On Thursday, May 21st at 1pm, there will be a special recognition of self-sacrificing Menno Place team members by Ascenion Benefits. Several team members will be recognized in an outdoor social distance gathering. We are very proud that our team members were chosen amongst the hundreds of possibilities from care homes across the province.

Ascension Benefits is our benefits provider at Menno Place. At this time of great stress and great innovation, they wanted to recognize the outstanding work that has been done in order to continue to provide residents with care, meaning, relationships, activites and safety during this time of COVID-19 Prevention and Protection.

The staff at Menno Place follow strict infection control protocols. These protocols are key to keeping residents and co-workers safe. We’ve added these protocols to the Family, Friends and Resident website so that you can clearly see the level of vigilance and protocols that are followed in order to protect the residents you love and in order for our staff to be in physical proximity to your loved ones. We hope that this helps you understand our efforts as well as the protocols that a visitor will need to follow when we allow in-person visits with loved ones.

We are pleased to tell you that the Fraser Health COVID-19 Prevention and Protection Audit was done on May 14th and 15th. We await the formal results of the audit but received verbal commendation for the vigilant following of protocols by our staff. This rigorous audit includes inspection of hand hygiene, PPE, social distancing, signange, enhanced cleaning including furnishings, education of staff, medical records and much more. We thank the management for their leadership and the staff for their vigilance.

Here are protocols that our staff follow:

1. The first thing that a staff member does is enter the building through a designated staff entrance. There, they find hand sanitizer and a fresh mask for their shift. They must sanitize their hands and put the mask on before entering resident spaces. They line up, 6 ft from each other to clock in to begin their shift.
2. Every shift, a staff member is asked the “Active Screening Questions” at the beginning and end of the shift. If they answer “yes”, they must immediately leave Menno Place and go for COVID-19 testing. This active screening takes place before they have any contact with a resident. The Active Screening Questions are listed below.COVID-19 testing for a Menno Place staff member – the staff member goes to the COVID-19 testing site and receives the COVID-19 swab test. They must then wait, in social isolation, for up to 72 hours to hear the results of their test. If negative and they have no symptoms of other illness (flu, cold), they may return to work.
3. In the resident spaces, every staff member wears goggles (many donated through the community – thank you!) and a mask at all times. All staff must complete the PPE donning and doffing education modules for correct use of PPE (personal protective equipment) on Menno Place’s online learning modules. They wear full PPE if a resident has any symptoms of COVID-19 or flu.
4. At breaks, the staff member must go to a designated area for their unit to have their break. These areas (like all areas of all our buildings) have enhanced cleaning so that they are disinfected multiple times during the day. We have removed seating so that the staff can socially distance during their break time and added additional spaces for staff to take their breaks safely. For example, Fireside Cafe (closed) is now the break room for E1 Menno Hospital. At the end of their break they get a new mask, hand sanitize and re-enter the resident space.
5. During their shift, every staff member practices hand hygiene. They wash their hands with soap and water or hand sanitize between every contact with residents. All staff must complete the Hand Hygiene education that is done through Menno Place’s online learning modules. Care staff in Assisted Living carry hand sanitizer with them as they have limited access to non-resident sinks on the floors. Hand hygiene audits are done regularly to ensure these practices take place.
6. All staff must practice social distancing during their shift. This may not be possible at all times – for example bathing a resident takes two care aides; dressing a resident is within the 6ft distance as is assisting with meals. They are as vigilant as possible in maintaining this 6 foot distance between each other and between themselves and the resident.
7. At the end of their shift, they are asked the “Active Screening Questions” once again before exiting.
8. To “clock in and out”, staff line up at six feet apart from each other – markings are on the floor.
9. As per the Fraser Health Orders, all staff are single-site which means that they have chosen Menno Place as their ONLY employer during COVID-19. For some, this has impacted them financially as they may have worked at multiple sites as casual or part-time in order to make up their salary. There is a financial aide package available for staff who are facing financial need.
10. The staff work on one unit and take their breaks on that same unit (no mixing between units). If they are called in to work overtime or casual on another unit, they must shower, change their clothing and hand sanitize before working on a different unit.
11. Staff that have travelled freely between units in the past (Music Therapist, Chaplains, Managers, Occupational Therapists) must limit their travel between units as much as possible. They designate one unit per day if possible. They practice vigilant infection control protocols including cleaning goggles, hand hygiene and fresh mask if they go between units within a building.
12. In their personal lives, staff are required to practice social distancing, hand hygiene and vigilant infection control in order to limit the opportunities that they could come in contact with coronavirus. Our staff are concerned that they may be the one to bring the virus into the building and work diligently to follow infection control protocols in order to reduce this possibility.

    Some have their partner as as the designated grocery shopper, etc. in order to avoid entering places that are either crowded or have the possibility of contracting the virus. Our staff are very aware that, with the no visitor policy, it will likely be through a staff member that the virus enters Menno Place. This is a significant mental burden that weighs on the people who love and serve your loved ones. They do not want to be the access point for coronavirus to infect our seniors.

We hope that this helps you to understand the “new normal” for our staff as they love and serve your loved ones. You have been so encouraging to them over the past weeks and we thank you for that. 

Active Screening Questions:

1. Do you have a fever?
2. Do you hae a new or worsening cough?
3. Do you have new or worsening sneezing?
4. Do you have new or worsening sore throat?
5. Do you have new or worsening shortness of breath?
6. Do you have new or worsening aches and pains?
7. Do you have new or worsening headaches?
8. Do you have new or worsening vomitting?
9. Do you have new or worsening diarrhea?

 

During the Covid-19 pandemic, amidst necessary lockdowns and physical distancing precautions at long-term care homes, the residents of Menno Place have been missing the regular social, recreational, and spiritual aspects of campus living. 

Since no longer being able to gather for games, activities, chapel services, Bible studies, and hymn sings, life has changed dramatically for residents. This unprecedented time has called for creative solutions as we consider the well-being of all who call Menno Place home. 

In March, Menno Place TV launched with live activities, exercises, and spiritual content. Throughout the week, residents can tune into Channel 10 or 59 on their televisions to participate.

“This pandemic and our Menno house rules keep us all in, but I think more residents than before are being blessed with our Channel 10 TV!” says one Terrace West resident. “Before only a few went to exercise, and now many take part. Only a few went to morning prayer once a week (here in Terrace East and West), but now the whole campus is blessed!”

 

THE CONTENT

Monday to Friday, chaplains lead live morning and noon prayers and afternoon Bible studies, devotions, or hymn sings. Every evening, residents are able to view recordings of local church services. Nine Abbotsford churches and one Chilliwack church have partnered with us to provide this content! On Sundays at 10am, residents can view a live local church service and at 2pm, a live Menno Place chapel service is available.

Prior to Good Friday, the Menno Place chaplains led a communion service, distributing pre-filled and sealed communion cups with wafers. Over 200 residents participated. 

Recreation activities include exercise, riddles, current events, bingo and jeopardy.

To get a taste of Menno Place TV, we’d like to share our Easter Sunday service with you, led by Menno Place chaplain John Dyck. You can view the recording or read through the sermon notes and Scripture. May you be blessed by it, as we were! View the Easter service HERE. 

 

THE RESPONSE FROM RESIDENTS

There have been many positive responses from residents who are feeling more connected through the programs. Many have Channel 10 on all day and have called or emailed the chaplains and recreation team to thank them and share words of encouragement. 

We’ve also heard from family members who have called their parents and were told: “I can’t talk right now. I’m in the middle of an exercise class. Call back later.” This brought joy to the family members to know that their parents were occupied and enjoying activities!

Here are some of the other grateful comments we’ve received:

“What a joy to see your smiling face and cheerful greetings on this morning’s prayer time!”

“We are really enjoying the programming on Ch 10. You are doing such a professional job. Thank you!”

 

Thank you to the amazing recreation team, tech team, and chaplains for their adaptability and their joy in serving the residents of Menno Place.

“We could not have done any of this without the help of Dave Janzen, our tech star. We can’t sing his praises enough!” says chaplain Ingrid Schulz. “We are also grateful for the team at TELUS in working with us to get channel 10 going.”

How to order flowers from Buckets Flowers

Call 604.870.2994

Online orders are not available at this time

They WILL accept orders from Menno Place!