Family Council – Expression of Interest

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We would like to extend a huge thank you to all Menno Home and Menno Hospital families who were able to attend our recent Family Council Information Session on March 20th, 2025. We appreciate the enthusiasm expressed and look forward to supporting the start-up of a family-led Family Council here. For those who were not able to attend the Information Session, we encourage you to kindly take a moment to review the PDF linked below and consider participating in the start-up of a new Menno Place Family Council.

Family Council Information Session PDF

At this point, we are asking for an expression of interest from family members and friends who may be able to lend a leadership hand in getting the new family-led Family Council up and running. This initial process of kick-starting the council will only take about 1-3 hours of your time over the next month.

If you are interested in supporting our Family Council in this capacity, please reply directly to either Kim or Dan at the email addresses below by April 30, 2025. Lisa Dawson, Interim Chair of Fraser Coastal Association of Family Councils, will then reach out to this group to provide support and guidance. The next step will be to have the pre-inaugural family group meet with Lisa virtually to confirm structure, governance and promotion of the new council.

The involvement of Menno Home and Hospital family members and friends is crucial as we move forward, and we are excited about the potential of this Family Council! Thank you once more for your attention to this initiative. We look forward to hearing from interested parties!

Kim Wiebe kim.wiebe@mennoplace.ca (604)851-1361
Dan Janzen dan.janzen@mennoplace.ca (604)851-1350

Road Resurfacing on Primrose Street Starting March 24

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MEMO

To: All Menno Place Staff, Residents, and Visitors
From: Bas Kervel, Director of Support Services
Date: March 21, 2025
Re: Road Resurfacing on Primrose Street and Surrounding Area Starting March 24

__________________________________________

The city of Abbotsford will be in our area to complete road resurfacing from March 24 – 29, weather permitting.

The road works will affect Wildwood, Primrose, Wilerose, Brundige, Kay and Stevenson as marked on the map below. During the period of work the roads will be limited to local traffic only and NO STREET PARKING will be permitted.

Staff, residents, and visitors should expect delays and plan accordingly.  If you need to pick up a resident from Terrace East during this time it may be easier to enter through the main doors of Terrace West.

Please remember to keep a safe distance from equipment working on the road and follow all direction given by traffic control persons.

Reminder: It’s time to file your income taxes

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Income tax returns are due April 30th. This deadline is especially important for any residents who receive government funding – either in Funded Assisted Living or Long-Term Care – as rates are calculated annually using information from the Notice of Assessment.

For Residents Living in the Apartments

If you live in the apartments and would like help filing your income taxes help is available through the Community Volunteer Income Tax program sponsored by Revenue Canada. Forms are available at the LEA offices in Primrose Gardens, Terrace East and Pavilion. If you have any questions you can contact the LEA team at (604) 851-4004.

For Residents Living in Long-Term Care

All primary contacts for residents living in Long-Term Care received a letter via email.

Reminder: LTC Family Council Info Session

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If you support a loved one living in long-term care we would like to invite you to a Menno Place Family Council information session:

What:         Family Councils, What are They and What are They Not?
When:        Thursday, March 20 2:30-3:30PM
Where:       In Person: Menno Hospital Corporate Boardroom (behind reception desk at main Menno Hospital entrance).
Online: Microsoft Teams

Join the meeting now

Meeting ID: 226 601 181 847
Passcode: 7xT7i4Zk

Why: Family Councils, as prescribed by the care home regulations, are most successful when certain key factors are present. This session will start at the beginning to define what a family council is, and provide insight to making it the best it can be.

Lisa Dawson, Interim Chair of the Fraser Association of Family Councils (FAFC), will facilitate this meeting. Lisa has a long history of being a family caregiver. Her Father is in long-term care, and she is the Chair of their family council. She is also the VP/Secretary of the provincial association of family councils (ILTCCABC)

For more information on Lisa and FAFCC:

www.VancouverCoastalFamilyCouncils.ca

fafc.regional@gmail.com

Phone: 604.341.1447

The goal of this get together is to create awareness of what a family council can be and to inspire interested families to come forward for further conversations to lead the family council.

If you have any questions, please contact Menno Home Social Worker Kim Wiebe (604-851-1361) or Menno Hospital Social Worker Dan Janzen (604-851-1350).  We hope you will be able to join us for this informative session!

 

A Prayer for Pandemic Observance Day – March 11

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March 11 is Pandemic Observance Day in Canada. For all of us who lived through the pandemic alongside seniors is it a tender time to remember. There was so much loss – lost loved ones, lost time, lost community. And now, years past that first fateful day, some things have gone back to normal and some things never will. In light of all of that we asked Kerry Dyck, one of our Chaplains, to write a prayer for the day. May these words bring you comfort.

Our Loving God,

On this day while taking time to look back and remember our experience during the Pandemic we admit that we’d rather not.

Those were hard days filled with long, difficult hours. But as we cast our gaze behind, we know that you are with us giving us strength, even as you were during the pandemic months of loss, disorientation and discouragement.

Lord, we lament what was lost.

Even though we had lots of time on our hands we lament the time we lost. We lament the missed opportunities caused by the pandemic. We grieve the relationships that suffered under the weight of strain whether due to physical separation or the separation that comes from seeing things differently.

Most of all, loving God, we are sad because we lost dear people to Covid. Oh, how we miss them! Our hearts are heavy. And yet even there you meet us and are with us.

Open our eyes and hearts to your comfort this day. Remind us that you were with us then and that you still are today. May your hope and love fill our minds and hearts with peace for you are the God of all comfort. Lord, we don’t know what will happen tomorrow, but we know that you hold tomorrow in your loving and gentle hands.

This we pray by faith, even if its only a tiny bit,
in the name of Jesus,
Amen.

Seminar: Vital Conversations About Aging

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You’re invited to a seminar happening at Clearbrook MB Church in Abbotsford.

What: Vital Conversations About Aging presented by Lorraine Dick
Where: Clearbrook MB Church 2719 Clearbrook Road, Abbotsford
When: Thursday, March 20. Doors open at 9:30. Seminar begins at 10:00
Cost: Donations Optional

This seminar is about the hard conversations that come with aging. It is designed for seniors and their families.

Some of the topics that will be covered are:

  • How to make decisions about driving, moving, and downsizing
  • Taking care of relationships – with family and God
  • How do I want to be cared for when I am no longer able to care for myself?
  • Organizing and collecting important documents
  • End of life decisions

 

Survey: Access to Long-Term Care

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The Office of the Seniors Advocate wants to hear from family caregivers about their experiences helping a loved one access publicly-funded long-term care.

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Daylight Savings Time Begins March 9th

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Daylight Savings Time begins on Sunday, March 9th at 2AM. Please adjust your clocks accordingly.

The transition to Daylight Saving Time (DST) in the spring, commonly known as “springing forward,” involves setting clocks ahead by one hour. This change can disrupt our internal body clocks, leading to various health and safety concerns. In consideration of your well-being, we would like you to be aware of the following risks of Daylight Savings Time.

Risks Associated with Spring Daylight Saving Time:

  1. Sleep Disruption: Losing an hour of sleep can disturb circadian rhythms, resulting in fatigue, reduced alertness, and decreased cognitive performance.
  2. Increased Risk of Cardiovascular Events: Studies have observed a rise in heart attacks and strokes following the spring DST transition, potentially due to sleep deprivation and circadian misalignment.
  3. Higher Accident Rates: The shift has been linked to a 6% increase in fatal traffic accidents, particularly during morning commutes when drivers are adjusting to the time change.
  4. Mood Disturbances: Disrupted sleep patterns can exacerbate mental health issues, including depression and anxiety.

Strategies to Mitigate These Challenges:

  1. Gradual Schedule Adjustment: In the days leading up to DST, go to bed 15–20 minutes earlier each night to help your body acclimate to the upcoming time change.
  2. Morning Light Exposure: Seek natural sunlight in the morning to help realign your circadian rhythm. Light exposure plays a crucial role in regulating sleep-wake cycles.
  3. Maintain Consistent Sleep Hygiene: Establish a calming bedtime routine, avoid caffeine and electronic devices before bed, and create a restful sleep environment to enhance sleep quality.
  4. Prioritize Safety: Be extra cautious during activities that require full alertness, such as driving, especially in the days immediately following the time change.

You’re Invited: LTC Family Council Info Session

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If you support a loved one living in long-term care we would like to invite you to a Menno Place Family Council information session:

What:         Family Councils, What are They and What are They Not?
When:        Thursday, March 20 2:30-3:30PM
Where:       In Person: Menno Hospital Corporate Boardroom (behind reception desk at main Menno Hospital entrance).
Online: Microsoft Teams

Join the meeting now

Meeting ID: 226 601 181 847
Passcode: 7xT7i4Zk

Why: Family Councils, as prescribed by the care home regulations, are most successful when certain key factors are present. This session will start at the beginning to define what a family council is, and provide insight to making it the best it can be.

Lisa Dawson, Interim Chair of the Fraser Association of Family Councils (FAFC), will facilitate this meeting. Lisa has a long history of being a family caregiver. Her Father is in long-term care, and she is the Chair of their family council. She is also the VP/Secretary of the provincial association of family councils (ILTCCABC)

For more information on Lisa and FAFCC:

www.VancouverCoastalFamilyCouncils.ca

fafc.regional@gmail.com

Phone: 604.341.1447

The goal of this get together is to create awareness of what a family council can be and to inspire interested families to come forward for further conversations to lead the family council.

If you have any questions, please contact Menno Home Social Worker Kim Wiebe (604-851-1361) or Menno Hospital Social Worker Dan Janzen (604-851-1350).  We hope you will be able to join us for this informative session!

 

Staff Appreciation Tea – Honouring Staff Achievements in 2024

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From awards that marked 645 years of service to the nominations that poured in for outstanding achievements there was plenty to celebrate at this year’s Staff Appreciation Tea.

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