Family member sings Forest Hill’s praises

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‘They are family to me, that’s for sure’

Pam Curzon doesn’t skip a beat when asked what staff members at Forest Hill mean to her.

“They are family to me, that’s for sure,” she recently told The OMNIway.

Pam’s father, Bill Bennett, was a resident at the Kanata, Ont. long-term care home. After Bill moved to Forest Hill, Pam became involved with many of the home’s activities and programs.

When Pam visited her dad, she would take time to help staff members with activities, such as calling bingo numbers, and she often lent a hand on resident outings. When Forest Hill hosted its annual chili cook-off, Pam always entered the contest.

Bill passed away in 2019; however, Pam has stayed connected to Forest Hill, and she isn’t shy when it comes to sharing her feelings about the people who work at the home.

“They deserve all the credit in the world,” she says. “I tell people about (Forest Hill) all the time and sing the staff’s praises. The staff are amazing. They make families so welcomed.”

Pam continued to volunteer at Forest Hill after her dad passed away – until the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020. Once volunteers can return, Pam says she plans to go right back to helping residents and staff members.

Additionally, Pam is involved with Forest Hill through her church, Trinity Presbyterian.

During the holiday season, Forest Hill has a Christmas tree – called the Angel Tree – in the lobby. The tree is normally covered with numbered tags that visitors take. Each number corresponds to a resident and the gifts they need. For privacy, each tag is anonymous, so the person buying the gift doesn’t know who will be on the receiving end.

Last Christmas, due to pandemic protocols in place, the Angel Tree was in the form of a Google Doc, and people could sign up for “tags” that were on the virtual Angel Tree. Members of Trinity Presbyterian Church play a large part in making this event successful.

This Christmas the Angel Tree will be back and Pam says Trinity Presbyterian Church will be participating in the project again.

“We are going to be doing this again – it’s our fourth year – and I’m looking forward to it,” she says.

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West Lake residents enjoy their first pet-therapy program in 20 months

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Huxley, the brother of beloved volunteer pug Gibson, makes his debut as pet-therapy headliner at the home

Dog owners are all too familiar with their loyal canines waiting at the front door for them to return home, but on Nov. 22 the situation was reversed at West Lake Terrace as residents anxiously waited for a visit from a pug named Huxley.

Huxley and his owner, Lesley Campbell, were due to arrive at 2:30 p.m. that day for the Prince Edward County long-term care home’s first pet-therapy session in 20 months, so it’s easy to understand why residents were looking forward to seeing their furry friend.

The last pet-therapy program at the home was before the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020, when Lesley was at the home with Huxley’s brother, Gibson, a five-year volunteer at West Lake Terrace, who sadly passed away in summer.

Huxley had been to West Lake Terrace with Gibson, but this was the first time he had been “the star of the show,” says Janie Denard, the home’s life enrichment co-ordinator.

Residents were so excited to see Huxley and Lesley they were waiting by the front door for an hour, Janie notes.

“It was fabulous; Huxley wasn’t coming until 2:30, but the residents were waiting by the door at 1:30,” she tells The OMNIway.

“I told them Huxley wasn’t coming for another hour, and they said, ‘we don’t want to miss him.’ … Some (residents) were even pacing in the dining room.”

During their visit, Lesley and Huxley spent time with the residents who had been eagerly waiting in the lounge as well as with those who were in their rooms.

Janie says the visit from Lesley and Huxley had a positive impact that is still being felt days after their time at the home.

“Residents were so thrilled, not just to see Huxley but also Lesley,” she says.

“Pet therapy is one of those activities that (positively impacts) every resident in the home. The staff are also thrilled that we are able to do this because it‘s one step closer to things being the way they were pre-COVID.”

Janie says Lesley and Huxley will be visiting West Lake Terrace every Wednesday for pet-therapy sessions.

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PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above, West Lake Terrace volunteer Lesley Campbell holds her pug, Gibson, during a window visit in 2020. Sadly, Gibson passed away this past summer, but his brother, Huxley, is now headlining pet-therapy sessions with residents.

Streamway Villa welcomes back in-house entertainment

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‘It was huge, the residents were all singing along’

Live indoor entertainment returned to Streamway Villa in early November, and residents at the Cobourg, Ont. long-term care home are happy to be singing along to their favourite songs again.

After the COVID-19 pandemic was declared by the World Health Organization in March 2020, Ontario long-term care homes had to put indoor entertainment on hold.

The home has offered outdoor entertainment, but being outside didn’t have quite the same impact on people, says life enrichment co-ordinator Laurie Kracht.

“It was fun outside, but the residents and entertainers were separated by a fence, so it wasn’t very interactive,” she tells The OMNIway. “When it’s in the building, it’s more interactive.”

The first entertainer to perform inside the home since the pandemic began was Darren Bailey on Nov. 3. Don Owen, who is also a well-known restaurateur in Cobourg, has performed for residents as well.

In fact, when Don performed at Streamway he didn’t even need a microphone since the residents singing along helped carry the songs,
Laurie says.

“It was huge, the residents were all singing along,” she says. “He just sang and his voice filled up the whole dining room, and the residents were all singing and they were smiling for the rest of the day.”

While in-house entertainment is being permitted in some long-term care homes, performers must meet safety requirements, including having proof of vaccination. Performers must also sign a waiver and attend an infection prevention educational session with staff members.

Laurie notes that three more entertainers are booked in December.

In addition to having entertainment, Streamway Villa is also starting pet therapy programs once again, so stay tuned to The OMNIway for upcoming stories.

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OMNI homes in Northumberland-Peterborough South receive additional funding to increase staffing, hours of care

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Province earmarks funding for Burnbrae Gardens, Maplewood, Pleasant Meadow Manor and Streamway Villa

Four OMNI Health Care long-term care homes are among the 11 homes in the Northumberland-Peterborough South provincial riding to receive additional funding for the remainder of the 2021-22 fiscal year to help increase staffing and provide more hours of daily direct care to residents.

Burnbrae Gardens, Maplewood, Pleasant Meadow Manor and Streamway Villa have each been awarded additional funding this year as part of a $2.7-million investment in Northumberland-Peterborough South long-term care homes.

As part of its long-term care plan, the Ontario government has also committed to increasing annual funding to homes by 2024-25.

The funding the four homes will receive is as follows:

– Burnbrae Gardens in Campbellford will receive an additional $117,552 for the remainder of 2021-22. The home can expect $719,576 more than its current funding by 2024-25.

– Maplewood in Brighton will receive an additional $131,799 for the remainder of 2021-22. The home can expect $807,252 more than its current funding by 2024-25.

– Pleasant Meadow Manor in Norwood will receive $160,298 for the remainder of 2021-22. The home can expect $981,792 more than its current funding by 2024-25.

– Streamway Villa in Cobourg will receive an additional $167,419 for the remainder of 2021-22. The home can expect $1,025,436 more than its current funding by 2024-25.

Any money the homes do not spend will be returned to the province.

Streamway Villa administrator Kylie Szczebonski says the home welcomes the additional funding and says the money will help enhance the quality of care as well as address staffing issues.

“The added funding will enhance the quality care that our staff already provide and ensure that our residents remain safe, well cared for and continue to belong and are loved by our dedicated and committed staff,” she tells The OMNIway.

“The direct care funding will ensure that the quality care our staff provides will also assist in our recruitment and retention program during the health-care staffing crisis Ontario is currently facing.”

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Door decorating contest ushers in the holiday season at West Lake Terrace

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‘We haven’t done anything like this before, so we said, let’s do this’

West Lake Terrace is launching a door-decorating contest today to bring residents, their family members and staff together for some creative fun while ushering in the holiday season at the Prince Edward County long-term care home.

Participants have been provided a list of all the doors at West Lake Terrace, and each team gets to reserve a door to decorate with a winter or holiday season theme, explains Janie Denard, the home’s life enrichment co-ordinator.

Some doors will be decorated by teams of residents and staff members, while some residents have paired up with family members for the contest, Janie notes.

The contest’s judging will be done by a group of residents during the morning of Dec. 1. They will choose their three favourite door designs.

Prizes for the contest have been donated by supplier Handicare Canada.

Janie explains how the idea for the contest came about.

“My staff and I were talking about something we could do differently this year to shake things up,” she tells The OMNIway. “We haven’t done anything like this before, so we said, ‘let’s do this.’ ”

Janie says another benefit of the contest is that it’s providing an opportunity for residents and their family members who are essential caregivers to work together on a project, something they’ve not been able to do much of because of pandemic protocols.

As a testament to the high level of engagement the contest has garnered, one group of West Lake Terrace team members working on weekends booked an entire hallway shortly after the contest was announced, Janie says.

“The staff are really excited about this, and there has been lots of chatter about what they are doing,” she says, adding the contest is promoting lots of friendly competition.

“I am looking forward to seeing the results.”

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Family members reflect on the value of being essential caregivers

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Since becoming essential caregivers for their loved ones living in OMNI Health Care long-term care homes, family members say they’re enjoying time spent inside homes and seeing the difference being there for their loved ones makes.

When the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020, long-term care homes were immediately closed to everyone but essential visitors. While residents and families were able to have regular telephone and video calls, many went months without in-home visits with their loved ones.

But since the province began allowing family members to become essential caregivers for their loved ones living in long-term care homes, the time residents and their loved ones have had together has made a positive impact on everyone, family members recently told The OMNIway.

“You can’t believe the difference,” said Maureen Whiteside, the daughter of a Springdale Country Manor resident. “(My mother) really appreciates the visits and always asks when the next visit is.”

During her regular visits with her mom, Maureen said she has also witnessed the compassion Springdale team members show residents. She says staff members go out of their way to give Springdale a homey, family-like atmosphere.

“I like that they chit-chat with all the residents,” she said. “They have pet names for the residents and they just are very happy and comfortable talking with the residents. That’s a big comfort. … They try to make it homey.”

Karen Germundson says becoming an essential caregiver for her father at Forest Hill “has made all the difference in the world” – both to her dad and to her.

Karen, who became an essential caregiver in October 2020, visits her dad regularly at the Kanata, Ont. long-term care home. The greatest value she brings her father in this role, she says, is “emotional support.”

“He can tell things are changing and it scares him,” she said. “So, I see my big role is to be there to help him on the days he’s really afraid and then providing that support.”

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Streamway residents attend Remembrance Day ceremony at Cobourg cenotaph

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A wreath dedicated to veterans living at Streamway and other OMNI homes was laid at the memorial

About 15 Streamway Villa residents and accompanying staff members attended a ceremony at the cenotaph at Victoria Park in Cobourg on Remembrance Day.

Although it was a cold, cloudy day, the group of residents bundled up in warm clothing and made the one-kilometre trek with staff members from the home to Victoria Park to attend the service.

Among the residents attending the ceremony were three veterans of the Canadian Armed Forces.

Marnie Burke served as a nurse in the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery and was stationed in Victoria, B.C., during the Second World War. Tom Stewart served in the Canadian Army. Streamway Villa’s newest resident, Robert Thompson, served in the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Streamway Villa residents and team members brought a wreath to the service dedicated to the veterans of the home as well as veterans living at OMNI Health Care’s other 17 long-term care homes.

During the service, Streamway Villa administrator Kylie Szczebonski was called to lay the wreath at the cenotaph on behalf of everyone at the home.

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Urban farm visit marks first outing for Garden Terrace since the pandemic began

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‘The residents loved it; they said it was nice to be outside and enjoy a nice fall day’

It had been a long time coming. A group of Garden Terrace residents recently enjoyed their first outing since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020 when they took a trip to a local urban farm.

For their first outing in 19 months, six residents of the Kanata, Ont. long-term care home enjoyed a day at Maple Hill Urban Farm where they spent time visiting animals and learning about the 167-acre property located in nearby Nepean.

Animals residents visited included goats, alpacas, pigs, cats, dogs, ducks, chickens and cows.

With safety precautions in effect, visitors were not able to pet the animals, but the residents still enjoyed the excursion, says Garden Terrace life enrichment co-ordinator Rachael King.

Aside from the animals, residents and accompanying Garden Terrace team members got to check out a pumpkin patch and everyone was treated to coffee and Timbits as well, Rachael notes.

Rachael says residents enjoyed their long-awaited outing, noting the hospitality, good weather and especially the animals helped make the excursion memorable for everyone.

“The residents loved it; they said it was nice to be outside and enjoy a nice fall day,” she tells The OMNIway.

“It was nice for them to see the animals.”

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Riverview Manor residents, staff and families collaborate to deliver Remembrance Day service

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‘It was a great team effort from everyone’

Riverview Manor held its first Remembrance Day service since 2019, thanks to a collaborative effort among residents, families and team members at the Peterborough long-term care home.

There was no Remembrance Day service at Riverview Manor in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but with a green light to host a service this year, everyone came together to ensure this important day was honoured at the home.

Unlike past Remembrance Day services at Riverview Manor, this year’s memorial did not feature involvement from the community due to pandemic restrictions still in place.

However, with everyone working together, Riverview residents were provided with the same Remembrance Day service itinerary as always, says life enrichment aide and service organizer Rosemary Roseborough.

“In other years there would have been a bagpiper and representatives from the legion, along with representatives from the different branches (of the Canadian Armed Forces),” Rosemary tells The OMNIway.

Residents and staff members were involved with the service, which included laying the Remembrance Day wreath and readings. Music normally played on pipe or piano was played on CDs during the service.

The service also honoured two people who passed away in 2020 and are missed at Riverview Manor.

Master Corporal Maury McCrillis of the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment, who had been the bagpiper at past Remembrance Day services, passed away in May of that year. Pat Byatt, a Veterans Affairs liaison, passed away in August 2020.

Riverview resident veterans Joan Brownson and Frank Lindsay wore their military uniforms and gave readings and dedicated the Remembrance Day wreath.

Family members also helped residents get ready for the service, Rosemary notes.

This was the 20th anniversary of Rosemary organizing the Remembrance Day service at Riverview Manor, an honour she says was made possible by strong collaboration from everyone.

“It was a great team effort from everyone, and I could not have done this without the support from everyone else,” she says.

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PHOTO CAPTION: Riverview Manor resident veterans Joan Brownson and Frank Lindsay lay a ceremonial wreath at a Remembrance Day service at the Peterborough long-term care home.

Did you know November is Fall Prevention Month?

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November is Fall Prevention Month, an annual Canadian campaign aimed at raising awareness of the impact fall-related injury has on the greater health-care sector and generating ideas to prevent falls from happening.

As part of the month, people and organizations are urged to learn about how to prevent falls from happening, raise awareness of the importance of fall prevention, and use social media to share successful best practices in fall prevention.

According to the Government of Canada website, falls are the leading cause of injury among Canadians aged 65 and older, with an estimated 20 to 30 per cent of seniors experiencing one or more falls each year.

“Falls cause 85 per cent of seniors’ injury-related hospitalizations, 95 per cent of all hip fractures, $2 billion a year in direct health-care costs, and over one-third of seniors are admitted to long-term care following hospitalization for a fall,” the Government of Canada website states.

“The average Canadian senior had to stay in hospital 10 days longer for falls than for any other cause.”

OMNI Health Care long-term care homes have a strong focus on fall prevention. Physiotherapy, exercise programs, toileting regimens, family education and ensuring home areas are properly lit are among the initiatives homes take to mitigate falls.

Physiotherapy and exercise programs help enhance mobility. Assisting residents with regular toileting helps decrease the risk of a person trying to stand up on their own to make their way to the washroom. Making sure areas are well lit helps people see where they’re going.

The Fall Prevention Month website is asking people and organizations to collaborate to promote fall prevention awareness and share ideas.

“Together we can raise the profile of fall prevention and encourage everyone to see their role in preventing falls and fall-related injuries across the lifespan,” the website says.

Click here to learn more about Fall Prevention Month.

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