This has been a great week to finally spend some time outside with the residents. We enjoyed some gardening this week and got our pots planted over the weekend.
We are starting our new positions this week called Resident Support Aides. They will be receiving their training this week and we are excited to welcome them to our team. This position will provide some extra time with residents, help with portering them to the various destinations they would like to go – such as to programs, outside in the gardens, the library, the dining room etc.
They will also be helping to make the beds, assist in the dining room at meal times etc. This is a brand new position for the Home and we are excited to see the impact that this has on providing excellent care and support to the residents.
We continue to have one new admission per week from the community only. These new admissions must be COVID tested and have their results within 24 hours of their admission date. The resident still must be isolated for 14 days for the safety of everyone. This is certainly a difficult time for both families and residents as it is not at all conducive to a home-like welcome to the John M Parrott Centre.
We are happy to say that we have now obtained 98% of our resident contacts emails and have them connected to this newsletter which will hopefully be beneficial to everyone in accessing the most up to date information as to the happenings at the Home.
If this is your first time reading our newsletter, I would encourage you to go to this link where you will find the six previous newsletters should you wish to view them.
Enjoy the last week of May and we will chat next in June!
Angela Malcolm
Director
What's New at JMPC
Menu -- Here is the menu for this week. At the residents request we made a change for the bean casserole on Thursday at dinner switched to a garden burger.
Program Schedule -- Here is this week's program schedule.
Resident Newsletter -- We have a delivery person! Thanks to Muriel for taking on this job.
Muriel
Visual Day Planner For Lilac Knoll
(Lilac Knoll is our secured, dementia home area)
Monthly calendars are very overwhelming and difficult for residents to follow. A new format of a visual planner has been created in Lilac Knoll to assist residents as they seek to know what to expect next in their day. It also helps staff to guide residents in using this tool as a reminder of what is next.
Routine works Many people living with dementia feel as though they’re losing control of their lives, which can be frightening. If your feeling lost and confused it can help to know that certain daily events will always happen at a certain time. Besides, most people like to have a routine, and a person with dementia is no exception.
It anchors each day Generally speaking, we all function best if we have a regular bedtime, get up at around the same time each day and eat regular meals. So whenever possible try to stick to the same times, it’s a simple way to provide a focus and structure to the day.
It keeps everyone informed The person with dementia simply has to look at the plan to know what’s happening next, staff, family or friends can also see what’s happened earlier in the day and avoid repeating the same activity.
Here is our calendar for Lilac Knoll
Reminiscing Books
Kim Kerr who is the Archivist for the County of L&A Museum, is working temporarily at the Home due to the closure of the museum during COVID. She has created some L&A-specific labeled picture books for the residents to enjoy. Residents are recalling some past time spent at a variety of these locations and is very helpful in prompting good conversations with the residents during 1:1 visits.
Around the Home
The tuck shop remains open 1 day a week with Ruth at the helm along with Jennifer from the County Library helping her
Residents painting birdhouses
Time to Get Outside and Enjoy this Beautiful Weather
Message from the Chair of Family Council
Q&As
Here are some questions that Gwen received this week with the answers provided by Angela Malcolm
.
Q. With the nice weather are residents who are not independent getting an opportunity to get outside to enjoy the fresh air?
A. We are very happy to share with you that residents are being encouraged every day to go outside and many of our programs have been moved to occur outside now. Gardening is occurring as a regular program now which also helps to encourage residents to get outside and enjoy the fresh air.
Q. If I need to exchange my loved ones winter clothing for spring what is the best way to do that?
A. Should you wish to do this, please reach out to Carolyn McConnell (see contact at bottom of newsletter) so that she can help arrange this with you to ensure it is smooth and efficient.
Please feel free to reach out to Gwen if you have any questions that you would like to have answered in this newsletter
You can help us reach our goal of $10,000 to help support the over 4,000 individuals living with dementia, their families and caregivers, throughout Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington communities. Family Council has been approached about putting in a team for this virtual walk on Sunday, May 31st to help support programmes in our community. If you are interested please contact Candace McMullen or Gwen Babcock by Thursday, May 28th.
We will register our team (JMPC Family Strong), send you a pledge form and whatever you raise in your walk can be e-transferred. You can do anything: walk anywhere (Maybe make a walk goal? 5km? 3km? 10,000 steps, whatever, do a trail, do a fitness workout, walk your yard, do a stair challenge. Invite your family and friends to support you. If possible send Candace a picture. These funds will go toward local programs and services that improve quality of life for people living with dementia and their families in your community and support awareness and education about dementia.
Living with dementia and a loved one with dementia is so challenging mentally, physically and emotionally. Lets support each other!
A JMPC Staff Member's Lived Experience
Having a loved one in LTC can be an emotional experience. Many have feelings of guilt for simply having no other option than to place their person in Long Term Care. Some feel sadness associated with missing their loved one, anxiety wondering how they are doing. For some, there is a feeling of loss over losing the role of care giver and even a feeling of lack of control. Now, let’s add in a global pandemic and all that comes with that. How are you feeling now?
We placed my dad into LTC February 22, 2019. As a nurse, I knew it was something that had to be done, as the burden of caring for someone with a deteriorating disease was just too much for our mom. It was one of the most difficult days I’ve encountered and I have felt every single emotion listed above. Each time I visited my dad, I would see slight changes in him, knowing that slow decline was a natural part of his journey. When I visited dad on February 29th, I didn’t realize that would be the last time I would see him for months. I recorded video of us laughing and sharing memories while looking at old photos, not knowing how precious that video would become in the coming months.
During the outbreak, my family and I connected with dad weekly via video chats. Being able to see him gave us great relief, but it just wasn’t the same as being able to sit beside him, share a snack, and give him a hug. I so looked forward to those short chats and I made the most of our time together, not stopping to notice any of those slight changes that accompany his disease.
A couple of weeks ago, my mom called me in a complete state of panic. She informed me that she was arranging to have dad discharged so she could bring him home. Unfortunately, the LTC home he lived in had multiple cases of COVID-19 along with deaths related to the illness. Now, know this. Mom is tiny in stature, but makes up for that in personality. My “professional” advice as a health care provider working in LTC held no weight in the conversation and I was left knowing she was going to go and get him regardless of my opinion. A deal was made that they would come to my home where I would help mom care for dad.
In preparation, I shared with mom and my siblings that they needed to be aware that they will see some changes in dad as we had not seen him for several weeks. I explained the effects social isolation has on the elderly and how it can impact them physically and cognitively. As I shared all of this with my family, I remember thinking how lucky I was to have this knowledge as I would be such a great support to us all. This could not have been farther from the truth. I was so shaken by what I would very quickly come to realize. Dad had deteriorated far beyond what I would have imagined. This deterioration didn’t happen because the LTC staff failed to provide him good care, every one of his care providers were top notch. His deterioration happened simply because of the natural progression of his disease and unfortunately his being separated from his loved ones contributed to that decline.
So here is what I’ve realized. I am definitely not alone. In sharing my story, there will no doubt be some families who will have very similar experiences when they have their first in-person visit with their loved ones. This could unfortunately be distressing and challenging and JMPC staff want to support families and friends as best we can. We encourage you to reach out, ask questions, share your thoughts, even anxieties so we can best plan how to help support you.
Please reach out to Candice McMullen, Carolyn McConnell or Michelle Hickey (contact info at bottom of this newsletter) if you have any questions, concerns. Alternatively, Gwen Babcock who is the Chair of JMPC Family Council, is also available.
We are all in this together!
Coming Soon for Father's Day
We are preparing special something for our residents celebrating Father’s Day and would love it if our families could send a couple photos of their Dad from his younger years. Please send these photos to Candice McMullen at cmcmullen@lennox-addington.on.ca.