Rygiel Supports for Community Living

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RHHC ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT – AUGUST 24, 2023

Please click here for a full printable package: GT23_InfoPackage -May 30, 2023

May 31, 2023

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MCCSS – Compliance Review

Posted July 27, 2022

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CALL FOR NOMINATION – BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Posted May 30, 2022 at 1:00 pm

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COVID Update to Families – Directives

May 30, 2022

Dear Families,

Based on the recent decline in the number of Covid-19 positive cases within Rygiel and in the community, Rygiel has decided to remove the mandatory use of face shields for staff as well as visitors. If you wish to continue to use the face shield as a protective measure, you are more then welcome to do so.

Please keep in mind that if a location should go under enhanced precautions or outbreak precautions, all staff and visitors will be required to follow the same PPE guidelines as before including the use of the Face Shield.

The following directives remain in effect:

Visits to the home:

Essential visitors and visitors are permitted to visit the home. Only 1 visitor at a time. Visit will be in your family member’s room or other designated area in the home. The staff will advise where you can visit. Visitors will still be actively screened and complete the required Rapid Antigen Test before being allowed entry into the setting. Outdoor visits are encouraged if suitable and 6ft distance is encouraged. All other visit related procedures remain as previously set out (calling ahead to schedule, pre-screening, etc.).

New: Face Shields are no longer required

Visits to your home:

Short stay and overnight visits will require our staff to complete a risk assessment. Please pre-arrange these visits and participate in the risk assessment conducted by our staff. When the individual supported are out in the community, and/or when indoors and unable to maintain 6 feet diatance, the use of face masks is strongly encouraged. If the individual supported is unable to wear a face mask, other mitigation will need to be considered such as additional monitoring for symptoms or the increased use of Rapid Antigen tests.

Thank you,

Amanpreet Dhillon

Manager of Residential Services

Posted May 31, 2022

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COVID-19 New Protocols for Visits – Effective Immediately – April 4, 2022

April 4, 2022

Dear Families,

As the province moves forward with lifting of restrictions and directives, such as mandatory face coverings as of March 21, 2022, some directives still remain for congregate settings. The agency remains committed to do all we can to protect the people we support and our staff.

The following directives remain in effect:

Visits to the home:

New: Gowns will no longer be required, but face masks and face shields must still be used.

Mandatory Vaccination for Visitors:

Rygiel has decided against moving forward with the mandatory vaccination for essential visitors.

Visits to your home:

Short stay and overnight visits will require our staff to complete a risk assessment. Please pre-arrange these visits and participate in the risk assessment conducted by our staff. When the individual supported are out in the community, the use of face masks is strongly encouraged, when they are indoors or within 6 feet of someone else. If the individual supported is unable to wear a face mask, other mitigation will need to be considered such as additional monitoring for symptoms or the increased use of Rapid Antigen tests.

Thank you,

Paula Barrett
Executive Director

Posted April 4, 2022 at 4:00 pm

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COVID-19 Protocols for Visits – December 24, 2020 – Effective Immediately

As per the directive from the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, December 22, 2020, our visitor protocol is as follows:

Only Essential visitors will be permitted to have an indoor visit during the lockdown period.
PPE – During this time, visitors are required to wear a face mask plus a face shield. Visitor is asked to bring their own, but, there will be some available in the home if needed.
All previous protocols for visits remain the same (1 visitor at a time, pre-arranged at a time suitable for the routine of the house, screening at the time of scheduling the visit, screening on arrival, hand washing or sanitizing on arrival, visitor only to be in designated area as noted by staff at the location, everyone to maintain 6 feet distance).

A scheduled visit may be postponed should someone be unwell on the day of the planned visit. Staff will notify the visitor and reschedule.

All resident visits to the homes of family and friends are suspended during the lockdown.
Below is an excerpt from the Ministry communication with information related to this memo.
Indoors Indoor visits are permitted for essential visitors ONLY. An essential visitor is generally a person who: 1. Performs essential services to support the ongoing operation of a service agency (including a contractor); and/or, 2. Is considered necessary to maintain the health, wellness and safety, or any applicable legal rights, of a congregate care resident. An essential visitor may include but is not limited to the following: • A parent/guardian • Social service worker (e.g., child welfare workers, day program operators etc.) • Health care providers (e.g., doctor, nurse, personal support workers, etc.) Virtual visits are to be strongly encouraged and facilitated wherever possible. Agencies should consider residents and staff health and susceptibility to the virus as well as the overall well-being of all the residents in congregate care settings in determining whether essential visits are appropriate. Essential visitor personal protective equipment requirements while indoors: All essential visitors must wear a surgical/procedure mask AND eye protection at all times while inside the congregate care setting. Essential visitors are to be advised during screening at the door that strict adherence to the masking/eye protection requirements are a condition of entry and failure to adhere may result in them being asked to leave the premises.
Outdoor visits are permitted for essential visitors ONLY. Essential visitor personal protective equipment requirements while outdoors: All essential visitors must wear, at a minimum, a surgical/procedure mask at all times while the outdoor visit is taking place. Service providers are to supply outdoor essential visitors with a surgical/procedure mask as needed.

I know this is not an easy time for anyone, but, such measures are necessary given the escalating numbers of covid cases in our community and also, we must note, many are severe cases. Our measures are driven by the commitment to the ensure, to the best of our ability, the safety and good health of the people we support, our staff and our visitors.

Should you have questions, please contact your Service Coordinator and during the holiday week, call 905-525-4311, press 0. Advise that you would like to receive a call back from the on-call Coordinator and leave your name and number. Thank you

Donna Marcaccio
Executive Director

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Anti Racism Statement

Rygiel Supports for Community Living is member of the Children and Youth Services System Committee. The following statement is endorsed by our agency.

Please click to view the Anti Racism Statement

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Re: COVID-19 Update August 11, 2020 from Donna Marcaccio, Executive Director

We remain Covid free. Thanks to everyone for their continued diligence especially to our staff.

While the Hamilton community is now in Stage 3, Rygiel, as with all other residential services, falls under the requirements of the government’s Congregate Living Guidelines. There are requirements that are more restrictive than the general public given the vulnerability of the people served and the potential impact on staff.

The goal of government and our agency is to do the best we can to ensure the safety and good health of the people we serve and their staff.

However, we do appreciate that it is time to re-engage in some way with family, friends and community.

Currently in Effect:

Visits

Outdoor visits – pre-arranged with staff for up to one hour. There is a screening requirement when booking the visit and one at arrival. Two visitors at a time per individual resident.

Visitors must maintain 2 meter distance and wear a face covering. Please do not come if at all ill. The visit will be rescheduled.

Community Involvement

There is now available a Risk Assessment and Risk Mitigation Tool to help determine if an outing is possible. Each person and circumstance must be assessed. There will be a slow introduction of this process over the coming weeks. Paula Barrett, Manager of Community Resources will oversee this process. Questions and inquiries can be directed to the Service Coordinator for each home.

Outreach Services

At this time, our Respite Services and Community Participation programs remain suspended. We appreciate the difficulties for families and will continue to work diligently with our Ministry and Public Health to determine how and when we will be able to restore some supports to the individuals and families.

Re: COVID-19 Update April 15, 2020

Rygiel is entrusted with the responsibility of supporting more than 200 individuals. Their safety and wellbeing and that of their loved ones and all our staff are of utmost importance. We are grateful that we do not have any reported cases in the agency to date and work hard to help maintain this status.

We have been monitoring the communications and developments of this novel virus and taking precautionary measures. Safety measures are updated daily.

The following measures are in place:

All Community Participation Programs are suspended
All respite services are suspended
There are to be no visitors to any of the agency premises except for essential services (e.g.: health care professional)
There are no outings except for walks as per guidance to staff (only with roommates and staff)
All staff and people supported are regularly screened and action taken if there is any indication of exposure or potential illness or if anyone in their personal homes has been advised to self-isolate by a health care professional.
All in person meetings and training events are postponed.
There are regular directives to staff regarding precautionary measures. These are updated based on the current directives or advice from government and Public Health authorities. Any changes are sent to each staff directly and posted on our internal staff website.Our Administration staff are rotating days in the office and days working remotely. This is to reduce the number of people at that site at one time. All are available through normal means (calling the agency, email the person directly).

Our Senior Management Team now meet three times per week and more frequently if needed, to review matters and make changes as needed. Our Coordinator Team is working closely with each of their homes to support the needs of both individuals in service and our Support Staff. We are committed to updating our plans to be as responsive as we can to those we serve, our valued staff and the broader community.

All business practices are continuing.

For more information on COVID-19, we encourage you to stay informed by regularly visiting the Hamilton Region Public Health website at www.hamilton.ca/public-health

PROPER HANDWASHING AND SOCIAL DISTANCING REMAIN THE BEST DEFENSE.

We are regularly reviewing the information from the World Health Organization, Public Health and other relevant sources and updating our precautionary measures and emergency preparedness plans as warranted.

Any specific questions or inquiries can be sent to the Executive Director dmarcaccio@rygiel.ca or families are encouraged to contact your family member’s Service Coordinator.

Our Story – Their Future

RYGIEL Supports for Community Living provides support to people who have a developmental disability and other handicapping conditions. The services provided are determined by each person’s individual needs and these services will enhance the opportunity for the person to be a fulfilled, participatory member of his/her community. Each person we serve is supported by family, friends and staff to describe their lifestyle dreams and the needs they have. A process known as a Personal Lifestyle Plan is then developed and clear goals are identified. It is our job to help the person, through appropriate assistance, address their needs and work towards realizing the goals. The Agency’s Vision and Mission provide us with a clear direction for our endeavours undertaken on behalf of the people we serve. We continue to provide a variety of supports to people. This may be twenty-four hour accommodation support, semi-independent living support, ongoing short-term assistance through various respite programs, family in-home support, assistance to families with special services at-home contracts, individualized funding contracts, as well as providing support to people in work, volunteer, business, leisure and recreational endeavours. This integrated model of service is driven by the individual’s desires, dreams and needs and carries the potential for a fulfilled life.