Concerts in Care – Oct 25th
The next Concert in Care is Oct 25 at 10:30in the Menno Hospital chapel featuring Domagoj Ivanovic on violin and Karen Lee-Morlang on piano. All are welcome to join us.
In-Person Chapel Returns Sept 17!
We are thrilled to announce that in-person chapel is returning to the Menno Place campus starting Sunday September 17th 2-3pm! This service will take place once a month in the Menno Hospital chapel.
Everyone is welcome:
1. Residents who are able to come on their own may do so.
2. Residents who need assistance must have a family member or friend bring them or designate someone to do so. We are not able to provide staff to porter residents at this time.
Gathering in person for worship is a significant part of one’s faith experience. We want to provide this opportunity. Thank you for participating with your loved one to make it possible.
Volunteers Needed! Not every resident who needs assistance has family members or friends who are available to help. If you or someone you know would like to facilitate an in-person worship experience for those who need it please contact one of the Menno Place chaplains – Andy (Andy.Capesinio@mennoplace.ca), Ann (Ann.Thakker@mennoplace.ca) or Kerry (Kerry.Dyck@mennoplace.ca) . Thank you!
Staying Cool in Hot Weather
It’s going to be hot for the next couple of days. Make sure you know how to stay cool and safe and watch out for symptoms of heat exhaustion.
How to keep your body cool and comfortable:
- Drink lots of fluids
- Stay in a cool space
- Wet a facecloth with cold water and put it on the back of your neck
- Dress in loose fitting, light colored and breathable fabrics
- Pay attention to how you feel and watch for symptoms of heat exhaustion
How to keep your apartment cool and comfortable:
- Make sure the heat is turned off
- Keep your doors and windows closed during the day (you can open them overnight)
- Close your blinds or curtains
- Limit outside walks to the early morning
- Cool off in the air-conditioned common areas of your building
Watch out for symptoms of heat exhaustion:
If you experience any of the following symptoms move to cool space immediately and let someone know you are not feeling well: skin rash, heavy sweating, headache, dizziness or fainting, nausea or vomiting, rapid heartbeat and breathing, muscle cramps, extreme thirst, and/or dark urine or decreased urination.
Leonard Klassen
Interim Manager of Independent and Supportive Living
If you have any questions please contact reception – 604-851-4004 (Terrace East and Terrace West) or 604-851-4000 (Primrose Gardens and Pavilion).
Primrose Gardens Community Meeting – May 29 2023
Greetings from Trish, Community Enrichment Manager
Fire Safety protocol with Dave Janzen, Building Systems & Emergency Response Coordinator
In case of fire:
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- Do not use the elevator
- If it is safe to do so, stay in your suite. Keep your door closed & put a towel under the door the help keep smoke out
- Call 911
- If there’s a fire in your suite, leave immediately & pull the closest fire alarm
- If you need to evacuate the building, the designated meeting place Is Living Water Gardens or Terrace Dining Room
Safety Items to consider:
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- Power bars with Surge Protector are best
- Multi-outlet plugs can be a fire hazard, please avoid using these
- When cooking try to remember to make sure everything is turned off before leaving your suite
- Keep your suite clean & tidy, clutter can be fuel for a fire
- Candles are not permitted, but battery operated candles are
How to use a fire extinguisher:
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- Turn the pin like a key to break the plastic then pull the pin out
- Aim the hose at the bottom of the fire & pull the trigger
- Extinguishers are meant to put out small fires only
Updates from Leonard Klassen, Life Enrichment Coordinator
Landscaping – Landscapers have been working hard to remove a lot of the dead growth. More plants are coming this week. Landscapers will be on campus every Tuesday, & possibly more depending on the work that needs to be done.
Power washing – the job has been completed for PG but the washers will be returning for some touch ups.
Heat – In extreme heat, it’s important to remain cool & hydrated. Common areas such as the Bistro or Dining Room have air conditioning & water jugs are located in the Activity Room & Wellness Center.
Wildlife – Do not feed the animals on campus. This includes squirrels, possums, raccoons, bunnies, birds, or cats. Hummingbird feeders are permitted.
Security – Reminder to not let people in the building. They can use the enter phone & call the person they wish to visit. Report any suspicious behavior to staff or call the building emergency line if it’s after hours-604-217-4418. Do not intervene. Your safety is important to us. Please remember to lock your doors. This is a smart task to remember even if you are just going to lunch. Even if you are home, it’s encouraged to lock your door.
Annual Rent Increase – The process for rent increases will be changing. Effective this year, the rent increase will be on a rolling basis. Example, if you moved here on August 1 2022, you will receive a rent increase for August 2023.
New Apartments Chaplain – Kerry is transitioning into his role here at the Apartments. His office will be located where Leonard’s current office is, and Leonard will be moving behind Angela in Reception.
Recreation summer update from Linda Weatherly Recreation manager
- Butterfly Release on Friday, June 16th. Butterflies are available to purchase online or at Reception for $25.
- Canada Day event on Friday, June 30th. This will include entertainment by Patsy Cline, vintage cars, & Food.
- Summer Beach Party in July. There will be food, games, & music by Elvis.
- Camping Theme event in August. More details to come.
- Grandparents Day on Saturday, September 9th. This will include entertainment for the whole family with games, fun & food.
- Concert in Care is once a month in the Menno Hospital Chapel. The next concert is on June 28th.
- Bus Trips Price Increase the cost of the bus trips have been raised to $10. This is a very reasonable & fair price.
June Bus trips update from Timea Derbyshire, Recreation Aide for Apartments. Some of the trips included are to Save on Foods, White Rock, Walmart, & the Westminster Abbey in Mission.
Fact from Trish- Studies show that the more socially isolated you are, the higher your frailty is. So be active, be social & participate!
Archway Services – offers a range of services that can be beneficial to residents. Some included are, Community Van, Meals on Wheels, Better at Home, & Senior Services. If you would like more information on this see Angela at Reception for pamphlets.
Closing with Kerry Dyck, Apartments Chaplain. Fun Fact- He hates olives. Kerry looks forward to starting his new role at Menno & getting to know all the residents.
Temporary Changes to Dining for Terrace East Residents
2nd Update March 27: The dining room will remain closed to Terrace East residents for Monday and Tuesday March 27 & 28th. The number of cases is trending down and we hope to be back in the dining room soon.
Due to the spread of GI (similar to stomach flu) in Terrace East we have made a couple of temporary changes:
- The dining room is temporarily closed to Terrace East residents. Meals and morning break will be delivered to each apartment for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (March 15 – 17).
We hope to be back in the dining room on Saturday. - Terrace West residents will still eat in the dining room.
- Morning break for Terrace West residents has been moved to the Terrace West bistro area.
We are NOT in lockdown. All residents who are feeling well can move about the building, go outside, and run errands. Residents who are feeling sick are asked to please stay home until you feel better. Terrace East residents who start to experience symptoms (vomiting and/or diarrhea) should press their pendant so care staff can assist them.
All residents can still have visitors. If you are coming into the Terrace East building please be aware that GI is highly contagious and be extra careful if you or someone in your household is immunocompromised.
Recreation activities are being split by building. Terrace West residents will get updates in the lunch time announcements each day. For Terrace East most recreation activities are paused except for bingo which will still happen at 1:15 on Thursday. Terrace East bingo players will meet in the first floor lounge. Terrace West will play in the Terrace West bistro.
There are no changes for Primrose Gardens or the Pavilion at this time.
Income Tax Preparation for Apartment Residents
We are pleased to provide income tax preparation services completed by a volunteer accountant, working in conjunction with the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP). The CVITP partners with Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to provide volunteers who prepare tax returns for those who have a modest income and a simple tax solution.
Eligibility:
- Individuals with income up to $35,000
- Couples with income up to $45,000
- Simple tax solution
To access this service please see Claire or Angela at reception to get a form. Return the completed form to reception no later than April 14th. Reception will set up a phone appointment for you with the accountant.
Appointments will be by phone on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons throughout March and April. There are a couple of in-person appointments available as well.
For family members:
Family members are welcome to be on the call with the resident if they choose. For family members who have a current POA agreement, you can choose to take the call instead of the resident with permission from the resident. Please contact Claire 604-851-4004 to arrange this.
Air Conditioners at Menno Place Apartments
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?
- 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.
- Select a unit that is 8000 BTUs or less. Anything higher than that will trip the breakers.
- 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.
- 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:
- Make sure the unit is on site, in the resident’s suite and unboxed.
- Provide a 3-pronged extension cord approximately 6 feet in length.
- 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).
UDPATE: Masks Are Now Optional for Residents
Effective April 27, 2022 residents will have the choice of whether or not to wear their mask when they are in the common spaces of the apartment building.
Although we will no longer ask residents to put a mask on, we do recommend that they wear a mask as an additional layer of protection from this very infectious variant of COVID. Their decision to wear a mask or not should be based on how “at-risk” they are for severe illness if they contract COVID. Residents can figure out their risk by filling out this worksheet.
On the risk assessment page you will see a list of “at-risk” conditions along with a chart that indicates how age, gender and number of vaccinations factor into the risk of hospitalization. The average fully vaccinated female who is over 80 years of age with 2 at-risk conditions will have a 2.9% risk of severe COVID and hospitalization. A male in the same category has a 3.9% risk of severe COVID and hospitalization.
The highest risk is for those who are unvaccinated where the risk of severe illness and hospitalization is as high as 83.7%. If a resident has not yet been vaccinated, consider how the risk of severe COVID can be as low as 1.1% if they are fully vaccinated and have no “at-risk” conditions. Once the risk percentage has been calculated, residents can make an informed decision about how many layers of protection they will use to keep safe from COVID. Layers of protection include hand sanitizing, mask wearing, social distancing (6 feet) and vaccination, including the 4th booster shot.
The highest risk of contracting COVID is when a resident and another individual are without masks and within 6 feet from each other. This can happen in the elevator, at the dining room table, playing pool, in a car, at church and passing each other or talking in the hallway. If a resident is concerned about their own safety in any of these situations, it’s safest to wear a mask. It is a good choice, no matter what others are doing.
Visitors, family, friends, contracted help and all staff must continue to wear masks inside the apartment buildings and when providing residents with personal care. Unvaccinated visitors are not permitted to visit inside the apartment buildings.
Please report any symptoms of COVID to the Receptionist.
PRIMROSE GARDENS – January 20, 2022- COVID POSITIVE = 9
COVID UPDATE – January 20, 2022 – Primrose Gardens
NEW COVID POSITIVE CASES = 8 residents
TOTAL COVID POSITIVE CASES = 9 (9 residents | 0 staff)
MOST RECENT COVID CASE = January 20, 2022
We are sorry to inform you that there are 8 additional COVID positive residents at Primrose Gardens. We have tested all symptomatic and all close contacts of the 8 COVID positive residents. We are doing contact tracing to determine if there is transmission between residents in the apartment building. This is still in progress. The first 3 residents who were discovered to be COVID positive did not have contact with each other. The high prevalence of COVID in our community is now impacting our seniors as they have been out and about in the past several days or have had a COVID positive visitor. Residents are experiencing mild symptoms or no symptoms. Residents were all called by phone prior to today’s lunch to inform them of the news that the dining room has closed at this time.
COVID positive residents have an isolation cart at their room. Any visitors must follow the PPE protocols to enter.
Residents who are COVID positive, have COVID symptoms or have been a close contact of a COVID exposed individual are given a package of material that includes an Action Sheet. This material can be viewed here – CLICK HERE
This memo was distributed at the end of the day to residents:
MEMO
Date: January 20, 2022
To: All Primrose Gardens Residents
Re: COVID Positive Residents: Total = 9
________________________________________________________________________
Dear Residents,
We are sorry to inform you that there are eight new COVID positive residents in Primrose Gardens, bringing the total to nine. These residents have been informed and asked to call their families. At this time we have to make some changes to resident services in order to limit the possibility of further transmission.
As of today, January 20th the following changes are in effect:
- Dining Room is closed – Residents will be served their meal in their apartments. Most residents will be served from the hot carts. Residents who have tested positive will receive tray service.
- All visitors will be screened – There will be a host at the door to screen all visitors. Anyone who comes inside Primrose Gardens will be required to show proof of double vaccination. (The booster shot is not required.)
- All in-person recreation activities are cancelled. Recreation programming on channel 10 will continue. Please do not meet in groups with other residents. Keep any social gatherings with family small.
- Menno Place housekeeping service has been suspended for those who are isolating or COVID positive.
- Limit your outings as much as possible. Primrose Gardens has NOT been declared on outbreak at this time. If you are not on isolation, you are allowed to move about the building, go outside and go out into the community but please follow safety protocols (wear your mask).
We are awaiting further instructions from Public Health and will update you as things change. Please monitor yourself for symptoms. Wear your mask. Practice social distancing. If you feel sick, call reception 604-851-4000.
PRIMROSE GARDENS – January 2, 2022- COVID POSITIVE: T = 2
COVID UPDATE – January 2, 2022 – Primrose Gardens
NEW COVID POSITIVE CASES = 1 staff
TOTAL COVID POSITIVE CASES = 2 (1 resident | 1 staff)
MOST RECENT COVID CASE = January 2, 2022
We are sorry to bring the news that a staff member has tested COVID positive. This is believed to be unrelated to the resident who is COVID positive.
Please continue to be cautious when you visit, practicing all layers of protection. Unvaccinated visitors are not permitted in any of the buildings on the Menno Place campus. Vaccinated visitors must wear a mask at all times, including while visiting their loved one. Practice hand hygiene by sanitizing upon entrance to the apartment building. Remain 6 feet away from other visitors, residents and staff.
When rapid tests are available, they are mandatory for visitors. At this time, there is not inventory for visitors to rapid test prior to visit.
The Omicron variant is extremely contagious and is asymptomatic for several days prior to symptoms for those who are COVID positive.
Please encourage your loved one at Primrose Gardens to get all 3 vaccinations to increase efficacy of vaccination to 75%.
The dining room is closed until further notice. Meals are delivered to resident suites.