Category Archives: News
Nurse practitioner hired for Caressant Care, Saugeen Valley
HARRISTON – A new, innovative partnership between two long-term care homes is improving access to primary care for Wellington residents thanks to nurse practitioner funding from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and the leadership of the Waterloo Wellington Local Health Integration Network (WWLHIN).
In September 2015, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care announced funding to add 75 nurse practitioner positions over three years to Ontario long-term care homes.
“The funding was designed to bring primary care right to long-term care residents, improving their health and reducing the need for them to travel to receive care,” said Liz Sandals, MPP for Guelph.
When the WWLHIN reviewed the funding, it was clear that residents living in rural long-term care homes would benefit the most as they had a real need for additional primary care support. Unfortunately, these homes didn’t qualify for the funding because they had too few residents.
“We saw a real opportunity here to increase access to care for residents living in rural long-term care in Mount Forest and Harriston,” said Bruce Lauckner, CEO of the WWLHIN. “So, we suggested the two homes partner to share a full-time nurse practitioner. That way we could increase access to care while still ensuring the most efficient use of resources.”
As a result, nurse practitioner Julie Murtha was hired in May to provide primary care at Caressant Care in Harriston and Saugeen Valley Nursing Centre in Mount Forest and to support the great staff teams at each home.
“We’re thrilled,” said Kim Leuszler, vice-president, quality improvement at Caressant Nursing and Retirement Homes. “Julie is helping us to build even stronger relationships with hospitals and primary care, and she is working closely with our staff as a key team member. We’re able to intervene earlier, provide tests, support and treatment on-site and reduce potential transfers to emergency departments. The collaboration with Saugeen Valley and support from the WWLHIN for this initiative has been a very positive experience for all involved.”
The addition of the nurse practitioner role to our team at Saugeen has already introduced many benefits,” said Cate MacLean, administrator, Sharon Village Care Homes and Saugeen Valley Nursing Centre. “Julie is able to spend dedicated time meeting with families and residents to offer enhanced primary medical care for our residents. The role is vital in our rural communities and will be instrumental in meeting quality initiatives, such as reducing ED transfers.”
The share position was also implemented at Caressant Care locations in Arthur and Fergus.
“These collaborations have benefitted more than just the residents and their families,” said Lauckner. “The partnership has created a space for staff development, in which best practices and current success can be shared between two formerly separate organizations. As far as we know, it’s the first time a partnership like this has happened.”
Saugeen Valley Nursing Centre announces plan to redevelop 87-bed facility in Mount Forest
The Saugeen Valley Nursing Centre and local MPP Daiene Vernile met on Tuesday morning to announce a plan to redevelop the 87-bed long-term care facility in Mount Forest.
“Long-term care homes like Saugeen Valley Nursing Centre are not just facilities – they are peoples’ homes,” said Minister Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. “It is vital that they remain up-to-date to provide residents with secure, safe and comfortable surroundings.”
Unlike retirement homes or supportive housing, long-term care homes are places where adults can live and receive help with activities and access 24-hour nursing and personal care. Today, approximately 78,000 residents in Ontario live in the 630 long-term care homes across the province.
Some of the enhancements that residents of the Saugeen Valley Nursing Centre will benefit from once renovations are complete include: additional space for specialized programs like rehab and physiotherapy, a home-like environment with renewed interior design, more spacious rooms, more air-conditioned areas and better wheel-chair access.
The plans for redevelopment come as a part of Ontario’s largest investment in public infrastructure in the province’s history. The Ontario government has committed to helping renovate 300 long-term care homes over the next nine years – a $160 billion investment that will support 110,000 jobs every year across the province.
The project is also a part of Ontario’s Patient’s First: Action Plan for Health Care, which provides patients with faster access to the right care, better home and community care, the information they need to live healthy and a sustainable healthcare system.
“The redevelopment of homes like Saugeen Valley are crucially important and integral to the present and future needs of our aging population,” said Candace Chartier, CEO of the Ontario Long Term Care Association. “The association remans committed to working with the government upon the capital renewal program sothat more homes can be modernized as soon as possible.”
Since 2015, the province has announced support for 475 projects for redeveloping hospitals, schools, roads, bridges and transit. By investing in public infrastructure, Ontario will keep people and goods moving, connect communities and improve quality of life.
Other media coverage:
http://daienevernile.onmpp.ca/News/12826?rc=l&l=EN
12 GOOD HABITS TO DEVELOP IN 2015
We’ve all heard tips on how to break bad habits, but we don’t often hear about forming good ones.
Here are 12 habits you may want to develop in the New Year.
JANUARY
A brand new year stretches before you. It’s a time of new beginnings—no matter how many New Year’s you’ve rung in.
Developing healthy habits is on many people’s list of resolutions. It’s never too late to add this to your list. This month, as you’re able, seek to be more active. (Be sure to check with a professional who knows your specific limitations.)
FEBRUARY
Mention February and many people think of Valentine’s Day. Of course every month is a good month to express our love for family and friends, but why not do so in a special way this month? And if you have the opportunity to befriend someone who’s lonely, it will do you both a lot of good.
MARCH
Physical activity goes hand in hand with healthy eating. Eating well can help you think more clearly, feel more energized, and have a more positive attitude. Pay attention to the effects of the foods you eat, and seek to make good choices.
APRIL
Springtime . . . the crocuses and tulips are blooming, chasing away the monochromatic colour scheme of winter. Plants make a great addition to any room. If you don’t have a plant on your windowsill, this is a great time to get one. If you don’t have much of a green thumb, try a cactus or other type of succulent. They require very little attention and yet add life to your surroundings.
MAY
Plants are great . . . and so are pets. While it may not be possible to keep a dog or cat, you may want to consider getting a fish or two. They add a splash of colour (pun intended). It’s fun and relatively easy to care for them. And many people find it relaxing to watch them swim around their bowl.
JUNE
Each year thousands of new books hit the shelves. June—any month really—is a great time to visit the local library or bookstore and select a book that interests you. If you’re not able to get out, you can order books online. Large print and audiobooks are helpful options for those who have difficulty with their eyesight.
JULY
Not everyone is able to get away on holidays, but this is a great time of year to do vacationy-type things. Day trips can be a lot of fun. Or maybe you want to plan a little get-together with a vacation theme. Brainstorm with a few of your friends and see what ideas you come up with. Who knows? You may even want to make this a regular event?
AUGUST
The days are often sunny and warm. Wouldn’t it be great if people used these words to describe you as well? Make it a habit to be caring and upbeat, and it’s bound to happen. See if you can do something nice for someone every day this month. It doesn’t have to be extravagant. Even a smile or kind word can go a long way to brighten someone’s day.
SEPTEMBER
Dubbed in recent years “the most wonderful time of the year” because children are heading back to school, September reminds us of the excitement of learning new things.
Why not take a course or learn a new hobby? It’s never too late to learn something new.
OCTOBER
Thanksgiving rolls around this month. It’s the perfect time to compile a gratitude journal to share with family and friends . . . or simply to keep for yourself. Even if it was a challenging year, try to think of all the things you have to be thankful for and make note of them.
NOVEMBER
Time to revisit your eating and exercise habits. Have you been more active? Have you sought to eat well? Even if you have, maybe it’s time to try something new—just to make sure you don’t get bored. Have fun and enjoy!
DECEMBER
And whoosh, another year comes to a close. (Boy, that was fast!)
It’s that time again, time to look back over the year and see what new habits you’ve formed and decide which you are going to work on in the year ahead.
The Benefits of Art in Helping Alzheimer’s Patients Overcome Obstacles
If you have a loved one with Alzheimer’s, or if you’re in early stages, then you know how scary and confusing the upcoming years seem. Alzheimer’s Disease is a difficult one for families to overcome. It carries all kinds of obstacles that are foreign and overwhelming. Often, families will look to London care homes to help take care of their family member. At Sharon Village Care Homes, we see this as the first step towards working through this disease.
As a family, and as a patient, there’s more you can do to make your time with Alzheimer’s a little bit easier. It has been proven that art is a top way of pushing through the obstacles and slowing down the effects of Alzheimer’s. London retirement communities often include art practices for this reason. Art is a great hobby, and a fantastic way to keep your mind as sharp as possible. Here are a couple of the benefits of art that Sharon Village Care Homes has found for dealing with Alzheimer’s.
Reconnect and remind
It’s well known that memories of music are some of the last to leave an Alzheimer’s patient, but what you may not realize is that the visual arts can have the same effect of bringing back memories. Patients paint scenes or objects from their past that help to link them to their life before Alzheimer’s struck. The act of art opens gates to access memories that the patient and his or her family may have thought were lost.
Help patients make sense of their new world
Art therapy for Alzheimer’s patients helps them make sense of the world around them. Patients can map out their feelings and perceptions of their new experiences with their disease and in their London retirement communities. It can connect them with their own feelings in ways that will help them sort out how they can come to terms with the overwhelming changes that are constantly occurring while they’re in London care homes.
Ignites the neurons
Art, like many other intellectually stimulating activities, activates neurons. Painting and sketching, even sculpting, can help keep your mental faculties running. This can slow down the effects of Alzheimer’s and keep the mind as sharp as possible. As it activates the mind, art also helps to increase patient’s focus, concentration, and attention span.
Boost self-esteem
As the effects of Alzheimer’s begin to strike, patient’s self-esteem takes a serious cut as they struggle to understand their new mental state. This can make dealing with the disease even tougher. Reconnecting to past memories and to a creative, mentally stimulating hobby boosts the self-esteem of Alzheimer’s patients in Sharon Village Care Homes to counteract this side effect.
Improves social connections
Especially in London retirement communities, painting and art practices often take place in group settings. This offers patients the opportunity to meet others in their London care homes, including other Alzheimer’s patients. It also offers opportunity for families to socialize and connect with their families. This becomes a sharing opportunity, and a method of communication so that families can understand their family member’s experiences with Alzheimer’s.
The best years are still to come in London care homes. Take a tour of Sharon Village Care Homes today to see if our London retirement communities are right for your family member or yourself.
Sharon Village Care Homes Celebrates Community Expansion
Sharon Village improves quality of care for long-term and senior residents.
London, ON: This month Sharon Village Care Homes celebrate the expansion and improvement of its long-term care facilities across London. With undergoing renovations at Kensington Village long-term care home, as well as the grand opening of a new environmentally friendly long-term care facility Earls Court Village on August 4th to a greater number of London area residents.
Earls Court Village features both private and standard double suites, as well as dining areas, family and common areas, and country kitchens on each floor. Other on-site amenities attest to the comprehensive nature of Earls Court facilities, and include a theatre room equipped with a popcorn machine, a library, beauty salon, tuck shop, and multi-denominational chapel. Earls Court follows Sharon Village’s belief in creating an active lifestyle. This new village offers a wide variety of activities for residents, including walking paths around Earls Court’s gorgeous courtyard, which is protected by a small wooded area and a hill. On-site RN and RPN staff provides a high standard of assisted living.
Earls Court Village hopes to reach LEED level silver. To attain this level, Earls Court Village has been constructed using as many local products as possible, and using chemicals bought only through approved “green” suppliers. They will also be harvesting rainwater to use in their plumbing through a water cistern system, as well as the construction of a “green roof” on which vegetation may grow and thrive. The roof attempts to maintain green spaces in the city, even while urban centers and communities expand. In the future, Earls Court Village also has electric car charging stations to encourage and promote the use of this “green” transportation technology.
The Kensington Village renovations will encompass suites, elevators, the kitchen, as well as the common room. With updated facilities and a reduction in the number of residents in the care home, Kensington Village hopes to increase its level of care for each individual resident.
Peter Schlegel expressed how all decisions regarding construction at Earls Court Village and Kensington Village were made only because “in the long term it’s better for the resident.” The administrative team understands the importance of activities in welcoming and integrating residents into the community. These include monthly birthday parties, pub nights, the inclusion of community groups in the meeting rooms, and family visits to the theatre and country kitchen. One of their main focuses is “to put a huge emphasis on keeping our residents integrated into the larger community.” This inclusion and integration will continue on at Kensington Village following renovations, and at the new Earls Court Village.
For those who are looking for a more independent lifestyle, Sharon Village offers retirement homes as well as the adult condominiums at their Strathcona Village Homes in Mount Forest, Ontario.
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