Dear Actionmarguerite Residents and Families,

The month of December is now well underway bringing with it the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.

You may have noticed when coming to Actionmarguerite that the holiday spirit has begun to fill the air. The twinkling lights shine bright, the garlands have been hung, and there is a touch of magic in our midst. Generous donors have also contributed to the décor to add to the beauty around us. Many holiday celebrations have or will be taking place in the days ahead. At all three Actionmarguerite homes, residents are set to enjoy what has become known as beloved “resident unit parties” with support from the recreation, spiritual care, and clinical teams. These celebrations remain possible with some modifications as needed due to outbreaks. We thank the Auxiliary, the Actionmarguerite Foundation, and the Friends of St. Joseph’s for sponsoring these events.

We also have a few updates to share with you. Thanks for reading on …

Resident Quality-of-Life Survey from a Family Member’s Perspective

We wrote to you a few weeks ago inviting you to participate in the resident quality of life survey from a family member’s perspective. If you haven’t yet had the chance to complete the survey, there is still time to do so until Monday, December 18. There are 2 ways to participate in the survey :

• Online by requesting the link from info@actionmarguerite.ca
• By completing a paper version of the survey available at the main entrance.

We thank everyone who has already participated. Your voice matters and it is important to us to hear your comments and feedback.

Help us keep everyone safe during this year’s respiratory illness season

As you know, Actionmarguerite continues to experience respiratory illness activity. With all the gatherings at this time of year, the probability of spreading germs increases along with illness. Although visitation is normally welcome, due to the nature of the illnesses and the rapid transmission of viruses, we kindly ask general visitors from the public not to visit a resident when a unit is experiencing an outbreak. Essential visitors, assisting with the care or social needs, of their loved one are welcome to visit at their own risk. As we are well into the respiratory illness season, we ask that you continue to practice the measures known to protect residents, staff, and one another from illnesses. As a reminder, please continue to:

• Self-monitor for signs and symptoms of illness and stay home if you are ill;
• Wash or sanitize your hands thoroughly and often; and
• Protect yourself by using the personal protection equipment during your visit as recommended by staff.

Outbreak Status

At this time, we continue to ask general visitors to defer their visits to residents living on affected units. Essential visitors are welcome to visit at their own risk.

Actionmarguerite St. Boniface

2DE: ongoing respiratory outbreak

3DE: outbreak declared today (NEW)

4AB: ongoing respiratory outbreak

Actionmarguerite St. Vital

3rd floor: ongoing respiratory outbreak

To know more about our approaches during the cold and flu season, which now includes COVID-19, visit our STANDARD OUTBREAK MANAGEMENT MEASURES.

Short Stay Absences and Social Leaves

Should you wish to explore a social leave or short stay absence with your loved one for the upcoming holidays, please reach out to your unit’s Social Worker or Manager of Resident Services. We ask for as much advance notice as you can provide to allow for the necessary consideration of specific circumstances and planning for everyone’s safety.

Your Generosity 

It is our privilege and honor to support the people of Actionmarguerite. We are aware that some families feel inclined to express their appreciation of our care teams through gifts of food. While this is appreciated, it is certainly not expected. Should you choose to do so, please consider items that are individually wrapped to share food safely. Thank you!

We also would like to express our sincere gratitude to all of you who donate to the Actionmarguerite Foundation and to the Friends of St. Joseph Residence. Your generosity speaks to our vision, which is to offer exceptional health services to the people we support. By supporting our foundations, you make it possible for us to enhance the experience’s residents live each and every day. Thank you !

Reaching Out

We recognize that the holidays, often assumed to be joy-filled, aren’t so for everyone. It can be a stressful and distressing time. Should this be your reality, we wish for there to be tender moments and space to hold this grief. It is important that we seek support when needed and reach out to someone you trust. Resources which are free and completely confidential are also available, such as:

• Wellness Together Canada – Visit wellnesstogether.ca or call 1-866-585-0445, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Seneca Warm Line – call 204-942-9276 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Wishing you and those around you all the best during Christmas time and the whole year through. May you find some space to rest and renew if you are taking time away. Recognizing that we offer care 24/7, 365 days a year, we thank all of our care teams who will be attending to the people we support during this holiday season.

With warm regards and Christmas blessings sent your way to you and yours,

Micheline St-Hilaire, CEO and the Actionmarguerite Team