Burnbrae Gardens RAI co-co-ordinator Becky Brownson poses with her Inspired Leader award. Brownson was one of 18 Inspired Leader award recipients.
This year saw OMNI Health Care long-term care homes once again honour team members with outstanding leadership qualities. Read more
If you work at Pleasant Meadow Manor, you can expect a visit from registered nurse Shelley Vandenberg to remind you to get your flu vaccination. Read more
Administrator Rachel Corkery describes Maplewood personal support worker (PSW) Nicole Lafee as an Inspired Leader who is also an “everyday hero”. Read more
Springdale Country Manor
Springdale Country Manor has the lowest falls rate of OMNI Health Care’s 18 long-term care homes, a success administrator Maureen King says is tied to several factors. Read more
Linda Glover is seen here cutting the cake at her retirement party on Oct. 25. Glover retired after more than 30 years as a PSW at Maplewood.
When Linda Glover began working at Maplewood more than 30 years ago, she had one goal: to make at least one resident laugh every day. Read more
A member of Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory performs a dance of healing for West Lake Terrace residents.
West Lake Terrace recently had a visit from residents of Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory that proved to be an enriching experience for the Prince Edward County long-term care home’s residents. Read more
Maplewood administrator Rachel Corkery says personal support worker (PSW) Julie Lachance is proof that staff members who take time to do little, extra things for residents have a large-scale impact. Read more
Maplewood resident Corina Dempsey holds a sign outside the home’s dining room reminding everyone to wash their hands.
Maplewood resident Corina Dempsey is playing an important part in the Brighton long-term care home’s infection prevention and control program.
With flu season underway, Dempsey is seated at the entrance of the home’s dining room before meals holding a sign that reads, “Please Wash Your Hands”.
It’s an intervention that’s proving to be successful, says administrator Rachel Corkery, noting that she’s noticing more people going to the hand sanitizers before meals.
Keeping everyone’s hands clean, after all, is the most important step long-term care homes can take in preventing the transmission and spread of germs, Corkery adds.
Last year Maplewood had six outbreaks during flu season. Outbreaks have a negative impact on residents’ quality of life. Not only are people at risk of falling ill, but programming and family visits stop during outbreaks.
During a residents’ council meeting last week residents and staff members discussed how they do not want to see a repeat of last year’s flu season. At the meeting, staff members went through proper hand-washing techniques with residents, followed by a question-and-answer session about infection prevention and control that covered everything from why it’s important to keep hands clean to how to sneeze without spreading germs.
It was during the meeting that the group decided that having a dining-room greeter would be effective at helping keep hand hygiene top of mind. Dempsey volunteered for the role of dining-room greeter and then made the sign. Since Tuesday she has been reminding everyone to wash their hands.
“It’s never too soon or too late to remind people to wash their hands,” Corkery says, adding that what she likes best about this initiative is that it’s “resident-led compliance.”
“The residents themselves stop to wash their hands and motion for other residents and staff to stop (to wash their hands),” the administrator says. “Even if we think we are doing a great job, we can always do better.”
If you have a story you would like to share with The OMNIway, please contact the newsroom at 800-294-0051, ext. 23, or e-mail 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.
PETERBOROUGH, Ont. – About 60 Riverview Manor residents, family members and staff celebrated Goldie Newton’s 102nd birthday on Nov. 13. Read more
Country Terrace
When Country Terrace housekeeping staff member Muriel Frank noticed residents congregating in a large area of the home, she thought the room needed something the residents could all enjoy.
So, using her own money, she bought the residents a large, flat-screen TV with a DVD player. This is one of the many acts of kindness Frank has committed for residents at the Komoka long-term care home, and it’s an example of why she’s deserving of the home’s Everyday Hero award, says clinical care co-ordinator (CCC) Kimberley Noftle.
“Now, in the afternoons, we can put on DVDs for the residents,” Noftle says. “Also, for those residents who are not ready to go to bed in the evenings, the nurses will bring them to the room so they can watch TV or DVDs.”
Noftle describes Frank as being “so kind and caring and loving to the residents,” noting that no matter how busy her day is she will always stop what she’s doing to take time to talk with residents.
“The amount of work that she can do is just mind-boggling,” Noftle says. “I don’t know where she gets the energy, or if she even has the energy, but she just does it, no matter what.”
Aside from her day-to-day work, Frank also volunteers when there are major event at the home, such as Christmas and Thanksgiving dinners, Noftle notes.
Frank is also known for making gift baskets that are raffled to raise funds for resident and staff events, Noftle says. When Country Terrace had curtains that needed to be hemmed, Frank volunteered to do the job.
“She does things like this all the time,” Noftle says. “It would be great if we could clone her.”
The Everyday Hero initiative began 10 years ago to recognize employees’ hard work and dedication to residents.
OMNI Health Care hosted an awards announcement at the managers’ forum in Kingston in May. Managers from OMNI’s 18 long-term care homes were presented with the names of the Everyday Hero and Inspired Leader award winners. Homes have been presenting the awards during their own ceremonies since.
If you have a story you would like to share with The OMNIway, please contact the newsroom at 800-294-0051, ext. 23, or e-mail 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.