Privacy Policy

The United Church Home For Senior Citizens, Inc. recognizes and practices the privacy principles as developed by the Canadian Standards Association’s “Model Code for the Protection of Personal Information” and part of the “Personal Information and Electronic Documents Act” (PIPEDA).

The United Church Home For Senior Citizens, Inc. is committed to respecting and safeguarding the privacy and protection of the personal information of our residents, employees, volunteers, families and tenants. Confidentiality and privacy is vital to our organization.

Personal information includes any identifiable details about an individual. Examples of personal information are, Social Insurance Number, medication or health record, marital and dependant status, financial information and employment data.

Objectives

1. To respect the privacy and confidentiality issues around care, tenancy and employment.
2. To follow the rules that governs collection, use and disclosure of personal information.
3. To educate the people of the organization to work within the principles of the Privacy Act. (PIPEDA)

Procedure

1. The executive director is accountable for the organization’s compliance with the principles.
2. All personal information gathered by the organization must have a purpose, if there is no purpose to the information being gathered, it is not to be collected.
3. When information is collected the person or appropriate designate is made aware of the purpose of the information being collected and the fact that the information is only shared with those people involved in the care or work of that individual.
4. Personal information shall not be used or disclosed for purposes other than those for which it was collected, except with the consent of the individual or as required by law.
5. The information is retained in safeguarded areas for the required length of time legislated. Records are appropriately destroyed through confidential shredding practices only. For example, nothing with any personally identifiable information is to be discarded into the garbage.
6. Personal information is kept accurate, complete and up to date as necessary for the purpose for which it is to be used.
7. Personal information is protected by security safeguards appropriate to the sensitivity of the information. For example filing cabinets containing personal information are kept locked and restricted access to files is maintained. Access to information is on a “need-to-know” basis.
8. The Home’s policies and practices relating to the management of personal information are available to individuals.
9. Upon written request, an individual or legal representative is informed of the existence, use, and disclosure of his or her personal information and is given access to that information. Residents or their legal representatives have the right to challenge the accuracy of their personal information.
10. An individual or legal representative is able to address a challenge concerning compliance with the privacy principles to the executive director.