Ice Bucket Challenge: Next up, Rosebridge Manor
You can add Rosebridge Manor to the list of OMNI Health Care long-term care homes that have participated in the Ice Bucket Challenge. Read more
Archive for month: August, 2014
Country Terrace CCC’s band helps raise money for Alzheimer Society
Kimberley Noftle combines passion for music with dedication to cause
Kimberley Noftle and her band, Blue Mojo, recently played an outdoor show at a private party which raised more than $1,300 for the Alzheimer Society of Canada. Read more
OMNI team raises $500 for ALS research, gets soaked in the process
PETERBOROUGH, Ont. – After being challenged by some of OMNI Health Care’s homes, 11 people from head office participated in the Ice Bucket Challenge Aug. 25. Read more
Woodland Villa’s Country Fair brings fun and laughter
Community, family members contribute to event’s success
Woodland Villa’s annual Country Fair once again turned out to be a successful event, with a strong turnout and residents enjoying the various activities, says Lisa Doran. Read more
Four West Lake Terrace managers get soaked
Home raises $300 for ALS research
Four West Lake Terrace managers took the Ice Bucket Challenge Aug. 21 in an event that engaged residents and raised money for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) research in the process. Read more
Kentwood Park administrator and daughter participate in Ice Bucket Challenge
Kentwood Park administrator Tina Cole and her daughter Skyler recently took the Ice Bucket Challenge after being nominated by students at Nicholson Catholic College in Belleville where Skyler is a student. Read more
I wish reporters could see what goes on every day at Country Terrace: Noftle
Clinical care co-ordinator says media would be less critical of LTC if they saw the good things happening
Clinical care co-ordinator (CCC) Kimberley Noftle says she wishes media agencies saw what went on at Country Terrace every day.
If reporters did witness the goings-on at the Komoka long-term care home, they would see a team of caring, compassionate staff members who are always going above and beyond the call of duty for the 120 residents they serve, she says.
So, when Noftle hears negative news coverage of the long-term care sector it doesn’t bode well.
Noftle refers to a recent news report citing several long-term care homes in southwestern Ontario — including Country Terrace — for the number of reported instances of abuse.
When people hear the word “abuse,” they will often think of physical abuse. When they hear about “abuse” in a long-term care home, many will assume the word is referring to physical violence.
But the word “abuse,” as used in long-term care home reporting, is much broader than many news outlets acknowledge.
Such “abuse,” as defined by the ministry, can refer to resident to resident, resident to staff members, or staff member to resident.
The definition includes verbal and emotional abuse, including disrespectful comments and neglectful care that could, for example, arise from a delay in coming to the assistance of a resident.
No form of abuse is tolerated by long-term care homes. Reported instances of abuse are not ranked in any way by measures of severity, and there is no process for retracting reported allegations that have been cleared upon investigation.
“It’s upsetting,” Noftle says, when asked how she feels about the negative news coverage. “I was very upset by it because I see how hard we work. … What (reporters) don’t see is that we will stay here an hour and a half overtime that we’re not getting paid for to do extra things for the residents.”
Country Terrace — along with the other 17 OMNI Health Care long-term care homes — is committed to reporting, investigating and following up on any instance of alleged or suspected abuse to ensure the safety and care of residents.
OMNI homes are committed to preventing all forms abuse before the happen. Country Terrace administrator Karen Dann says resources like the province’s Behavioural Supports Ontario (BSO) initiative are a valuable tool for preventing resident-on-resident abuse.
“I am not negating that sometimes dementia leads to residents acting out in a way that may affect other residents or staff, but through our behavioural support program we address these behaviours and are committed to keeping all residents safe from harm,” she says.
“My experience, both as a staff nurse and as administrator here, is that staff are 100 per cent committed to providing a safe and happy experience for our residents.”
Do you have a story you would like to share with The OMNIway? If so, please contact the newsroom at 800-294-0051, ext. 23, or e-mail deron(at)axiomnews.com.
If you have any feedback on this story, please contact the newsroom at 800-294-0051, ext. 23, or e-mail deron(at)axiomnews.com.
Streamway quiche a fan favourite with residents
Dietary staff member Marsha Dorsey discusses the recipe’s strong points
Quiche has proven to be a favourite with residents at Streamway Villa, and the home’s roasted red pepper, asparagus and feta quiche is always a winner with the home’s 59 residents, says Marsha Dorsey.
Dorsey, a staff member in the Cobourg long-term care home’s nutritional care department, says the quiche, which is made from eggs, milk, red pepper, asparagus and feta cheese baked in a savoury pie crust, “goes over really well here.”
“It’s delicious,” she says.
While dietary staff members are required to meet nutritional standards outlined by OMNI Health Care and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, they have a lot of flexibility on meal presentation.
And this is an area Dorsey and her colleagues focus on, due to residents wanting their meals to look as good as they taste.
The roasted red pepper, asparagus and feta quiche is garnished with slices of roasted red pepper and diced red onion, making for a colourful presentation.
Dorsey has been working at the Cobourg long-term care home for about a year and a half. Most of her career has been spent working in the kitchens of long-term care homes.
“I started working in long-term care homes in 1999, when I was 17,” she says. “I started my co-op placement in high school through long-term care homes, and I really found that it gave me a sense of giving back to the community — to take care of the people who have spent their lives taking care of us.”
Chris Weber, OMNI’s operations manager of nutrition and food services, wants to show the world just what “nursing-home food” really is and how chefs and cooks working in the long-term care sector can produce top-quality dishes as good as anyone.
Using the hashtag #NursingHomeFood on social-media networks Twitter and Facebook, Weber and The OMNIway are collaborating on a story series to showcase some of the top-notch food being prepared at OMNI’s 18 long-term care homes.
Do you have a story you would like to share with The OMNIway? If so, please contact the newsroom at 800-294-0051, ext. 23, or e-mail deron(at)axiomnews.com.
If you have any feedback on this story, please contact the newsroom at 800-294-0051, ext. 23, or e-mail deron(at)axiomnews.com.
Hands-on care, warm atmosphere, good food are Country Terrace’s strengths: family member
‘The care my mother receives is A-plus,’ says Peter Welsh
Tuesday, August 19, 2014 — Deron Hamel
When Peter and Grethe Welsh visited Country Terrace for the first time on a tour, one thing stood out for them: the warm atmosphere.
The Welshes were touring the home, where Peter’s mother would soon be living. The couple was looking for a long-term care home that would provide the best possible care for Peter’s mother. When resident services co-ordinator Heather Davidson was showing the couple around, Peter says “90 per cent of the residents were saying hi to us and smiling — this is what makes the difference to me in a (long-term care) home.”
Peter and Grethe say their first impression has remained long after Peter’s mother moved into the Komoka long-term care home. Not only does the home offer a warm, welcoming environment, the care is exceptional, they say.
“The care my mother receives is A-plus,” Peter says. “The staff there is on top of everything.”
Peter, who visits his mother regularly, adds that the home provides regular updates on how his mother is doing and to inform him of any changes in her care.
“This is the type of care we like,” he says.
Peter and Grethe note that they’re not alone in their admiration of Country Terrace. The mother of a friend of the couple’s also lives at the home. Before moving, the resident wasn’t eating well but that’s changed.
“Her mother has gained 20 pounds,” Peter says, adding the meals prepared by nutritional care manager Alex Achillini and his staff are top notch.
The home’s wide variety of resident programming is another bonus, the Welshes say, noting staff members in the life enrichment department engage Peter’s mother in activities.
“Her quality of life is much better (at Country Terrace),” Grethe says. “Her memory is declining, but the second she remembers something, those are the seconds that count for her.”
If you have a story you would like to share with The OMNIway, please contact newsroom at 800-294-0051, ext. 23, or e-mail deron(at)axiomnews.com.
If you have feedback on this story, please contact the newsroom at 800-294-0051, ext. 23, or e-mail deron(at)axiomnews.com.
Woodland Villa the first OMNI home to have a physician assistant
Nancy Bonaparte bringing unique skill set to home
Monday, August 18, 2014 — Deron Hamel
SOUTH STORMONT, Ont. – Nancy Bonaparte is bringing a unique set of skills to Woodland Villa. Since May, she has been the only physician assistant working at an OMNI Health Care long-term care home, and her work is helping both residents and the home’s physician.
As a physician assistant, Bonaparte provides quick assessments and sometimes treatments for residents’ conditions which can avoid hospital transfers. This is important because transfers can have a detrimental effect on quality of life. Secondly, by having an in-house physician assistant, Bonaparte’s position lessens doctors’ heavy workloads.
The Canadian Association of Physician Assistants describes physician assistants as “academically prepared and highly-skilled health-care professionals who provide a broad range of medical services.”
There are some differences between physician assistants and nurse practitioners, which several long-term care homes utilize.
Firstly, physician assistants and nurse practitioners work under a different scope of practice. Nurse practitioners are much like “independent practitioners,” notes Bonaparte, while physician assistants work under defined supervision.
“It’s a new position,” says Bonaparte, who works half days at the home. “We’re basically physician extenders, so we always work under a scope of practice under the supervision of a physician. We assess and diagnose, we prescribe some medications, perform biopsies, we order lab and x-ray tests and interpret them.” I work here half days and in the clinic in the afternoons, except Fridays.”
Prior to coming to Woodland Villa, Bonaparte worked in a Kingston long-term care home. There, she says her position was well received
“The families and the residents loved the fact that they were getting seen quicker and probably more frequently, because we have more time than the doctors,” she says. “In long-term care, everybody loves having an extra set of hands.”
Janna Sabourin, Woodland Villa’s director of care, says Bonaparte adds an important contribution to the home.
“Every home should have a Nancy,” she says.
If you have a story you would like to share with The OMNIway, please contact newsroom at 800-294-0051, ext. 23, or email deron(at)axiomnews.com.
If you have feedback on this story, please call the newsroom at 800-294-0051, ext. 23, or e-mail deron(at)axiomnews.com.