Menno Apartments – Assurity Approved – Well Done!

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We are thrilled to announce Menno Place Apartments – Independent Living are now part of Assurity’s Approved Operators!

Assurity is the Mark of Quality developed by the experts at EngAge BC (https://engageseniors.ca/assurity) to make it easier for seniors and their families to pick a home health or independent living organization that upholds industry standards for quality. It’s like a 5-star rating for Menno Apartments!

As an Assurity-certified independent living organization, Menno Place will have the Assurity logo on their Route 65 listing. Having the Assurity symbol means Menno Apartments has made it a priority to meet or exceed industry standards in areas such as privacy, safety, client/resident onboarding, infection prevention and control practices, emergency preparedness, employee safety and client satisfaction.

Assurity was developed from the ground up by collaborating with B.C.’s best home health and independent living professionals, and consultations with older adults and family members about things that were important to them when choosing a place to live with support!

Thank you to the staff at Menno Apartments for all you do!

Winning Tagline Announced – Resident and Family-Centred Care Tagline Contest

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Here is the winning tagline:

“If it matters to you, it matters to me/us”

 

We thank all who entered the contest! What an amazing response.

80 people submitted their ideas for a tagline with over 241 tagline suggestions!

The winning tagline was chosen by the Resident and Family-Centred Steering Committee who did not know the names of the individuals who provided the 6 semi-finalist tagline suggestions.

The winning entry was made by Sharon Simpson, Director, Community Enrichment who is not a member of the RFCC Steering Committee. She has declined the prize.

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Menno Place describes Resident and Family-Centred Care (RFCC) this way:

Resident and family-centred care at Menno Place starts with asking our residents and their families, “What matters to you?”

We focus on respectful engagement, collaboration and communication so we can help each resident achieve their best days possible.

 

As you read this definition, here are some ways to think about how it applies at Menno Place:

  • The definition starts with and ends with our residents. Without residents at Menno Place, there is no reason to exist. They are the centre. It is for our residents that we do all that we do – from maintenance to administration and all that comes between.
  • The definition begins with our action and initiative. It is the responsibility of the staff and leadership of Menno Place to ensure that we keep the spotlight on providing RFCC.
  • The definition shares the easily remembered, simple question that will initiate an RFCC focus with a resident or family member – “What matters to you?”
  • The definition includes the 3 primary ways we engage in RFCC: respectful engagement, collaboration and communication.

Thank you to the RFCC Steering Committee who have taken us through the exercise of defining RFCC, creating an RFCC Framework and providing a catchy tagline that we will use to remind ourselves, our residents and our families what it means to have a Resident and Family-Centred Care focus at Menno Place.

Karen Biggs, CEO, Announces Her Retirement – Dec 31, 2022

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Karen Biggs, CEO, announces her retirement for December 31, 2022

Karen began her service as the CEO of Menno Place in May of 2013. As she moves into this next season of retirement, her focus will be on her continued care for the love of her life, her husband, Peter.

Karen shares, “When the Lord led me to this amazing campus, I had no idea how much it would bless me over and over. The Leadership team is an amazing group of individuals who care passionately about each other and about the seniors we serve with compassion, fervor and a deep and abiding faith.” We thank you, Karen for leading the Leadership Team who, in turn, led with confidence and vision in their roles.

Karen’s leadership is visionary and innovative – she led changes that included putting financial investment into the campus. This includes the Primrose Gardens putting green, the Living Waters Garden, the upgrades to the Chalet garden and the Courtyard.

Karen has the unique position of being both the leader of Menno Place and a family member as her husband, Peter, lives in Menno Home. She is a devoted advocate to the Resident and Family Centered-Care philosophy that undergirds our care for seniors.

With 42 years of serving seniors as a nurse leader, including 9.5 years at Menno Place, Karen is completing a lifetime commitment to the vulnerable who need our support and care. We thank you for your service, Karen, and bless you as you prepare for the next season of retirement. May you find great joy in the journey!

This is a photo of Karen and Peter enjoying the journey together!

If you would like to thank Karen and wish her well in her retirement, please fill out the form (below).

The Mennonite Benevolent Society Board have begun their search for our next CEO who will ensure our founder’s legacy of a living Christian faith as they lead us into the future.

Peter and Karen on their wedding day – June 13, 2020

Fill out my online form.

Volume 2022.11 – WorkSafe BC coverage for work related injuries

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WorkSafe BC coverage for work related injuries

There have been recent questions regarding whether team members are covered for Workers Compensation Insurance when working off-site.  To clear up any misconceptions, please note the following:

If a team member is injured in the workplace or in the act of doing work-related tasks off-site, you are protected regardless of how the injury happened.

Whether an injury occurs when you are taking a resident for a walk down the street, helping a family member get them into their car, riding the duet bike with a resident around Mill Lake, or driving to the store to pick up supplies, you are covered under the Menno Place WorkSafe BC policy.

If you have any further questions, feel free to contact me.

Jeanette Lee

Director, Human Resources

Jeanette.Lee@MennoPlace.ca

Volume 2022.10 – HEU Application for Membership and Dues Collection

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HEU Application for Membership and Dues Collection

On June 24, 2022, the Hospital Employees’ Union (HEU) was voted in to represent the Support Service & HCA team members at Menno Home as the exclusive Bargaining Agent.

Any Association dues that were deducted after that date will be refunded to the members.

Each member must complete an APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP and an ASSIGNMENT FOR FEES AND DUES form indicating you understand you are bound by the Constitution and By-Laws of the HEU and authorizing the deduction of HEU fees and dues from your wages.

The above forms are located in the staff lunch/break rooms on all units.  Please complete and return to either your supervisor or the receptionist at Menno Home by August 31, 2022.

Thank you,

Jeanette Lee

Director, Human Resources

Menno Place

Volume 2022.09 – Cultural Diversity Training

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Cultural Diversity Training

Surge Learning

As we work with a diverse aging population, we seek understanding and respect to enable us all to work effectively with residents, families and/or caregivers who have diverse cultural backgrounds, religious beliefs, and care needs.

Surge Learning provides education in the areas of gender diversity and cultural diversity.

You will find this education on Surge Learning under :

  • Cultural Compétence and Indigenous Cultural Safety (5 courses)
  • LGBTQ (2 courses)

All team members will be assigned one course under each topic.  Feel free to take more courses if interested.

We encourage all team members to complete these courses and become better informed on how to work with our diverse resident population.

Jeanette Lee

Director, Human Resources

Looking to advance your career at Menno Place?

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Looking to Advance your Career at Menno Place?

Menno Place provides support for the continuing education, development, and growth of team members in relation to their roles and advancement opportunities with Education Assistance Funding.

You can find the details of the program on Sharepoint under Policies & Procedures: AP 2.12 Continuing Education for Managers and Employees

Click here for instructions on how to login to Sharepoint – CLICK HERE

Mental Health Bingo Challenge Winners

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Mental Health Bingo Challenge Winners

And the Winner’s Are…. Congratulations to Linda Weatherly and Joyce Wiebe for completing the Mental Health Bingo Challenge and being the prize winners! (Refresh your memory about this challenge – CLICK HERE) Let’s all continue to enjoy activities this summer that fill us with joy! Some of the activities they participated in were: yoga, go for a walk, pet an animal, dance, visit a friend, surprise someone with a treat, take a nap 🙂

What is happening to keep Menno Place cool during the hot summer?

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Menno Place Addresses the HEAT

It’s summer again and we are working hard to keep Menno Place COOL!

As you know, in 2021, there was a heat dome that impacted our area from June 25 – 29th. Environment Canada stated that this was “a dangerous, long duration heat wave”. Menno Place put all of our Heat Plan practices into place, including providing hydration centers, fans, cooling cloths and bringing residents into common areas to cool down.

In the fall of 2020, Ottawa committed up to $1 billion through the Safe Long-term Care Fund to help provinces and territories to improve infection prevention and control in long-term care. Ottawa and BC announced an agreement to provide close to $134 million for British Columbia’s facilities that deliver long-term care through this Safe Long-term Care Fund.

As we provide services in the Fraser Health region, Menno Home and Menno Hospital were invited to submit proposals in three areas:

  1. Mattresses & Bedframes
  2. Furniture & Fixtures
  3. HVAC Upgrades.

With this opportunity, Menno Place leaders went into overdrive to get quotes for upgrades in these 3 areas. With respect to HVAC upgrades, we were encouraged to submit proposals to strengthen infection prevention and improve resident comfort in existing long-term care homes by adding air conditioning and improving HVAC systems.

Bas Kervel led the submission of proposals in this area, getting quotes and determining the needs in Menno Home and Menno Hospital. As a result, Menno Place was awarded:

  • $150,000 for HVAC upgrades in Menno Hospital
  • $178,000 for Menno Home “swing air-conditioner units”, and
  • $170,000 for Menno Home “mini-split air-conditioning”

Prior to the announced funds being awarded, Menno Place ordered the units and the parts in December 2021.

We have put in air-conditioning and are working on adding more as the parts become available. As in all industries, the supply chain has been impacted globally and we are waiting for some parts for the East wing of Menno Hospital. We are waiting for equipment for Menno Home south wing and for Menno Hospital W2.

19 “mini-splits” have been installed in Menno Home and are connected to the outdoor unit.

Our Maintenance Team continues their excellent work as they put in place the equipment and parts that have been delivered. We thank them for this important service to our residents and staff.

This summer has been cooler – and even the HOT days have been cooler with these improved upgrades. Thank you to all who made this possible!

 

Senior Living CaRES Funding Program – advance your career!

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Senior Living CaRES Funding Program

Are you looking to Advance your Career in long-term-care? Check out the funding provided through the Senior Living CaRES Program. Up to 100 bursaries, each worth $2,500, is available to front-line sector employees (casual, part-time or full-time). Submissions are welcome July 15, 2022 to September 7, 2022.

Click here for the Senior Living CaRES Eligibility and Application Criteria PDF