Home Happenings - December 2014

Home Happenings - December 2014
From the Desk of the Executive Director, Joy Husak
I cannot believe it’s December already and it’s time to start thinking of the Holiday Season. I would
like to thank staff, residents and volunteers for decorating our home. They have captured the true
magic of the Holiday Season. It certainly makes days all the more merrier and memorable. To further
enhance the “Spirit of Christmas,” please enjoy the holiday tunes played throughout Fairhaven.
The arrival of a new year provides an opportunity to look back at the previous year’s challenges and
accomplishments. This gives us the chance to understand one’s personal position on issues that
demand attention (self-reflection). Self-reflection is not only for individual gain but also supports
Fairhaven’s development of best practices and culture. Fairhaven has experienced many trials over
the past year with changes in government legislation and funding. However, we have been innovative
and inventive in order to maintain the quality of life for our residents and ensure a positive working
environment for our staff. I can honestly say that we could not have done this without the support and
dedication from our staff, residents, volunteers, family members, community partners, Fairhaven
Foundation and donors.
If you are looking for different Christmas gifts, why not take a look at our Link Gallery or purchase a
Fairhaven Calendar for your loved ones. You probably have seen white Teddy Bears as you enter our
home and at Reception. The Foundation has launched their Teddy Bear Campaign with this year’s
ambassador being Tony Citro, a resident of Fairhaven. Look for more information in this newsletter.
Warmest Thoughts and Best Wishes for a Wonderful Holiday
And a very Happy New Year!
Our Mission: Committed to enhancing the quality of life in a caring and safe environment
Resident Focus - Valerie Sullivan
Valerie has been a part of the “Fairhaven Family” for almost two years and for the past year, she has
been volunteering her time 2 afternoons a week at the Peterborough Humane Society. She
socializes with the cats, taking great care in petting, grooming, and playing with them. The cats have
come to depend on Valerie’s visits and her special attention to them all. The staff at the Humane
Society very much appreciates her time and effort with the cats. All the cats are up for adoption and
patiently waiting for a loving home! Great work Valerie!
Please Give the Gift of Being Scent Free this Holiday Season
At this warm and fuzzy time of year we see and smell so many beautiful things. While holiday scents
definitely have a way of making you forget the nasty weather outside please remember that
Fairhaven is a scent free home. Please try to avoid bringing the following things into the home:
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Fresh wreathes
 Perfume and colognes
 Heavily scented body lotions and sprays
 Candles of any kind
 Scentsy products
 Room deodorizers
Ayla Bax Human Resources Generalist
Palliative Care Team
The Palliative Care Team would like to thank everyone who donated baking supplies,
baked goods and time to their team. It is with this generosity that we will be able to
provide a small comfort to families who are visiting their loved ones. If you are
interested in making a donation you can contact Michelle Matheson, Riverside Special Care.
Michelle Matheson, Palliative Care Team Member
New Members Welcome!
The Fairhaven Staff Association is looking for new members to join their organizing committee. If you
are interested in joining the team please contact Danielle Thomas at extension 221, Stephanie Reid
at extension 285 or Cindy Lafave at [email protected].
Fairhaven’s Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee
Stay Safe this winter!
Here are some tips for getting to and from work safely. You
should:
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Think about the best route to your destination and
plan for a little extra time to get there
Avoid rushing or taking shortcuts over areas where
snow or ice removal is incomplete
Select appropriate footwear - flat footwear with
rubber soles provides better traction on ice and snow
than leather-soled or high-heeled shoes
Use handrails where you can
Take small steps to keep your center of balance under you
Avoid carrying lots of heavy bags, especially on steps
Walk slowly and never run on icy ground
Keep both hands free for balance, rather than in your pockets
Always be aware of your surroundings
Be particularly careful getting into and out of vehicles - and hold on to the vehicle for support
Be sure to use floor mats when entering a building to remove moisture from the soles of your
shoes - this will help protect you, as well as others who follow, from having to walk on wet or
slippery surfaces
Resident Council and Family Council Christmas Raffle
Don’t forget to get your tickets in support of the councils. Draw will be held on Sunday,
December 14 at the Family Council Christmas Tea. The prizes are the winner’s
choice of a large Christmas basket, a $200 Keg Gift certificate or a small Christmas
basket. Tickets are $2/each or 3 for $5.00. Tickets are on sale daily in the lobby, or
can be purchased from Pat Leahy, Ray McKenzie or Yvonne Leahy.
Results from Communication Survey
In early October a Communication Survey was made available to all staff. The survey asked
employees to answer questions and provide feedback about their experience with communication at
Fairhaven. The survey responses helped to identify those areas where we are doing well and those
areas where we need to improve. In addition, some of your comments have provided us with helpful
suggestions about what we could do to improve communication at Fairhaven. For those of you who
took the time to complete the survey, we thank you and we will endeavor to continue to work with you
to improve communication at Fairhaven.
Based on your feedback, the following are some of the projects we will undertake during 2015:
 Adding a communication module to on-boarding and annual education.
 Adding a communication section to one of the bulletin boards by the employee entrance.
 Installing a memory board by the 1st floor elevator to inform staff of those residents who have
passed.
Communication Committee:
Rhonda Lustic, Lillian Horn, Marilyn Young, Carrie Rombough, Jen Baro, Lisa Gravelle and Jaimie
Bondy-Donohue
Nutrition Services
Andrea Harris, a part time Kitchen Aide who works on WV4 in
the evening, is on a journey to become a Food Service Manager.
As part of the Food Service and Nutrition Management program,
which she is taking through the Canadian Healthcare
Association, she will complete a two week field placement in the
Nutrition Services Department working alongside her Manager
Karen Lombardo. The placement commences December
8th. The field placement is designed to give students the
opportunity to practice new skills in a healthcare environment,
and to understand the professional environment in which they
will be working in the future. Her focus will be on Human
Resources and Communication within the department. The Nutrition Services Department will also be
host to 4 students from the Culinary Management program at Fleming who will be completing two
week placements in the New Year. Nutrition Services is pleased to have the opportunity to support
the growth of its employees and other students in the community.
Karen Lombardo Nutrition Services Manager
Organ
We have a working electric organ that is available to a good home. The organ in the Worship Centre
is being replaced and the current one needs to be relocated. You must be able to pick-up the organ
from Fairhaven. A donation to Resident Programs would be appreciated. If interested, please contact
Rhonda Lustic at [email protected] or 705-743-0881 extension 248.
2014/2015 Influenza Season Update
We are officially in the thick of it: Influenza Season is underway and Influenza is in Ontario! The best
way to protect yourself and your loved ones from Influenza is to be vaccinated. Proper hand hygiene
with warm soap and water, or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, will also prove essential for a healthy
flu season. All of Fairhaven’s residents, with a signed consent on file, will be (or most likely have
already been) vaccinated against seasonal influenza. Do you need to know where you can get a flu
shot? Visit the Peterborough County-City Health Unit at www.pcchu.ca for a list of clinics. You can
also visit Flu Clinic Locator at https://www.ontario.ca/health-and-wellness/get-flu-shot/ and enter your
postal code to find a pharmacy near you that administers the flu vaccine.
As you can see from the chart below, we are already seeing a sharp increase of influenza in Ontario
these last few weeks. Protect yourselves; protect your loved ones and Get Vaccinated!
For more information, or for help in locating a flu clinic, please contact Lori Rowsell at 705-743-0881
ext. 284, or by email at mailto:[email protected]
Employee Changes in December
New Hires
Christina Crockett – PSW
John Mowbray – PSW
Brittany Golloher – PSW
Maggie Souter – PSW
Jammie Doughty-Cruise – RPN
Goodbyes
Irene Smallman-PSW
Caitland Sage-RPN
Daniel Ploufe-Cook
Jennifer Davy-PSW
Nancy Stables-Housekeeping
Brad McCleverty-PSW
Human Resources
Due to the Christmas holiday schedule, the final pay of 2014 will be directly deposited
on Tuesday, December 23, 2014. To allow for the processing time that is required
before this date, we require all paperwork to be submitted to Human Resources
by 9:00 am on December 18, 2014. In doing this, we will not be able to verify any
changes from December 18-21, 2014. Therefore, any required corrections from
December 18-21, 2014 will be processed through the first pay in January 2014.
If you require any further information please speak to Amanda Sheppard, Human
Resource Coordinator or Lisa Gravelle, Human Resource Manager.
Behavioural Supports Ontario
Just like those changes you see happening outside as the season shifts into winter, the
Behavioural Supports Ontario (BSO) Team has had a lot of changes to the team recently.
We are excited to announce the addition of Jennifer Parr, PSW, and Kelly Stevenson, RPN,
to the team. Both joined the team in October 2014 and we are looking forward to working alongside
them to enhance the quality of life for our residents. Please join us in congratulating Kate Conlin who
has become an RPN. Kate will be leaving our team in November. We are sad to see her go as she
has been a part of the BSO Team since the beginning, but we are excited for the new opportunities
ahead for her. We wish her all the best and look forward to working with her in her new role as an
RPN within Fairhaven. We’d also like to announce that Amanda Sicker, RPN, will be away from the
team temporarily as she is going to be welcoming a baby in the New Year.
Your current BSO Team is; Josee Delisle RPN (BSO Lead), Jackie Patterson RPN, Lisa
Micklethwaite RPN, Kelly Stevenson RPN, Lynette Collier RPN, Rose Coones PSW, Stephanie Reid
PSW, Danielle Hill PSW and Jennifer Parr PSW.
We have been working hard this past year to transfer knowledge to our staff through education
sessions. We continue to offer the BSO Baycrest Rounds every third Thursday of the month, which is
a 1 hour session that staff can attend that covers topics relevant to the current needs/concerns in
Long Term Care Homes. We are also offering webinars throughout the month of November and
hope to continue to offer them in December and into the New Year. We encourage staff to keep an
eye on their emails as we will send out details of upcoming webinars and education sessions that will
enhance your knowledge and assist you to develop new techniques when caring for our residents.
We currently offer a Gentle Persuasive Approach workshop to staff that has been ongoing since BSO
began. To date we have been able to train 155 staff within the home and will continue to work
towards a goal of having every staff trained in GPA. After receiving their initial 8 hour workshop, staff
are invited back every 12-18 months to attend a refresher course to ensure they continue to
understand, feel confident and utilize the knowledge gained in the 8 hour workshop. Keep your eyes
open for any upcoming education provided by BSO.
Resident Christmas Lunches
On Thursday, December 18th, Fairhaven will be filled with Christmas spirit as we celebrate with our
annual Christmas lunches and entertainment. A fancy festive lunch will be served and each dining
room will have musical entertainment. Hopefully we will have a visit from Santa too! All staff and
residents are encouraged to dress festively and celebrate the season together at this special event!
Rhonda Lustic Programs and Volunteer Manager
Fairhaven Foundation News
Fairhaven Calendar Festive Special
For the month of December Fairhaven Calendars will be $20
each OR two for $30!
Calendars can be purchased at reception or the Foundation
office (the Foundation office has the capacity to take credit
and debit cards for your convenience). Give the gift that
keeps on giving as we continue to enrich the lives of
Fairhaven residents.
Show you Care by Giving to the Bear
Our 2014 Teddy Bear campaign has officially launched!
Show you care by giving to the Bear and an ornament will go
on our teddy bear tree honouring your gift. Foundation staff
will be circulating to all Resident Home Areas in days to
come collecting donations so be on the lookout for us!
Contact Jaimie Bondy-Donohue at 705-743-0881, extension
214 or [email protected] for more information or to
make a donation.
This Fairhaven Newsletter is a monthly publication for residents, families, employees,
volunteer and the community at large. It is posted on Fairhaven’s website,
www.fairhavenltc.com on the “News and Events” page. You may also opt to have it
sent directly to your email address. Please contact Jamie-Lee Pearson with your
comments or suggestions at [email protected]