A Typical Day in Overnight Respite

Once they arrive, the client will be directed to the programming room most suitable for them and their particular interests. Additionally, with staff supervision, clients are welcome to enjoy our secured garden space. Clients engage in person-centred recreational programs until lunch. Programming varies, and may include art, crafts, music, word puzzles, trivia, exercises, physical games, table games, Montessori activities, helping tasks and digital programming.

Recreational programming continues into the evening until 8:00 p.m.

Clients are supported 24 hours per day by our nursing staff, which includes a registered practical nurse and a personal support worker. In the evenings, more relaxing programming is provided, which may include watching movies or television.

Snacks and Meals

Overnight respite clients are served breakfast at 8:00 a.m, lunch at noon, and dinner at 5:00 p.m. Snacks are provided in the afternoon. All meals are served by our nursing staff. Modified textures (regular, minced, soft, puree) and fluids (regular, thickened) are available.

Personal Care

Our nursing team is available at all times to provide personal care assistance when required. This assistance includes everything from supervision in the washroom to full mechanical lifts for transfers and product changes. Our nursing staff take pride in ensuring clients receive additional grooming attention during their stay, including cleaning, trimming and polishing finger nails; brushing and styling hair; and shaving men’s faces, for those who are interested. Personal care products, including nail trimmers, are labelled to avoid cross-contamination. If they are available, we also offer additional services, such as salon services.  Please ask us about these additional services when you book your time with us.

Medication

All client medication and supplements must be stored with our nursing staff during their stay. These medications, including over-the-counter medications, must be prescribed by a physician/nurse practitioner, and must be in their original labelled bottles or a blister pack. Our staff are not permitted to administer medications that are not in the accepted packaging. Any clients requiring the use of oxygen therapy must also provide physician orders or the oxygen supplier instructions for its use.

Respite Rooms

While clients are staying in respite care, they are situated in our McCormick Day Program space. We do not use long-term care rooms for our overnight clients. Clients have their own personal room for sleeping, as well as access to an adjacent washroom with a toilet and sink. Clients will be participating in recreational programming during the day and have access to recliner chairs in a spacious area for additional rest and relaxation, if desired.

Cleaning Protocols

Throughout the respite stay, thorough cleaning is performed, including high touch points, such as light switches, table tops, chairs, railings, washrooms and program materials. All staff are specially trained in infection prevention and control practices.

Booking a Respite Stay

Clients who are currently attending the McCormick Day Program  on site are eligible for overnight respite. Clients attending other day programs are not eligible for our overnight stay. Also available is our hospital bed, which may be required for some clients for safe transfers, special care and proper positioning.  If you are interested in booking a respite stay, please contact our administrative assistant for availability.

Protecting the Health of our Clients

If a client develops symptoms of illness during their respite stay, the emergency contact/primary care partner will be contacted to pick up the client. The client will be immediately isolated from other clients until their ride arrives.  Thorough cleaning of the area will be performed. Care partners will be instructed to return home, self-isolate and contact their primary health care provider or public health unit to discuss their symptoms.

Clients cannot attend the day program for 10 days from testing positive for COVID-19, and for seven days after being in close contact with someone who has tested positive. Clients are not able to attend the day program when displaying an symptoms of any illness, including respiratory or enteric symptoms. We consult with the public health unit for specific advice on what control measures should be implemented to prevent the potential spread of any infections and how to monitor other clients and staff who may have come in contact with an infected person.

What to Pack

Here is a printable list of items to pack for an overnight stay.

Fees

One-night stay: $61

Three-night stay – arrive Monday at 9:30 a.m., depart Thursday at 3:00 p.m. – $157*

Four-night stay – arrive Thursday at 9:30 a.m., depart Monday at 3:00 p.m. – $205*

Seven-night stay – $349*

*Bus transportation and bathing are available for an additional fees.

Please contact our administrative assistant at community.support@mccormickcare.ca or 519-439-9336 for any billing-related questions.

Transportation

Transportation is available through BGC Transit. Arrangements are made through our administrative assistant when booking a respite stay. Alternatively, care partners may drive the client to and from the program at the designated times.

Reporting an Absence

To report an absence at any time, please call our main number at 519-439-9336. Please leave a detailed message if our staff are unable to answer your call.  Please note that fees are still charged in the event of an absence unless the respite stay spot can be filled.