Menno Place TV – Livestream Programming for Residents!
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
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!
Mother’s Day Flowers 2020
Menno Place has “opened up” flower deliveries for Mother’s Day as a way of allowing families to share their love and commitment to their mom.
We are NOT opening up for other deliveries of non-essential items. There are growing numbers of COVID-19 positive cases in Care Homes in Abbotsford and Chilliwack. We are NOT out of the woods, even though we are tired of not being with those we love.
Mother’s Day Flowers:
- We are “opening up” for flowers to be delivered to your mother for Mother’s Day. Since Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 10th (and we have no reception on the weekend), please have your flowers delivered by Friday, May 8th at 3pm. By noon in the Apartments. There is no guarantee that flowers will be delivered on the weekend.
- All floral deliveries must follow these guidelines:
- No “scented” flowers – this includes lilies – this is to keep residents and staff safe – some are allergic (or highly allergic) to scented flowers
- All flowers must be delivered in a container that can be wiped down
- No “loose” flowers in paper that need to be put in a vase
- Potted plants for balconies (Apartments) must be carried in by Registered Visitor and wiped down with disinfectant
- Potted plants for Terrace East can be delivered to main entrance. Staff will wipe and deliver. They cannot be unreasonably heavy.
- Buckets Flowers is a trusted florist who understands the infection control requirements for Menno Place – (604) 870-2994
- Cards
- Cards can be delivered by Wednesday to sit in quarantine for 48 hours and be delivered to your mom on Friday.
15/04/20 – Memo to Assisted Living Residents – Terrace East
This memo was delivered to the Assisted Living Residents (Terrace East) on 15/04/20:
Assisted Living Resident Memo 15/04/20 – CLICK HERE
15/04/20 – Memo to Independent Living Residents
This memo was delivered to the Independent Residents (Primrose Gardens, Terrace West and Pavilion) on 15/04/20:
Independent Living Resident Memo 15/04/20 – CLICK HERE
15/04/20 – Apartments Update – Groceries and More
15/04/20
The safety of our residents is our highest priority.
There are three principles that we follow in making decisions about what protocols and processes we put into place as we seek to protect the residents who call Menno Apartments their home:
We follow the Public Health Officer and Medical Health Officer orders.
The Medical Health Officer (MHO) gives orders that are specific to Assisted Living, the Terrace East building.
All residents within the Terrace East building are under these MHO orders:
- NEW: Residents in Terrace East are not allowed to be off the Menno Place campus. This means NO driving, no walking to Mill Lake. Essential medical appointments may be kept. Call Cheryl Dawes if you need clarification: 604.851.4020
- NEW: All staff wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in resident spaces – goggles and mask.
- NO Visitors. Nobody is allowed to be in or walk through the Terrace East building who doesn’t work in the building. Pharmacy delivery is allowed.
We seek to limit the number of people or objects that enter our apartment buildings – and all who do are following infection control protocols.
- NEW: Grocery Delivery ONLY to the apartment building front entrance between 9am – 12pm seven days per week. Details below.
- Terrace East has NO VISITORS. Only Grocery Delivery.
- NO Grocery Delivery directly to resident suite unless you are providing another key service: medication delivery, housekeeping or laundry. All groceries MUST be disinfected thoroughly.
We seek to have limited reasons for a resident to exit their apartment suite.
- NEW: Mail delivery to resident apartment suite
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Grocery Delivery – ALL apartments – Groceries can be dropped off 9am – 12pm seven days a week – Monday to Sunday
Primrose Gardens
9am – 12pm | 7 days a week | Main Entrance Primrose Gardens
Monday – Friday: Bring groceries during this time frame to Main Entrance and call Reception to receive groceries: 604.851.4000
Saturday and Sunday: Bring groceries during this time frame to Main Entrance and call Kitchen to receive groceries: 604.851.7398
Groceries disinfected and Delivered to suite by Dietary team.
Terrace East
9am – 12pm | 7 days a week | Main Entrance Terrace East
Monday – Friday: Bring groceries during this time frame to Main Entrance and call Reception to receive groceries: 604.851.4004
Saturday and Sunday: Bring groceries during this time frame to Main Entrance and call Kitchen to receive groceries: 604.851.4011
Groceries disinfected and Delivered to suite by Dietary team.
Terrace West
9am – 12pm | 7 days a week | Main Entrance Terrace East
Monday – Friday: Bring groceries during this time frame to Main Entrance and call Reception to receive groceries: 604.851.4004
Saturday and Sunday: Bring groceries during this time frame to Main Entrance and call Kitchen to receive groceries: 604.851.4011
Groceries disinfected and Delivered to suite by Dietary team.
Pavilion
9am – 12pm | 7 days a week | Main Entrance Pavilion
Monday – Sunday: Bring groceries during this time frame to Main Entrance and call Kitchen to receive groceries: 604.870.2926
Groceries disinfected and Delivered to suite by Dietary team.
Grocery Tuck Cart
Do not depend on the Grocery Tuck Cart to provide your loved one with essential groceries. Those who have NO support will be served FIRST by this service.
Update for Menno Home & Hospital – 10/04/20
Update – 10/04/20
How will you know if Menno Place has COVID-19?
We will tell you. It will be tweeted on Twitter.com/MennoPlaceAlert which will be visible on multiple websites, including the Family and Friends website – MennoPlaceLife.com/Coronavirus
We are committed to telling you the location of COVID-19 if we have a positive case – building and unit.
Visiting:
- We continue the No Visitor policy which is very hard on families and loved ones. You may see your loved one through the window or ask for them to be brought onto a balcony. Phone the nursing station if this is something that you would like. Be kind to the staff – they continue to provide care and may not be able to meet your request. Be assured that they want to assist as they know the benefit for both resident and family member to see each other in these times.
Menno TV:
We have a complete television channel! Wow! Three weeks ago this did not exist. This channel is streamed directly through Channel 10 (Apartments) and Channel 59 (Home/Hospital). It is a combination of live programming, including devotions each morning as well as exercises, bingo, riddles and fun! We are so proud of our amazing Recreation Team (Timea and Rebecca) and Chaplains (John, Ingrid and Ingrid) for creating the schedule and all of the programming!
Here is the TV Guide – Click Here – Devotions on Wednesday morning has been changed from 11:30 to 11:00am. We are also streaming multiple local church services now. Thank you to Central Heights, Emmanuel Mennonite, Bakerview and Clearbrook MB! What a blessing!
Mail:
- Mail is being delivered in a bag to our Apartments by Canada Post every Friday.
- We are sitting that mail in a secure office for 48 hours.
- We are delivering wiped down mail to residents throughout the week.
Essential Deliveries:
- Something that we can’t offer that is essential to the life of
Active Screening:
Residents and Staff are screened for symptoms of COVID-19 every day. These are the 5 Active Screening Questions:
- Do you have a fever?
- Do you have a new or worsening cough?
- Do you have a new or worsening sore throat?
- Do you have a new or worsening sneezing?
- Do you have a new or worsening shortness of breath?
Our staff are actively screened 2x per day – at the beginning and the end of their shift.
PPE:
- Staff are wearing PPE (personal protective equipment) at all times.
- PPE at this time (no COVID-19 outbreak) is goggles and a mask.
- In the event of an outbreak, staff will also wear gowns.
- We asked the community for goggles and they have been GENEROUS! Over 450 goggles donated!
Zoom Calls:
We have been working on a system that allows you to book a Zoom call (video call) with your loved one. We hope to roll this out on Tuesday. All of the testing was done by our staff last week and it is working! We will send Home and Hospital loved ones an email when this is launched. It will appear on www.MennoPlaceLife.com as a button you can click to book online.
Messages of Love:
Send a message of love – Click Here
Single Site for the Staff:
Our staff have chosen to work at Menno Place as their only place to work. We consider Menno Place as a single site, so they may work at Home, Hospital and Assisted Living or a combination of the three. They are required to shower and change scrubs between shifts.
Update for Easter Weekend – The Apartments – 10/04/20
Update – 10/04/20
How will you know if Menno Place has COVID-19?
We will tell you. It will be tweeted on Twitter.com/MennoPlaceAlert which will be visible on multiple websites, including the Family and Friends website – MennoPlaceLife.com/Coronavirus
We are committed to telling you the location of COVID-19 if we have a positive case – building and unit.
Visiting:
- Now is the time to be careful – very careful. Do not tempt your loved one to get close to you in a visit, even on this beautiful Easter Weekend where you are used to having family gather together.
Dropping your groceries off:
- Beginning on Tuesday, April 14, all groceries dropped off at Reception or Kitchen.
- Menno Place will wipe down and deliver to your loved one.
Tuck Cart:
The priority for the tuck cart will be for the residents who do not have a registered visitor. Recreation staff are doing a one-on-one survey with residents to find out their need of the Grocery Tuck Cart. Orders for supplies are being made through our central purchasing. Billing is direct to the resident’s monthly billing statement (no money exchanged at purchase).
Menno TV:
We have a complete television channel! Wow! Three weeks ago this did not exist. This channel is streamed directly through Channel 10 (Apartments) and Channel 59 (Home/Hospital). It is a combination of live programming, including devotions each morning as well as exercises, bingo, riddles and fun! We are so proud of our amazing Recreation Team (Timea and Rebecca) and Chaplains (John, Ingrid and Ingrid) for creating the schedule and all of the programming!
Here is the TV Guide – Click Here – Devotions on Wednesday morning has been changed from 11:30 to 11:00am. We are also streaming multiple local church services now. Thank you to Central Heights, Emmanuel Mennonite, Bakerview and Clearbrook MB! What a blessing!
Mail:
- Mail is being delivered in a bag to our Apartments by Canada Post every Friday.
- We are sitting that mail in a secure office for 48 hours.
- We are delivering mail door-to-door.
- Grocery and mail delivery will happen between 1:30-3:30pm each day in every apartment building.
Active Screening:
We are asking the 5 Active Screening for COVID-19 questions every day to every person who lives in the apartments. We have organized someone to go along with the dietary team and ask these questions at every lunch service. Residents who live in Terrace East will be screened twice a day (minimum) at meal service. Those who receive support through Fraser Health are also asked these five questions before their personal care giver will enter their suite.
- Do you have a fever?
- Do you have a new or worsening cough?
- Do you have a new or worsening sore throat?
- Do you have a new or worsening sneezing?
- Do you have a new or worsening shortness of breath?
If there is a “yes”, the primary contact for that individual will be notified.
Our staff are actively screened 2x per day – at the beginning and the end of their shift.
This is the poster that is on each apartment suite door.
Masks:
- We are asking that you wear a mask and provide a mask to your loved one when you come to provide key services.
- We have asked the community for mask donations so that we can supply masks to residents.
- Staff are wearing PPE (personal protective equipment) at all times.
- PPE at this time (no COVID-19 outbreak) is goggles and
Focus of Support:
We have over 170 Registered Visitors (click here to register)
Our focus of support at this time is for the 51 seniors who do not have a Registered Visitor to support them. They will receive masks first and will have the tuck cart as a priority. Our goal is to register a visitor for each of our residents. Life Enrichment Coordinators, Nik Van Egdom and Garry Janzen are working on this by phoning each of the primary contacts to encourage registration. Rebecca and Timea (Recreation) are doing a survey with the residents asking them if they need support. They are focusing on this group of 51 to see if we can find a way to support them.
Zoom Calls:
These are going to be available first to Home, Hospital and Terrace East where there is a No Visitor policy and the residents are less able to use the phone to connect. We may be able to roll this out in the apartments if we have the staff to do so.
