By the time you are reading this, all long-term care facilities in sa国际传媒 should have received COVID-19 vaccines.
I work for M鈥檃kola Housing Society and earlier this month, M鈥檃kola had its first COVID-19 outbreak at Ts鈥檌鈥檛s鈥檜watul鈥� Lelum Assisted Living in Duncan. It was the dreaded announcement that no one wanted.
I joined meetings between M鈥檃kola and Island Health and saw firsthand procedures that followed. This experience reinforced to me that protecting our elders, seniors and other residents is an incredible collaborative effort.
The words 鈥淐OVID-19 outbreak鈥� are bone chilling, and the staff who work in these facilities during this scary time exhibit both bravery and dedication. The COVID-19 outbreak at Ts鈥檌鈥檛s鈥檜watul鈥� Lelum was declared because one staff member had tested positive and had been in contact with residents and staff.
鈥淲e are forever grateful to the individual who came forward when they tested positive 鈥� that action saved lives and I know it wasn鈥檛 an easy choice,鈥� said Kevin Albers, M鈥檃kola CEO.
During the outbreak, all potentially affected individuals were isolated and tested, twice. There was zero spread.
鈥淚t was really well managed 鈥� thank goodness it didn鈥檛 spread,鈥� said Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer.
To me, hearing there was zero transmission is a testament to the effectiveness of the provincial health guidelines.
鈥淚f we didn鈥檛 follow those guidelines, we wouldn鈥檛 be on this call with you today celebrating,鈥� Albers told Henry. 鈥淲e experienced firsthand how effective your guidelines are. They ensured that no transmission occurred beyond that first positive case.鈥�
Throughout the outbreak, I heard several Island Health employees credit Audrey George, manager of Ts鈥檌鈥檛s鈥檜watul鈥� Lelum, for her leadership.
鈥淭his is so, so important. Leadership in long-term care and assisted living facilities, has been one of the most important things in helping us manage these outbreaks,鈥� said Henry. 鈥淚 understand how important Audrey鈥檚 role is.鈥�
I wanted to share this positive story, not only for its success, but because George is a Cowichan Tribes member. Unfortunately, there has been significant racism that members of the Cowichan Tribes have faced in-person and online.
George saved many lives with her leadership. Ts鈥檌鈥檛s鈥檜watul鈥� Lelum is a partnership between M鈥檃kola and Cowichan Tribes and provides homes and care for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.
鈥淲e have a history between the health system and Indigenous people. Ts鈥檌鈥檛s鈥檜watul鈥� Lelum has been building that bridge and building that trust within the community,鈥� George said.
I witnessed George lead with humility, respect and honoring community. George brought her cultural values into her leadership, and that鈥檚 what set her apart.
鈥淲e are that little speckle of hope in the world of COVID-19 right now,鈥� said George. 鈥淚 remind people there is a purpose to what we are doing. Even if we look like an alien with our mask and face shield, that is what is protecting us, that is what is granting us a chance at another day to share a meal with our family down the road.鈥�
Keeping safe is a collaborative effort and we all need to do our part.
鈥淓very day I have to stand up and say how many have died,鈥� said Henry. 鈥淚t鈥檚 so hard to do. Knowing many of them are our seniors, our elders, our history, our stories, our communities and our families. As we have this virus transmitting in our communities, it鈥檚 going to get into our care homes and our schools. It鈥檚 how we respond to that that is the most important thing we can do.鈥�
