March 18th, 2020
RE: Toronto Council on Aging Response to COVID-19
Dear TCA members, volunteers and supporters,
The Toronto Council on Aging has been following the developments of the COVID-19 pandemic and the public health response to deal with the crisis. This is the time for us to do everything we can to protect ourselves, our families and friends, and our communities. I’m writing to inform you that the Toronto Council on Aging is taking several measures to help contain the spread of COVID-19.
Temporary closure of TCA office:
As of Monday March 16, the TCA office at SPRINT Senior Care is temporarily closed. Email and phone messages will continue to be monitored and responded to as soon as possible. Board members, volunteers and administrative staff will be working from home over the next while.
Large meetings are postponed:
TCA will not be holding any large meetings until it is safe to do so. SPRINT Senior Care, where TCA is based, has suspended all large meetings and training-related activities for now in order to protect their clients, staff and volunteers.
Communications:
For monthly Board meetings, committee work, and all other meetings, the TCA has decided to embrace physical distancing. This means that we will continue to meet via telephone and web conference. TCA will also communicate on a regular basis with its members to keep you informed on any developments.
TCA’s work will continue:
TCA has exciting plans for 2020 and fully intends to carry on its work as best as possible. As an organization, we are planning for continuity and developing strategies to adapt to the evolving situation.
Staying healthy:
As you have been hearing on the news, older adults are especially vulnerable to the COVID-19 virus. Given the situation, TCA urges everyone to take the necessary precautions to remain healthy. Toronto Public Health has made the following recommendations:
The best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed. Prevention measures include:
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Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 15 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
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Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
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Avoid close contact with people who are ill
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Stay home when you are ill
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Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then immediately throw the tissue in the garbage and wash your hands
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If you don’t have a tissue, sneeze or cough into your sleeve or arm
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Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
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Keeping 2 metres (6 feet) apart from others
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Avoiding mass gatherings
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Avoiding crowds
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If you do happen to develop flu-like symptoms, it is vital to follow the advice of the public health authorities on what to do. We recommend staying up to date by visiting the Toronto Public Health and the Public Health Agency of Canada websites.
Supporting each other:
As a parting thought, I encourage you to reach out to family, friends, neighbours, and those in your community to check how they are doing and offer your support at this time. Some stores, like Shopper’s Drug Mart, Loblaws, and Longo’s have set aside an hour after opening of their stores to seniors and people with disabilities. For up to date information, call the stores nearest you. Finally, for older adults who live in Toronto Community Housing and are having difficulty picking up essentials like medications, groceries and other items, please contact the ‘Friendly Neighbour Hotline’ being run by Open Lab at the University Health Network. They are providing a single phone number seniors needing assistance can call, connected to a network of volunteers throughout the city who can help with picking up essentials during this difficult time. If you are able, please consider volunteering for this initiative at this link: http://uhnopenlab.ca/project/hotline/
Take good care,
Samantha Biglieri, President
Toronto Council on Aging
You can download a PDF of the official statement here.