Save the Date – Grandparent’s Day Party! September 12th

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We are planning a huge celebration on Saturday, September 12th for our residents and their grandchildren. In our courtyard, there will be bouncy castles for the kids, cotton candy, hot dogs and ice cream. There will be entertainment and so much to enjoy together!

Save the Date:

Saturday, September 12th

11am – 2pm

Menno Place Courtyard

National Grandparents’ Day began in Canada in 1995. It was brought into the routine of Canadians “in order to acknowledge the importance of grandparents to the strututre of the family in the nurturing, upbringing and education of children.”

Resources & News

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Do you want to keep up on the News that relates to Senior’s Care and Menno Place? The News Channel on our website provides you with Menno Place’s involvement in the larger community of senior care in British Columbia and Canada. Go to www.MennoPlace.ca/news for updates.

Nine additional parking spots

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After taking down eight Douglas Fir trees, we have created nine additional parking spots between Menno Hospital and the Pavilion. These spots may be used by visitors. They are monitored by Impark. Having additional parking spots makes visiting a family member or friend at Menno Place a bit easier.

Fireside Treasures – Shop Local!

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Shop local! Fireside Treasures Gift Shop is located inside the main lobby of Menno Hospital. Gifts! Cards! Scarves! and …. yes…. ICE CREAM bars! Proceeds from Hospital Auxiliary items in the store go directly to supporting the needs of our residents. Yes, every chocolate bar that you purchase results in a DONATION!

Scarves and Gifts

Scarves and Gifts

Limited Visitor Parking – March 30, 31 & April 2

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MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY – MARCH 30, 31 & APRIL 1

The Douglas Fir trees in the south parking lot (between Pavilion and Menno Hospital) were taken down on March 18th and 19th. The equipment will be returning in order to excavate, grind down the stumps and clear the area of the remaining wood.

30 parking stalls in that area will be closed for three days (March 30, 31 and April 1) in order to accommodate room for the tree removal equipment.

If you usually park on this side of the parking lot, be aware that there will be limited parking for visitors on those days. If possible, please choose an alternate day to visit your friend or family member.

Concert in Care – You’re Invited – April 7

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Families & Friends are invited to enjoy the April Concert in Care

Since 2006, over 8,000 high-quality professional Concerts in Care have brought the rich experience of performance arts to people in residential care across Canada.

Date: April 7, 2015

Time: 10:30 am

Location: Hospital Chapel

Musicians

FABIANA KATZ

KatzArgentinean-Canadian mezzo-soprano Fabiana Katz has appeared as soloist with the National Arts Centre Orchestra, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, New Westminster Symphony Orchestra, Prince George Symphony Orchestra, and the Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber Orchestra, as well as many and diverse choral organisations around the province.  Ms Katz has recently retired from the Vancouver Chamber Choir after a 10-year tenure.  As a recitalist, she focuses on repertoire which highlights her varied cultural background: Spanish, Latin American and Sephardic.  She holds a Master of Music degree in choral conducting from the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati and is in demand as a teacher and clinician. Presently she is artistic director of FUSION LATINA, the first Canadian choral ensemble dedicated specifically to the performance of Latin American popular and folk music.

 STEPHEN SMITH

Stephen Smith1Pianist Stephen Smith grew up in rural Nova Scotia, where he sang and played the piano from an early age.  After initial studies in his home province in both piano and organ, he attended the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, England.  Since 1990, Stephen has lived in Vancouver, obtaining his doctoral degree in piano performance from the University of British Columbia (as a student of Jane Coop), and contributing to the musical life of the city as a performer, teacher, conductor, and composer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This event has been made possible by: Menno Place, BMO Financial Group and Health Arts Society

Karen Baillie, CEO, takes the inagural ride into the dental van.

A new concrete ramp makes dental work easier!

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Today, the Silver Valet Dental Care and Menno Place partnership went to another level! The inagural ride  on the new concrete access path via wheelchair was taken by Karen Baillie, CEO – guided by Matt.

When we noticed that the Silver Valet Dental Care van was parked far from our entrance in order to accommodate wheelchairs, we knew it was time to make an access path.

Bas Kervel, Manager of Maintenance and Facilities – along with his maintenance team – created an easy access path that allows the dental patient to easily make their way under cover into the mobile dental van.

Silver Valet Dental Care provides comprehensive, on-site oral health services for residents and tenants on the Menno Place campus. They have state-of-the-art equipment and wheelchair accessibility, providing safe, convenient access to preventative and therapeutic oral healthcare.

What a great day! Creating a pathway that allows residents to remain under cover (especially in the rain) was a WIN!

Brent Gubbels – Van Django – Concerts in Care

The music of Van Django – Concerts in Care

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Today, we enjoyed the magical gypsy jazz, waltz, old time swing music and ballads of Van Django. Performing for the residents of Menno Place, this acclaimed quartet brought us gypsy jazz, waltzes, old time music, swing music and ballads. These four talented musicians inspired by the music of Django Reinhard & Stephane Grapelli’s 1930’s gypsy jazz group “Quintent Of The Hot Club Of France”. Their arrangements and original compositions draw on a galaxy of musical styles while remaining true to the classic sound of the quintet. The lads are forging an original west coast sound, featuring virtuosic solos, bouncy rhythm, witty arrangements and an infectious sense of fun!

Over 110 residents and their family members joined us for this Concert in Care. If you are a family member or friend of a resident, we encourage you to come out for the Concerts in Care.

Since 2006, over 8,000 high-quality professional Concerts in Care have brought the rich experience of performance arts to people in residential care across Canada.

Family Council Meetings – You’re Invited

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A family council is a group consisting of resident family members, friends and representatives who work together with staff to maintain and enhance the quality of life of residents and to provide a voice in decisions within the facility that affect them.

Family council meets every third Thursday of the month.

From February 19, 2015:

Members met in the Menno Home Chapel for an informative presentation by Nelson Cordoco and Joanie Dunn from Dignity Memorial Funeral Services. Research states that the most stressful event in one’s life is the death of a spouse. The presentation was a reminder that planning ahead is so important in order to protect our loved ones. Filling out a pre-planning guide ahead of time is highly recommended so you do not have to once your loved one has passed on. It is a huge stress reliever.

Education resources, and a time of reflecting on residents that have passed away in the past few months were shared with the group.
Next meeting, family council will have presenters discussing the topic of Polypharmacy. Sometimes, too many medications cause side-effects and drug interactions may cause more harm than good. Every medication that is put in our body involves a balance between risk and benefit; the more medications involved, the more complex the balance is to figure out. Come and bring your questions for this intriguing presentation.

Next family council meeting:

March 19, 1:30pm-2:30pm in the Menno Home Chapel. We hope to see you there.

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Dan Janzen, BSW, RSW
Social Worker
Menno Home / Menno Hospital
604.853.2411 Ext. 441

Compassionate Care – Henri Nouwen

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Have you discovered Henri Nouwen’s writings?

Henri Nouwen was an internationally renowned priest and author. After leaving his professorship position at Harvard University, he worked with the L’Arche Daybreak community near Toronto, Canada. It was there that Henri served those with development disabilities, most notably Adam who became his dear friend and gateway to understanding the Jesus Story.

Henri says this to caregivers (and the rest of society, too)…

Compassion asks us to go where it hurts, to enter into the places of pain, to share in brokenness, fear, confusion, and anguish.

Compassion challenges us to cry out with those in misery, to mourn with those who are lonely, to weep with those in tears.

Compassion requires us to be weak with the weak, vulnerable with the vulnerable and powerless with the powerless.

Compassion means full immersion in the condition of being human.