Canada Day 2020: PARC Retirement Living & Canada Aligned

“We all have to answer the call of duty . . . Listening to public health rules is your duty. Staying home is your way to serve. So be smart about what you do, about the choices you make. That is how you will serve your country and how we will all serve each other.”
Justin Trudeau

PARC Retirement communities has continued to follow Canada’s Provincial Health Officer’s health and safety guidelines to ensure our residents are protected.

Disclaimer: Photo above was taken on July 2019

Proud to be Canadian

PARC’s strong allegiance to our country’s values goes back to when the company first opened its doors in 2001. After seeing his mother flourish in an independent living residence in Switzerland, PARC founder and chairman Rainer Müller brought his own retirement community vision to life with the creation of Summerhill PARC in North Vancouver. Today, the proudly Canadian company owns and operates five independent senior living residences in B.C.

Such patriotism finds its way to PARC residents, who appreciate what the country represents and what it has already overcome. Certainly, the First World War saw 620,000 Canadian men and women serve; the Great Depression brought widespread unemployment and political unrest in the 1930s; and the Second World War claimed some 45,000 Canadian lives. All enormously challenging events that contribute to PARC residents’ national pride and support.

Today the country is once again rallying to bring an end to a turbulent time. Businesses are slowly reopening, gatherings are increasing in allowable size and most of us – including PARC residents – are venturing out of our homes, all in an effort to slow down COVID-19. As our prime minister puts it into context: “Canada hasn’t seen this type of civic mobilization since the Second World War.”

United in the fight against COVID-19

Aligning its own COVID-19 protective measures with the federal government’s national strategy and the B.C. Provincial Medical Health Officer’s response, PARC continues to make sure residents and employees are kept safe by observing practices like frequent hand washing, physical distancing and wearing masks in specific work spaces.

Further to that, PARC has also helped residents’ families serve the country by following PARC’s pandemic protocols, as outlined in a variety of family communication channels and regular updates with:

• A dedicated COVID-19 private Facebook group for PARC residents and families;
• PARC’s public Facebook page featuring frequent posts about resident life;
• A biweekly e-newsletter sent to residents and families;
• A dedicated COVID-19 webpage with fresh blog content.
• PARC Safe Checklist options for Phase 2 reopening
• Innovative Meetup Centres that keep face-to face visits possible

Early Innovation Keeps PARC Ahead of the Curve

As an Independent Living provider, PARC supports Dr. Henry, Provincial Medical Officer in her recommendations for all types of senior living. Although PARC residences are independent, active-living environments where seniors can come and go, her recently announced recommendations specifically for Long Term Care facilities provides good news for all seniors. Here are her recommendations:

1. Residents are allowed a single designated visitor in a designated visiting areas, both indoor and outdoor.
2. Facility cannot be in an outbreak (there are 5 outbreaks that continue)
3. Facility must have developed the required written safety plans that include designated screening staff
4. There will be indoor and outdoor spaces for meeting
5. Visitor must bring and wear mask appropriately
6. Visits must be booked in advance

“We will come out of this”

Just as Canada pushed through tough times in the past, so shall the country ride out the COVID-19 wave to calmer waters beyond. As Prime Minister Trudeau says: “It is by working together that we will come out of this. It is by remaining true to our values that we will stay who we are as Canadians.”

Likewise, PARC Retirement Living communities are doing everything necessary to support and actively engage with Canada’s guidelines, to make sure all residents, staff and frontline workers come out of the pandemic safe and healthy. To date, all PARC retirement communities have received the first dose of the COVID vaccine.

Thank you, Canada, for answering the call of duty and making everyone at PARC proud.

A provider of five independent living residences in B.C., PARC Retirement Living’s top priority is the health and safety of all residents, their families and staff. Check back for more coronavirus updates and tips on PARC’s COVID-19 resources page.