Dear Optima Living Team Members, Residents, and Families:

I am delighted to provide the following update on behalf of the entire Optima Living Family.

On October 2nd, we discovered that one of the care partners tested COVID-positive at Century Park in Vegreville, Alberta. Yesterday, we received the final test results that there has been no transmission of the virus to any residents or care partners. All residents and staff have been tested multiple times and each time results showed that they were COVID-free. In addition, the care partner is recovering well, for which we are grateful.

Special thanks to Century Park Site Manager Vishu Kaur for her amazing leadership and the entire Pro Vita team around her who everyday support Century Park. Other people and groups who deserve our sincere thanks include Yvette Elmquist, Regional Director of Quality Care, who went directly into the site for a few days providing assistance, and Pro Vita and the rest of the Optima Living Support Services and Operations team members. Thank you to everyone for your efforts in protecting our residents and those who care for them.

When Century Park was informed in early October that an employee had tested positive for COVID-19, the team under Vishu’s leadership immediately started to put in place the pandemic plan that AHS had reviewed and approved beforehand. Over the past few weeks, Century Park worked tirelessly with AHS to use best-practice/evidence-based guidelines for COVID-19 outbreak prevention, control and management.

We have reached out to offer emotional support to the care partner who was diagnosed and continue to be in regular contact to ensure this person is recovering well.

Vishu, and both the on and off-site teams, did an amazing job. It has been incredibly special to see care partners step up and provide remarkable care to residents when they needed it the most.

As winter approaches, a reminder that guidelines already put in place last March will continue, such as staff wearing personal protective equipment when caring for residents and screening residents and staff for COVID-19 symptoms. This was the first case of COVID-19 in any of our communities and a great reminder to follow our infection control guidelines and to be prepared.

Thank you. Be safe. Be well.

Farid Damji | Co-Founder & Principal
Optima Living
www.optimaliving.ca