Glebe Centre – notes from the inside

By Bruce Hill and Barbara Duggan

While many seniors care homes across Canada have been devastated by COVID-19, the Glebe Centre has so far managed to keep the coronavirus at bay. Barbara Duggan and Bruce Hill share this window into the operation of the Glebe Centre during these stressful times. “We continue to appreciate the strength and resolve of the residents whose daily lives have been affected so much yet they smile and converse and carry on living with courtesy and charm: a lesson in courage for all of us.”

On the outside, the Glebe Centre looks calm, ordered and business as usual. In the inside, the Glebe Centre is calm and ordered. Business however, is anything but usual. No COVID-19 here, and we’re working hard to keep it that way.

The preventative activity begins at the front entrance. All staff members are screened daily – they are asked pertinent questions about isolation activities, and their temperatures taken upon entry and exit. Sanitizer is offered and masks distributed. All staff wear masks as an additional barrier protecting the residents. The screener at the door ensures all protocols are rigidly followed.

We have strict practices in place. Environmental services staff maintain high standards in cleaning high-touch areas twice a day. Nursing best practices are continually reinforced. A resident exhibiting a new cough or exceptional symptoms is isolated and tested if necessary, and care is provided under full PPE (gown, masks, goggles and gloves). A staff member exhibiting symptoms at the front entrance is sent for testing. Recently and temporarily, resident readmission from hospitals has been suspended. A resident transferred to the hospital for any reason will remain there and return to the Glebe Centre only when the practice is relaxed by Ontario Health.

Meal service is being changed to two sittings at each mealtime. While we had spread out dining tables into the hallways and the sitting areas, it has been decided to further reduce congestion by having an early seating followed by the later assisted meal.

Staff has had to choose to work with one employer only. Although we have guaranteed full-time hours, this has still translated into wage reductions for some. It has long been known that personal support workers usually work two or three jobs to make ends meet. This move to restrict them to one employer is key to keeping the disease out of our home. We made the move early and implemented it fully, before the recommendation became a directive.

Kate Cholewa, our newly hired director of care, communicates with staff daily. “Remember to be kind to one another as we are at work often more than we are at home,” she’s told them. “Remind yourselves we are in it for all the right reasons – to take great care of our residents. People have entrusted us to care for their loved ones, and they are leaning on us now more than ever before.”

The leadership team meets daily, and changes are implemented quickly in response to various directives from the province and from Ottawa Public Health. Executive director Lawrence Grant says, “We are doing our best to secure our home in the way our staff and residents and their families would expect.”

We have enjoyed amazing and heartwarming support from families and friends. Individuals have made donations to the aptly named Staff Appreciation Fund. As a result, staff have enjoyed a Blowout Pizza Party and a spectacular sandwich lunch. Donations of PPE are regularly finding their way to us through herculean efforts by our Chinese-speaking staff working with their personal contacts, as well as through the Conquer Covid-19 charity. These help immeasurably to augment the limited supplies provided weekly by the Ottawa Hospital. On a regular day, we use approximately 250 masks. Our Glebe and Old Ottawa South neighbours, Mad Radish and Tim Hortons, have treated us handsomely. To each and every one, we are very appreciative of your support – be certain that it all lends much energy and positivity to our work.

Bruce Hill, our newly engaged director of charitable giving, has morphed into our Skype, FaceTime and Zoom guy, with help from some program facilitators. Our families and residents have been availing themselves of the technology, and it has helped immeasurably to ease the anxiety of separation. Hill remains on call for this service. You just need to ask. 613-238-2727, ext. 316.

We miss our families, our volunteers, our Algonquin students and our Abbotsford friends. We miss the friendly noise of conversation and greetings. We are isolated from our extended family, and it will be one happy day when our doors are open and the love pours in.

Until then, stay strong and safe. We’ve got this!!

Barbara Duggan is director of quality management and Bruce Hill is director of charitable giving at the Glebe Centre.