Dufferin Oaks Family Resident Newsletter Spring/Summer 2018 Family Meetings April 30, 2018 Thank you to everyone who was able to attend our family resident meetings on Monday April 30 th at 2 and 7 pm. Topics discussed are highlighted throughout this newsletter. Resident Family Opinion Survey Ever year prior to Christmas, we mail out our annual Resident Family Survey after it is reviewed by our Family and Residents Councils. In early 2018, all surveys were reviewed by managers and followed up on as required. Overall, we had a fantastic response and are pleased that we continue to remain a home of choice. There were however, a couple of common areas identified as requiring some improvement our age is starting to show and that it s time for a bit of a face lift. As well, our outdoor areas needed some TLC. We are pleased to report that you were heard and that starting in May, all common areas in the Resident Home Areas are being freshened up new colours. Painters will start in early May and are anticipated to be finished mid-june. Please watch for WET PAINT signs! As for our outdoor space, new service providers are being contracted with by the County of Dufferin and students are being hired to complete the lawn maintenance. Annual Readers Choice Award Thank you everyone who voted in the 2017 Dufferin Readers Choice Awards. Because of YOU, we were the Platinum winner of Best Long Term Care Facility in Dufferin County. Sign up for Email Notifications Just a reminder that we have a way to keep updated on events and general information from Dufferin Oaks. Sign up to our email subscriber list and have emails sent directly to your 1
inbox. We send out notices of upcoming events and important information such as outbreaks in the home as well as links to the latest newsletters and calendars as they are posted. You are in charge of your own subscription so you can unsubscribe or change your email any time you like. To sign up, just type this into your internet web browser: Or, there are a couple links you can use to sign up in the Dufferin Oaks section of our website (www.dufferincounty.ca): One is right below the activity calendar and newsletter postings and the other is at the very bottom in the blue shaded area with the Dufferin Oaks contact and address information. If you have any questions please contact our Office Manager, Diane Whitten-Franks, ext. 5239. Quality Improvement Every year, Long Term Care facilities are required to submit a Quality Improvement Plan (QIP) to HealthCare Ontario. This year, Dufferin Oaks has 3 areas that we are planning improvements around: Pain in particular, reducing the amount of moderate to severe pain that our residents may be experiencing; Hydration decreasing the number of residents who may be at risk for dehydration, and; Overall Satisfaction of our Residents we want to make sure that the high level of satisfaction our residents and families feels continues! Food Services Update NEW HYDRATION PROGRAM A new Hydration Program was implemented April 3, 2018. Dufferin Oaks has been working really hard at gaining a better understanding of how to help ensure our residents are well hydrated. There are so many benefits to maintaining optimal hydration, especially in the elderly. It will help reduce the number of urinary tract infections, help lower the number of falls, help improve skin and wounds, help lower confusion and lethargy, help lower constipation, help lower the need for hospital transfers, help lower mortality due to dehydration, and so much more. 2
SUMMER RESIDENT BBQ s With the summer warmth on its way, it brings on outside summer BBQ s for the residents. All residents will have the opportunity to enjoy eating outside for their BBQ. BBQ s will be held every Thursday at lunch, starting mid-to-end June, weather permitting. Please keep posted for dates. MENU REVIEW Our Food Committee met in April and reviewed our current menu. Changes were made based on group input and were implemented May 7, 2018. The group will continue to meet monthly where suggestions for improvement are discussed and implemented based on feedback from our committee. Facilities Update The facilities staff have been busy all year maintaining Dufferin Oaks and keeping it in tip top shape. Some of the projects they have been working on are: Replacement of all outside pole lights to LED will happen this spring. Entrance A, B, C and E will be replaced with new heated concrete this spring. All metal transition strips will be removed from all resident rooms for easier movement. 3 new Bathing Tubs and tub chairs installed in January and 3 more sets to be purchased and installed later this year. 10 new Resident beds were purchased and introduced to Resident rooms in March. Replacement of 2 rooftop units on Dufferin Oaks roof planned for this year. Replacement of 2 Floor scrubbers planned for this year. Painting of all Resident area hallways, Dining rooms, lounges, activation rooms will be starting soon. Housekeeping & Laundry Update With the nice weather coming & the limited closet space, now is the time of year you might consider exchanging your loved ones winter/ heavier clothing 3
with spring/summer clothing; it is also a good time to remove/replace any items of clothing that are no longer viable for wear. This can be a meaningful activity for anyone who needs something to do with your loved one during a visit. If you do not recognize an article of clothing, please check the name label to ensure that all of the items in your wardrobe are yours. We try very hard to keep clothing in correct wardrobes, however, articles are sometimes delivered incorrectly; if you find articles that do not belong to your loved ones, please give them to a staff member, and they will deliver to the proper owner When purchasing new clothing please try to be mindful of fabric friendly items; we have industrial size washer & dryers, & delicate fabrics do not fare well If possible, please refrain from such fabrics as wool, 100% cotton, cashmere, linen, or any fabric that is delicate/cold water wash, &/or hang to dry etc.; as they are bound to shrink, &/or quickly miss-shape. It s very important when bringing in new and/or unlabeled articles of clothing, to leave them with staff, at either reception, or the nursing station in the Home Area where your loved one lives, to ensure correct identification for labelling is received, & that the articles are sent for labeling. We are happy to arrange with you to bring clothing in, have it labelled and returned to you before gift wrapping. Family Council Dufferin Oaks Family Council is a small but mighty group that advocates on behalf of our residents. They provide support and are a fantastic resource for families. Meetings are held the 2 nd Wednesday of each month, excluding summer months and December and are open to any family member wishing to take part. For more information, please contact our Social Worker, Jenny Dulmage, at ext 5260. 4
Rate Reduction Rate reduction paperwork completion is coming up in May-June for July 1 st start date. Families need to have the income taxes completed and Notice of Assessment provided to the home ASAP. Rate reduction applications will be sent to families as soon as they are made available from the Ministry. Nursing Update Jonathan DeWitte, one of our Nurse Practitioners, is bidding us farewell as he has found a placement closer to home. Jonathan s last day with us was May 4 th ~ we wish him well on his future adventures! We are currently recruiting for another nurse practitioner and hope to share more information very soon on this matter. In the meantime, Marilyn Fender, NP, will be working with our attending physicians to ensure continuity of care for your loved ones. Our Pharmacy contract with Classic Care Pharmacy is coming to its end so a Request for Proposal (RFP) has been posted. We will have more information for you regarding Pharmacy Services in June. Program & Support Update Fish Tanks currently we have two tanks that have been funded by the Auxiliary for years but the price is getting too high for them to continue to support ($3600/year). They wanted to use the money for more purposeful things for residents. They currently fund one of our three Art Therapy sessions each month. Starting in May, they are sponsoring our new Yoga, Drumming, Tai Chi and Dance Fit programs. In addition, they will be purchasing some activity boards for our second floor. Last fall we started a Music Therapy program on second floor for our most frail residents that are unable to participate in many other programs offered. Recently, we have expanded the program to third floor as well, thanks to a generous donation from the family and friends of our late resident Isabel Hamilton. 5
Tuck Shop thanks for your continued support. We have recently started to offer gift certificates for the shop. They can be purchased in any amount. Please visit the Tuck Shop for more information. Volunteer Appreciation each year we honour and celebrate all of our volunteers. This year s event will be June 21 st. The Hair Salon is open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. To make an appointment, please stop in or call Brenda Wilson at (519) 925-2140 ext. 5246. Calendars and Newsletters Keeping families informed is VERY important to all of us! Both the newsletters and the activity calendars are available on the Dufferin County website as well as by the Family Information Board near the elevators. For those who sign up for our MailChimp program, links are sent out on a monthly basis as well. We welcome any suggestions that you may have! Website A new website for the County of Dufferin is currently in the works stay tuned for updates! 6
DUFFERIN OAKS - STAFF DIRECTORY DEPARTMENT/ POSITION NAME EXT. ADMINISTRATION ADMINISTRATOR BRENDA WAGNER 5233 OFFICE MANAGER DIANE WHITTEN-FRANKS 5239 RECEPTION MARY TEETER 5230 RESIDENT ACCOUNTING HEATHER RIDEOUT 5237 NURSING DIRECTOR OF CARE JENNY POWER 5244 NURSE PRACTITIONER MARILYN FENDER 5804 FIRST FLOOR UNIT COORDINATOR LINDSAY MCLEOD 5801 SECOND FLOOR UNIT COORINDATOR REBECCA HALL 5802 THIRD FLOOR UNIT COORDINATOR BETH UPRICHARD 5803 SHELBURNE ORANGEVILLE RN/RPN 5891 EAST LUTHER/GRAND VALLEY RPN 5892 MULMUR/MONO RPN 5894 DUFFERIN COUNTY/AMARANTH RPN 5893 MELANCTHON/EAST GARAFRAXA RPN 5896 PROGRAM & SUPPORT SERVICES MANAGER ANGIE MATTHEWS 5242 FIRST FLOOR ACTIVATION 5257 SECOND FLOOR ACTIVATION 5243 THIRD FLOOR ACTIVATION 5390 PHYSIOTHERAPY/OT 5757 SOCIAL WORKER JENNY DULMAGE 5260 HAIR DRESSER BRENDA WILSON 5246 DIETARY FOOD SERVICES MANAGER/DIETITIAN TANJA SCHENKEL 5236 KITCHEN (to book meals on weekends) 5251 ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES HOUSEKEEPING/LAUNDRY MANAGER BELINDA ZEGGIL 5248 FACILITIES MANAGER KEVIN NORRIS 5263 7