COVID-19

These COVID-19 resources were collected in collaboration with Behavioural Supports Ontario (BSO).
  

 

• General Information
• News and Updates
• Vaccine Information
• Clinical Guidance, Preparedness, Prevention and Screening
• Practical Tips – Prevention of Spread/ Infection Control
• Practical Tips – Therapeutic Engagement & Behavioural Supports
• Wellness and Wellbeing
• Lived Experience/ Family Care Partner Resources
• Knowledge Exchange Events & Educational Opportunities
• Research and Literature

Resources

General Information

• Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Health Canada 
• Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pandemic, WHO
• Q&A COVID-19, WHO

Provincial / Territorial Resources

• Alberta 
• British Columbia
• Manitoba
• New Brunswick
• Northwest Territories
• Nova Scotia
• Newfoundland and Labrador
• Nunavut
• Ontario
• Quebec
• Prince Edward Island
• Saskatchewan
• Yukon

News and Updates

• Government of Canada Updates
• World Health Organization (WHO) Updates

Vaccine Information 

• Vaccine Myth Busting Resources for Clinicians, RGPs of Ontario
• Facts and Fiction COVID 19 mRNA Vaccinations - Video,  RGPs of Ontario

Clinical Guidance, Preparedness, Prevention and Screening

• Allocating Scarce Resources to People with Dementia During a Pandemic, Alzheimer Society of Canada 
• Canadian Geriatrics Society COVID-19 Resources
• COVID-19 Guidance: Congregate Living Vulnerable Populations, Ontario Ministry of Health  
• COVID-19 Interim Guidance for Long-term Care and Assisted Living Facilities, BC Centre for Disease Control
• COVID-19 looks different for those living with dementia [poster], Dementia Isolation Toolkit Working Group 
• COVID-19 Operational Requirements for Health Sector Restart, Ontario Ministry of Health 
• COVID-19 Resources, Regional Geriatric Program of Toronto
• COVID-19 Resources for Clinicians, GeriMedRisk
• COVID-19: visiting long-term care homes, Ministry of Long-Term Care
• Ethical guidance for people who work in long-term care: What is the right thing to do in a pandemic?, Dementia Isolation Toolkit Working Group 
  • Dementia Isolation Toolkit Training Videos are now available subtitled in the following languages: French, Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, Tibetan, Hindi, Portuguese
• Guidance for the Health Sector, Ontario Ministry of Health
• Infection prevention and control for COVID-19: Interim guidance for acute healthcare settings, Health Canada
• Ontario’s Long-Term Care COVID-19 Commission 
• Restoring Trust: COVID-19 and the Future of Long Term Care, Policy Briefing by the Working Group on Long-Term Care 
• Strategies for Swabbing Individuals with Dementia, Alzheimer Society of Peel and Mississauga Halton Behaviour Supports Ontario Program  
• Tip Sheet for Care Providers conducting nasal and throat swabs with clients with cognitive impairments, (French), Regional Geriatric Program of Toronto  
• Using the 3-Question Template to help the team focus on priority concerns during COVID-19, P.I.E.C.E.S.™ Canada 

Practical Tips – Prevention of Spread/ Infection Control

• Cleaning and Disinfection for Public Settings, COVID-19, Public Health Ontario
• Dementia Isolation Toolkit including Person-Centred Care Planning Tool, Toronto Rehab Institute 
• Hand Hygiene Tips, Tools and References, DementiAbiltiy
• Guidance for Mask Use in Long-term Care Homes and Retirement, Ontario Ministry of Health 
• Infographic on handwashing, Public Health Agency of Canada
• Putting on Full Personal Protective Equipment, Video, Public Health Ontario
• Recommended Steps for Putting On and Taking Off Personal Protective Equipment, Public Health Ontario 

Practical Tips – Therapeutic Engagement & Behavioural Supports

• Coronavirus (COVID-19): Tips for Dementia Caregivers, Alzheimer's Association, USA
• Dementia UK advice for people with dementia and their families, regarding the coronavirus, Dementia UK
• Communication Tip Sheet for Redeployed Staff Working in Long-Term Care with Residents with Cognitive Impairment, (French)  Regional Geriatric Program of Toronto and Behavioural Supports Ontario
• DementiAbility COVID-19 Resources
• Engaging Activity Ideas for Dementia During COVID-19, DementiAbility and Behavioural Supports Ontario
• Finding the Right Balance: An Evidence-Informed Guidance Document to Support the Re-Opening of Canadian Long-Term Care Homes to Family Caregivers and Visitors During the COVID-19 Pandemic, National Institute of Aging
• Gentle Persuasive Approaches (4th ed.) Module Summary Pages, Advanced Gerontological Education 
• Housekeeping Tip Sheet: Caring for Residents with Cognitive Impairment in Long-term Care, Regional Geriatric Program of Toronto's PRC Program and Toronto Coordinating Office of Behaviour Supports Ontario
• My transitional care plan during Covid-19, Behavioural Supports Integrated Teams 
• Non-Pharmacological Approaches to Support Individuals Living with Dementia Maintain Isolation Precautions, (French), Behavioural Supports Ontario
• Physical Distancing in Long-Term Care Homes: Providing Social Engagement and Inspiring Hope, (French), Alzheimer Society of Peel and Mississauga Halton Behaviour Supports Ontario Program 
• Supports for LTC Team Members during COVID-19, Ontario Centres for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long-Term Care
• Supporting Safer Smoking Practices & Smoking Cessation during COVID-19, Behavioural Supports Ontario
• The Person Behind the Mask: Communicating with Clients Living with Dementia While Protecting Ourselves (French - La Personne Derrière le Masque: Communiquer avec les Clients Atteints d’une Démence, Tout en se Protégeant), Alzheimer Society of Peel; Mississauga Halton Behavioural Supports Ontario
• Three About Me, Grier Dementia Training
• Virtual Visits Toolkit, Ontario Association of Residents’ Councils, Family Councils Ontario,Tech Coaches 

Wellness and Wellbeing 

• COVID-19 Lockdown Guide: How to Manage Anxiety and Isolation During Quarantine, Anxiety and Depression Association of America
• Caregiver Mental Health During COVID-19 Outbreak, The Ontario Caregiver Organization
• Creating Calm (Video), Dr. Kristine Theurer, Java Group Programs
• Choosing sources of information, Mental Health Commission of Canada
• Guide to Virtual Creative Engagement for Older Adults Guide, Simonne Cumberbatch – Community Behaviour Support Outreach Clinician at TC-LHIN BSSP, Baycrest Health Sciences; and Melissa Tafler, Arts-Based Learning Specialist, CLRI in collaboration with the Centre for Learning Research & Innovation (CLRI)
• Indigenous COVID-19 Information and Resources Guide, University of Toronto 
• LGBTQ Older Adults and COVID-19: Tools, Supports and Solutions for Navigating the Pandemic, Webinar recording, Human Rights Campaign
• Managing Stress, Anxiety And Substance Use During Covid-19: A Resource For Healthcare Providers (Infographic), Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction; Mental Health Commission of Canada 
• Mental Health Considerations during COVID-19 Outbreak, WHO
• Psychological First Aid for Frontline Health Care Providers Workbook - A Quick Guide to Wellness, Dr. Mélanie Joanisse, Clinical and Health Psychologist 
• Psychology works for COVID-19: Psychologists giving back to front line service providers, Canadian Psychological Association 
• Supports for LTC Team Members during COVID-19, Ontario Centres for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long-Term Care
• Taking care of your mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic, BC Care Providers Association 
• Tolerance for Uncertainty: A COVID-19 Workbook, Bay Psychology 
• You are a Pandemic Hero, Anonymous
• Wellness Together Canada: Mental Health and Substance Use Support, Government of Canada 

Lived Experience/ Family Care Partner Resources

• A Tool for Families to Communicate With Staff in Long-Term Care, eLearning Module, Centres for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long-Term Care
• Caregiver Contingency Plan, The Ontario Caregiver Organization 
• Connecting Socially While Keeping Your Distance, The Ontario Caregiver Organization
• COVID-19 Measures for Persons with Disabilities, Canada Revenue Agency 
• COVID-19: Tips For People With Dementia, Caregivers And Families, Blog, Alzheimer Society of Canada
• Dementia Activity Booklet, McGill University
• Dementia and COVID-19: Tips for people who have dementia and are living alone, Alzheimer Society of Canada
• Dementia and Covid-19: Strategies for Caregivers – Tips & Safety During Covid-19 Videos, Alzheimer Society
  • Part 1 , Part 2 , Part 3, Part 4 
• How Technology Can Support Caregivers During COVID-19, The Ontario Caregiver Organization
• Information about COVID-19 and caregiver tips, Alzheimer Society 
• Navigating dementia and COVID-19 this holiday season, Blog, Alzheimer Association, Washington State Chapter 
• Online Tablet Sessions, AcTo Dementia and Let's Connect projects, Date and Time: Every Tuesday at 10:00 am (EST) 
• Preparing for the Holidays during COVID-19, Webinar Recording, Alzheimer Society of British Columbia 
• Together Apart - A Guide to Visiting From A Distance, Alzheimer Society of Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, Haliburton, Oxford and Ontario
• Practical Tips on Providing Care, Community Support Services Ontario 
• Protecting Yourself and the Person You Are Caring For, Community Support Services Ontario 
• Ready, Set, Plan – For Care Partner Absence, (French) Alzheimer Society of Ontario, First Link
• Social Distancing Yes, Social Isolation No, Caring for Those Living with Dementia, Stroke and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Alzheimer Society of Canada
• Sunny Guides: Downloadable Step-by-Step Guides for Virtual Care platforms - Downloadable guides for seniors with instructions and pictures about downloading, installing, and using popular apps such as Zoom, FaceTime, Skype, or Google Duo 
• Supporting Decision Making: Moving out of Retirement Homes/ Long-Term Care 
  • Amendments to Ontario Regulation 79/10 (Regulation) under the Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2007 (LTCHA) pertaining to long-term care home admissions and discharge during the COVID-19 pandemic: Frequently Asked Questions
  • Considerations to make before moving a person living with dementia out of Long Term Care (French), Alzheimer Society Ontario, First Link
  • During the COVID-19 pandemic, should I go to live elsewhere or stay in my retirement/ assisted living home?, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
  • Thinking About Removing Your Older Loved One from Long Term Care During COVID19?, CanAge
• Tips for Caregiver Mental Health during COVID-19, The Ontario Caregiver Organization

Knowledge Exchange Events & Educational Opportunities

• COVID-19 Health Care Workers and LTCH Staff Orientation on De-Escalation Prevention, Webinar Recording, Regional Geriatric Program of Toronto  
• COVID-19 Infection in Persons Living With Dementia (slides), presented by: Julie Robillard, PhD, Assistant Professor of Neurology; Scientist, Patient Experience, The University of British Columbia, BC Children's & Women's Hospitals and Dr. Eric Smith MD, MPH, FRCPC, FAHA, Professor of Neurology Katthy Taylor Chair in Vascular Dementia, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary
• COVID-19 Long Term Care Orientation for Redeployed Healthcare Workers, Webinar Recording, Regional Geriatric Program of Toronto  
• Dementia Care during the COVID-19 Outbreak, Webinar Recording, Alzheimer's Disease International
• Dementia Isolation Toolkit: Ethical Guidance Tool, Webinar Recording, Slides, Presenter: Dr. Andrea Iaboni, Geriatric Psychiatrist, University Health Network; Moderator: Debbie Hewitt Colborne, Project Advisor, Behavioural Supports Ontario Provincial Coordinating Office, North Bay Regional Health Centre
• ECHO CARE of the Elderly in LTC: Delirium Prevention, Assessment and Management During COVID-19, Webinar Recording
• Gentle Persuasive Approaches (GPA) eLearning online dementia care education session for healthcare providers, Advanced Gerontological Education (AGE) Inc, developers of the Gentle Persuasive Approaches (GPA) in Dementia care curriculum 
• Podcast Series: Human Rights and Dementia in a Post-COVID-19 World, Dementia Dialogue
• Managing Dementia Care in the Time of COVID-19, Webinar Recording, Teepa Snow
• Social connection in residents of long-term care homes: mental health impacts and strategies during COVID-19 (Slides), Presenters: Jennifer Bethell, PhD & Katelynn Viau Aelick, MSc.
  • Social connection in long-term care homes: A scoping review of published research on the mental health impacts and potential strategies during COVID-19, Jennifer Bethell, Jessica Babineau, Monica Bretzlaff, Cathleen Edwards, Josie-Lee Gibson, Debbie Hewitt Colborne, Andrea Iaboni, Dee Lender, Denise Schon, Katelynn Viau Aelick, Katherine McGilton. Resources include: Full Report (French and English), Infographic (French and English), and Full Scoping Review
• Supporting the Elderly and People Living with Dementia, Podcast, Sheila McGuire, Alberta Health Services
• Supporting Residents with Dementia through COVID-19 Pandemic, Webinar Recording, Ontario Retirement Communities Association
• Supporting smoking cessation in long-term care, mental health, legal and ethical considerations during COVID-19, Webinar Recording (Slides, Flyer), OTN Geriatric Additions Rounds

Research and Literature

• A recommended reading list: COVID-19: the evidence, St. Joseph's Health Centre Guelph, Health Sciences Library