COVID-19 Coronavirus

COVID-19 Coronavirus Information for VHA Clients and Families

Last updated April 27, 2022

Masking Guidelines Continue to Keep Everyone As Safe As Possible

Public Health guidelines still require masks and other infection prevention and control protocols for health care organizations following the recent announcement from the Chief Medical Officer of Health. This means that VHA staff and service providers will continue to follow universal masking and the use of face shields or goggles when providing care to all clients. When our PSWs and other service providers are in clients’ homes providing care, the home is considered a health care setting and we continue to encourage clients and families to wear masks when we are providing care.

Fourth Vaccine Doses and Antiviral Treatments Available for Select Groups

Fourth COVID-19 vaccine doses are now available for select groups including adults over 60 years of age. Please click here for further information and reach out to your primary physician with any questions including how to access your vaccine dose.

Antiviral treatments are now being made available to select groups as well. Please ask your primary physician for further information and to see if you are eligible for these treatments. Further information about Ontario's antiviral treatments can also be found on the government website.

COVID-19 Update from VHA's CEO for Clients and Families

I am pleased to be writing to you as the pandemic seems to be lessening. When I last wrote to you, Ontario’s health care sector was focused on responding to widespread illness and absenteeism due to the highly transmissible Omicron variant, making it difficult for VHA and many other health care organizations to provide consistent and timely care for clients and families. It was certainly a relief to see Wave 5 pass and we are hopeful that due to high vaccination rates across the province, we can now move forward living with and managing COVID-19 as it shifts from a pandemic to an endemic state.

We have seen some restrictions lift for the general public and there are more planned soon. Currently, Public Health guidelines still require masks and other infection prevention and control protocols for health care organizations. This means that VHA staff and service providers will continue to follow universal masking and the use of face shields when providing care to all clients. When our PSWs and other service providers are in clients’ homes providing care, the home is considered a health care setting and we continue to encourage clients and families to wear masks when we are providing care. VHA’s mandatory vaccination policy for team members continues to remain in place. We will monitor public health guidance and assess and update our policies and practices as directed. While the provincial reopening is certainly good news, the health care system, including home care organizations, continue to experience a shortage of available staff. Recent government announcements about a permanent hourly wage increase for personal support workers, a retention bonus for nurses and expanded training opportunities are positive and welcome investments. VHA is committed to positive and collective advocacy for additional sustained measures to effectively address long-standing capacity and wage parity concerns for home care workers.

Despite these challenges, the first few months of 2022 have been full of progress. New home care regulations were announced for Ontario that will eventually see home care fully integrated with Ontario’s transformation agenda of community-based integrated care through Ontario Health Teams. VHA has a team that is championing our support and involvement in this important transition. Our continuous work to improve care and service is also progressing rapidly with priority areas including implementing a remote care monitoring program, expanding nursing virtual care and delivering a client portal starting later this year. As our most important asset is our team, we recently surveyed our workforce to better understand how they are doing and where we need to improve. We were delighted to see 90% rate VHA as an excellent, very good or good place to work.

Thank you for your support. I know I am looking forward to the spring as I imagine many of you are.

Dr. Kathryn Nichol
President & CEO

Mandatory Vaccination Implemented at VHA

In accordance with the most recent recommendations from Ontario’s Ministry of Health and Health Canada guidelines, VHA requires vaccination of all eligible staff/service providers, to maximize safety and reduce harm associated with COVID-19.

Effective December 14, 2021, proof of full vaccination is mandatory for all VHA staff, service providers, students and volunteers (other than those who are confirmed as exempt). Those who are confirmed as exempt are required to undergo regular rapid antigen testing. We believe this is an important and positive step VHA is taking for all of our staff and service providers, for our clients and their families and for the home and community care sector as a whole.

On September 3rd, VHA, together with 22 other home care organizations in Ontario, announced the decision to make COVID-19 vaccination mandatory for all our team members. Prior to moving to mandatory vaccination, VHA implemented a Mandatory Vaccination Reporting Policy on September 7, 2021, in compliance with Directive #6 from the Ontario Ministry of Health. We firmly believe that having everyone at VHA fully vaccinated against COVID-19 is the right and safest thing for us to do.

For our staff, service providers, students and volunteers, research has shown that vaccines prevent serious illness and hospitalization.
For our clients and their families, it will further reduce the chance of transmission of infection – particularly for those who are most vulnerable.
For the health sector, it is a powerful message to have the home care sector united in the desire to provide high quality and safe care. This position is aligned with Home and Community Care Support Services (formerly known as the LHIN) and helps to emphasize more than ever that home is the safest place to receive care right now.
For the public, having all health care organizations taking a consistent approach builds public confidence in our health system.

VHA has created a written statement to share our viewpoint on COVID-19 vaccination.

VHA Home HealthCare (VHA) | Position Statement: COVID-19 Vaccination

December 15, 2021

Mandatory Vaccination Requirement: Effective December 14, 2021, all VHA staff, service providers, students and volunteers are fully vaccinated as follows:

Fully vaccinated means valid proof of all required doses of an approved COVID-19 vaccine has been provided to VHA and the 14-day waiting period following receipt of the last dose has been completed.
This means anyone requiring both doses of a two-dose vaccine series must receive the first dose by November 1, 2021 and the second dose by November 30, 2021.

Proof of full vaccination is mandatory for employment or involvement with VHA for all individuals (other than those confirmed as exempt). Those who are confirmed as exempt are required to undergo regular rapid antigen testing.

Prior to moving to mandatory vaccination, VHA implemented a Mandatory Vaccination Reporting Policy on September 7, 2021, in compliance with Directive #6.

With mandatory vaccination implemented, the following guidelines below, remain in place.

Safety Measures: All VHA staff/service providers will continue to complete daily COVID-19 self-assessment screening and follow required infection prevention and control protocols, including the use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). Clients and families are also asked to wear masks in care situations where social distancing (2 meters/6 feet) cannot be maintained.

Sharing Vaccination Status: COVID-19 vaccination status is private, personal health information. While it is not mandatory to disclose vaccination status, VHA staff/service providers may voluntarily share their vaccination status at their discretion. To protect the privacy of individuals, we ask that VHA staff/service providers do not ask others about their vaccination status.

Additional Information: Should you have questions or need more information about COVID-19 vaccination, please consult with your primary health care provider. Additional information is also available for staff/service providers on VHA’s intranet and for clients and families on VHA’s website (www.vha.ca).

COVID-19 Vaccine and Booster Information for Clients

Scientific evidence has deemed approved vaccines in Canada to be safe and effective in preventing infection and reducing the spread of COVID-19. In accordance with the most recent guidelines from Ontario’s Ministry of Health and Health Canada, VHA Home HealthCare strongly encourages vaccination of all eligible clients and caregivers to maximize safety and reduce harm associated with COVID-19.

Clients have the right to safe, high quality care delivered by VHA staff and service providers. Regardless of vaccination status, VHA staff and service providers will continue to follow the most recent Ministry of Health COVID-19 Guidance for Home and Community Care Providers as well as Public Health & Health Canada guidelines. This includes the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) regardless of vaccination status to minimize the spread of COVID-19 and to keep everyone safe.

Where to go for vaccination information:

COVID-19 first, second and booster dose vaccinations are available for all eligible adult populations in Ontario. Vaccine appointments can be booked by visiting the Ontario COVID-19 vaccine portal, by calling 1-833-943-3900 or by contacting your local Public Health Unit for further information for your region.
Fourth COVID-19 vaccine doses and antiviral treatments are now available for select groups including adults over 60 years of age. Please ask your primary physician for further information and to see if you are eligible for these treatments.
COVID-19 vaccination is also now available for children and youth 5 years of age and older including those turning 5 years old in 2021. Further information about COVID-19 vaccines for youth can be found on the Ontario website or by reading below.
The City of Toronto has announced the Vaccine Equity Transportation Plan, which will help ensure that vulnerable residents and seniors can access COVID-19 vaccinations by removing barriers to transportation and making it easier to travel to and from clinics in Toronto. Click here for more information on the Vaccine Equity Transportation Plan in Toronto.
For VHA clients living in the Greater Toronto Area who are homebound and will require someone to come to their home to give a vaccination, please contact your Home and Community Care Support Services Care Coordinator.
Vaccine appointments are also available at many pharmacies and through many family doctors. Please contact your local pharmacy or your family doctor for further information.
For region specific information, contact your local Public Health Unit for further information.

View more COVID-19 Vaccine Information

VHA Home HealthCare Organization Status

Personal support worker wearing a mask and face shield

VHA Home HealthCare (VHA) remains open for business during COVID-19.

As a healthcare organization, it is critical that we remain open to provide much needed services for our clients. Our staff and service providers have the necessary personal protective equipment to provide care safely and they know the infection prevention and control practices to follow. All staff and service providers are required to wear medical-grade masks when providing care and VHA is asking all clients and family members to wear masks during care visits as well. Most of our office-based staff are currently working from home where this is possible for their role.

VHA Home HealthCare is closely monitoring the COVID-19 coronavirus situation and is carefully following the guidance of Public Health Ontario to ensure all of our clients, families, staff and service providers are protected while we continue to provide necessary care.

Keeping Yourself and Your Loved Ones Safe During COVID-19

We encourage all clients and family members to refer to the information below regarding proper infection prevention and control practices and information about COVID-19 to help keep everyone safe and protected.

Thank you for your cooperation and your support of VHA staff and service providers.

VHA Home HealthCare asks all clients, family members and caregivers, who are present for care visits, to wear a mask during visits from VHA’s care providers, to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

VHA service providers will provide a mask to clients who do not have one. We understand some clients may be unable to tolerate wearing a mask for health reasons.

When our staff come into your home, it is their workplace. We need to work together to keep everyone as safe as we can.

Please click here for information on how to wear a mask while care providers are in the home.

If you are caring for or living with someone who has the virus, you are considered a ‘close contact’. Your local public health unit will give you special instructions about how to monitor your own health, what to do if you start to feel sick and how to contact them.

Before a service provider comes into your come to provide care, it is important for you to put on a mask and perform a self-screening of COVID-19 symptoms on yourself and anyone else who will be within 6ft/2m of your care.

Let your service provider know if you have a change or increase in symptoms right away so they can take the necessary precautions.
Wear a mask at all times throughout the visit and especially when/if you are within 6ft/2m. Any family members or caregivers/friends who are present should wear a mask as well.
Have a designated area in your home for service providers to change footwear and place belongings.
Provide a station or access to a sink for the service provider to perform hand hygiene. Include items such as: liquid hand soap with pump and paper towels. Note: Visitors should not be using your personal bar soap or hand towels.
Alternatively, have hand sanitizer available for any/all visitors. Note: VHA service providers carry medical grade sanitizer with them.

Please be aware that before coming to your home, our service providers must:

Self screen for symptoms before coming to work and throughout their shift.
Screen every client for COVID-19 by asking our two screening questions before every visit - even if your service provider sees you every day.
- The questions are: (1) Do you have a new or worsening cough, shortness of breath, fever or secondary symptom of COVID-19? and; (2) Have you or someone you have been in close contact with traveled anywhere outside Canada in the last 14 days? Have you interacted with someone diagnosed positive are you awaiting results of a COVID-19 test?
Practice hand hygiene on arrival, before providing care, before and after wearing gloves and when leaving.
Wear a surgical mask when providing care. Service providers are encouraged to use a cloth mask ONLY when in transit between clients.
Wear eye protection such as goggles or a face shield when within 6ft/2 m of a client.

If you are unsure if you are full prepared for your visit, please review our handout: How to prepare for your service provider visit during COVID-19 (Download PDF).

The Ontario Community Support Association (OCSA) and Home Care Ontario (HCO), the associations that represent home care provider organizations in Ontario like VHA, recently released a report about the success of infection prevention and control (IPAC) in home care settings during the pandemic (Download PDF). Less than 4% of COVID-19 cases were home care related in 5 of the large home care agencies, due to strong IPAC practices.

If you are concerned that you have COVID-19 or that you may have come into contact with someone who has COVID-19, please call Telehealth (1-866-797-0000), your local public health unit or your health care provider and inform them of your concerns.

If you are a client currently receiving care, please call VHA’s main line at 416-489-2500 and explain your situation – one of our call response agents will be happy to assist you.

VHA’s priority is keeping our clients, families, staff and service providers protected. VHA’s Infection Prevention and Control team is in close contact with Public Health Ontario and other agencies and we continue to follow all recommended infection control measures for home health care. These practices include screening clients for new symptoms, and following recommended protocols on hand hygiene, the proper use of personal protective equipment and the disinfection of equipment.

VHA is pleased to now be able to offer virtual care visits for some of our services. Virtual care is any interaction between a health care provider and a client when they are in different locations. During COVID-19 when we are all trying to practice physical distancing wherever possible, virtual care visits provide an opportunity for VHA to provide some services without needing to be in the client’s home.

By using technology, such as the telephone or video conferencing, a health care provider and a client and/or a family caregiver can virtually connect with one another to improve access to care, continue progressing health care goals and can help clients and their care providers to stay connected.

VHA is currently providing some nursing, rehabilitation and hoarding support services via virtual care when it is clinically appropriate. Our virtual rehab services include some physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech language services, dietetics and social work services. If you would like to learn more about virtual care opportunities, please contact your VHA service provider or 1-888-314-6622.

Our Virtual Care webpage may help you determine if virtual care is right for you.

Most Ontarians are not familiar with wearing a face covering, and they may cause feelings of anxiety and panic (including shortness of breath, which is a symptom of anxiety) in new wearers. The most effective treatment for anxiety is graded exposure.

Southwestern Public Health unit has created a helpful graphic which shares 5 simple way to overcome ask anxiety:

Five quality breaths. A quality breath is a 4 second inhale through the nose, 2 second pause and 6 second exhale through the mouth. Take five before putting on your mask.
Gradual practice. Practice wearing your face covering at home; gradually increasing the length of wear. Remind yourself, "You are safe. You are breathing."
Control timing and location. Take breaks. Find spaces and times where you can be mask free. Choose virtual appointments and online shopping when possible.
Find the right mask. There are many quality face coverings to choose from. Thick, thin, paper, cloth, patterned or plain. Find the one that is right for you.
Focus on your reason for wearing a face covering. Doing something for the greater food is a great motivation. No one is 100% comfortable.

Diagram on how to overcome mask anxiety

VHA has received many generous donations of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Cloth Masks during COVID-19. Our thanks to Canadian Tire, Capable Plastic Injection and Mould Ltd., The Fountain of Love and Life, The Lo Family, MDA Corporation, Michael Garron Hospital Foundation, The Sewing Army, We the BOMB Girls and many VHA volunteers.

If you wish to support the ongoing efforts of VHA’s dedicated care providers, we welcome donations of Personal Protective Equipment and Cloth Masks. For further information, please contact Sandy Cao at scao@vha.ca or 416-489-2500 ext 4602.

Financial donations to our Simple Comforts Fund, which is used to purchase products and services for clients who are in need of urgent assistance and have limited or no access to funding, are also appreciated. General online donations to VHA can be made here.

We know the pandemic continues to be very concerning for everyone and we understand you are worried about your own health and the safety of your family. During our town halls, clients and their families heard updates on VHA’s move to mandatory vaccination and other initiatives to keep clients, families and staff as safe as possible. VHA leaders also answered pre-submitted questions from attendees about VHA’s response to the ongoing pandemic.

Watch the recording or read the full transcript of our October 5, 2021 town hall.

If you wish to receive regular updates from VHA about our ongoing efforts during COVID-19, please contact communications@vha.ca and we will send updates to you via email.

For general COVID-19 information in Ontario, visit Public Health Ontario's website to learn more about the measures we can all take to protect ourselves. We appreciate the cooperation of all of our clients and families to help keep everyone safe.

COVID-19 Coronavirus

COVID-19 Coronavirus