Bring your Christmas Cheer – we need you – come decorate!

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**Would you like to encourage the Menno Place staff and residents? **

We have an idea… maybe it’s a bit “out there”, but we think it will feel joyful and wonderful and encouraging. We need some cheer – and so do you!
These are strange times and we need a boost of hope and joy and love and peace. Our staff need a boost of encouragement and energy and smiles. Our residents need a boost, knowing that the community is cheering them on.

So, what’s our big idea?

We are inviting the people who love and care for seniors and Menno Place to come here and decorate any of our trees and shrubs around the campus. We are asking you to come to us and show your support by making our trees and bushes alive with joy and love and strength and community support.
We welcome you with your ornaments and your ribbons and your dangly-doos and your happy sounds. Bring your instruments, your voices, your prayers and your good will as you decorate. Bring your banners and signs and glitter and ribbons. We welcome it all! Cut loose and bring us the cheer of Christmas – and cheer us on!
Bring your families and school cohorts. Be safe, and come and bring your joy! We want you here. We want to see you cheering us on. We need you.
We don’t have plugins, so electrical displays are not an option, but we welcome everything else that beautifies.
There’s a familiar Christmas story that many of us watch every year – it’s all about how a Grinch tried to steal Christmas from the good people of Whoville. Nothing could stop Christmas – nothing.
Even when every part of traditional Christmas was taken from them, the Who’s in Whoville sang:
Christmas day will always be
Just so long as we have we.
We need you. Will come and bring the Christmas love and cheer? Nothing, even COVID, can stop the love and togetherness that we have as a community. Will you show us your support?

Water Shutdown – Primrose Gardens – Dec. 3, 8am – 12pm

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Water Shut Down – Primrose Gardens only– December 3, 8am – 12pm

Maintenance is replacing the Primrose Gardens hot water tanks on Thursday of this week. the project will take approximately 4 hours, but could take longer if there are unexpected issues.
Please be prepared by filling up water containers for drinking, cooking, hand washing and flushing the toilet.

Send your thanks to Nik Van Egdom as he starts a new adventure

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In 2017, we created a new role, Life Enrichment Coordinator and sought a person who would be the ultimate liasion for residents of The Apartments at Menno Place. Nik van Edgom was the first to take on this position and he has done it with great joy, energy and compassion. Nik is about to embark on a new adventure – following his life passion for baking, he is the new owner of a Cobb’s Bread franchise in Mission, BC. Previous to working at Menno Place, Nik was a cook and a manager of several Cobb’s stores. We wish Nik well in his new adventure and thank him for all of his kindness and help over the past 3 years that he has served in the Apartments.

Would you like to add your thanks to ours?

Please fill out the form below before December 8th to have your words added to ours at Nik’s virtual going-away party.

Fill out my online form.

Encourage the Frontline Workers

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Encourage the Frontline Workers

You sent 18 messages through the Encourage our Frontline workers form and it brought some of our staff to tears. Your words go straight to the heart in and rejuvenate our team. Here are some samples of what you sent directly to the staff:
“You are all so appreciated. I know this is the hardest thing you have ever had to do. I know you are worried about your own families, your own selves. Thank you for taking care of our loved ones. There really aren’t words that can express the appreciation. I can’t fathom what you experience every day but I am with you and I am always sending positivity your way. Xoxo”
“Thank you, thank you, thank you for taking such excellent care of our mother. We appreciate every staff person working on E2. Please know that we lift you and your familes up in our prayers to our gracious Heavenly Father. He sees your loving service. Great will be your reward. We are indebted to you all.”
“Thank you so very much to all of you. We love you and send hope, peace and love ❤ for all you do as you work and support in Spirit you colleagues throughout the Menno Place campus.”
“Thank you, thank you!! So much hope, peace and strength is being prayed for you right now. You are all doing good and important work! From W and M, children of GK”
“Thank you for your continuing support of caring for my husband and others in Menno. I am grateful for your dedication and caring hours of service. Keep Safe. God Bless”
“Thank you so much for caring for my Mom, and all the residents. Thank you especially to those who are helping Mom eat these days. You are special people and we appreciate you and pray for your strength.”
“My dad is GD in TW. From our family to yours we pray for you each day to be safe, healthy and that your spirits stay strong. We appreciate every smile, your kindness and your hard work. You are all so amazing and we can’t thank you enough for all that you are doing. Blessings to all of you.”
“For each & every one who works at Menno Place – Bless you for the extraordinary work you do! The challenges of this virus has impacted your lives in unimaginable ways. May God give you the strength & health to forge ahead. Like the hummingbirds who winter here, wings in constant motion, defying the odds of nature, seeking the nectar to sustain them, you bring happiness & hope to all you serve. Thank you all for this commitment to care for those who need you. May you all be safe. With Appreciation, S”
“Thank you, thank you, for all your compassion and care for our dad, PG!! May you be strengthened as you know and realize how much we appreciate you all. Praying our God will keep you healthy and strong, God is your strength!! This too shall pass. love you all. The G family.”
“As always, we are so grateful to all of you ????especially now in these incredibly tough conditions, there are not words to thank you.”
Your beautiful thoughts and prayers go straight to the nurses – a tool that they can use for the encouragement of their teams.
Thank you for making this possible for them. Today is day 9 in Menno Home and some are weary and some are afraid and some are bold and some are brave. We all need each other because all of us will be all of these things.
If you would like to add to the thoughts and prayers, you can fill out this form online: CLICK HERE

Purchase Medical Grade Masks – The Apartments

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We have ordered 40 boxes of medical grade masks. We are offering this initially to residents and Registered Visitors from Primrose Gardens, Terrace WEST and Pavilion.
Place your order here
Menno Place supplies medical grade masks to Designated Visitors in the Safe Visit program (Home, Hospital, Terrace East) and to the residents in Terrace East. We supply medical grade masks at the entrances of Primrose Gardens, Terrace West and Pavilion, however, Regsitered Visitors and Residents may wish to purchase their own box.

Frequently Asked Questions:

  1. How much does a box cost? $20
  2. How many masks are in a box? 50
  3. How many boxes can I order? 2 boxes per order
  4. Who can purchase these? Residents and Registered Visitors in Primrose Gardens, Terrace West and Pavilion
  5. How are they delivered? To the resident’s apartment suite
  6. How are they paid for? On the resident’s monthly billing statement
  7. What if you run out and I’ve put in an order? We either re-order or let you know that we can’t provide them to you
  8. Does this program mean that nurses and care aides won’t have proper PPE in another part of Menno Place? No. These masks are from a different supplier.
  9. What is a medical-grade mask? Click here to go to the BCCDC website to learn more
  10. If I have a special reason to purchase and my loved one lives in Terrace East, Menno Home or Menno Hospital, what can I do? Reach out to Garry.Janzen@MennoPlace.ca

Prayer for the Light of God’s Presence at Menno Place

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From Menno Home Chaplain, Ingrid Schultz (written while on isolation):

PRAYER FOR THE LIGHT OF GOD’S PRESENCE AT MENNO PLACE

The news of COVID 19 at Menno Home came in the midst of Diwali, the 5 day festival of lights, celebrated by many of our staff.  Diwali signifies light overcoming darkness.  Next Sunday, November 29, is the beginning of Advent, the 4 weeks before Christmas, when we remember God’s light coming into the world in Jesus, whose arrival is foreshadowed by these words:

By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (Luke 1:78-79)

We need that light and peace at Menno Place right now.  As we pray for Menno Home East 2 residents and staff and for our whole campus of care, let us pray for God’s healing light overcoming COVID 19.  Let us also pray that we can be bearers of God’s light and peace as we care for residents, their families and fellow staff.

Please join me in this prayer for Menno Place (adapted from a prayer by Carol Penner):

Great God, you are our light and our peace, an ever-present help in times of trouble, and that’s why we’re praying now.

We are troubled by COVID 19 coming to Menno Home East 2 and we’re worried things are going to get more troubling as cases of the virus are increasing in care homes across BC.

We pray the light of your presence with our front line staff who care for residents on East 2, and across our campus of care.

Protect them and grant them the peace, wisdom and courage to do their work.

Keep them safe.  

Be with our leadership team and Fraser Health officials, with Dr. Bonnie Henry and Adrian Dix as they make decisions for the common good.

We pray for your healing light, comfort and peace for our residents and their families in this worrying time.

Help us all to be kind to one another and to be calm as anxious times can make us snappy.

Thank you that your love is also contagious and stronger than any virus.

Thank you that in this Advent season we remember that Jesus came to bring us the light of your love in the midst of darkness, hope in the midst of despair and peace in the midst of anxious and unsetting times.

Help us all to be bearers of your light, love, hope and peace at Menno Place.

Amen.

Update – Visits at Menno Place

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Update: VISITS

We are very sad that we’ve had to make some changes to the visits in Menno Home – we know how important these are to family.
You may wish to use the Send a Message of Love. We will print and deliver to any resident: CLICK HERE

Menno Home E2 – COVID positive unit (outbreak) – Long Term Care

  • All visits are cancelled during the outbreak
  • Actively dying (COVID related or not), nursing will call the family to be with their loved one
  • Essential deliveries only with the exception of cards

Menno Home W1, W2, E1 – Long Term Care

  • Zoom Calls – continue as normal
  • Essential Visits – temporarily suspended while we are on full droplet precaution
  • Window Visits – temporarily suspended while we are on full droplet precaution
  • Actively dying – nursing will call the family to be with their loved one
  • Safe Visits – cancelled for 2 weeks, we will keep you informed
  • Essential deliveries only with the exception of cards

Menno Hospital – Long Term Care

  • All visits continue
  • Deliveries continue, including “extras” (eg: snacks)

Terrace East – Assisted Living

  • All Safe Visits continue
  • Deliveries continue, including “extras” (eg: snacks)
  • Residents have been advised to stay in their suites and limit outings to essential outings only

Primrose Gardens, Terrace West, Pavilion – Independent Living

  • Registered Visitor program continues
  • Residents have been advised to stay in their suites and limit outings to essential outings only

MEMO: Apartment Update For Residents & Loved Ones

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The following Memo will be delivered to apartment suite doors in the afternoon on Wednesday, Nov 18. 

Menno Place Memo

To:             Residents, Families & Friends: Apartments
Re:             2 Positive COVID-19 Case in Menno Home East 2
Date:         Wednesday, November 18, 2020

We are sad to share with you that in spite of all the hard work we have done for the past 8 months, we now have 2 COVID positive residents at Menno Home E2. All of the Menno Home E2 staff and residents have been swabbed for COVID-19 and we await all the test results. Families of E2 Home residents have been notified. Our COVID-19 Response Plan is in place and Fraser Health will be onsite in Menno Home today. NO staff from Menno Home E2 work in any other location at Menno Place.

There are NO COVID positive residents or staff in Menno Place Apartments (Primrose Gardens, Terrace East, Terrace West or Pavilion).

What does this mean for you, a resident of a Menno Place Apartment?
The situation in nearby Tabor Home is concerning. As of Monday, 42 staff members and 59 residents have tested positive for COVID-19. In light of how COVID-19 is spreading quickly throughout our community and in healthcare facilities in Abbotsford, please follow these recommendations:

  1. Don’t go out. We strongly recommend that you only leave the building for essential outings such as medical appointments. Stop going to your church, stores, family dinners, restaurants or gatherings.
  2. Stay in your own apartment suite. Do not gather in hallways or lobbies with other residents.
  3. Follow the best practices to keep yourself safe. Always wear your mask if you must go outside of your own suite. Wash your hands and/or use hand sanitizer frequently. Use the screening questions to monitor yourself for any symptoms.

For Primrose Gardens, Terrace West and Pavilion:
Registered Visitors (including housekeepers) may still enter your suite as before, following all previous protocols. They are to continue screening themselves for symptoms, wearing masks, cleaning or sanitizing their hands, and signing in and out of the apartment building. Dining in the dining room continues.

For Terrace East, all suites:
Designated Visitors may still have booked socially-distanced safe visits with you in the Terrace East lounge. Grocery delivery continues in the mornings at Reception. Dining in the dining room continues.

We will continue to keep you informed through memos delivered to your door, Channel 10 TV noon announcements during the week and emails.

We recommend that you use a delivery service for your groceries or continue to have your Registered Visitors bring you groceries and other essentials.

If you have any questions, please contact Cheryl Dawes, 604.851.4020

Would you buy medical grade masks from Menno Place?

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If Menno Place supplied Level 1 Medical Grade Mask Boxes (50 per box) for $20/box, would you purchase a box (or more than one) for yourself and/or your loved one? There is a current poll asking this question on the Menno Place Facebook – CLICK HERE
This poll is primarily for Registered Visitors and Residents in the Apartments.
You will need a Facebook profile in order to gain access to the poll. Don’t have FB? Send a message directly to Sharon.Simpson@MennoPlace.ca

These masks would be made available at Reception and would be billed to residents directly.

Orders would be delivered to residents.

Medical Grade Masks – What are they and how do I get them?

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Medical Grade Masks

Definition from Fraser Health is below.

What you are looking for is ASTM Level 1 or Level 2 barrier.
The Level 2 barrier provides more protection than Level 1.
These are Level 1 ASTM Masks: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B088K9GDN5/
You can search Amazon for “Level 1 ASTM” to find the price-point that suits you.
Question: Should you wear a mask with a vent?
Answer: No. CDC does not recommend using masks with exhalation valves or vents because this type of mask may not prevent you from spreading COVID-19 to others. The hole in the material may allow your respiratory droplets to escape and reach others.
Medical mask definition from Fraser Health: A medical grade face mask that meets the ASTM International and ISO (or equivalent) performance requirements for bacterial filtration efficiency, particulate filtration efficiency, fluid resistance, pressure differential, flame spread, skin sensitivity and cytotoxic testing.
These photos are of a box of ASTM Level 1 masks that we had out for our staff today.
CDC Recommendations on Masks: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover-guidance.html
Note: The new Fraser Health Order requires the use of MEDICAL GRADE MASKS inside all buildings at Menno Place.