Table of contents

Overview

Public health orders are in effect to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including COVID-19, among seniors and at-risk groups for the following settings:

  • Hospice settings
  • Long-term care facilities
  • Licensed supportive living facilities, including seniors lodges and group homes
  • Licensed residential addiction treatment centres (under the Mental Health Services Protection Act)

Restrictions in licensed supportive living, long-term care and hospice settings

Temporary public health measures

The following temporary measures will come into effect on October 25 or earlier if facility operators are ready:

  • Visiting persons must wear a mask continuously (even in resident rooms) unless there is a significant communication barrier
  • Long term care and designated supportive living residents must be tested within 48 hours of hospital discharge (for new admissions and returns from hospital stays longer than 24 hours).
    • Residents must remain in their room under contact/droplet precautions until their negative test is received.
    • This is not required for other licensed supportive living settings.

Support from family and friends

  • Access to support and companionship from family and friends is essential to resident mental and physical health and wellbeing.
  • Visiting family and friends must:
    • wear a mask continuously while indoors and in resident rooms (unless a significant communication barrier is present)
    • stay home if you have any symptoms of COVID-19, even if mild and even if you are fully vaccinated
  • Family and friends who are not fully immunized are asked to strongly reconsider their need to attend to the resident onsite, indoors and in-person before entering the site.
    • Alternatives to onsite indoor in-person visits include outdoor visits, virtual visits and telephone calls.
  • Operators have authority to implement additional site-based policies and processes for COVID-19 prevention (including requiring proof of vaccine or rapid testing) as appropriate to local context and consideration of resident preferences. These measures may be implemented based on consultation with residents and family members and, once implemented, apply to all persons entering the site.

Operational and outbreak standards

The following restrictions remain in place to protect staff and residents from COVID-19:

  • Staff, students, volunteers and service providers must continue to wear masks.
  • Enhanced cleaning and disinfection processes must be followed.
  • Staff, students, service providers, volunteers and visitors must have a health assessment screening when entering the building.
    • Temperature screening is no longer required.
  • Testing requirements continue.
  • Situation specific isolation and quarantine requirements remain.
  • Outbreak procedures must be followed.
  • Single site staffing requirements.

Read Continuing Care Accommodation and Health Service Standards to learn more about existing, pre-pandemic requirements.

Updated operational and outbreak standards

Outbreak reporting

We publicly report locations of outbreaks in these facilities when there are 2 or more people with confirmed COVID-19. Find a list of COVID-19 outbreaks in Alberta, updated on Tuesday and Friday each week.

Residential addiction treatment centres

New standards are in place to protect residents at residential addiction treatment facilities from COVID-19 while supporting service provider’s ability to continue to provide services to those accessing treatment.

Measures in place are similar to those in continuing care facilities with special accommodations for group therapy and outdoor visits and to support the shorter residency of clients.

Updated operational and outbreak standards

See Chief Medical Officer of Health Order 07-2021 (April 27, 2021):

Home supports

Call or text 211, or visit ab.211.ca to get help finding resources in your community. 211 is a comprehensive referral system accessible to all Albertans.

Resources

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