As you may have heard in the news all staff in Long Term Care are to be swabbed for COVID-19 twice this month. Staff swabbing began on June 4 and is done here in the Home. At this time, for residents, we are to continue with only swabbing residents who are showing a symptom with the normal isolation procedures in place for them.
We have developed a new “Get to Know Me” tool that we will send out to our new admissions since COVID started and moving forward. It is a little hard to gather some of this information now that we aren’t interacting with families as much as we would normally be. Our interaction, of course, is either electronic or over the phone, which as you no doubt agree is just not the same! It is very helpful when staff get to know the resident’s past experiences, hobbies, careers, place of birth or where they grew up, favorite music, big dreams, big life events, etc. This tool will hopefully help us learn these things.
We are also working to create some possible family support groups or other similar type resource which you will be able to help us create as you read on in this newsletter.
If this is your first time reading our newsletter, I would encourage you to go to this link where you will find the previous newsletters should you wish to view them.
Hope you enjoy this week’s newsletter,
Angela Malcolm
Director
What's New at JMPC
Menu -- Here is the menu for this week. We did switch the strawberry shortcake for the Hawaiian Wedding cake on Saturday.
Program Schedule -- Here is this week's program schedule.
End of Life Visitation – In an effort to be as inclusive as possible to families, while also being mindful of infection control and safety, you must be at least eighteen years of age to enter the Home. We will allow one visitor at a time every six hours. This will hopefully give families the flexibility that they may need to ensure people are able to say goodbye. Those coming in the Home must wear PPE as provided and must not visit other areas of the Home or other residents. We would suggest bringing a book, etc to help pass the time.
Zoom Meetings
We have moved our zoom and window scheduling online!
This will help ease the booking process and help staff prepare the resident for your visit. We ask that visits be scheduled a day ahead and that weekend requests are completed by Friday at 2pm. Current weekly scheduled zooms do not need to book as they are already in the schedule. Please book your visit by clicking here. If you have any questions please call 613-354-3306 or email Candice.
Some of you may not be familiar with Candice.
It’s always nice to put a name to a face…here’s Candice!
JMPC Zoom Fun Facts
We have been very busy with our zoom visits and thought you may be interested in these fun facts about the JMPC zoom experience.
Smiling Faces Buttons
The smiling buttons are a big hit!! Such a great way to help make a connection with a resident! Chantell from the Library has been busily taking the staff photos and making buttons all week.
What is Dementia?
Many of our JMPC families have loved ones living with Dementia. Because dementia is progressive, those living with the disease can experience many changes throughout their journey, leaving loved ones with a bundle of emotions. Understanding what dementia is can be a good start to coping with some of those feelings. However it is important to remember that feeling sad, frustrated or anxious about dementia is perfectly normal. Allow yourself to have those feelings, you are not alone.
So what exactly is Dementia? Dementia is a set of symptoms including memory loss, impaired problem solving, difficulty thinking, and complications with language. Changes in social skills, mood and behaviour are also symptoms that will interfere with a person’s ability to complete many daily activities. The symptoms of dementia will gradually get worse due to its progressive nature. This is a result of damage to or loss of nerve cells and their connections in the brain. Depending on the area of the brain that's affected by the damage, dementia can affect people differently and cause different symptoms.
Common signs and symptoms include:
COGNITIVE CHANGES:
Memory loss, which is usually noticed by a spouse or someone else
Difficulty communicating or finding words
Difficulty with visual and spatial abilities, such as getting lost while driving
Difficulty reasoning or problem-solving
Difficulty handling complex tasks
Difficulty with planning and organizing
Difficulty with coordination and motor functions
Confusion and disorientation
PSYCHOLOGICAL SYMPTOMS:
Personality changes
Depression
Anxiety
Inappropriate behavior
Paranoia
Agitation
Hallucinations
Having a loved one with dementia isn’t easy. The Kingston Frontenac Lennox &Addington Alzheimer’s Society offers resources and support to persons living with dementia and their families or friends.
You can contact them Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. @ (613) 544-3078 or email ask@alzking.com
Message from the Chair of Family Council
Please feel free to reach out to Gwen if you have any questions that you would like to have answered in this newsletter
We would love to hear from families as to the type of supports or assistance that we could provide. Here is a link to a few questions that would help us to focus our efforts to resources you would find valuable.
What Does Isolation Look Like For My Loved One?
An isolation toolkit is provided for any resident who may require isolation. Isolation can be a difficult experience for anyone. It can also be a confusing time for residents with cognitive impairments who don’t understand why they must stay in their room. They may easily forget why they must not leave, they may be bored, restless or they may get lonely and leave looking for something to do or for others. We have created toolkits for an individual who loves to read, a toolkit for someone who is crafty or creative, a toolkit with a variety of options to engage a person at various levels of their cognition. Staff are able to customize a toolkit with a tremendous variety of pieces according to a residents personal choices. Staff then go in to the residents room (wearing the appropriate PPE) and spend 1:1 time with the resident and if needed help them to engage in different items within their toolkit or any other games etc that the resident is interested in.
For those wishing to create an isolation box of items for your family member, we would certainly encourage you to do so to help them pass the time.
Around the Home
Gunner having a window visit with Helen O
Wray M enjoyed a nice window visit watching his family blow bubbles
and draw him pictures
Our gardeners
The “Legal Ladies” Wanda and Thelma very much abiding by the social distancing on our balcony as they enjoyed the outdoors on a Friday afternoon complete with music and iPad games.