Il y a beaucoup d’activités à The Oaks. Les gens vont et viennent, passant de la rue par le comptoir d’accueil à la salle principale. Dans les salles communes et à l’extérieur, les gens s’assoient, la plupart du temps seuls. Où qu’on aille, une odeur forte d’alcool flotte dans l’air.

Pour un programme de gestion de l’alcool, c’est normal. Après tout, les travailleurs donnent 7 onces d’alcool aux résidents le matin et 5 onces chaque heure par la suite. Il n’y a aucun signe d’ivresse le matin, mais il y en a le soir, explique Courtney McIntosh, préposé aux soins des patients de Carefor. « Ils ont bu toute la journée. Chaque gorgée les rattrape. »

Courtney est préposé aux soins des patients à The Oaks sur le chemin Merivale depuis près de 11 ans. Comme son titre l’indique, son rôle est de prendre soin des résidents de The Oaks. « Nous nous occupons de la vie quotidienne active des clients, précise Courtney. Médicaments, douche, aide aux repas, prise de rendez-vous, lessive, et j’en passe. Nous faisons tout. »

Christal Brownlee, gestionnaire de programme pour Les Bergers de l’espoir, explique davantage le rôle des préposés aux soins des patients : « Ils apportent leur soutien dans tous les domaines, de la gestion du comportement à l’aide aux repas, en répondant aux besoins individuels que les patients ne reconnaissent peut-être pas. »

The Oaks est exploité par Les Bergers de l’espoir, mais ce qui s’y déroule est le fruit d’un partenariat entre Carefor, qui fournit les préposés aux soins des patients; Ottawa Inner City Health, qui offre un soutien infirmier; et Les Bergers de l’espoir, qui fournissent du personnel pour gérer le bâtiment au quotidien, ce qui comprend la préparation des repas et la distribution de boissons aux résidents. Le bâtiment abrite jusqu’à 60 personnes qui luttent contre l’alcoolisme et souvent contre des problèmes de santé mentale.

De plus, le personnel doit de plus en plus gérer le vieillissement de la population et tous les problèmes qui en découlent, notamment les troubles physiques et mentaux importants comme la démence. « C’est une maison de retraite pour les personnes aux prises avec de véritables difficultés personnelles », avance Kaelen Bray, directrice des soins aux patients pour les Services de soutien à la personne et Ottawa Inner City Health.

« Elles sont peut-être des locataires, mais nous leur proposons des services complets [de l’Association canadienne pour la santé mentale (ACSM)] si nous le pouvons et si elles en ont besoin, déclare Christal. Il peut s’agir de choses simples comme se mettre en danger ou ne pas manger. Nous relevons ces situations afin de pouvoir contacter l’ACSM et, idéalement, les travailleurs externes et faire appel à leur aide. »

Comme le suggère le nom « programme de gestion de l’alcool », The Oaks suit un modèle de réduction des méfaits dans lequel du soutien et un logement sont offerts pour aider à atténuer les risques de l’alcoolisme pour les résidents. « Nous essayons de garder les résidents avec nous aussi longtemps que possible, affirme Christal. Pour plusieurs d’entre eux, c’est leur chez-moi. Nous allons au-devant des gens, là où ils sont rendus. Nous faisons très attention à la stigmatisation qui entoure nos clients. Nous ne voulons pas qu’ils se sentent déplacés. Nous ne voulons pas qu’ils se sentent mal accueillis. Certains d’entre eux sont ici depuis la conception du programme (14 ans). Les gens restent ici aussi longtemps qu’il le faut. »

Il n’y a pas qu’un chemin qui mène à The Oaks. Chaque personne qui y vit a sa propre histoire. Kevin Nyembo, superviseur de Carefor et Ottawa Inner City Health, explique que même si ce sont des problèmes de santé mentale qui ont mené de nombreux résidents à The Oaks, les traumatismes pèsent également dans la balance. « Certains de nos résidents sont d’anciens membres de la GRC et de l’armée », raconte Kevin.

On peut voir chez les résidents de The Oaks les conséquences des difficultés qu’ils ont vécues. Il est 8 h 45 du matin. Certains vont au jardin du stationnement arrière pour fumer une cigarette qu’ils viennent de rouler, d’autres restent à l’intérieur et s’assoient. Le prochain verre sera servi dans 15 minutes.

Même si la plupart des gens aiment rester seuls, il règne un sentiment d’unité dans la lutte pour aujourd’hui et demain. Il n’y a aucune pression ni attente, simplement des gens qui traversent les épreuves ensemble. Le personnel offre du soutien, de la stabilité et un endroit sûr dans un monde pas tout à fait sûr. À l’aube de sa 11^e année au programme, Courtney sait que ce qu’il fait compte. « C’est la satisfaction de savoir qu’on fait quelque chose pour une personne, souligne-t-il. On rentre chez soi en sachant qu’on a changé la donne. »

Les soins de santé exigent de plus en plus de PSSP qu’ils offrent des soins palliatifs à domicile aux clients. Les PSW de Carefor relèvent le défi grâce à un programme de 10 semaines.

À la fin du mois de juin, 15 PSSP de Carefor ont suivi un cours avancé de 10 semaines sur la gestion de la douleur et des symptômes au Collège Algonquin. Carefor a offert cette formation au personnel non seulement pour améliorer les soins aux clients et les compétences du personnel, mais également pour constituer une équipe de PSSP ayant une formation avancée en soins palliatifs.

Les soins à domicile ont radicalement changé au cours des dernières années, le personnel devant offrir des niveaux de soins beaucoup plus complexes qui pourraient autrement être dispensés dans les hôpitaux. Cette formation permet à davantage de personnes de pouvoir sortir des hôpitaux pour pouvoir mourir à domicile.

« La pénurie actuelle d’infirmières dans les soins à domicile signifie que même si les PSSP ne peuvent pas administrer de médicaments, une formation comme celle-ci leur permet d’offrir d’autres formes de soins à nos clients, dont beaucoup souffrent de maladies chroniques », explique le responsable de la pratique professionnelle de Carefor, Diane Roscoe.

Le cours offrait une approche palliative des soins axée sur la gestion de la douleur et des symptômes et couvrait un large éventail de sujets, notamment les croyances, la compréhension du processus de mort, le cercle de soins, l’identification et le soutien de la douleur, les difficultés respiratoires, la fatigue et le délire.

Deux semaines de cours impliquaient un laboratoire qui a permis aux étudiants de vivre une expérience plus pratique. Dans le laboratoire, les étudiants ont eu plusieurs études de cas pour les aider à comprendre des situations réelles et les meilleures pratiques à adopter en matière de pratiques telles que la préparation du lit occupé, les soins de la bouche/de la peau, le positionnement pour le confort, les plaies et les pansements, les soins du cathéter, l’oxygénothérapie. , gestion pharmacologique et non pharmacologique de la douleur et bien plus encore.

L’un des étudiants, Jeremiah Olugboye, a déclaré avoir suivi ce cours « pour rappeler pourquoi le secteur des soins de santé existe. Il est facile d’oublier rapidement qu’il ne s’agit pas simplement d’aller au travail et de faire ce qu’on attend de vous, mais que les clients ont besoin de soins avec plus d’empathie et de connaissances.

Jeremiah a estimé que le cours l’aiderait dans son travail de nombreuses manières, notamment en lui apportant une confiance et des compétences accrues en matière de soins de fin de vie, en améliorant sa communication avec les clients, l’équipe soignante et la famille des clients si nécessaire, en augmentant ses compétences culturelles et son inclusion. pour des soins diversifiés à la clientèle et l’aider à aborder les considérations éthiques dans les soins palliatifs. Et par-dessus tout, « améliorer à terme la qualité de vie des clients dans leurs derniers jours ».

Mealtimes at Carefor Richmond Care Home (RCH) have been extra special since trained chef Jessica Hamalainen joined the team last November.

Residents have been receiving more than just delicious home-cooked meals, but also another caring heart that has made a world of difference during these past challenging months. For a new deaf resident who was recently welcomed at the 16-bed retirement home for women living with dementia, Jessica went even further in ensuring she feels safe and happy.

“I thought it would be interesting to learn American Sign Language (ASL) so that I could communicate with the new resident,” Jessica shared, noting that she has self-learned 300 words and counting.

“Living with dementia is hard as it is, so to be also deaf, I can’t imagine how challenging this must be for her.”

With the help of an occasional ASL interpreter that trains all staff, Jessica has become the resident ASL communicator at RCH. Now, a special bond has formed between the deaf resident and Jessica.

“She’s able to express her feelings … I can see she’s happy.”

The switch from working in hospitality to healthcare hasn’t been easy, but Jessica describes her experiences at RCH as rewarding: “It has been a huge learning curve, not only in the sense of being in a new role of caring for people living with dementia, but also learning a new language to engage with one of our residents. [That said], I love going to work. I see the difference we make in their lives.”

“We all need some sort of assistance at some point in our lives. Supporting these services means supporting your own community, your own self,” she added.

Moving into a new home can be an emotional experience for both residents and their families, but our lovely Richmond Care Home staff are there to cater to the personalized needs of all our residents. Thank you for all you do each and every day!

When you visit our 16-bed home designed for women living with dementia in Richmond Village, located just 20 minutes outside of Ottawa, take a close look at the apple tree. You’ll notice something different – underneath the beautiful large crown of the tree, grows another variety of apple.

“It’s quite metaphorical,” Richmond Care Home (RCH) Supervisor Amy England shares, noting that the tree was planted in memory of John and Lilian Bosco’s parents, who were instrumental in getting Richmond Care Home off the ground 20 years ago.

Carefor took over Richmond Care Home, with the couple’s blessing, just a few years after the home became operational. It was over these years that two types of apples began to form on the tree. “This home has really evolved over the years. Much like the big tree, Carefor represents the larger organization that protects and maintains the integrity of the smaller, more intimate care setting. »

Amy has been working at the home since its humble beginnings. In honour of its 20th anniversary, she proudly looks back on how much of an impact this home has had on hundreds of families.

“The most important thing to me is for us to maintain the home’s foundational philosophy of care. We are proud to share that Carefor has done this quite well. We’ve made it a priority to maintain the integrity and intimacy of being a small welcoming home for women living with early or moderate stages of dementia.”

Carefor is also proud to be providing such high-quality care and support during these challenging times. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has taken an emotional toll on loved ones, families are grateful to know their mothers continue to be in a safe and loving environment.

“I’d give Richmond Care Home five stars. They do everything they possibly can for their residents,” says Ken Black, whose mother Elsie has been a resident at the Home for over a year.

While the pandemic has impacted the way we operate our services, these types of smaller care settings are more vital to our community now, than ever before. We must continue to invest in these smaller types of care settings to meet the growing demand. Amy hopes to see this home continue to grow to serve even more families that are seeking a comfortable and safe haven for their moms: “An addition would be great.”

Team Carefor looks forward to supporting this next stage of growth in Richmond, much like the yearly growth of this unique apple tree.

Special thank you to all the staff at Richmond Care Home for keeping a smile on everyone’s face during this unprecedented time. 

The COVID-19 pandemic is unchartered territory for health care and non-health care workers alike. For Mike Wise, a recent RPN graduate, this unfamiliar territory simply means continuing to provide the best quality care to a vulnerable population at Carefor Mackay Residential Complex*.

Despite the fear and uncertainty at the beginning of this pandemic, staff rallied together to weather the storm and do everything in their power to keep residents safe, doing the best with the resources available.

Mike feels fortunate to work with such a devoted team: “We work for one goal; to do the very best we can for the residents.”

Mike shares how impressed he is with the ingenuity of the staff during the shutdown: “With families not being able to visit loved ones, the staff are doing even more to try to help the residents feel more at home. One staff member brought in her personal iPad and helped the residents to do video chats with their loved ones.”

Care Team Supervisor Jennifer St. Cyr couldn’t be more proud of all the great work her staff are doing during this pandemic. In particular, Mike’s passion as an RPN for Carefor is infectious, and he never ceases to bring a smile to all the residents’ faces.

“He is the gentle giant who always has a smile and is always going above and beyond,” Jennifer says.

Support Carefor Heroes like Mike who are working hard during these uncertain times by donating at carefor.ca/donate.

*Carefor Mackay Centre houses 80 beds and is one of two Carefor residential care homes in Pembroke-Renfrew County. It was previously known as the Grey Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, a congregation of Roman Catholic sisters founded in 1926 in Pembroke.

Helen works as a nurse at Carefor’s Mackay Complex in Pembroke, Ontario. Her day to day is making sure Mackay’s 41 residents are looked after – ensuring medications, supporting residents with doctors visits, dealing with any health issues that arise. « You have to think of (the residents) and what they need, » says Helen. « Put their needs before everything else. »

Helen knows that good care is for more than just the body, it’s for the whole person. It’s taking a moment to connect with residents, to « interact with them on their levels, » says Helen.  Watching her do her rounds you can see how she does this effortlessly. A hand on one person’s shoulder, a quick joke and a smile to someone else. It might seem small, but it makes a difference. It helps her connect.

One of the residents, Peggy, recognizes it. « (Helen) is so compassionate and she spreads herself to everyone. » Helen and Peggy obviously have a bond.

The majority of Mackay’s residents are seniors who are largely independent with some need of support. Helen and the rest of the staff at Mackay provide them that help that keeps them living as as active and independent lives as possible.

To find out more about Carefor Mackay Centre, click here or contact infopembroke@carefor.ca.

Carefor Civic Residential Complex residents give staff members a special surprise for their work during the pandemic

Making a tremendous impact on people’s lives is something Carefor staff do each and every day, but oftentimes they don’t realize just how far their kindness goes in impacting the people around them.

Residents at Carefor Pembroke Civic Residential Complex gave staff members, from health care professionals to administration personnel, a big surprise.

As lockdown restrictions have eased in the province, longtime resident Todd Sullivan and others wanted to do something special to applaud the bravery and dedication of Carefor staff during the pandemic, and for their continued support as things slowly re-adjust. 

In an effort to highlight their efforts, residents presented an appreciation plaque to staff for the great care they received during COVID-19.

Though changes have been challenging for residents, with an inability to participate in their regular activities, Todd who spearheaded the honour, shared that staff were very understanding and supportive throughout.  In addition, many residents recognized staff for going above and beyond in finding ways to engage them during this difficult time.

« Thank you so much to all staff for everything you have done to keep us safe. It was greatly appreciated by myself and all residents of Carefor Civic Complex. Keep up the great work,” Todd said. 

Staff members were truly humbled to receive the plaque of appreciation. They did not expect special recognition for their work, as they always show up with the residents’ best interests at heart.

That said, they were grateful for the thought that was put into presenting them with this honour. “Staff were both appreciative and humbled by this award, and it was even more special because it was from the residents. We couldn’t be more proud of the hardworking staff during this pandemic. Their hard work and dedication to our residents is truly remarkable, » Care Team Supervisor Jennifer St. Cyr said.

It really goes to show the family-like-bond that is created between residents and Carefor staff at this special residential facility. We are very proud of the work they do each day. 

Our retirement homes in Pembroke are a home away from home for many. Support our health care heroes who are making a difference each and every day.     

Amener la physiothérapie directement chez les gens

Matthew is a physiotherapist with 26 years of experience. He has been working in the community for Carefor the past 3 years. A typical day for him starts with reviewing paperwork before he hits the road making sure he is ready to see his clients. “With home care, you can be dealing with just about anything,” says Matthew “we are seeing people that are unable to get out of their home for the most part.”

Once Matthew arrives at the home for an initial physio visit, he will assess the individual and their needs along with their environment and any existing equipment. Upon assessment “if it goes really well we might actually prescribe some exercise or some kind of pain management strategies as well,” says Matthew.

The progress of a client is then measured in follow up visits. These follow up visits allow Matthew to see how far the client has come and gives him the chance to adjust exercises for continual improvement. “My job is to help the person help themselves.”

To find out more about our Physiotherapy Services click here or contact info@carefor.ca.