Updates from Dartmouth South

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I hope this long weekend will bring some rest and connection for everyone in the midst of what is, for many of us, a busy and uncertain fall.

After numerous issues with long waits for assessment and testing, we are very pleased to finally see some real improvements on the type and speed of COVID-19 testing in Nova Scotia.

If you believe you may need a test, you can now do your own self-assessment online; if you screen in for testing you can immediately set an appointment time. The hope is that this will drastically reduce the window of time from symptoms to result. It is a very positive development on a number of fronts: greater public health outcomes, less time away from school and work, and more efficiency generally. In addition, it will essentially restore our 811 service which has been overloaded with calls.

A new testing option for children is also now available at the IWK Hospital. If your child is age 4 to 18 there is now an option to take the “swish and gargle” test. Children under 4 and adults will still be tested via nose swab. More information can be found on the IWK’s website.

Lead in Schools

After a groundbreaking investigation last year the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development agreed to test all schools in Nova Scotia for lead after worrying indications that there may be dangerous amounts present in school drinking water. The results of that work were released last week and showed that almost every school in Dartmouth (with the exception of the brand new Dartmouth South Academy) has greater than permissible amounts of lead in the drinking water.

The good news is that the department was proactive in providing potable water to all schools during the investigation and those coolers do remain in place. However, this is less than an ideal solution. Coolers have a limited amount of water, create an added burden on staff, and an added cost for the department. It is also not ideal from a public health perspective—coolers are high touch surfaces. We continue to press for a long-term solution that restores safe and plentiful drinking water to our schools.

You can listen to my interview on 95.7 with Dan Ahlstrand on this topic here:

Financial Support During COVID-19

While some have been able to adjust to a version of the “new normal,” for many the end of CERB marks a new challenging time. While the CERB is no longer available, other federal programs that you may be eligible for are:

Employment Insurance (EI) program: Temporary changes have been made to the Employment Insurance (EI) program to better support Canadians looking for work.
Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB): The CRB provides $500 per week for up to 26 weeks for workers who have stopped working or had their income reduced by at least 50% due to COVID-19, and who are not eligible for Employment Insurance (EI).
Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB): The CRSB provides $500 per week for up to a maximum of two weeks.
Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB): The CRCB provides $500 per week for up to 26 weeks per household.

Details and more information about applying to these programs can be found on the Government of Canada website. As with all federal programs, please reach out to your MP for questions. In Dartmouth, that is Darren Fisher, Member of Parliament for Dartmouth-Cole Harbour, 902-462-6453.

Provincially, if you have questions about your eligibility for income assistance, you can get support by calling:

1-877-424-1177 (toll-free) Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
1-833-722-1417 (toll-free) Monday to Friday 4:30 pm to 7 pm and Saturday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm

The Government of Nova Scotia is also covering additional dispensing fees for Pharmacare prescription refills and waiving the $5 prescription co-pay for people in the Income Assistance Program and the Low Income Pharmacare for Children Program.

Flu Shots

Flu shots are scheduled to be available at pharmacies in Nova Scotia after Thanksgiving weekend. Contact your family doctor or pharmacy to obtain one. Many, but not all, pharmacies are taking appointments for this free vaccine. Call ahead to your local provider to find out what protocols are in place as this year's vaccine is slated to be in higher demand than previous years due to COVID-19.

Community

Can You Help?

In the face of COVID-19, Margaret’s House is serving more clients than ever before. Due to social distancing protocols, staff can no longer welcome the community inside the building to eat together. To be able to serve our community staff are now packaging take-home meals to hand out. In light of this shift, take-out containers are their number one requested item. Specifically, containers with lids that close tightly so that they can be placed in a backpack or bag without spilling. See the pictures below and if you find similar containers, please donate them to the amazing staff at Margaret’s House.

With winter on the horizon, warm coats are another item Margaret’s House staff collect and disseminate to the community. If you’d like to donate a winter coat please:

Ensure the coat is in good working order. No broken zippers or missing buttons, please.
Clean the coat before donating.
Package the clean coat in a clear bag and clearly label it with the size and gender of the item.

Taking these steps will enable staff to safely get warm clothes to those who need them.

Congratulations

Samantha Dixon Slawter was named this year’s Gloria Fisher Business Person of the Year by the Downtown Dartmouth Business Commission.

Seven people stand in front of a brick building. Centre figure is holding an award.

Samantha is a long-time Downtown Dartmouth business owner with a storied history. I encourage you to read her full bio on the DDBC website.

Seniors Week

This past week marked Seniors Week in Nova Scotia. Elders in our community are some of the most highly impacted by COVID-19. As many of us have returned to a semblance of our pre-COVID life, many seniors are still living in partial or complete quarantine. Below are a few resources and volunteer opportunities related to seniors in Dartmouth South.

Volunteer

The Dartmouth Seniors Service Centre (DSSC) at 45 Ochterloney Street is a place where seniors can go to socialize, eat lunch, and participate in activities. With a large dining area, the Centre has largely been able to return to normal while implementing COVID-19 protocols and social distance guidelines.

The DSSC also runs two incredibly important services for Dartmouth seniors:

Meals on Wheels delivers hot and frozen meals to people in their homes.
The Medical Transportation Service helps people get to and from medical appointments. Regular taxi service gets expensive especially for seniors living on a fixed income.

Volunteer drivers are always needed for these programs and the DSSC does pay for your mileage. If you’re looking for a high impact volunteer opportunity, get in touch with Pam Vaters at 902-465-5578 ext 214.

Grants

For the project-minded, the Nova Scotia government is still accepting applications for Age-Friendly Community Grants. If your organization is working on a project that values the contribution of older adults to their communities, supports seniors who want to age in place, or creates conditions for seniors to live healthy, active lives, you may be eligible for a grant.

Another grant opportunity is the federal New Horizons for Seniors Program, which is earmarked for projects that:

Promote volunteerism among seniors and other generations.
Engage seniors in the community through the mentoring of others.
Expand awareness of elder abuse, including financial abuse.
Support the social participation and inclusion of seniors.
Provide capital assistance for new and existing community projects and programs for seniors.

As always, my office is open to assist you. You can contact us at 902-406-2301 or ClaudiaChenderMLA@gmail.com

Best,

Claudia

Mental Health Support

The Mental Health Provincial Crisis Line is available 24/7 to anyone experiencing a mental health or addictions crisis, or someone concerned about them: 1-888-429-8167 (toll-free)

Kids Help Phone is available 24/7: 1-800-668-6868 (toll-free)

Morneau Shepell has also opened its 24/7 bilingual crisis support line to help anyone in need of emotional support as a result of the recent tragic events in our province: 1-844-751-2133

Wellness Together Canada mental health portal https://ca.portal.gs/.

Self-Assessment

Complete a self-assessment online or call 811 for assessment if in the past 48 hours you have had, or you are currently experiencing fever (i.e. chills/sweats) OR cough (new or worsening).

OR

Two or more of the following symptoms (new or worsening):