Nourish to Flourish! National Dietitian Day March 15th

/in

We are grateful to our Dietitians today as they are invaluable members of the Menno Place Team! Please take the opportunity to thank them and recognize their contribution as we celebrate National Dietitians Day on March 15 during Nutrition Month 2025! Our dietitians assess and provide solutions for dietary and nutritional needs for residents, ensuring that residents in care have issues addressed such as nutritional needs, ability to chew and swallow along with hydration. They play a crucial role in identifying needs and creating therapeutic diets that help with quality of life. Thank you to Sharon Fast and her colleague who support this work every day of the year!

Care Team Restructuring Announcement

/in

To: All Menno Place Staff

From: Pooja Mishra, Executive Director of Care

Date: March 13, 2025

Re: Care Team Restructuring

 

To All Team Members,

I would like to share an important update regarding changes to our care team structure at Menno Place. After extensive review and consideration of best practices, we have made the decision to adjust our team structure to better align with our long-term goals and corporate strategy.

As part of this restructuring, the position of Director of Care (DOC) of the Home will be phased out, effective March 31, 2025. This was a difficult decision, and I want to stress that it was made only after thorough evaluation of our current needs. We understand the impact this may have, and we remain committed to supporting all staff throughout this transition.

I would like to take a moment to recognize Kim Scott for her 32 years of dedicated service at Menno Place. Kim has been a valued member of our team, building strong relationships with her colleagues and residents alike. We are deeply grateful for her contributions.

We remain focused on fostering a supportive and collaborative environment for our entire team, ensuring that we continue to provide the highest level of care for our residents.

The current team structure will remain in place until the transition takes effect on March 31, 2025. As this date approaches, we will work closely with the team to ensure a smooth transition while prioritizing the well-being of both staff and residents.

We appreciate your understanding and continued dedication during this period of change. If you have any questions or would like support, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me directly.

Thank you for your commitment to our shared mission.

Sincerely,

Pooja Mishra

Executive Director, Care Services

A Prayer for Pandemic Observance Day – March 11

/in , , , ,

March 11 is Pandemic Observance Day in Canada. For all of us who lived through the pandemic alongside seniors is it a tender time to remember. There was so much loss – lost loved ones, lost time, lost community. And now, years past that first fateful day, some things have gone back to normal and some things never will. In light of all of that we asked Kerry Dyck, one of our Chaplains, to write a prayer for the day. May these words bring you comfort.

Our Loving God,

On this day while taking time to look back and remember our experience during the Pandemic we admit that we’d rather not.

Those were hard days filled with long, difficult hours. But as we cast our gaze behind, we know that you are with us giving us strength, even as you were during the pandemic months of loss, disorientation and discouragement.

Lord, we lament what was lost.

Even though we had lots of time on our hands we lament the time we lost. We lament the missed opportunities caused by the pandemic. We grieve the relationships that suffered under the weight of strain whether due to physical separation or the separation that comes from seeing things differently.

Most of all, loving God, we are sad because we lost dear people to Covid. Oh, how we miss them! Our hearts are heavy. And yet even there you meet us and are with us.

Open our eyes and hearts to your comfort this day. Remind us that you were with us then and that you still are today. May your hope and love fill our minds and hearts with peace for you are the God of all comfort. Lord, we don’t know what will happen tomorrow, but we know that you hold tomorrow in your loving and gentle hands.

This we pray by faith, even if its only a tiny bit,
in the name of Jesus,
Amen.

Fill out my online form.

Reminder: Menno Home Mandatory Education

/in ,

REMINDER – The deadline is just three weeks away 

In order to provide a safe and secure work environment, Menno Place is requiring all Menno Home staff to complete the Violence Prevention Modules 1-8, if you haven’t done so already. This applies to ALL MENNO HOME STAFF, direct and non-direct care staff. This is paid education time.

The final deadline for all staff to complete the modules is March 31, 2025.

You can access and complete the modules on SURGE Learning. If you’re unsure of your username or password, please contact Rachel Setka, HR Generalist, at Rachel.Setka@mennoplace.ca.

You can find more information in the original post here: https://mennoplacestaff.com/menno-home-mandatory-violence-prevention-education/

Did you celebrate a special woman on International Women’s Day?

/in

Did you celebrate a special woman on International Women’s Day?

Read more

Daylight Savings Time Begins March 9th

/in , , ,

Daylight Savings Time begins on Sunday, March 9th at 2AM. Please adjust your clocks accordingly.

The transition to Daylight Saving Time (DST) in the spring, commonly known as “springing forward,” involves setting clocks ahead by one hour. This change can disrupt our internal body clocks, leading to various health and safety concerns. In consideration of your well-being, we would like you to be aware of the following risks of Daylight Savings Time.

Risks Associated with Spring Daylight Saving Time:

  1. Sleep Disruption: Losing an hour of sleep can disturb circadian rhythms, resulting in fatigue, reduced alertness, and decreased cognitive performance.
  2. Increased Risk of Cardiovascular Events: Studies have observed a rise in heart attacks and strokes following the spring DST transition, potentially due to sleep deprivation and circadian misalignment.
  3. Higher Accident Rates: The shift has been linked to a 6% increase in fatal traffic accidents, particularly during morning commutes when drivers are adjusting to the time change.
  4. Mood Disturbances: Disrupted sleep patterns can exacerbate mental health issues, including depression and anxiety.

Strategies to Mitigate These Challenges:

  1. Gradual Schedule Adjustment: In the days leading up to DST, go to bed 15–20 minutes earlier each night to help your body acclimate to the upcoming time change.
  2. Morning Light Exposure: Seek natural sunlight in the morning to help realign your circadian rhythm. Light exposure plays a crucial role in regulating sleep-wake cycles.
  3. Maintain Consistent Sleep Hygiene: Establish a calming bedtime routine, avoid caffeine and electronic devices before bed, and create a restful sleep environment to enhance sleep quality.
  4. Prioritize Safety: Be extra cautious during activities that require full alertness, such as driving, especially in the days immediately following the time change.

Join One of Two New JOHS Subcommittees

/in , , ,

Are you interested in supporting health and safety initiatives here at Menno Place? The Menno Home Joint Occupational Health and Safety committee (JOHS)  is inviting employees to join one of two new subcommittees. No prior experience is required.

The two new committees are:

  1. Musculoskeletal Injury and Violence Prevention Committee (MSI/VP)
  2. Wellness Committee

The goal of the MSI/VP subcommittee is to foster a proactive and supportive environment that minimizes musculoskeletal injuries and promotes employee well-being. The subcommittee will be led by a JOHS representative.

Primary responsibilities of the MSI/VP subcommittee will include:

  • conducting risk assessments
  • developing prevention strategies
  • providing training

The primary responsibilities of the Wellness committee will be to promote employee wellbeing by developing and implementing programs that support physical, mental and emotional health for employees, providing health resources etc.

If you would like to be considered for either of these committees please fill out the form below.

Fill out my online form.

Menno Apartments – HEU-CBA – Phased In Approach

/in ,

To: All Menno Apartments Staff
From: Jessy Manhas
Date: March 13, 2025
Re: MENNO APARTMENTS – HEU-CBA – PHASED IN APPROACH

The HEU-CBA Agreement will be initiated at Menno Apartments with a phased in approach. Phase I will be effective March 25, 2025. This includes all non-monetary provisions.

You can find the HEU-CBA Agreement on the HEU website at: https://heu.org/collective-agreements/community-health/menno-apartments . The next phases will be communicated once an agreement is made with the union.

If you have any questions, you can contact the Chief Shop Steward, Megan Wadham at mewadham@telus.net.

Regards,
Jessy Manhas
Manager of People and Culture

Welcome to Sukhdeep and Rupinder – Payroll Business Partners!

/in , , ,

We are excited to introduce two new members to our finance team! Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Sukhdeep and Rupinder as Payroll Business Partners at Menno Place.

Read more

Violence Prevention Workshop

/in , ,

Learn practical applications to identify risk factors of violence and de-escalation techniques at a Violence Prevention Workshop on Monday, March 10, 2025. Space is limited. Register soon!

Read more