Long-Term Care

L’Unité de soins prolongés

How do I become an Essential Caregiver?

To become an Essential Caregiver for a resident in the ECU, please contact Lezlie Leduc, Programs and Services Manager at 905-378-4647 ext. 34585. You will be provided with the appropriate forms to fill out and a meeting will be scheduled between the caregiver(s) and the team at the ECU to review the process.

Important to note:

• Essential Caregivers must complete a COVID test and provide proof of negative results. A negative test must be obtained within one week of the visit.
• Essential Caregivers will be screened for COVID at the door prior to entry. This will include a temperature check at the start of each shift.
• All caregivers must wear a surgical mask at all times when inside the building.
• The ECU continues to encourage families to schedule virtual visits with their loved ones whenever possible. Contact the staff at the ECU to arrange for a virtual visit.

Rapid Antigen Testing

On Monday, February 22 we began Rapid Antigen testing all Essential Caregivers coming into the home. This testing is required each time you come into the building up to a maximum of 3 times per week(non-consecutive days). The Rapid testing that we will be using consists of both a throat and nasal swab. The test takes approximate 20 minutes to complete so we ask that you please allow for extra time added to your visit.

While we are in the process of getting the Rapid Testing up and running we would ask the all Essential Caregivers please continue to go to their regular COVID-19 Swab clinic appointments, helping us to cross reference the accuracy of the rapid test and keep COVID-19 out of our long-term care home.  

Further measures to support resident and staff safety include:

Physical distancing in our dining rooms: the dining room has been expanded to allow increased spacing between tables.

Twice-daily sanitization of high touch points, including doorknobs, hallways rails, chairs, and tables.

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-  Programs  -

Recreational Therapy

Our Recreational Therapy focuses on enhancing the leisure lifestyles of residents within the home through a variety of recreation and leisure opportunities, including community involvement, active living, social groups and entertainment. We have staff that offer programs and activities seven days a week, including some evening programs.

Music and Memory Program

The Music and Memory Program is designed to enhance the quality of life for our residents, particularly those with cognitive impairments such as dementia which can cause experiences of agitation or depression. The program has helped to improve the mood and behaviour of residents and has been effective in reducing incidence of falls by creating more relaxing environments.

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-  Admissions -

We invite you to consider making The Home at Niagara Health your home. Our compassionate and respectful culture supports the social, emotional and care needs of all residents.

Admission to a long-term care home is arranged through the Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant (HNHB) region. We encourage residents and families to keep choice of homes and information up to date with the HNHB region.

We support interim unit residents in transferring to a permanent home placement.

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-  Stories about the ECU -

ECU team helps couple celebrate 50th anniversary

When Jane Thomas walked up to the front door of the Extended Care Unit at our Welland Site, her wedding song, When a Man Loves a Woman, was playing on a speaker outside. Waiting for her outside the front door were flowers, a cupcake, 50th anniversary balloons and a sign that read, Herb loves Jane.

Read a story about Jane and Herb

Health-care workers focus on Welland seniors’ health amid pandemic

At a time when family can’t visit their loved ones face-to-face, finding ways to stay connected are now more important than ever. As long-term care staff work to enact heightened measures, they are also focusing on the well-being of senior residents. Patients at the Welland Extended Care Unit have been connecting with family through phone calls, window visits and staff have been helping seniors with video calls. 

Read more here

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