Shayla Peters – Unit Clerk at Menno Home – It’s Rewarding Work

Nursing unit clerk finds a workplace with heart

Shayla_Nursing-Unit-ClerkOriginally published on the University of the Fraser Valley website

Growing up, Shayla Peters had dreamed of becoming a nurse.

But then, grade 12 happened. “I lost my motivation,” Shayla recalls. “I just wanted to get out of high school. I no longer knew what I wanted to do.” Shayla found work at a fast food outlet. “That was just a job,” she says.

“The kind you do when you’re not serious about your future.” Bored and underpaid, Shayla felt stuck. After six months, she realized she needed to take action if she wanted a change.

Choosing a Career

“My mom told me about the eight-month Nursing Unit Clerk program at UFV,” she says. “It did not require as much schooling as Nursing and wasn’t as expensive. I had always wanted to work in health care. The idea of helping people appealed to me.”

Shayla started researching the profession online: she saw lots of job postings on employment sites. And the hours were good.

“I enrolled in the program in 2010,” Shayla says. “It was a lot of work, but it was worth it. The program has high standards. And the teachers are incredible. They have experience in the field and the stories they share are relevant and useful.”

At the end of the program, Shayla completed a practicum at the Abbotsford Regional Hospital, where she gained hands-on experience. After graduation, she applied for a job there. But under pressure, she failed the test. The job required that she type 50 words a minute; she fell just short of the mark at 48.

She beat herself up afterward. It was such a missed opportunity. What followed was almost a year of applying for every Nursing Unit Clerk job under the sun. While looking for a break in the profession, Shayla worked in a coffee shop. “It was discouraging,” she confesses. “But I still would say to anyone in my shoes, ‘Just keep applying.’ Persistence pays off in the end.”

Taking an Unexpected Path

However, when a nursing unit clerk job opened up at Menno Home in 2011, Shayla considered letting it pass. “I had never pictured myself working in residential care,” she says. “I was afraid it may be a depressing work environment.” But months of hopes dying in the bud had toughened Shayla up. What did she have to lose? She opted to apply to the 24-hour care facility, located on the Menno Place campus in Abbotsford.

This time, not only did her résumé make it to the top of the pile, but she also landed the job. And submitting an application turned out to be the best decision of her life.

“I was wrong about working with seniors,” she explains. “I just didn’t know how rewarding it would be. Menno Home is an amazing place and I would like to continue working here until I retire.”

Such a statement appears extreme for a young person who has almost 40 years left in the workplace. “I am serious,” Shayla protests, when she is faced with skepticism. “My co-workers are amazing. They are compassionate and loving. They care about each other and about the residents. Not many workplaces provide this type of supportive environment.”

Life as a Nursing Unit Clerk

At Menno Home, Shayla works at the front desk. “I am right in the middle of all the action,” she points out. “Every day is different. I love that. It never gets boring.”

In addition to handling admissions, transfers, and discharges and keeping all records in order, Shayla organizes charts, prints lab reports, stocks supplies, directs visitors, answers questions, and more.

But perhaps more meaningfully, she gets to make a difference in people’s lives. “It is like caring for your grandparents,” she says. “You just grow to love the residents.”

Working with seniors takes patience and understanding, especially when memory loss strikes. “Residents sometimes wander to the front desk, and they are confused or agitated,” Shayla says. “I may comfort them or take them to their bedrooms. They are so thankful for my help.”

Shayla acknowledges that the death of residents is always heart wrenching. “It is sad to see people you care about decline and die,” she says. “But we can rest on the fact that we have done everything we could to make the last part of their lives as happy as it can be.”

Despite the hard moments, Shayla would not give up her job for anything. “Every day, I feel good about going to work,” she says. “It’s exciting and rewarding to work at Menno Home.”

On the whole, Shayla credits her training for the opportunity to find fulfillment in her career. “I wouldn’t have had the chance to work at Menno Home if I didn’t take the Nursing Unit Clerk program at UFV,” she stresses.

 

 

Recreation Week – February 1-5 – Amazing Race!

Recreation-Week-2014-374x200The Menno Home and Hospital Recreation Department are inviting Staff, Residents, and Families to get involved and participate in Menno Place Amazing Race.

Recreation Team will lead participants on a journey of awareness the entire week. We encourage all Staff, Residents and Families to take part or to simply watch and have a good laugh.

Staff Members will compete against other units for the title MENNO PLACE AMAZING RACE WINNER. There will be a series of detours, road blocks and physical task to complete. Come join the fun!!

Recreation awareness week is happening February 1-5

Everything you wanted to know about Recreation and more!

Family and Friends Network – February 18

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

Thursday, February 18, 2016
1:30 – 2:30pm
Menno Hospital Chapel

We are looking forward to seeing you!

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

I’ll Take a New Lease on Life, Please

What if life were like a drive-through restaurant and we could order up a “new lease on life”? Would you be interested in ordering one for yourself this year?

I’m not sure where you go to order up a lease for happy, renewed energy in life, but I know that I’ve seen them here handed out here on our campus of care for seniors.

In general, elderly seniors are not expecting a new lease on life. Many of them have lived full and meaningful lives that feel “complete”. They have invested in people, in relationships, in travel, in adventure, in love, in ministry and careers. They have lived full and meaningful lives and may not feel like they need or deserve a new lease on life.

When hardship comes upon them in old age, it’s both expected and shocking. They’ve seen their friends and loved ones suffer from disease, from pain and loss. They know it’s “out there”, but when it comes home to them, it comes as a surprise and a challenge.

And yet, even in this surprising hardship there are stories of elderly seniors who are experiencing a new lease on life. This too, takes them by surprise as they see how God is giving them hope and joy. Sometimes, it’s a crisis that brings them into a new lease on life. Sometimes, it just “sneaks up on them”.

One senior came to live in the apartments at Menno Place because he was exhausted. He cared for his wife for many years and had run out of energy. After she passed away, he didn’t have the capacity to carry on by himself. He didn’t know how to cook and didn’t want to learn. All he wanted was to sit on his chair and watch the geese fly by, watch the sun rise and sit and watch the leaves turn red and fall from the trees. He needed to rest – and rest he did. It took two years for him to feel rested.

In his new home he formed new friendships, learned of others’ stories of care and grief. He felt supported by his new friends and joined a Bible Study. The chaplain asked him to lead the Bible Study from time to time and he did. He started to enjoy himself. He found a new rhythm.

Suddenly, one day, he had the thought, “this is a new lease on life”… a new era, a hopefulness that was unexpected after the dark days. He said this all with a smile of contentment. It had snuck up on him. He was surprised and satisfied with his new realization. He was experiencing a new lease on life.

Not everyone would expect that moving onto a campus of care could give a new lease on life, but it is a common experience for seniors. After struggling with increasing needs, they finally land in a place where their needs are met with dignity and kindness.

Caregivers can also find a new lease on life after their spouse passes away. For years, they devout themselves to their vow to love “in sickness”.  Daily they serve and visit with a spouse who may no longer remember them, who may have incredible chronic pain or who is suffering the effects of debilitating illness. One day, their loved one breathes their last and sorrow is mixed with relief. The suffering is over.

Can a new life begin for that caregiver? Is it possible to find a new lease on life as a widow or widower?

I know from my many conversations with seniors that there is profound guilt at carrying on after a loved one has passed away. There can be a sense that their loved one didn’t “deserve” their hardships and a deep desire to transfer the pain to oneself. And yet, they could not take on the pain or suffering. Their love and support for their spouse is all that can be done. And when the spouse passes away, is there a possibility of a new lease on life?

On our campus, there are deep friendships among the widowers who have cared for ailing spouses. They share their stories, but they don’t need to. Sometimes one sentence is all that they need to connect. They understand each other’s lives. They have lived the same dedications, the same stresses, the same undying love. And now, these friendships with their depth of understanding are a gift – a new lease on life.

Jesus, in His kindness looks at His created people with compassion – the young and the old. He looks over the crowds and feels kindness and understanding. He sees that we are like sheep without a shepherd. He knows that we need His love and His guidance, no matter what our age. He knows that we need full and meaningful lives – He promises us to give us abundance in our lives, even more than we can dream of. (John 10)

And yet, those who spend their lives trusting in God for their hope and strength are often guided by Him through a “dark night of the soul”. This is a time where spiritual strength feels like spiritual weakness, where understanding of God and His ways is unclear, foggy or confusing. It is a time of sorrow mixed with joy – a time where God feels distant or even absent.

And out of this dark night of the soul, seniors testify to a new lease on spiritual life. It’s a slow renewal as God guides us through doubt and into faith. It’s a time when we rely on the community of believers to be strength for us when we can’t find it within. It’s a time of incredible awareness of our own weakness and need for others and for God. This is the testing of our faith (1 Peter 1:6-9). Through this comes perseverance and inexpressible joy. A spiritual new lease on life!

This joy… this is the abundance of life promised. Joy in suffering. Peace in confusion. Hope in hardship. Love and understanding from the community around us. It is difficult to thank these people or God for the support because words don’t convey a fraction of our hearts.

So, what is a new lease on life? Is it a feeling? Is it a circumstance? Is it both?

It’s a person or situation that makes someone happy or healthy or gives them new energy. A new lease on life doesn’t somehow magically balance the prior hardship to erase or dismiss the past. It doesn’t forget the journey and the suffering. A new lease on life is an injection of hope. It’s an injection of joy. It’s an injection of peace.

Perhaps the hardest part of embracing a new lease on life is recognizing that it can happen in ways that are unfamiliar to us, like moving onto a campus of care, receiving help from a homecare giver or even going through the “dark night of the soul”.

So, if life were like a drive-through restaurant and you could order up a “new lease on life” this year, would you do it?

Sharon Simpson is the Director, Communications and Stakeholder Engagement at Menno Place

Aging Together Abbotsford 2016 – Friday, February 12 & Saturday, February 13

Aging Together Abbotsford 2016 is a conference for baby boomers and seniors. It takes place over 2 days on Friday February 12, 2016 and Saturday February 13, 2016. The conference will offer educational workshops, expert speakers, as well as vendors and exhibitors that promote a full and healthy lifestyle for older adults.

Location: Seven Oaks Alliance Church (2575 Gladwin Road)

Keynote Speakers:

Isobel MacKenzie – Seniors Advocate of British Columbia

Dr. Rob and Dr. Dave, former hosts of WiseQuacks

Dr. Darryl Plecas – parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health for Seniors

For more information and to register, Click Heredarryl-plecas

isobel wisecracks

#BellLetsTalk – Depression in the Elderly

logo_letstalk_enToday is #BellLetsTalk awareness day  – an open conversation about mental health. At Menno Place, we are aware of the impact of depression among the elderly, particularly as they experience multiple losses in their lives.

Depression among seniors is a result of “factors such as loss of control and independence as the result of illness and/or disability, loneliness, and lack of social support” – Fact Sheet: Depression Among Seniors, Canadian Psychological Association

It is critical to remember that depression is NOT the unavoidable fate of older age. Statistics say that about 15% of older persons over 65 report significant levels of depressive symptoms.

At Menno Place, we seek to reduce depression in elderly seniors by providing a full social calendar of recreational opportunities; spiritual care including Bible Studies and one-on-one pastoral care visits; friendship care through one-on-one visits; medical intervention as recommended by a doctor; music therapy; bus trips and so much more.

Depression in elderly seniors can be difficult to detect. The symptoms of depression such as sleep problems, feeling fatigued and lack of energy naturally occur in older adulthood.

The Canadian Psychological Association suggests several psychological approaches that are particularly useful for people who are unable or unwilling to take antidepressant medications:

  • Cognitive-behaviour therapy helps individuals with depression become aware of how thoughts influence mood and behavior, and learn to correct negative ways of thinking in order to alleviate depression.
  • Interpersonal therapy helps the depressed person cope with current stresses and challenges in interpersonal relationships – in particular in the context of conflicts, grief and bereavement, changes in roles, and social support.
  • Problem-solving therapy helps individuals with depression develop effective problem-solving skills to cope with current difficulties, such as managing a health condition or adjusting to living in a nursing home.
  • Reminiscence therapy helps individuals with depression re-evaluate personal memories in order to rediscover a sense of worth and life coherence and meaning.

These psychological treatments are safe and effective alternatives to medications for mild to moderate depression, with combined drug and psychological treatment often used for complex cases

For the past 2 years, Menno Place has been pleased to participate in providing an immersion exercise for the Family Systems: Advanced Marriage and Family Therapy course (CPSY 616) for the Masters of Arts Counselling Psychology degree at Trinity Western University. This involves setting up two one-on-one interactions per student with an elderly senior who lives on the Menno Place campus to increase the student’s understanding of issues faced by the elderly.

Our participation in this course has supported professor Martin Bartel in bringing into focus the issues elderly seniors and their families face.

With this involvement in educating future Family Counsellors, Menno Place is bringing the issues of mental health and family dynamics into the conversation. Our goal is to provide support in the area of mental health for elderly seniors and their family now and in years to come.

Karen Baillie Elected Vice-President for BCCPA

The BCCPA is pleased to announce that Karen Baillie, Menno Place CEO, has been elected as our new Vice-President. Baillie is now slated to become the next President of the BCCPA. The next AGM will be held in conjunction with our Annual Conference being held in Whistler on May 29-31.

“It’s great to have someone with Karen’s experience and background take over as our new vice-president,” says Elaine Price, President of the BCCPA. “Under her leadership our organization is poised to build even further on the incredible momentum we have generated over the last few years.”

Baillie is the Chief Executive Officer of Menno Place, a campus of care operated by the Mennonite Benevolent Society in Abbotsford, British Columbia since 1953. Menno Place serves more than 700 seniors with a staff of 600. Karen has more than 35 years experience in geriatric care including executive and senior management positions in administration, staffing, resident services and nursing.

Prior to joining Menno Place, Karen served as the Executive Director of Laurel Place in Surrey and at Vancouver’s first campus of care, Haro Park Centre. She also participated in opening St. Vincent’s Langara in 1991 for Providence Health Care. Karen began her leadership in the residential care sector in a 30 year-old family-owned business which operated three small care homes.

“This is an incredible honour for me to be in a position to lead an organization I feel so passionately about,” says Baillie. “The BCCPA has a proven track record of being an extremely positive influence and catalyst in helping to shape the future direction of BC’s continuing care sector.”

Baillie has worked extensively with non-profit Boards and with private ownership facilities. Her association with the BC Care Providers began in 1980 when it was organized as Pri-Care. She is currently the vice-president for the Board of SafeCare BC. She is also the recipient of the 2015 Chapter Award for Distinguished Service for the Canadian College of Health Leaders, BC Lower Mainland Chapter. In 2011, Karen was awarded the prestigious Surrey Women in Business Award in the Professional Category.

As Vice-President, Baillie automatically assumes the role as Chair of the Governance Committee. The Committee is tasked with the responsibility of recruiting new board directors for the BCCPA.

“We are always on the lookout for members who are interested and willing to contribute back to the sector by volunteering on our board,” says Baillie. “Anyone interested in joining the BCCPA Board next year should reach out to us as soon as possible.”

Refuge for the Refugees

Refugees are all around me here at this seniors’ campus of care. They walk through the café with their coffees and bundles of bananas from our campus grocery…

Family and Friends Network – January 14

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

Thursday, January 14th, 2015
1:30 – 2:30pm
Menno Hospital Chapel

We are looking forward to seeing you!

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

Joy Jump – Click for Joy-Inducing Quote

joyjump2