COVID-19 Update: Terrace East Assisted Living on Enhanced Monitoring – Terrace West also affected

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Due to increased cases of COVID-19 in the Terrace East Assisted Living Apartment, Public Health has placed the building on Enhanced Monitoring. Please see the memo below for detailed information regarding dining, recreation activities, mask wearing and visiting. As the Terrace West Independent Living Apartment is connected to Terrace East, residents in this apartment will also be impacted. A separate memo for Terrace West residents is also included below.

 

MEMO

Date:               June 3, 2024
To:                   Terrace East Residents
Re:                   Enhanced Monitoring – Update re: COVID-19 Cases
________________________________________________________________________

Dear Residents of Terrace East,

Unfortunately, I am writing to inform you have we have several cases of COVID-19 in Terrace East. Additionally, some staff and Terrace West residents are symptomatic. Please inform care staff if you aren’t feeling well.

Public health has placed Terrace East on Enhanced Monitoring. Effective immediately, the following protocols are in place:

  • Dining Room is closed – staff will be delivering meals to each suite.
  • Morning break snacks are available for pick-up only from the dining room (please pick up your snacks and enjoy them in your suite).
  • In-person Recreation Activities are cancelled – watch channel 10. (We are postponing our Men’s Breakfast – stay tuned for the new date.)
  • If you have symptoms (fever/chills, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle/body ache, headache, new loss of taste/smell, sore throat, congestion/runny nose, diarrhea/nausea/vomiting), we will place a cart by your door with personal protective equipment for anyone entering your suite.
  • If you are sick, please stay in your suite unless you are on your way out of the building (and please wear a mask).
  • Staff are required to wear masks.
  • Visitors will be screened at the door and asked to wear a mask (please remind your visitors not to come visit if they are sick).

Thank you for your patience and understanding. We will get through this together. As a reminder, showing care and concern for each other is our overarching approach. Let’s do our part in stopping the spread.

Leonard Klassen, Manager of Community Enrichment

 

MEMO

Date:               June 3, 2024
To:                   Terrace West Residents
Re:                   Update re: COVID-19 Cases in Terrace East – Impacting Terrace West
________________________________________________________________________

Dear Residents of Terrace West,

Public health has placed Terrace East on Enhanced Monitoring due to increasing numbers of residents with COVID-19 and has put screening and mask requirements in place for Terrace East. As a result of that, we are closing the dining room and stopping in-person recreation activities for both Terrace East and Terrace West.

Effective immediately, staff will be delivering your meals to your suite.

Morning break snacks will be available for pick-up in the Terrace West bistro.

I’d like to remind you that there are some activities available on channel 10. The bistro area remains open. Please note that we are postponing the Men’s Breakfast – stay tuned for the new date.

If you are sick, we are asking that you stay in your suite unless you are on your way in/out of the building, and we’d appreciate if you’d wear a mask in this situation. Symptoms to watch for include fever/chills, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle/body ache, headache, new loss of taste/smell, sore throat, congestion/runny nose, diarrhea/nausea/vomiting.

Thank you for your patience and understanding. We will get through this together. As a reminder, showing care and concern for each other is our overarching approach. Let’s do our part in stopping the spread.

Leonard Klassen, Manager of Community Enrichment



For family and friends, further updates will be communicated under the ‘Visiting Updates’ section on our homepage HERE.

You may also want to take a few minutes to refamiliarize yourself with our covid, flu or cold protocols for visitors HERE.

Thank you for playing your part in keeping our residents and staff safe!

COVID, FLU OR COLD – Protocols for Visitors

We’re Celebrating Mom!

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This Mother’s Day we’d love to hear about you Mom. Would you join us in the Friends and Family Facebook group and answer one of the three questions below as we celebrate Moms together?

  1. What is the greatest adventure your Mom took?
  2. Why is your Mom your hero?
  3. What did your Mom do that you admire?

Smoke-Free Campus: Changes for Staff & Visitor Smoking

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Effective immediately, smoking in the courtyard smoking hut will be restricted to residents ONLY. Visitors (and staff) will not be permitted to smoke in this area.

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Fireside Café is Closing

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We are sorry to announce that the Fireside Café is closing until further notice. The last day of service will be Friday, May 17, 2024.  Reassessment of the menu and financial viability will take place in the coming weeks. Our hope is to create a renewed café that is sustainable.

In the near future we will provide coffee and snacks by donation. The café has been a welcome spot on campus for residents, families, and staff and this decision was not taken lightly. We want to thank the café team who have done an excellent job over the years. We will miss seeing your smiling faces in the morning over coffee.

What happens next?

Please continue to use the Fireside Café patio and café tables for your meals, breaks, and family parties.

We are actively planning for ways to revamp and improve the café. We want to hear from you! If you have ideas for things you’d love to see in a café on campus or notes for things that were challenging we want to hear them.

Please use the form below to send us your thoughts and let us know how the Fireside Café has been beneficial for you, your loved ones and your family.

If you have any further questions please email connect@mennoplace.ca

Fill out my online form.

We Want to Hear From You – Take the Survey

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We’ve talked to over 500 members of this community. We want to hear from you. Please click the button below to take the survey and send us your feedback.

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Mother’s Day Flowers – Frequently Asked Questions

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Every year on Mother’s Day our campus is flooded with beautiful floral arrangements that bring joy to residents (and staff!) all over Menno Place. If you’re thinking about gifting flowers this year we wanted to remind you of a couple of guidelines.

Bringing Flowers When You Visit

You are more than welcome to bring flowers with you when you visit. Here are some guidelines that will ensure that your bouquet is on display for your loved one:

  • Do not bring scented flowers – this includes lilies. Some of our residents and staff are highly allergic to scented flowers.
  • Ensure that you have a vase to keep the flowers in as we do not have these on hand.

Having Flowers Delivered

Our preferred florist for deliveries is Buckets Fresh Flower Market in Abbotsford. The team at Buckets is familiar with our campus layout and can find the right drop-off location on our large campus.

Buckets Fresh Flower Market

Do you want to ensure that they are delivered to your loved one by Mother’s Day?
We recommend you arrange to have the flowers delivered the Friday before Mother’s Day.  This beats the rush and gives our staff the time to get your arrangement to your loved one!

Will staff assist in delivery of floral arrangements?
Staff will deliver floral arrangements to residents in Menno Home, Menno Hospital and Terrace East. In Primrose Gardens, Terrace West and the Pavilion apartment buildings, delivery must be done directly to the resident. There are no staff available to help with delivery on the weekend.

Guidelines when ordering:

  • Please do not send “scented” flowers – this includes lilies. Some of our residents and staff are highly allergic to scented flowers. Keeping them out of the buildings keeps everyone safe.
  • All flowers must be delivered in a container/ vase. Do not send “loose” flowers in paper that need to be transferred.
  • Potted plants must be delivered directly to the resident’s room or suite.

What address should I use for delivery of the flowers?
Be specific – this will help the florist delivery to easily find the right building and ensure delivery. Do not send to “Menno Place” as this will cause confusion for the delivery.

Resident Name: Full Name
Location: Choose from the locations and addresses listed below
Room # or Suite: If you know their specific location

Staff assistance with delivery:

Menno Home (24/7 Nursing Care – Long-Term Care)
32910 Brundige Ave
Abbotsford, BC V2S 1N2

Menno Hospital (24/7 Nursing Care – Long-Term Care)
32945 Marshall Rd
Abbotsford, BC V2S 1K1

Terrace East (Assisted Living)
2021 Primrose Street
Abbotsford, BC V2S 2Y9

Deliver directly to resident or Apartment suite:

Primrose Gardens (Independent Living)
2099 Primrose Street
Abbotsford, BC V2S 0E1

Terrace West (Independent Living)
32979 Marshall Rd
Abbotsford, BC V2S 8H4

Pavilion (Independent Living)
32943 Marshall Rd
Abbotsford, BC V2S 1J8

 

Save the Date: Butterfly Release

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Menno Place’s annual Memorial and Butterfly Release will take place on Friday, June 14th.  Mark your calendars and join us as we remember and celebrate the ones we love who are no longer here with us. Information about how to purchase a butterfly will be available in the coming weeks along with further details about the event, parking, and more.

We hope to see you there!

SAFER Grant Information

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Recently, BC Housing’s SAFER Grant has been in the news. SAFER stands for “Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters.” It is a grant available for eligible seniors who are renters in the province of BC. If you live in Pavilion, Terrace West, Primrose Gardens, or Terrace East (private pay assisted living only), you may qualify. This grant is not available for residents in Long-Term Care (Menno Home, Menno Hospital) as they already receive government subsidy.

All information can be found at BC Housing’s SAFER website (Click here)

If you are over the age of 60, have lived in BC for at least 12 months, and spend more than 30% of your monthly income on rent, you should consider applying. Please note that your income must be below the maximum threshold (which was just announced as increasing to approximately $3,000/month). An estimate calculator and application forms are available online.

NOTE: When using the calculator enter your MONTHLY income, not your annual income.

The SAFER Grant is completely independent of Menno Place. All applications must be directly submitted by the tenant, and there is no obligation to inform Menno Place of whether you are receiving this grant. If you are unsure of any specific information about your rental, please contact a member of the Life Enrichment Team.

If you feel you may be eligible, we encourage you to apply.

The BC government also recently announced a one-time additional payment for all current recipients of the SAFER Grant. This was followed up with a reminder that BC Housing will never invite recipients to claim this benefit via a text message. Remember to be careful with your personal information.

National Volunteer Appreciation Week – Every Moment Matters!

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It’s National Volunteer Appreciation Week and we want to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of the amazing volunteers who give of their time and their hearts here at Menno Place.

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Time to Install Air Conditioners in the Apartments

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Warmer weather is just around the corner and it’s time to think about air conditioners.  The common areas of each apartment building – the dining rooms, hallways and lounges – are air conditioned, but the individual apartments are not. Please note that this applies to Pavilion, Primrose Gardens, Terrace East and Terrace West only. We are not able to install individual air conditioners in Menno Home or Menno Hospital.

Residents who want air conditioning in their apartment must provide their own portable air conditioning unit. Please note the following process for getting your air conditioner installed. (If you want to purchase an air conditioner unit you’ll find the details below.)

  1. We are asking every resident to contact the Life Enrichment Team by April 22nd to let us know YES or NO regarding wanting an air conditioner installed.
  2. If YES, we need you to sign the work request at the front desk as the installation has a $36 fee.
  3. If NO, we still need you to inform us to ensure that no one gets missed.
  4. Once you have signed up, please ensure that your air conditioning unit (along with the extension cord) is in your suite, unboxed, ready to install by April 29th.

Installations are scheduled to begin on April 29th. Our plan is to complete this project by Mother’s Day (May 12th weekend); we’ll do our best. To ensure we get this done, please sign-up by April 22nd with the Life Enrichment Team.

Removals are tentatively scheduled for after Thanksgiving (approximately mid-October). We will communicate our disconnect plans closer to the date.

Any requests for installations received after April 22nd will be processed when our maintenance team has time.

Please note the following important information:

  1. Only PORTABLE A/C units are permitted in the suites. These are the type that vent through a hose; in-window units are not permitted.
  2. Only high-efficiency units up to 8000 BTUs are permitted. Large amperage/BTU units (greater than 11 amps/8000 BTUs) will trip the breakers.
  3. Menno’s Maintenance Team MUST install the units in each suite. The annual installation fee is $36.00 and includes removal of the unit after the hot season. We ask that units are removed during the winter months due to building envelope management.
  4. Residents must provide a 3-prong extension cord (minimum length of 6’). It must be rated for at least 11amps. 
  5. The A/C unit must be unboxed and in suite with extension cord when request is made to Life Enrichment Team for installation.

Please contact the Life Enrichment Team at 604-851-4004 with any questions.