk populations, including visitation restrictions, staff and visitor health checks at point of entry, and continuous masking in health care settings,” Health Minister Jim Reiter said. “As we see more of our economy re-opening and additional health services resuming, we will take the same careful, safe approach to expanding family presence guidelines and ensuring that our loved ones in care continue to be protected remains our number one priority, while supporting the mental and emotional well-being of those in care.”

Family members and support persons must follow safety requirements including the wearing of a medical grade mask, hand hygiene and limited movement within the facility. They will also be required to call ahead or schedule an appointment before visiting any care or group homes.

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“I’m pleased that we are able to allow more opportunities to visit families and loved ones in these facilities, while still ensuring that every precaution to keep patients, residents and our staff safe is in place,” said Premier Scott Moe in a media conference on Friday.

Additional family members or support persons may be identified for end of life, palliative and intensive/critical care, as outlined in the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) Family Presence Guidelines.

These guidelines will apply to patients, outpatients, clients and residents in SHA facilities, long-term care homes and affiliate organizations, personal care homes, and Ministry of Social Services Group Homes. Settings that require additional time to ensure adequate supplies of PPE, appropriate and safe visitation spaces, and health screening of visitors may take until July 13 to fully implement the new guidelines.

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panews@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @princealbertnow