What is happening to keep Menno Place cool during the hot summer?

/in

Menno Place Addresses the HEAT

It’s summer again and we are working hard to keep Menno Place COOL!

As you know, in 2021, there was a heat dome that impacted our area from June 25 – 29th. Environment Canada stated that this was “a dangerous, long duration heat wave”. Menno Place put all of our Heat Plan practices into place, including providing hydration centers, fans, cooling cloths and bringing residents into common areas to cool down.

In the fall of 2020, Ottawa committed up to $1 billion through the Safe Long-term Care Fund to help provinces and territories to improve infection prevention and control in long-term care. Ottawa and BC announced an agreement to provide close to $134 million for British Columbia’s facilities that deliver long-term care through this Safe Long-term Care Fund.

As we provide services in the Fraser Health region, Menno Home and Menno Hospital were invited to submit proposals in three areas:

  1. Mattresses & Bedframes
  2. Furniture & Fixtures
  3. HVAC Upgrades.

With this opportunity, Menno Place leaders went into overdrive to get quotes for upgrades in these 3 areas. With respect to HVAC upgrades, we were encouraged to submit proposals to strengthen infection prevention and improve resident comfort in existing long-term care homes by adding air conditioning and improving HVAC systems.

Bas Kervel led the submission of proposals in this area, getting quotes and determining the needs in Menno Home and Menno Hospital. As a result, Menno Place was awarded:

  • $150,000 for HVAC upgrades in Menno Hospital
  • $178,000 for Menno Home “swing air-conditioner units”, and
  • $170,000 for Menno Home “mini-split air-conditioning”

Prior to the announced funds being awarded, Menno Place ordered the units and the parts in December 2021.

We have put in air-conditioning and are working on adding more as the parts become available. As in all industries, the supply chain has been impacted globally and we are waiting for some parts for the East wing of Menno Hospital. We are waiting for equipment for Menno Home south wing and for Menno Hospital W2.

19 “mini-splits” have been installed in Menno Home and are connected to the outdoor unit.

Our Maintenance Team continues their excellent work as they put in place the equipment and parts that have been delivered. We thank them for this important service to our residents and staff.

This summer has been cooler – and even the HOT days have been cooler with these improved upgrades. Thank you to all who made this possible!

RESOURCE: Understanding Dementia Online Course – No Cost

/in ,

Click for Course Information and to Sign Up

Understanding Dementia – Course Description

The Understanding Dementia MOOC was developed by the Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre based in the College of Health and Medicine at the University of Tasmania. This world-leading online course is free, easily accessible and available to everyone with an interest in dementia.

The ageing of human populations across the globe has contributed to dementia being identified as one of the public health issues of the 21st century. The MOOC curriculum addresses this health issue by drawing upon the expertise of neuroscientists, clinicians and dementia care professionals from both within the Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, and beyond.

Since 2013, the Understanding Dementia  has received over 330,000 enrolments from all around the world. We invite you to join our community and learn about the diseases that cause dementia, how the condition affects the person with dementia, and how we can provide the best quality care.

Once the course commences, you will be able to log in to engage with the course content and activities, and share perspectives with other participants. The course is scheduled to close on 16th September, 2022 at 5:00pm AEST.

To get the most out of this experience, you should expect to spend approximately 3 hours per week completing the course activities for the 7 weeks of scheduled content. The additional 3 weeks that the course is open is to allow you to catch up or revisit content.

The release of course content will occur at 9:00am (AEST) on the following dates –

  • Introduction – 5th July, 2022
  • Module 1: The Brain – 7th July, 2022
  • Module 2: The Diseases – 21st July, 2022
  • Module 3: The Person – 4th August, 2022
  • Completion – 25th August, 2022

You can work through the content at any time of day and at your own pace within this release schedule. This includes revisiting earlier released content as needed.

Once you have completed the course, you will be eligible to download a free, personalised certificate of completion. We also offer paid enhanced certificates options in addition to the free certificate. There will be more information about this in the Completion module.

We look forward to your contribution, as an important member of the Understanding Dementia community.

RESOURCE: Webinar – Services for Patients and Caregivers

/in ,

Upcoming webinar on Tuesday, July 26 from 10:00 am – 11:00 am PT!

Services for Patients and Caregivers and Common Interactions Between Medications, Supplements and Food

Are you a caregiver administering medications to a care recipient, or taking medications yourself? Are you curious about which medications might interact with one another, which supplements are safe to take alongside medications, and which foods are best to avoid while on specific medications?

On July 26, staff from the will present on medication and supplement interactions, and expand on the services they have available for patients.

Clinic staff will also touch on the various ways this clinic works together with patients and caregivers to make it easier to take and administer medications – for example, finding ways to reduce medication admin from 4-5 to 2-3 times per day.

Join us on July 26, 2022 from 10:00-11:00 am PT for this special Zoom event, Register below!

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Resource and Support for Family Caregivers:

/in , ,

Subscribe to the www.familycaregiversbc.ca newsletter for:
Caregiver Connection, a quarterly newsletter full of interesting and informative articles directly related to family caregiving
Our monthly e-news, featuring upcoming events and caregiving news
Invitations to our monthly free webinars and other events
Breaking news and occasional messages, such as survey requests, from fellow caregiving organizations

Subscribe:
https://www.familycaregiversbc.ca/contact-us/newsletter-subscription

Resources:
https://www.familycaregiversbc.ca/for-family-caregivers

Menno Place welcomes three new chaplains this summer!

/in ,

Menno Place hires three chaplains to replace our current team. Click to find out who they are!

Read more

Resident and Family-Centred Care (RFCC) + Tagline Contest

/in ,

RESIDENT AND FAMILY-CENTRED CARE (RFCC)

As we have come out of the pressure of the pandemic on our residents, families and staff, we recognize that it is an opportune time to put the spotlight onto RESIDENT AND FAMILY-CENTRED CARE!

A steering committee was formed that comprised of residents, family members, staff, physicians and executive leaders. Our goal was to put the focus onto what matters most to each resident who lives and is cared for at Menno Place.

The steering committee describes Resident and Family-Centred Care (RFCC) this way:

Resident and family-centred care at Menno Place starts with asking our residents and their families, “What matters to you?”

We focus on respectful engagement, collaboration and communication so we can help each resident achieve their best days possible.

As you read this definition, here are some ways to think about how it applies at Menno Place:

  • The definition starts with and ends with our residents. Without residents at Menno Place, there is no reason to exist. They are the centre. It is for our residents that we do all that we do – from maintenance to administration and all that comes between.
  • The definition begins with our action and initiative. It is the responsibility of the staff and leadership of Menno Place to ensure that we keep the spotlight on providing RFCC.
  • The definition shares the easily remembered, simple question that will initiate an RFCC focus with a resident or family member – “What matters to you?”
  • The definition includes the 3 primary ways we engage in RFCC: respectful engagement, collaboration and communication.

For generations, Menno Place has provided trusted, compassionate care for the elderly in the Abbotsford community. As the philosophy of caring for the elderly has transitioned from a medical/institutional model to an individual/homelike model, it is appropriate for Menno Place to, once again, put the spotlight on our fundamental value of caring deeply and specifically for EACH individual resident while including their family.

We are excited to include you, the residents and families as the center of our spotlight.

  1. Does the definition (above) do a good job of describing how we aspire to connect with all residents and their families here at Menno Place?
  2. Are you the type of person who can condense this definition even further into a tagline? We are running a tagline contest between July 11th and July 20th. Enter your tagline and you could win a $150 gift certificate for a local Abbotsford restaurant!

The COVID pandemic has been difficult on residents, their families and our staff. We are only now getting some time to “breathe” and reflect on all that happened during this time. One thing that was VERY CLEAR to us is that our residents are WELL LOVED. This became apparent through the many, many ways you advocated for your loved ones. This knowledge of the love and advocacy for elders gives us both opportunity to reflect and to listen. This is our goal as we put the spotlight onto Resident and Family-Centred Care.

Thank you, once again, for all the ways you LOVE the people who call Menno Place their home. Blessings to you.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE TAGLINE CONTEST:
https://mennoplacelife.com/rfcc-tagline-contest-entry-form/#form

Watch Memorial Livestream & Butterfly Release 2022

/in , ,

Join Menno Place in honouring the precious lives of those who’ve passed away between September 1, 2021 – May 31, 2022.

June 10th, 2022

Memorial Livestream | Watch Recording 

Menno Place honours the lives of those who have passed away between September 1, 2021 – May 31, 2022.

Butterfly Release Livestream | Watch Recording 

Menno Place releases butterflies to remember our loved ones who have passed – or to enjoy the beauty of the butterfly.

 

Memorial Livestream & Butterfly Release 2022 #2

/in , ,

Join Menno Place in honouring the precious lives of those who’ve passed away between September 1, 2021 – May 31, 2022.

June 10th, 2022

Memorial Livestream | 2 pm

Butterfly Release Livestream | 3pm

The Menno Place Remembers Memorial Service will be led by our chaplains, Ingrid Schultz, John Dyck, and Ingrid Stahl. The service will be livestreamed across campus and here on our website. Due to continued Covid restrictions, the Butterfly Release program will also be livestreamed.

We hope you will join us for these virtual events.

CLICK HERE for details on how to join us online!

Would you like to release a butterfly?

Reserve your butterfly for pick up! The first 100 people to register will be able to pick up a butterfly. One butterfly can be issued per family unit. Pick up location is Courtyard gate on June 10th from 2pm – 3pm. You may wish to release your butterfly in a quiet location on campus with your family or in memory of a loved one.

RESERVE YOUR BUTTERFLY

Reserve a butterfly for your Personal Butterfly Release

/in
Read more

Air Conditioners at Menno Place Apartments

/in , , , , ,

Summer is just around the corner and it’s time to think about air conditioners.  The common areas of each of the apartment buildings are air conditioned but the apartments are not.  Air conditioners are in stores now. If you want to buy one, don’t wait. They tend to sell out quickly.

What kind of air conditioner should you choose?

  1. Choose a portable air conditioner – one that sits on the floor and vents out the window. We are not able to install units that hang outside the window.
  2. Select a unit that is 8000 BTUs or less. Anything higher than that will trip the breakers.
  3. Menno Place’s maintenance team must do the installation to ensure it’s done correctly and safely. There is a $36.00 charge for installation which includes removal at the end of the season.
  4. If your apartment does not have a balcony/patio please check with Leonard to ensure a unit can be installed before purchasing.

How to request installation:

  1. Make sure the unit is on site, in the resident’s suite and unboxed.
  2. Provide a 3-pronged extension cord approximately 6 feet in length.
  3. Contact the receptionist in your building to request an install. The receptionist will fill out a work request and the maintenance team will attend. Air conditioner installs can usually be completed in 2-3 days.

If you order an air conditioner online please be sure to give the resident’s full address including their suite number. The unit needs to be delivered to their apartment. We have had issues in the past where delivery companies have tried to drop the units off at our warehouse which causes confusion, lost units and delays.

If you have any questions about air conditioners please contact your receptionist – Lynn for Primrose Gardens and Pavilion (604 851-4000) or Claire for Terrace East and Terrace West (604-851-4004).