We have had a great week at JMPC! Staff have really appreciated the kind words and support many of you have demonstrated this week to them. It really does mean a lot!
We have hired new screening staff as our Library staff are heading back to the County of Lennox & Addington Libraries at the end of the month. You will begin to see them getting into their new positions here at JMPC next week and we certainly appreciate your patience as the screeners become accustomed to their new role.
We are very appreciative and thankful to the County Library staff who have been a wonderful addition to JMPC! We hope to maintain a connection with the County Libraries as residents have enjoyed the different programs that they have brought to 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 previous newsletters should you wish to view them.
Hope you enjoy this week’s newsletter,
Angela Malcolm
Director
COVID-19 Testing for Visitors
All visitors coming into the Home must be swabbed within 2 weeks of each visit AND received their negative results.
You will need to call a COVID-19 assessment center to book your COVID-19 swab test and have it completed. It will take approximately 48-72 hours to obtain your results. The number for the Napanee Assessment Centre held at the Lenadco Complex (across the road from JMPC) is 613-354-8254. Other COVID assessment centers are available near you. The link to access your results for this testing is https://covid19results.ehealthontario.ca:4443/agree The Home will require a verbal confirmation that you have been tested and have had a negative result in the past 2 weeks.
Indoor Visits: You will need to take your temperature in the foyer prior to entering each time you visit. Provide your temperature result to the screener. Answer the screeners questions. Sign the pledge. Verbally confirm and sign that you have had a negative COVID test within 2 weeks of each visit. You must wear a surgical mask (provided by the Home); Face shields are not acceptable. No physical contact with the resident.
Outdoor Visits: Outdoor visits do not require a COVID-19 test as of July 15 2020. You are required to wear a facial covering that you supply (face shields are not acceptable). You will be on the outside of the fence and the resident will be on the inside. Bring your lawn chair please.
Perishable Items: Food being brought in for a resident must be in a container that can be wiped down with our wipes and they will then be delivered to your resident right away. All other items will be kept for 24 hours prior to being taken to the resident.
What's New at JMPC
Here is the menu for the week of August 17-23 with the following changes made:
We are launching our NEW Summer/Fall Menu. We have made a special change on Thursday for BBQ day. Residents will be having a BBQ hamburger, and fresh local corn on the cob with an ice cream cone for dessert
Here is the menu for the week of August 24-30th with the following changes made:
We are having our weekly BBQ day on Tuesday and serving BBQ chicken burgers, coleslaw, and apple fritters from the Dundas Street Bakery.
On Wednesday we have our Monthly Birthday Dinner and will be serving roast beef with gravy and yorkshire pudding, chosen by Monika J from Maple Lane.
Here is the week’s program schedule for August 16-22 and here is the week’s program schedule for August 23 – 29.
Have you ever gone to Summer Camp? Remember roasting marshmallows over the fire, silly campfire songs, camp crafts, charades? JMPC Residents are going to celebrate all this week at Summer Camp up on the 2nd floor Front Balcony!
Break Out Day – Over time we have grown increasingly more aware of the negative impact that isolation has on residents who are coming into our Home. We are working very hard to support this challenging 14 days in their room. You will see in some pictures later on in the newsletter a resident taking advantage of her isolation kit in her room that helps staff to support residents with prompts and activity ideas. These kits are individualized for each resident as best we can. But, after the long 14 days of isolation that all new admissions have to go through, it is time to celebrate! This is Break Out Day!!! And finally, they can get to know their surroundings, layout of the Home, participate in programs and meet their neighbors.
Pharmacy Rebranding – Remedy’s Rx has recently merged with CareRx commencing August 25 2020. Click here to read a letter that was sent out to the resident billing contact the week of August 10 for pharmacy matters. Another copy of this letter will be in the insert of your next pharmacy bill as well.
Zoom, Window, Indoor & Garden Visits
Book yourZoom, Window, Indoor and Garden Visit online using Picktime!
We ask that visits be scheduled a day ahead and that weekend requests are completed by Friday at 2pm. For zoom visits, you will receive a confirmation email first. Then, 1 day prior to your zoom visit you will receive the zoom link emailed to you from the Home.
If you have any questions or unable to access this online tool, please call 613-354-3306 and someone will help you Mon-Fri during business hours. Please note that you can continue to enjoy your zoom visit along with an inside, Garden or window visit. You certainly can have more than one form of connection with your loved one.
Need to Cancel your Booked Visit?
The booking site doesn’t have that feature to cancel yourself online unfortunately. So to cancel an appointment you can:
Questions asked to Gwen during this past week and answers provided by Angela Malcolm, Director
Q. Is it possible for more than 2 people to do a garden visit?
A. The Ministry of Long Term Care issued an update to Directive 3 that took effect July 15 2020 and remains in place at the present time. In this update, it is clearly stated that the number of visitors allowed for outdoor visits is up to 2 at a time. Pre-scheduling is required and must ensure meaningful and equitable access for all residents. Consideration to be given to staffing and space capacity available in order to maintain the safety of residents, staff and visitors.
Q. Is there any concern with visitors/families not having to show proof of Negative Covid Test that someone might not have had the test?
A. The Home and many of the residents living at JMPC share these concerns. This was the rationale behind the development of The Pledge here at JMPC that is meant to ensure visitors coming into the Home are being respectful and honest as they sign this document regarding their COVID testing. Many residents are very aware of the impact that dishonesty could have for them and other residents within the Home. The Ministry of Long Term Care does not permit Homes to request proof of COVID test.
Please feel free to reach out to Gwen should you have any questions or wish to chat.
This graphic illustrates the difference between a healthy brain and one with changes associated with dementia. Visualizing the physical changes in the brain can help individuals understand why a person living with dementia behaves as they do.
The A’s of Dementia:
AMNESIA
APHASIA
AGNOSIA
APRAXIA
ALTERED PERCEPTION
APATHY
ANOSOGNOSIA
ATTENTION DEFICITS
Individuals living with dementia will experience different losses, to varying degrees. The A’s of dementia represent the many losses associated with the disease. Each A represents a different loss, both cognitive and emotional.
This week, we will review ANOSOGNOSIA and the losses that accompany it. A person with dementia may be partially or completely unaware of their deficits. The term anosognosia means a person simply has no knowledge of their illness. A person experiencing anosognosia may be unaware of their losses. Anosognosia symptoms may vary from person to person, change over time, and may even fluctuate within a day. As dementia progresses, individuals become less aware of their own losses and how those losses contribute to the challenges they are experiencing. This can be very difficult for care givers who provide care as those living with dementia are no longer aware that they need assistance. With this, behavioural changes such as refusing assistance and anger are often the result of anosognosia.
HOW MIGHT A PERSON EXPERIENCE THIS LOSS?
They may be unaware of memory problems and believe they are safe to live at home alone.
They may attempt to stand up and walk after fracturing a hip.
They may not know that they need help to bathe or that they haven’t bathed in months.
They may continue to drive despite having license revoked.
They may tell family they make meals every day and eat well, however home care workers find moldy bread and margarine as the only evidence of food.
Because they are unaware that they have memory problems, they may become suspicious that people are stealing their valuables from them when in reality, they have just forgotten where they have put their valuables.
The above experiences can be extremely frustrating and distressing for those living with this loss. Fortunately, there are many different strategies care givers can use to help someone who has anosognosia in dementia. These include:
Recognizing that the individuals reaction is due to changes in their brain and not because they are in denial of their disease. As well, they are not trying to be difficult so arguing with them will only increase stress in both the care provider and the person.
Validate their concerns, acknowledge what the person is saying and repeat their words back to them so they know you are listening.
Develop creative strategies for providing assistance and discreetly make changes that will help them live safely.
Without mentioning dementia as the reason, try to make changes by finding creative ways to stop the person from doing risky things like driving, managing their finances or using the oven.
Never give up, reapproach with a new strategy. Remember, what works today, may not work tomorrow.
Many of the most effective dementia care and communication techniques aren’t easily figured out. For more information on diminished self-awareness, visit: https://www.alzheimer.ca
Alzheimer's Society
If you are feeling that you would like some additional support or have some questions that you would like to work through we would like to encourage you to access this amazing local resource. Lisa would be happy to chat with you!!
Around the Home
Bocce Ball on August 10th
Lilac Knoll Patio Time
Lilac Knoll Workers
Listening to the Manning Brothers
Our Veggies
Isolation Kits to Pass the Time
Ceiling Tiles in the Lilac Knoll Sensory Room – Soooo Peaceful!