Family Dinners – What a Success!

20161029_192140Thank you to all the family members at Menno Home and Menno Hospital for joining us for our first Family and Friends Appreciation Dinner!

The dinners took place on Friday, October 28th and Saturday, October 29th. They were attended by 80 family members and 14 leadership staff. Guests enjoyed a steak dinner with delicious roasted potatoes, beans and squash followed by a perfect piece of black forest cake.

Sharon Simpson, Director of Communications and Stakeholder Engagement shared a presentation about “Who Do I Ask?”. Photos of staff members were displayed and an explanation of their role in the care of a resident was explained. 80% of survey respondents said that they were more confident than prior to the dinner in who to speak with when they have concerns about their loved one.

Karen Baillie, Chief Executive Officer provided a presentation on the hopes, dreams and future of Menno Place. Following the dinner, 75% of survey respondents said that they were more confident than prior to the dinner in the leadership of Menno Place and the future vision. She encouraged family members to come to leadership with concerns, compliments and ideas.

Click here for PDF version of Karen’s presentation. She shared a presentation that talked about our hopes at Menno Place to honour each resident’s unique journey. She shared how important it is that the flow of each day is driven by what is meaningful to that resident in a home that is their own. Karen talked about what is important to the leadership as we continue to improve and move forward.

Click the movie below to view Karen’t presentation slides.

 

What a joy it was to read the comments of the family members who shared their experience of the evening:

Very glad Menno Home put on this event. It was great to meet many of the leaders. Seems that Menno Place cares about grandma; they are proactive in the care they provide. I could only stay 90 minutes; had child issues at home. Sorry to have missed some of the presentations.The Black Forest Cake was awesome.. I’m still dreaming about that cake.

 

The atmosphere was very welcoming and the food was delicious. Thank you again for a wonderful evening.

 

It was a very warm and comfortable atmosphere. We learned a lot about Menno Place, including factual information, plans for the future and goals for the best care for all residents. We appreciated the opportunity to see and meet the people involved in the care and the decision making.

 

It did make me feel that I can be proactive and confident about approaching staff regarding what my thoughts on my dads needs are. It was good to be able to greet a staff person by name and be recognized the week after the dinner.

 

It did make me feel that I can be proactive and confident about approaching staff regarding what my thoughts on my dads needs are. It was good to be able to greet a staff person by name and be recognized the week after the dinner.

Along with these comments, there were concerns expressed by family members:

Our family would like better communication with those who are providing care for our loved one.

 

It would be helpful for families to have more time to meet those in leadership positions – to circulate between the tables to hear how residents are responding in specific areas.

 

Please allow more time for discussion and comments at the end.

Overall, 95% of those who responded to the online survey after the Family & Friends Appreciation Dinner were satisfied (30%) or very satisfied (65%) with the dinners.

 

Here’s what you said about how you felt after the dinner:

75% felt more appreciated by Menno Place in your role as caregiver

70% feel that your thoughts and input matter more in how your loved one is cared for

55% feel an increased sense that you are an integral part of the team that provides care for your loved one

55% feel more hopeful about the care your loved one receives at Menno Place

80% feel more confident about who to speak with to express concerns

70% are more likely to talk with leadership about your loved one’s preferences and needs

75% are more confident in the leadership of Menno Place and the future vision

What’s next?

With 95% of survey respondents saying that they would attend another event of this kind, we’ll start the planning for another opportunity in the new year! We realize that not every family member or friend had the opportunity to respond to this invitation. We look forward to extending another one to you in the future!

Here is how you saw it…

Survey – from the Office of the Seniors Advocate

osaThe Office of the Seniors Advocate is reaching out to 27,000 British Columbia seniors and their families to get first-hand feedback on the quality of their residential care and accommodations. The results from this survey will give residents and their families a voice. They will provide a road map for improvement of the quality of care and services provided to residents and their families in residential care. Residents will be interviewed. Those living in Menno Home E1 will not be participating in the survey process.

This survey data will be collected from in-person interviews conducted by Volunteer Interviewers. Family members will be mailed a separate survey.

Menno Home and Hospital are participating in this province-wide survey between November 1st, 2016 and January 15th, 2017.

For more information or if you prefer not to participate, please contact:

Menno Place Coordinator: Pearl Nucich | Email: Pearl.Nucich@MennoPlace.ca  |  Phone: 604.859.7631

Project Manager: Lillian Parsons  |  Email: lparsons@providencehealth.bc.ca  |  Phone: 604.317.2094

November Highlights

Please note the following highlights in our recreation calendar for the month of November:

November 10 – Pet Therapy Program begins with the BC Miniature Horse Association (Home – 1:45pm / Hospital 2:15pm)

November 10 – Fraser Health wellness Clinic shuttle bus at The Apartments (9:30am – 11:30am)

Nov 18 – Caring for people living with dementia – Ingrid Schultz – Terrace East 2:30pm

Nov 19 – Youth Ukeulele at Terrace East – 2:30pm

Nov 21 – Christmas Decorating across the campus – 9:30 – 11:30 am – Families WELCOME!

Family and Friends Appreciation Dinners – Oct. 28 & Oct. 29

Falling colorful autumn maple leaves background.

Menno Place is hosting two complimentary dinners for Families & Friends of our residents in Menno Home and Menno Hospital.

If you are supporting a loved one who lives in Menno Home or Menno Hospital, please join us for dinner! We want to gather together to share about Menno Place and hear about your experiences supporting a loved one in residential care.

Does your loved one live at Menno Home?
Dinner takes place on Friday, October 28th at 5:30pm in the Menno Hospital Chapel
RSVP by October 23rd to 604.853.2411 or RSVP online – click here.

Does your loved one live at Menno Hospital?
Dinner takes place on Saturday, October 29th at 5:30pm in the Menno Hospital Chapel
RSVP by October 23rd to 604.859.7631 or RSVP online – click here.

The details…

  • Limited space limits us to two reservations per resident.
  • Due to limited space, residents will not be joining us for the meal.
  • Specific dietary needs can be accommodated. Please identify these when you make your reservation so we can prepare for your needs.
  • There will be a program for you to enjoy and an opportunity to share your experiences supporting a resident at Menno Place.

Family and Friends Network – Thursday, October 20th

Come and join us to discover how family and friends can be supported and involved in residents’ lives at Menno Home and Hospital.

Thursday, October 20th, 2016
1:30 – 2:30pm
Menno Hospital Chapel

Guest :

Dale Carlisle, Recreation Therapist, Menno Place

Dale rode his bike from Winnipeg to Abbotsford to raise awareness about dementia. He will be sharing his journey with the group.
Learn more about Dale’s journey here: www.Facebook.com/HumansOfMennoPlace

Facilitators:
Dan Janzen – Social Worker
Ruth Neufeld – Social Services

Grief and Loss Seminar – October 25

Grief and Loss Seminar

Tuesday, October 25th
9:30 am – Coffee
10:00 – Seminar Begins

Clearbrook MB Church
2719 Clearbrook Rd, Abbotsford, BC
No cost

Topics will include:

  • What Grief Is
  • Importance of Identifying Loss
  • Stages of Grief
  • Symptoms of Grief
  • Grieving Well
  • Mending the Heart

Eve Isaak, Chaplain & Grief Support Worker

eveEve has extensive training and experience in Grief and Loss and Pastoral Counseling; She has served as a professional Chaplain in Hospitals, Care Homes, Funeral Homes and Prisons since 1992.

 

 

Older Adults Wellness Festival – Friday, November 4th

You are invited to come to the

OLDER ADULTS WELLNESS FESTIVAL

Friday, November 4th from 9am – 2:30pm
(Drop-in)

Bakerview Church – 2285 Clearbrook Road

Dozens of Displays and Information

Heritage Museum Display

Free admission and parking

Free Clearbrook Corridor Shuttle

Refreshments


Morning Speakers

9am – Fay Puddicombe (Retirement)

10am – David Yan (Finances)

11am – Dan Levitt (Aging)

Lunch and Movie

Noon – Box Lunch $5

1pm – Free Movie Matinee “Still Alice”

Thanks to Generous Supporters:

Rexall, City of Abbotsford, Dignity Memorial


7pm – Return to Bakerview Church for

Dr. Paul Chamberlain presenting on Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) – hosted by Tabor Village

Fraser Health – Health Fair – Staying Independent

Health Fair

presented by Fraser Health

“Staying Independent” – Thursday, Nov. 10

10am – 3pm at Garden Park Tower

health-fair

Visit a FREE Health Fair and Speaker Series. The event will feature a large health fair and presentations by local health experts, including Dr. Art Hister of Global News. We invite you to come and learn about Fall Prevention, Bone Health, Vision, Home Exercise, Medical Equipment and more!

Thursday, November 10th – 10am – 3pm

Garden Park Tower

2825 Clearbrook Road, Abbotsford