May News from The Views at St. Joseph's |
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Upcoming Family Feedback Meeting
The next Family Feedback Meeting will be held on Thursday, June 3, from 1:30 to 2:30 pm (PST) via Zoom.
We will devote time to discuss and answer questions about the below changes to the social visitor policy for long-term care.
Conference call-in number: 1-888-433-2192
Participant Code: 1678358
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The Views Family Support Group
We're offering Family Support Group meetings via Zoom to offer a safe, confidential and compassionate environment where feelings can be shared and honored.
This opportunity invites you to share feelings, thoughts or experiences you and your loved ones have had while living through this global pandemic. It's also a forum where you can voice concerns about your loved one living at The Views during this difficult time.
Family Support Group meetings will take place at 2 pm on the third Wednesday of each month. Our next Zoom Family Support Group meeting will be held on June 16 from 2 to 3 pm (PST).
If you have any questions, please email Brian Ducedre or call him at 778-431-0282 ext. 68794.
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On Tuesday, the B.C. government announced an end to the temporary Circuit Breaker put in place at the end of March. They introduced a new four-step plan to guide the province out of COVID restrictions.
BC’s Restart Plan begins this week and outlines a slow and gradual return to a more normal life, with safety and health protocols such as mask wearing and physical distancing remaining in place and mandatory during the initial two steps of the plan.
The government emphasizes that getting vaccinated is the most important tool to support our restart. The criteria for Step 1 is at least 60% of the 18+ population vaccinated with dose 1, along with stable case counts and COVID-19 hospitalizations.
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Have you been vaccinated? Please remember: the rules still apply
This means that if you have been vaccinated and you have close contact with someone who is COVID positive, you may still be directed to self-isolate by Public Health. We urge everyone to please continue following the public health guidelines regardless of vaccination status. This means:
- Maintain physical distance of 2 metres (6 feet)
- Clean your hands regularly
- Wear a mask
Thank you for all your efforts to keep residents, our staff, and yourselves safe!
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Visitation Update — Father's Day
We're excited to facilitate visits between residents and their loved ones for Father's Day, June 20!
To help things run smoothly, family members are reminded to please schedule visits ahead of time.
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Providence Living values in action |
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Our legacy of women in leadership began over a century ago, when six orders of Catholic Sisters from other parts of Canada embarked on a mission of mercy to the Comox Valley. They came to provide medical care to loggers and their families at the request of J.D. McCormack, then-President of the Comox Logging Company.
Since taking on the leadership of St. Joseph’s in those early days, the Sisters embodied the Providence Living values by combining excellence in health care with deep compassion and devotion to helping those underserved.
Today, The Views at St. Joseph's upholds this tradition of community service by valuing the dignity and meeting the unique needs of each person. We do this while also expanding our knowledge to make space for new concepts, theories and ideas.
Women represent a significant majority of the workforce in health care. As front-line workers, clinical staff, volunteers, fundraisers, board members, administrators and leaders, women are a vital part of the care community at The Views.
This week and next, we’ll say goodbye to two remarkable women in leadership who embody the Providence Living values in everything they do. They’ve made an immeasurable and lasting impact on our organization through their work, and this impact will be felt for many years to come.
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Jane Murphy, President & CEO, Providence Living
After leaving semi-retirement to lead the development of a new organization setting out to transform seniors’ care, Jane will once again be retiring this Friday, May 28. During her long career as a health care executive, Jane has held an unwavering commitment to advocating for, developing and delivering healthier lives and communities.
Coming onboard as the organization’s first President & CEO with a long track record of strengthening capacity, building momentum, and stewarding change, Jane has been instrumental in building Providence Living from the ground up. A number of key initiatives were achieved under Jane's leadership, including navigating safely through COVID-19, developing an inspiring new name and brand, and moving the exciting village redevelopment project forward as a first for B.C.’s publicly funded health system.
With one foot in the present and one in the future, Jane has made a profound difference by empowering colleagues, stakeholders and community partners to look for new ways to deliver great care. Through her passion for this work, Jane has mentored and mobilized a team of dedicated leaders to blaze a trail, inspiring other jurisdictions in the process and ultimately improving the lives of seniors across the Comox Valley and beyond.
What we’ll miss most about Jane is her vision and approach. This includes always striving for excellence in caring for and supporting our communities while pushing the boundaries of “best we can do” thinking by asking questions like, “Why not? How could this be better? What are the risks and benefits?” Most importantly, she also asks the people in our care: “what do you need from us?” This last question has brought about the largest transformational opportunities, and it’s one we will keep on asking well into the future.
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Brenda Phillips, Director of Lifestyles and Community Programs, The Views at St. Joseph’s
After 22 years of service to Providence Living, The Views, and St. Joseph’s Hospital before that, Brenda will be retiring on Friday, June 4. Brenda’s success in career, mentorship, leadership, and community will leave a lasting impact on our organization as she’s set a wonderful example for how to work, how to play, and more generally, how to be.
Brenda achieves excellence through everything she does: leading and supporting her team, overseeing programs and activities for all units such as the Adult Day Program, Duet Bike Program, Backyard Garden, and General Store, and building strong community partnerships such as the Grand-Buddy Program with Inglis preschool, for which she’s also published a workbook!
Exemplifying the values of trust, integrity and respect, Brenda always puts the resident at the heart of everything she plans. Her commitment to person-centered care has helped Providence Living advance our new care model to move beyond principles towards meaningful actions and innovative ideas.
Because Brenda knows just what will resonate with residents, staff, volunteers and family members, her thoughtful advice is always as pertinent as it is valued. This, alongside her ingenuity, creativity, patience and calm are just some of the many things about Brenda that will be greatly missed.
All the best in your retirements, Jane and Brenda! Though you’ll be gone you won’t be forgotten, and we hope you won’t be strangers to The Views and the future village!
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REMINDER: Take a stroll to support Alzheimer’s today! |
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At any point during the day today, we're asking staff, residents and family members to take a stroll outside to raise awareness and honour those living with Alzheimer's disease. We will also be collecting funds to support the Alzheimer Society of B.C.
Details for today's walk
- We will be accepting cash donations in our blue post box located outside the 38 Wing Entrance. All proceeds will go towards the Alzheimer Society.
- Folks can pick their own time to take a walk throughout the day.
- Please maintain physical distance from others before, during and after the walk.
For more information, please visit our fundraising page and you can donate here. Any amount makes a difference. We truly appreciate any support in making sure the vital work of the Alzheimer Society of B.C. continues.
However you choose to participate, your contributions will make a difference to those living with dementia, their caregivers and families so they can live their best lives possible. Donations will help ensure access to support, education and information, and will enable research into the causes of and cure for the disease.
Together, we make memories matter. Thank you for your support!
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Introducing Fred Horne
On an interim basis, Mr. Fred Horne will serve as the President and CEO for Providence Living beginning on May 29, 2021. Fred has served Providence Living’s Board of Directors since inception and is very knowledgeable about our organization’s history, goals and strategies. He will be on a leave of absence from the Board for the duration of this appointment. Fred will work closely with Mark Blandford, Vice-President of Seniors Care, Clinical and Operations, and other members of the senior leadership teams at Providence Living, Providence Health Care, and The Views at St. Joseph’s.
Fred brings significant senior leadership expertise to Providence Living, including serving as Alberta’s Minister of Health from 2011-2014. A frequent speaker and panelist on health system issues in Canada and abroad, Fred is Principal of Horne and Associates, a health policy consulting firm, and Adjunct Professor at the School of Public Health at the University of Alberta.
His career in health policy spans over thirty years and includes extensive experience in policy development and coordination, health system design and transformation, and stakeholder engagement.
We are thrilled Fred will be joining us to lead our inspiring work in transforming seniors’ care.
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Introducing Bhavan Manhas
Starting this week, Bhavan Manhas will serve as interim Site Operations Leader at The Views. Bhavan is Program Director for Long-Term Care at Providence Health Care, and will assume responsibility for The Views while a competition is held to secure a successor for the Site Operations Leader position. Bhavan is an experienced long-term care leader and will work closely with the Views Leadership team and staff to support the outstanding care and services we provide at The Views.
Some information about Bhavan that may interest you: she is an experienced Nurse Practitioner who, prior to joining PHC this January, worked for Island Health as the manager of Aberdeen Long-Term Care (LTC) Hospital in Victoria. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Bhavan was seconded to the Island Health LTC senior leadership team as a strategic response leader. She led a number of key COVID initiatives including outbreak simulations and the Island Health outbreak response team.
With a strong background in clinical quality, Bhavan will work closely with The Views leadership to ensure we continue providing and enhancing a superior resident experience coupled with clinical excellence. We are happy to have Bhavan join us in this exciting work.
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Introducing Kelley Romeril |
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As of June 5, Kelley Romeril will take over from Brenda as Director of Resident Lifestyles and Community Programs. Kelley is dedicated to quality seniors’ care, and is passionate about providing opportunities for residents to engage with one another, staff, and the broader community.
Kelley believes in a person-centered approach and is excited to be a part of the amazing work we do here at The Views. Kelley comes to us with a strong leadership background, a commitment to staff development, and endless energy for her work.
Kelley is a relatively new transplant to Vancouver Island and loves living in the beautiful Comox Valley. She and her husband Eric have two boys, Waylon and Wyatt. When she isn't at work, Kelley enjoys spending time outdoors, camping with her family, reading, and cooking.
Kelley looks forward to meeting each of you and being a part of the fabulous team at The Views! Above on the left is a photo of Kelley, and on the right is another one that's a bit closer to what she'll look like when families see her at The Views.
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The Views Redevelopment update |
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Operational Readiness Task Team update
The Operational Readiness Task Team has been hard at work mapping two key priority flows: activities and housekeeping. They have been gathering all the fine details of what currently goes on, and will use this information to adapt these programs and services to the new build. Design principles are also being applied to services like laundry, which they are looking to bring into each household to create a more home-like feel.
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Process for family feedback
Should you have any thoughts to share on the redevelopment project, please email [email protected] and note that you are a friend or family member at The Views. Thank you to those who have already provided feedback!
We are keenly interested in hearing any thoughts you may have at this stage. The Views friends and family members are some of our most important stakeholders, and your feedback is needed to help ensure the project meets your needs as well as those of our residents, staff, and the broader community.
Thank you for your interest in this exciting project!
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Calling all youth volunteers!
Volunteers and students play an integral role in supporting staff and improving the wellbeing of our residents at The Views.
This summer, we will be running a youth volunteer program for high school students (grades 8-12) to gain volunteer hours, socialize with residents, and provide friendship and connections.
The program will be held virtually. The students will be given an activity to plan, organize and share with their grand-buddy to help build connections between the residents and youth through these isolating times.
If you know someone who may be interested, please can contact Megan Jones, Volunteer Supervisor, for information or an application form. More information on volunteering at The Views is available on our website. We’re so excited to be able to reconnect with our youth volunteers!
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Good news from around The Views |
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April showers bring Mother's Day flowers! |
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Earlier this month on Mother’s Day, Inglis Early Learning & Preschool brought some special scented treats for their Grand-Buddies at The Views. The bursting bouquets brought sunshine from the outside in, and the Grand-Buddies' smiles and laughter left lasting memories. |
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iN2L tablets coming soon!
With help from the Auxiliary for Comox Valley Healthcare's penny jar, we're buying three interactive tablets that will run a program called iN2L – It’s Never Too Late.
These tablets use content-driven engagement to create meaningful experiences for older adults by connecting them to the world around them. The interactive devices have many different apps for activities such as music therapy, armchair travelling, trivia, word games, etc. They can be used one-on-one or in small groups to spark possibility, enjoyment, and connection.
We're excited to be launching the iN2L tablets very soon. Brenda presented the video to family members at the Family Feedback Meeting earlier this month. If you missed her presentation, please see this letter to families to learn more about this new engagement tool that will soon be available to your loved ones.
A big thank you to the Auxiliary Thrift Store for their generosity towards our residents at The Views!
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Honouring every life story: Joan Sadler
Building on the Providence Living tagline, “honouring every life story,” we believe uncovering stories is the secret to unlocking joy and fulfillment in the present, as well as building a future where everyone can reach their individual potential.
This month’s resident profile is Joan Sadler! Currently a resident of Eagleview, Joan is also the mother of Nettie Acciaroli, who works in The Views finance department. We’re honoured Joan has chosen to share her story with us.
A bit about Joan
Joan was born December 16, 1942, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She worked for the Air Force in Administration, and also as a secretary for her father who imported men's wear from Asia.
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Joan is blind and used to teach braille at the Braille Institute in Palm Springs where she resided for 30 years!
She would sew her own clothes and knit. She is proud to have maintained an orderly household as she raised her two children: Nettie, who resides here in the Comox Valley, and Rob who lives in Nanaimo.
Joan has one granddaughter, Holly, whom she is extremely proud of as she is graduating from Georges P. Vanier Secondary School and has begun pursuing a career as an RN at North Island College.
Joan and her daughter Nettie posing with a visiting puppy
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Current favourites
Joan enjoys musical concerts and riding on the Duet Bike. She appreciates all types of music including classical, jazz, and folk. Joan used to play many different card games using Braille cards, including crib, crazy eights and rummy. She enjoys all animals, especially dogs, cats, birds, and rabbits. She really dislikes cucumbers and rude people.
If you have a story to tell or know someone who’d be great to profile — even just by sharing a few interesting details — please let Kelley Romeril know. She’ll confirm we have the resident’s and/or their family’s consent to share their story.
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