An Update on Safety Measures During COVID-19
Dear client and family members,
I am writing to you today to tell you how much you are in our thoughts at VON. Our sole focus is on ensuring that we are able to provide care to you, safely, during these troubling times.
We are working tirelessly with our partners in government to provide care and support for you and your loved ones, in a manner that protects the health and safety of everyone involved – our clients, families, employees, volunteers and many others in the VON community.
To provide you the best possible support and care, we are following the most up-to-date advice and direction of our government leaders and health experts in both Ontario, Nova Scotia and across the country, who are working day and night to lead us in the battle against the spread of COVID-19. We are seeing wonderful collaboration with the private sector as well, which is key to production of testing kits, personal protective equipment, respirators and other vital tools to support this effort.
Our nurses, continuing care assistants, personal support workers, therapists, nurse practitioners and others who provide care in your homes, or in our clinics, are also doing all they can to ensure you receive the care you need, safely. In some cases, we are having to make scheduling and other changes to ensure everyone’s safety. We know these changes can create challenges for you, and we very much regret that. We are working to provide alternatives to some of the services you are accustomed to receiving, including introducing virtual services to support your care safely.
Some of you may have been affected by changes to VON meal delivery, transportation, Adult Day programs, bereavement support and other community-based supports that we know are important to your well-being. I am very, very proud of the commitment and ingenuity of our employees and volunteers, who are finding ways to alter programs through these times to ensure that we continue to support you.
In all cases, no matter how VON is supporting you in your home or community, we want you to know that we comply with direction provided by public health experts. The Public Health Agency of Canada, provincial government authorities and public health agencies provide direction that we follow rigorously to ensure your continued safety. The attached fact sheet provides more information about our health and safety measures.
As you know, all parts of the health system are adjusting to make sure we can stop the spread of this disease, support the recovery of those who contract it, and minimize the challenges it is creating in overall delivery of health care. Here at VON, we are grateful to our strong and courageous employees and volunteers. We are honoured to play a role in helping you and your families during this challenging time.
If you have questions or concerns about your care, please reach out to your local VON office, or to your local health authority. The VON website is also frequently updated, with details about program changes and other useful information. Please check our special section on COVID-19 for regular updates. We are here to help.
Please stay safe,
Jo-Anne Poirier,
President and Chief Executive Officer
