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.

Respiratory Season Ends – Masks No Longer Required

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The province of BC has announced the end of respiratory season and the launch of the spring COVID-19 vaccine booster campaign.  With decreased rates of respiratory disease across the province, BC is ceasing the additional infection prevention and control measures implemented in September 2023.

This means that visitors to residents who live in Long-Term Care and Assisted Living buildings are no longer required to wear masks.

Beginning Monday, April 8, 2024:

  • Masking is no longer required by staff and visitors in common resident areas.
  • Active screening of visitors is not required

As always, we ask visitors to please stay home if you are ill or are experiencing any respiratory symptoms.

Thank you for working with us these past months by wearing a mask and checking in with the visitation hosts to help keep our residents safe.

Fire Equipment Testing – April 2024

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Technicians will be coming to test the fire equipment in each of the buildings the week of April 15 – 19. For residents in the apartments a technician will need to enter each apartment. The technician  will be accompanied by a Menno Place staff member and all residents will receive notice, in writing, in advance of the testing. Residents do not need to do anything during the test and are able to stay in their apartment while the test takes place.

Please note these tests will cause the fire alarms to sound briefly. They may also cause the fire panels to beep. The bells will turn on and off very quickly. In the event of an actual fire alarm the bells would sound and keep ringing.

Each day that the technicians are here they will begin around 8am and work their way through each building floor by floor. We are not able to predict when they will reach each room. For the apartments the testing usually lasts most of the day.

The schedule for 2024 is:

  • Pavilion – Monday, April 15, 2024
  • Terrace West – Tuesday, April 16, 2024
  • Primrose Gardens – Wednesday, April 17, 2024
  • Menno Home – Thursday, April 18, 2024
  • Menno Hospital – Friday, April 19, 2024

Terrace East will be tested at a later date.

If you have any questions for Menno Home and Menno Hospital please contact Garry Janzen (Garry.Janzen@mennoplace.ca). For the apartments please contact Leonard Klassen (Leonard.Klassen@mennoplace.ca) .

Join Us for Easter Services – Menno Hospital Chapel

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As we get ready to celebrate Easter weekend residents, family, and friends are invited to join us for Easter Services happening on campus in the Menno Hospital chapel.

Residents in Long-Term Care:

Residents who are able to get themselves to the chapel are welcome to do so. Residents who require assistance will need a friend or family member to porter them to the chapel. We are not able to offer staff portering at this time. Residents can be brought to the chapel up to 30 minutes before the service begins.

Volunteers Needed! Not every resident who needs assistance has family members or friends who are available to help. If you would like to help bring residents to the chapel please contact one of the Menno Place chaplains – Andy (Andy.Capesinio@mennoplace.ca), Ann (Ann.Thakker@mennoplace.ca) or Kerry (Kerry.Dyck@mennoplace.ca).

For residents in the Apartments:

To get to the Menno Hospital Chapel go out through the main doors of Terrace West and follow the sidewalk around to the right to get the main doors of Menno Hospital. Once inside the lobby the elevator will be right in front of you. Take the elevator to the second floor and turn left. Take the first right to cross over the walkway and into the chapel. There will be people around to help direct you.

For apartments residents who need assistance there will be a shuttle bus to and from both the Good Friday service and the Easter Sunday service.

On Good Friday the bus will pick up from Primrose Gardens at 9:25, Terrace West at 9:35 and Pavilion at 9:45.

On Easter Sunday the bus will pick up from Primrose Gardens at 1:25, Terrace West at 1:35 and Pavilion at 1:45.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” 1 Peter 1:3

Renovations to Terrace West Entrance and Bistro Area

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Date: March 5, 2024
To: Terrace Residents
From: Leonard Klassen, Manager of Community Enrichment
Re: Renovations to the Terrace West Entrance and Bistro Area

Dear Residents of Terrace West and Terrace East,

We are starting a renovation project for the Terrace West entrance lobby and bistro area on Thursday, March 7th. We are anticipating completing the project by Thursday, March 28th.

The summary of the project and timeline are below. Please note that the timeline may require some flexibility.

The following are direct impacts to our residents and visitors:

Thursday, March 7:     No access to laundry room for this day only

Thursday, March 7, evening and overnight:  Elevator and front entrance is emergency use only (available again after 5:00am on Friday morning)

Friday, March 8, evening and overnight:       New lobby flooring installed (front door and elevator are able to be used during this time)

The coffee and juice machine will be unavailable during this project.

The fridge for saved lunches will temporarily be in the hallway near the hair salon.

Recreation staff can continue to be reached by phone 604-851-7394 while access to their current office is unavailable.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation during this project. Stay safe.

Here is a summary of the projects and timelines:

  • Wednesday, March 6th, 8:00am: Terrace West bistro area will be emptied of all furniture and contents.
  • Thursday, March 7th, 8:00am: no access to laundry room for this day only
  • Thursday, March 7th, 5:30pm – Friday, March 8th, 5:00am: Replacement of tiles in the front entrance and Terrace West elevator. The front entrance and elevator are available for emergency use only. The doorway at the west end of the hallway is available to use; your front entrance key opens that side door as well.
  • Friday, March 8th, 5:00pm – Saturday, March 9th, 5:00am: New flooring installed in Terrace West entrance; residents and visitors can use the entrance and elevator during this time.
  • March 11th – 28th: The bistro area will be sealed off with a temporary plastic wall while the bistro is renovated (there will be upgrades to the flooring, lights and cabinets).

Terrace West Laundry Room Closed Feb 2

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We will be doing repairs in the Terrace West laundry room this Friday. This means that you will not have access to this room on February 2nd. The bistro, along with the women’s washroom in the bistro, may also be affected.

The Terrace West laundry room will be closed on Friday, February 2nd all day.

Thank you for your patience as you’ve waiting for these repairs to be done. We appreciate your cooperation.

The laundry room should reopen on Saturday, Feb 3rd.

Menno Hospital Transition from ARH Pharmacy to Apex Pharmacy

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Date: January 3, 2024
To: All Menno Place staff, residents, and Families
From: Smitha Varghese, Director of Care, Menno Hospital
Re: Menno Hospital pharmacy transition from ARH pharmacy to Apex pharmacy

We are pleased to announce that Apex Pharmacy will be our new pharmacy partner for Menno Hospital Long-term care beds. This change will commence on January 8th at 8am.  There is nothing that residents or their families need to do at this time. Menno Place will take care of all of the details.

Menno Place has a long-standing relationship with Apex at Menno Home and Terrace East Assisted Living. We have known Apex Pharmacy co-founders Elke and Jason for a very long time. They specialize in working with seniors and are well known in the community for their excellent services and wide range of products. We are excited about this expanded partnership!

This transition will provide opportunities to improve resident care and enhance staff experience. We will introduce new procedures like e-MAR (electronic medication administration record) and online medication incident form and will be able to have clinical pharmacist participation in our care conferences. We anticipate your cooperation and support during this process to ensure seamless transition and a successful partnership and collaboration.

Please feel free to reach out to me for any questions/further information regarding this transition.

Celebrating 70 Years of Compassionate Care – Watch Now

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Over the past 70 years Menno Place has provided trusted care to more 27,000 seniors. As part of the celebrations for the 70th anniversary we interviewed current and former staff and residents about the impact Menno Place has had in their lives.  These are their stories.

Read more

MEMO: Christmas Gifts, Donations and Fraud Awareness

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‘Tis the season to celebrate, and for many of us that involves gift-giving. We want to share a few reminders with all of you about Menno Place policies.

GIFTS FOR STAFF

If you wish to give a gift to the staff, here are some guidelines:

  • Gifts must be able to be shared by all the staff (e.g. chocolates, cards, pizza lunch, flowers).
  • Do not offer an individual staff member a gift as they are not permitted to accept it.
  • Financial gifts (cash/gift cards) to individual staff members are NOT allowed to be received.

If residents wish to make a financial contribution to Menno Place, donations to the Mennonite Benevolent Society can be made at reception (charitable donation receipts available).

FUNDRAISING

There is to be NO fundraising, solicitation of gifts, or request for money at Menno Place (whether from or by residents or staff). There should never be any obligation or social pressure to make a financial contribution.  Fundraising is NOT allowed at Menno Place (unless Menno Place announces and endorses an official project; this will be clearly communicated through a memo).

 FRAUD AWARENESS

At this time of year, unsavory people are often more active in trying to get money and information from our residents. Please remind your loved ones to be very careful with whom they share any personal information (such as banking information, birthdate, social insurance number) when receiving random phone calls. It is doubtful that a resident will receive a phone call from the CRA about an overdue account, from Amazon about a compromised credit card, or from a stranger asking for funds to help a grandchild get out of jail. If a resident gets a call like this, it’s best to hang up and initiate a call to CRA or their financial institution or their grandchild. This way you know you can be sure they are speaking with the right person.

If your resident is suspicious or feel you may be a victim of fraud, please contact the Seniors Abuse & Information Line 1-866-437-1940 or a trusted family member. A helpful brochure with more information can be downloaded by clicking here.

Thank you for being so kind to our staff and wanting to honour them at this time of the year. It means so much to us. By sharing the gifts, all our staff feel your appreciation.

On behalf of all of us who work at Menno Place, thank you for making this place so special. We appreciate you very much. We want to wish you a Merry Christmas and many blessings for the new year ahead. Stay safe and thank you for choosing to live at Menno.