UPDATE – November 30, 2020
Outbreak declared by York Region Public Health at Farintosh House
As the second wave of the global pandemic continues to bear down on us, Participation House, Markham strives to combat the community virus spread that is rampant in York Region and surrounding communities. Under the COVID-19 Response Framework: Keeping Ontario Safe and Open, we are currently operating under the Red Zone-Control Measures and all related Public Health Ontario guidance. This virus is highly contagious and best efforts can greatly reduce but not entirely eliminate the threat, as it is extremely difficult to control for the broader community exposure that poses risk to our staff and residents.
Participation House, Markham has confirmed a positive COVID-19 test result for a staff member working at Farintosh House, resulting in the public health declaration of an outbreak yesterday. The staff member, who was last on shift a week ago, developed symptoms and subsequently tested positive for COVID-19. In response, all staff and residents were swab tested. As of today, 3 staff cases (2 remain asymptomatic), and 2 resident cases have been confirmed. We are encouraged, as all other swab tests have returned negative. Full outbreak protocols are in place, with our priority being the ongoing health and well-being of our vulnerable residents and staff.
With increased COVID-19 community spread in York Region, we’ve employed enhanced precautions and remain vigilant in our daily efforts to protect our most vulnerable residents. We continue to work in partnership with York Region Public Health, on a daily basis, to ensure all recommended infection prevention and control measures are followed. We would like to assure the families of staff and residents that we are committed to keeping their loved ones safe. I would like to acknowledge the dedication of the staff at Participation House, Markham, who continue to work hard every day supporting our vulnerable residents throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Shelley Brillinger
Executive Director
Participation House, Markham
UPDATE – October 23, 2020
Participation House, Markham has confirmed a positive COVID-19 test result for a staff member at Farintosh House, resulting in the declaration of outbreak. A staff member recently tested positive for COVID-19, as a result of routine screening and is currently self-isolating at home. All staff and residents remain asymptomatic and have been swab tested this week, as a follow-up. To date, we are pleased to report that only negative results have been confirmed, outside of this one positive case. Although we remain hopeful that this is an isolated case, full outbreak protocols are in place, with our priority being the ongoing health and well-being of our vulnerable residents and staff.
With increased COVID-19 community spread in York Region, we’ve employed enhanced precautions and remain vigilant in our daily efforts to protect our most vulnerable residents. We continue to work in partnership with York Region Public Health, on a daily basis, to ensure all recommended infection prevention and control measures are followed. We would like to assure the families of staff and residents that we are committed to keeping their loved ones safe. I would like to acknowledge the dedication of the staff at Participation House, Markham, who continue to work hard every day supporting our vulnerable residents throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Shelley Brillinger
Executive Director
Participation House, Markham
Update – September 22, 2020
Participation House Markham announces end of Outbreak at Butternut Lane facility
Participation House, Markham is pleased to share the good news, as the second COVID-19 outbreak at our Butternut Lane home has been declared over. After one staff member tested positive on September 8th, we acted swiftly and efficiently, with the support of Public Health, to determine if there were any other undiagnosed cases. We are pleased to confirm that this was an isolated case, likely community acquired. We are all relieved to have this behind us, and want to assure everyone that we remain vigilant in our efforts to protect the health and well-being of our residents and staff.
Thank you to our incredible community for all of your good wishes and ongoing support. Your kindness and generosity mean so much to our entire team.
With gratitude,
Shelley Brillinger
Executive Director
Participation House Markham
Update – September 12, 2020
Participation House, Markham announces a positive COVID-19 test result at the Butternut facility. A staff member not engaged in direct service to the residents at our Butternut Lane facility recently tested positive for COVID-19. The staff member was tested after becoming symptomatic and is self-isolating at home. All staff who worked directly with this individual have been tested. To date, we are pleased to report that only negative results have been confirmed, outside of this one positive case. Although we remain hopeful that this is an isolated case, full outbreak protocols are in place, with our priority being the ongoing health and well-being of our vulnerable residents and staff.
We continue to work in partnership with York Region Public Health on a daily basis to ensure all recommended infection prevention and control measures are followed. We would like to assure the families of staff and residents that we are committed to keeping their loved ones safe. I would like to acknowledge the dedication of the staff at Participation House, Markham, who continue to work hard everyday supporting our vulnerable residents throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Participation House, Markham operates 7 sites across York Region that are home for approximately 115 resident ranging in age from 20 to 86 years. Participation House, Markham has been providing residential and support services to adults with developmental disabilities for almost 50 years. Through the efforts of dedicated teams, our residents are provided a wide range of services and day programs and are engaged in the larger communities, when it is appropriate to do so. We continue to advocate for the special needs of adults with developmental disabilities, and investment in the resources required to ensure their health and safety on a daily basis.
Shelley Brillinger
Executive Director
Participation House, Markham
Update – June 8, 2020
Participation House, Markham announces end of Outbreak at Butternut Lane facility
Participation House, Markham is pleased to share the good news that the COVID-19 outbreaks at both our Butternut Lane and Farintosh homes have been declared over. When we spoke with York Region Public Health yesterday and learned that our outbreak was officially over, there were many tears of joy. While our team is thrilled to achieve this significant milestone, we remain vigilant in our efforts to protect the health and well-being of our residents and staff.
Participation House, Markham has been providing residential and support services to adults with developmental disabilities for almost 50 years. It has been an extremely challenging time for the entire PHM family, and it took a village of caring individuals coming together from across our community to support this most vulnerable population. We must continue to advocate for the special needs of adults with developmental disabilities, and investment in the resources required to ensure their health and safety on a daily basis. Together, we can continue to make a positive difference in the lives of those with disabilities in Ontario.
We would like to thank Minister Todd Smith, Mayor Frank Scarpitti, Hon. Logan Kanapathi & Hon. Paul Calandra, MPPs, the City of Markham, York Region Public Health, Markham Stouffville Hospital and Dr. Jane Philpott for their ongoing support and encouragement. We continue to be extremely heartened by the outpouring of support from our community and from across the country. We are deeply grateful to those who have made monetary donations, PPE donations, or who have shown us encouragement in countless other practical ways.
With gratitude,
Shelley Brillinger, Executive Director
Update – May 14, 2020
This week we are pleased to be turning a corner at Participation House, Markham. Our residents’ health is improving daily and we are thrilled to see ongoing signs of recovery. We are slowly returning to some semblance of our normal routines which brings encouragement to our residents. We have no new resident cases identified; however, some of the staff hired during the outbreak have now tested positive, with 53 positive staff in total.
The residents and staff at our Farintosh location continue to do well, with confirmed cases in 1 asymptomatic resident and 2 staff, who are looking forward to returning soon. Yesterday, we were pleased to learn that York Region Public Health has officially declared Farintosh out of outbreak.
We continue to follow direction from York Region Public Health and speak with them daily on next steps. To date, we have not been directed to re-swab any of our residents, due to the risk of false positive results, if tested too soon. This will be re-assessed in the coming days.
We would like to thank Minister Todd Smith, Mayor Frank Scarpitti, the City of Markham, York Region Public Health, Markham Stouffville Hospital and Dr. Jane Philpott for their ongoing concern and assistance. We continue to be extremely heartened by the outpouring of support from our community and from across the country. We are deeply grateful to those who have made monetary donations, PPE donations, or who have shown us encouragement in countless other practical ways.
With the return of spring flowers in the courtyard, a cardinal paying frequent visits to our windows and evidence of smiles and laughter, we remain hopeful for sunnier days ahead at PH.
With gratitude,
Shelley Brillinger, Executive Director
Update – April 24, 2020
Participation House Markham announces the death of another resident
Regretfully, we are announcing the death of another Participation House Markham resident. The family has granted permission to release that Ray Johnston, in his 70th year and a long-time resident at our Butternut Lane home, passed away today in hospital.
While the family has requested privacy so they may grieve, Raymond’s brother Eddy (Johnston) did want to share that:
“Raymond was a good guy and will be missed immensely by his family. Raymond’s parents worked hard to get him into Participation House where he was treated well and loved by his Participation House family.”
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Johnston family, friends, and the volunteers and staff for whom Raymond was so much a part of their lives.
This brings the total deaths at our Butternut Lane location to four. The number of infected residents is unchanged relative to yesterday (40 as of5pm today) according to York Region Public Health. Staff infections have increased however, from 31 to 36. One staff at our Farintosh Home has been confirmed positive, unchanged from yesterday, but there is now one resident that has tested positive as well.
We are carefully monitoring residents across all of our homes and are strictly following PPE protocols as set out by the Ministry of Health for the protection of our residents, staff and volunteers. With the help of our dedicated community partners we continue to support the health of our entire Participation House Markham family.
Shelley Brillinger, Executive Director
Update – April 23, 2020
Participation House Markham announces increased confirmed cases and another death
It is with regret that we confirm reports of the death of another resident from Participation House bringing the total to three. Out of respect for the family’s wishes the name and details are being withheld. Our condolences go out to the family, friends, volunteers and staff who are feeling this loss most acutely.
As of today, the number of infected residents has risen from the previously reported 39 to 40, with the results for the other 2 residents pending. In terms of staff, we have 31 confirmed cases at the Butternut Lane location and one staff at our Farintosh Home which has nine residents.
In almost 48 years of service, Participation House Markham has never faced such a challenge and yet with the continued support of a caring community including businesses, organizations, volunteers, Markham Stouffville Hospital, the City of Markham and the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, we know we are providing the best care possible.
Shelley Brillinger, Executive Director
Update – April 21, 2020
Participation House, Markham is cautiously optimistic even as numbers of those infected rise
The most critical challenge in the outbreak of COVID-19 for Participation House, Markham beyond the variability of the symptomology, has been staffing. We are set up to support people who are physically and/or developmentally challenged but not to provide full medical services. In the past 12 days, we have leveraged a number of inter-disciplinary relationships in our community and have staffed from many sources. This includes a group of local Nurse Practitioners who were quick to help and Dr. Jane Philpott who assembled a small group of MDs, Drs. Gautam Walia and Melanie Henry, to support our residents through assessments and on-call capacity. We are working closely with the Advanced Care paramedics in York Region to assist the doctors on call with things like swab testing and oxygen therapy. Markham Stouffville Hospital has provided a number of supports to our operations in the way of medical equipment, pureed food and most notably Human Resource staff to interview and hire on our behalf. The hospital has also dispatched a medical assessment team lead by Dr. Vishnu Singh to liaise with the PHM team, as needed.
As of today, the number of infected residents has risen from the previously reported 37 to 39, with 3 residents remaining negative. In terms of staff, we have 21 confirmed cases at the Butternut Lane Location and one at our Farintosh Home which has nine residents. All residents and staff at Farintosh were swab tested yesterday.
Our priority at Participation House, Markham has always been the care of our residents. While there is a way to go before we can say we are out of the woods, we remain cautiously optimistic of the outcomes. We want to thank all of our generous and caring community partners, our courageous and committed staff and the frontline workers who joined us to help in this battle with COVID-19. We are grateful to Mayor Scarpitti for his continued support, as well as Minister Todd Smith and the team from the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services. It is our belief that the actions of all of these groups have saved lives at Participation House, Markham.
Shelley Brillinger, Executive Director
Update – April 12, 2020
12 Residents and 6 Staff confirmed COVID-19 positive at Participation House, Markham
York Region Public Health has confirmed that there has been an increase in the number of people who have been confirmed positive for COVID-19 at Participation House, Markham. This is up from the original confirmed cases of six residents and two staff last Thursday with more test results pending.
Staffing shortages have persisted throughout the weekend with as few as six people looking after the 42 residents at times. Talks with SEIU Local 2 to have staff return continue, as does discussions with Markham Stouffville Hospital and Todd Smith, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services. But as of this hour, staffing levels remain critically low and are unsustainable. Without an outbreak the current levels would be insufficient to provide a reasonable level of care for all residents. The need for support only increases when residents are restricted to their room in a quarantine situation and of course, those who are infected require a still higher level of care which we do not have enough people to provide.
Participation House continues to put the safety and wellbeing of staff and residents as the highest priority and is hopeful that a solution can be found in the very near future to ensure the very best outcome for all. The staff who have been here since Thursday are dedicated, brave and are doing outstanding work under very trying circumstances.
We are grateful for the ongoing support from our community, Mayor Scarpitti of Markham. Markham Stouffville Hospital, Dr. Jane Philpott for showing such leadership, the many businesses, groups and individuals who have stepped up to share resources and offered to volunteer and for media outlets who continue to share the challenges we face.
Shelley Brillinger, Executive Director
Update – April 11, 2020
Participation House, Markham ensures that all residents receive full care and support throughout this challenging time. We are actively working to ensure we have staffing coverage for specialized positions including nurses, personal support workers, and food services. We continue to welcome applications from the community for these positions. SEIU Local 2 and Participation House, Markham are working closely together to address staffing shortages.
Participation House, Markham has always and continues to ensure that all staff have personal protective equipment (PPE). Our staff’s safety has always been a top priority. We have and use PPE according to the standards set by the Ministry of Health as directed by York Region Public Health. The call for donation of PPE was a proactive request by Mayor Frank Scarpitti to ensure the ongoing supply at this critical time. The use of PPE is strictly governed by the Province of Ontario and Participation House, Markham has always adhered to these guidelines.
We are in awe of the outpouring of support from our community. We thank Mayor Scarpitti and his office for their support, our City of Markham Councillors, our neighbour Markham Stouffville Hospital, and the many businesses, groups and individuals who have offered volunteering, meals, PPE and donations.
Urgent Update – April 10, 2020
Participation House, Markham’s Butternut Lane site is in a state of emergency. Ten residents and two staff members have been diagnosed with COVID-19 at our 9 Butternut Lane site, as confirmed through testing by York Region Public Health. We are in critical need of PPE and support staff in order to deliver basic care to our residents. Our staffing levels are dangerously low; we are seeking any assistance possible from the community to ensure our vulnerable residents are fed and cared for.
Since Friday, April 9, two organizations have stepped in with vital support. We thank Markham Stouffville Hospital for helping us with dietary services and whatever PPE they can share, and the Central Local Health Integration Network for providing emergency staffing. If you have PPE to contribute or are able to help us with staffing, please email Shelley Brillinger or Catherine Arthurs at shelley.brillinger@participationhouse.net or catherine.arthurs@participationhouse.net.
Participation House, Markham’s six other independent sites have not been impacted by this outbreak. We are working closely with York Region Public Health and Ontario’s Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, doing everything we can and taking all necessary precautions to respond to confirmed and suspected COVID-19 cases and to prevent further spread of the virus.
We’ve made changes to our usual practices at Participation House, Markham to align with the provincial response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We continue to monitor and enact best practices as they are shared by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services.
We recognize that any illness can be especially challenging for our vulnerable residents and clients. To keep our residents, clients, staff and families safe, we have implemented the following measures:
- Cancellation of all community outings and non-essential medical appointments for residents/clients
- In addition to the regular March Break closure of our Adult Education Day Program (AEDP), the program will remain closed until further notice, per the direction of the York Region District School Board (YRDSB)
- All Fee For Services Programs have been cancelled until further notice
- Only essential visitors are permitted access to PH sites
- Active screening for essential visitors is in full effect: all visitors will be screened for infectious symptoms and/or recent international travel
- All PH staff will be routinely screened for infectious symptoms and/or recent international travel prior to every shift
Please note that any visitors who do not pass our screening will be turned away. We will work with individuals to make alternate arrangements and provide support for resident contact over telephone, wherever possible. This policy will remain in effect until further notice.
We will continue to update you on the situation and communicate any changes in protocol. Thank you for your help in keeping our residents and clients healthy. If you have any questions about our policies in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
RESOURCES:
Public Health Ontario Coronavirus Disease 2019 Information Site
Government of Ontario Coronavirus COVID-19 Information & Self-Assessment Site
