Levante FAQ

Are Levante residences prepared to deal with large outbreaks/pandemics like COVID-19?

All of Levante residences have had to deal with respiratory outbreaks in the past and this is not unusual in the senior living industry. Outbreak protocols are familiar and well-rehearsed. In addition, the staff at each Levante residence work closely with Public Health Ontario as well as the RHRA (Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority) for directives and updates. Each year, beginning in late summer/early fall, preparations for the flu season are taken by ordering vaccines, getting consents for treatment, obtaining doctor's orders for anti-virals and receiving "flu kits" from Public Health. General Managers have daily Infection Control meetings with staff. The goal of these meetings is to prevent the spread of any virus. In a senior living facility, regardless of outbreak status, influenza surveillance goes on every day of the year.

What determines an Outbreak classification in a Levante Residence?

When two residents present with the same respiratory symptoms, a report is made to Public Health Ontario, who declares an outbreak within that residence. Swabs are then taken from the affected resident to determine the exact virus. Outbreak protocols are initiated. The affected resident(s) is then isolated to their room, with meals being brought to them, to contain the virus. Environmental precautions will also be implemented including the use of anti-viral cleaning products, increased cleaning of "high touch" areas and the use of disposable dishware and cutlery.

What happens if a Levante resident tests positive for COVID-19?

Should a resident test positive, they would be isolated under Droplet precautions (door signage, increased hygiene, proper use and disposal of Personal Protective Equipment-PPE- including gloves, gown, mask and googles worn by staff) in the residence and any directive given by Public Health would be followed. Because this is viral and there is no treatment, patients are usually not advised to go to the hospital. However, because we deal with an elderly population with compromised immunity, complications (respiratory distress/pneumonia) may arise that would require hospitalization and the resident would then be transported and quarantined there.

What happens when a staff member contracts COVID-19?

What happens to staff when a resident tests positive for COVID-19?

If a resident tests positive for COVID-19 and is being cared for in the residence, they would immediately be placed in isolation. Any contact with this resident would require an employee to be wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) including gloves, gown, mask and goggles when entering the room. Upon leaving the room, the used PPE would then be disposed of in a sealed bag. Because every Levante residence prepares annually for outbreaks, we are currently stocked with the necessary PPEs's.

Staff who are immunocompromised for any reason that would be advised not to work or come in contact with this resident. If necessary, roles within the residence would change for the immunocompromised staff.

What extra oversight and support is given to the General Managers of each residence?

The Levante Regional Director is in routine communication with each residence to discuss issues, Public Health guidelines and questions as they arise. In additional, weekly (often daily) meetings/conference calls, are held with all General Managers, Directors of Care, the Regional Director and the Levante Director of Senior Living so that collaboration of ideas and the passing along of information is widely distributed and to ensure that protocols are being followed.

In order to secure the senior management of each Levante residence, Levante, for a short time during April, issued the directive for the General Managers to work from home while the Director of Care remained on site. Had there been an outbreak and the Director of Care was exposed and needed to be isolated, the General Manager could then step in maintaining effective leadership within the residence. All our General Managers are back working in the residences.

What policies have been put in place specifically to deal with Coronavirus/COVID-19?

Some of the policies and procedures implemented at Levante Living Residences

As of Friday, March 13, 2020, the RHRA issued a directive for Retirement Residences to begin "Active Screening" of all visitors. This requires everyone who enters a retirement residence to be screened for a temperature/symptoms, or travel. On that day, Levante decided to take this a step further by issuing a temporary directive for our residences to not allow any visitors, including friends and family. This was met with overall support from both family and staff.
As of March 16, 2020, Levante has initiated Active Screening for all Staff. Every time an employee enters a residence, they will be asked about symptoms, travel and potential contact.
Discussions surrounding COVID-19 were added at the beginning of this pandemic to our weekly Infection Control conference call that now includes all Levante General Managers and Directors of Care and Director of Senior Living.
Cancellation of management/staff plans to attend conferences or large group activities or events.
Social distancing of residents - cancellation of events open to the community (theme parties, Pub nights, Game Night, etc).
Cancellation of community groups coming into the home (choirs, dance groups, children's groups, students).
Increasing hand sanitizing stations throughout the home.
Increasing cleaning of high touch areas in common areas of the home (rails, door handles, elevators, etc).
Adjusting sick leave policies to allow for staff self-isolating if virus is suspected
Providing daily updates and training for frontline staff
A Pandemic and Response Procedures package was distributed to all homes for implementation
Temporary 14 day isolation for all incoming new residents or residents returning from the hospital

Responding to ORCA's (Ontario Retirement Community Association) daily update on COVID-19 and implement any directives. (https://www.orcaretirement.com/news/coronavirus-update-resources/)

Disclaimer

This document is not intended to provide the basis of any credit or other evaluation, does not constitute or form part of any offer or invitation to sell or issue, or any solicitation of any offer to purchase or subscribe for, any securities, nor shall any part of this document form the basis of, or be relied on in connection with, any contract or investment decision in relation to any securities.

Forward-Looking Information

This documents contains forward-looking information and are provided for the purpose of presenting information about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that such statements may not be appropriate for other purposes. All statements other than statements of historical facts are forward-looking statements and include statements relating to the outlook of the senior living sector and Levante's anticipated value creation strategy. Forward-looking statements are based upon a number of assumptions and are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, including the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on Levante's financial condition, the senior living sector, and society as a whole, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those that are disclosed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those expected or estimated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Levante is not under any duty to update any of the forward-looking statements except as otherwise required by applicable legislation.