Geriatric Resource Centre continues to actively take all precautions to help mitigate the spread of the Coronavirus. We ask that our staff follow these rules as diligently as possible to ensure the health and safety of our clients, all of our staff and their families. It is imperative we all work together and act responsibly to help stop the spread of COVID-19. 

Please note that our policies will continue to change and evolve as we learn and are updated from official findings and research. For any changes, Geriatric Resource Centre will update you in a timely manner via email and secure messaging. 

The safety and health of our staff and their families is very important to us. If at any time a caregiver does not feel comfortable or is in need of additional PPE, or would like to be off a case, please communicate with GRC management so that we can help you in any way we can. We appreciate all of your hard work and sacrifices to keep our clients safe and healthy. We want to ensure we are available for you and your needs.

Geriatric Resource Centre has been working with our staff to support and ensure their safety during this pandemic. Many of our staff have recently been fully vaccinated. Any caregiver working with GRC who is looking to be vaccinated can speak with GRC management for assistance in scheduling their appointments.

Caregivers working in the client’s home

Caregivers are instructed to wash their hands upon entering and leaving a client’s home as well as washing their hands frequently through out their shifts.  They are also wearing gloves when assisting clients with hands-on care and wearing masks during their shifts.  If a caregiver is not feeling well and experiencing any symptoms, they will be instructed to take the day off.  Clients will be notified and will be able to have a fill in for the shift.

Caregivers working in a facility

Caregivers who are working in facilities are gowned in protective gear provided by the facility.  If a caregiver is working in a facility, they are following facility protocols like having to answer questions on shift arrival such as have they or anyone they have been in contact experiencing symptoms, caregivers also have their temperature checked when they arrive for their shift.  If there is a reading of 100* or above, caregivers are sent home.  Once sent home caregivers must be tested for Covid-19 ASAP.  If possible they should request a rapid test in order to have results same day.  Caregivers must be able to provide test results to GRC and the facility to show they are negative before they are able to return.  If the test is positive for Covid-19, caregiver must remain out of work until symptom free and/or can provide Covid-19 negative test result.  If a caregiver does test positive, anyone they had come into contact with will be notified of positive results.

Make sure your mask fits snugly against your face.

• Gaps can let air with respiratory droplets leak in and out around the edges of the mask.

Pick a mask with layers to keep your respiratory droplets in and others’ out.

• A mask with layers will stop more respiratory droplets getting inside your mask or escaping from your mask if you are sick.

Wear your Mask Correctly

• Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer before putting on your mask.
• Put the mask over your nose and mouth and secure it under your chin.
• Fit the mask snugly against the sides of your face, slipping the loops over your ears or tying the strings behind your head.
• If you have to continually adjust your mask, it doesn’t fit properly, and you might need to find a different mask type or brand.
• Make sure you can breathe easily.

Choose a mask with a nose wire

• A nose wire is a metal strip along the top of the mask
• Nose wires prevent air from leaking out of the top of the mask.
• Bend the nose wire over your nose to fit close to your face.

Use a Mask Fitter or Brace

• Use a mask fitter or brace over a disposable mask or a cloth mask to prevent air from leaking around the edges of the mask.

Check that it Fits Snugly over your nose, mouth, and chin

• Check for gaps by cupping your hands around the outside edges of the mask.
• Make sure no air is flowing from the area near your eyes or from the sides of the mask.
• If the mask has a good fit, you will feel warm air come through the front of the mask and may be able to see the mask material move in and out with each breath.

Add Layers of material

• Use a cloth mask that has multiple layers of fabric.
• Wear one disposable mask underneath a cloth mask.
• The second mask should push the edges of the inner mask against your face.
• Make sure you can see and breathe easily

Knot and Tuck ear loops of a 3-ply mask

• Knot the ear loops of a 3-ply face mask where they join the edge of the mask
• Fold and tuck the unneeded material under the edges
• For video instructions, see: https://youtu.be/UANi8Cc71A0external icon.

Do NOT

Combine two disposable masks

• Disposable masks are not designed to fit tightly and wearing more than one will not improve fit.

Combine a KN95 mask with any other mask.

• Only use one KN95 mask at a time.

How to store your mask

• Store wet or dirty masks in a plastic bag
• If your mask is wet or dirty from sweat, saliva, make-up, or other liquids or substances, keep it in a sealed plastic bag until you can wash it. Wash wet or dirty masks as soon as possible to prevent them from becoming moldy. Wet masks can be hard to breathe through and are less effective than dry masks.
• Store masks that are not wet or dirty in a paper bag
• You can store your mask temporarily to reuse later. Remove your mask correctly and wash your hands after touching a used mask. Keep it in a dry, breathable bag (like a paper or mesh fabric bag) to keep it clean between uses. When reusing your mask, keep the same side facing out.
• If you are taking off your mask to eat or drink outside of your home, you can place it somewhere safe to keep it clean, such as your pocket, purse, or paper bag. Make sure to wash or sanitize your hands after removing your mask. After eating, put the mask back on with the same side facing out. Be sure to wash or sanitize your hands again after putting your mask back on.

Wash your mask

Wash your cloth mask whenever it gets dirty or at least daily. If you have a disposable face mask, throw it away after wearing it once.

• Using a washing machine
  • Include your mask with your regular laundry.
  • Use regular laundry detergent and the appropriate settings according to the fabric label.
•  By hand
  • Wash your mask with tap water and laundry detergent or soap.
  • Rinse thoroughly with clean water to remove detergent or soap.

Dry your mask

• Dryer
  • Dry your mask completely in a warm or hot dryer.
• Air dry
  • Hang your mask in direct sunlight to dry completely. If you cannot hang it in direct sunlight, hang or lay it flat and let it dry completely.