hhcc december 2019 · 2019-11-27 · ve mood booster. to raise your spir-its, grab a funny dvd or...
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“Christmas isn’t a season. It’s a feeling.” - Edna Ferber
This year, our staff and residents outdid themselves by raising more than $2,500 to fight this chronic disease.
25 Days of Christmas We are incredibly grateful for the good work of our staff who work nights, weekends and HOLIDAYS to deliver excellent health care. As such, watch for our 25 Days of Christmas Campaign this month.
Emergency planning Loyalist Emergency Services and Director of Care Sue Reyn-olds were delighted with the results (18 minutes) of the me trial and full evacua on on Nov. 1. Great work everyone!
Congratula ons Dietary Aide Chris ne Kastner is our Employee of the Month. Congratula ons!
2019 DECEMBER
Christmas Blessing—May the magic of Christmas gladden your heart with the joys of the season. May the spirit of Christmas bless you with greater strength. May the promise of Christ-mas bring you, and yours, endless blessings.
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Christmas cakes for sale Looking for a present for that hard-to-buy-for someone? The Lions Club of Kingston is selling Christmas cakes in the front entrance of Helen Henderson Re rement Lodge from 10 am to 2 pm on Dec. 10. Please buy a delicious cake and support this local service club!
Kni ng in January Our kni ers are going to start making hats, lap blankets and mi ens in January and we could use YARN. Please consider dona ng to our awesome group of kni ers. Thanks!
Family Council Mee ng Our next Family Council Mee ng is at 7 pm on Jan. 14 in the Gibson Room. We would love to have you join us! As always, parking is free and refreshments are provided. For details, please contact Ac va on at 613-384-4585 ext. 224.
Family Fun Day Our musical entertainers for our Christmas Family Fun Day on DEC. 1 are confirmed! Chris from AMBUSH is performing in the Lodge Lounge, Crimson River is performing in the Fire-side Room and Chris Murphy is performing in Joyce Fay Terrace. Please join us for this magical day of food, music and friendship.
“Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.” - Norman Vincent Peale
Tell us what you think Do you have a story idea or feedback? Contact Catherine Reynolds at 613-384-4585 ext. 251 or [email protected]
FUN Christmas Facts 1. Christmas supposedly marks the birth of Jesus
Christ on Dec. 25. But there is no men on of Dec.
25 in the Bible. Most historians believe he was
born in the spring.
2. Dec. 25 was probably chosen because it
coincided with the ancient pagan fes val
Saturnalia, which celebrated the agricultural god
Saturn with partying, gambling and gi -giving.
3. Many of the popular Christmas tradi ons
today found their roots in Saturnalia: Branches
from evergreen trees were used during winter
sols ce as a reminder of the green plants that
would grow in spring when the sun gods grew
strong.
4. These evergreen branches became the
founda on of our Christmas tree. Germans are
thought to be the first to bring “Christmas trees”
into their homes at the holidays and decorate
them with cookies and lights.
5. The Christmas tree made its way to North
America in the 1830s, but wasn’t popular un l
1846, a er Germany’s Prince Albert brought it to
England when he married Queen Victoria. The
two were sketched in front of a Christmas tree
and the tradi on instantly became popular. Royal
fever was real even back then.
6. Santa Claus comes from St. Nicholas, a
Chris an bishop living in (what is now) Turkey in
the fourth century AD. St. Nicholas had inherited
a great deal of wealth and was known for giving it
away to help the needy. When sainted, he
became the protector of children.
7. A er his death, the legend of St. Nicholas
spread. St. Nick’s name became Sint-Nicolaas in
Dutch, or Sinter Klaas for short. Which is only a
hop, skip, and jump to Santa Claus.
8. White Christmas is the best-selling song of all
me.
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2019 Amherstview Santa Claus Parade
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There was a whole lot of cute-ness in our home last month when the local daycare stopped in for its regular Friday morning GRANDFRIENDS' program. 30 of our residents had a great
me visi ng with 13 children. One li le boy even served residents snacks. Watching from the sidelines was Ac vity Director Donna Joudoin who was delighted with the results. “It was my dream to have a day care here. I love it,” she explains. Held in the home’s main ac vity room, many of the
residents used the me to read, play and visit with the children. Smiling happily, Donna notes, “I love the room looking so messed-up because it means they’re having fun.” “I think it’s great,” notes RPN Faith McGee who a ended with her two children (ages 19 months and five months) and husband. “The children and seniors benefit from the interac on.” To learn more about living, working or playing at Helen Henderson Care Centre, go to www.gibsonfamilyhealthcare.com
Daycare children steal the hearts of residents and staff
Dear kitchen staff and Iva,
(Excerpt)
The dining room staff are so
great. I am grateful to each
one of them. I would like to
thank everyone who took
part in my welcome here.
I wasn’t sure if I would fit in
with the wonderful people
here, but they made me feel
more ‘at home’ than I have
felt in my whole life.
Down my in my heart, I have
so much to tell you. You
mean so very much to me
and you’ve been very good to
my heart. All of the li le and
big things have made my stay
here wonderful.
Thank you so very much.
Much love, Dawna Mary Margaret Cameron
Le er of thanks from resident
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Helpful ps to avoid the holiday blues The post-Christmas period can
leave many of us feeling down.
Back to work blues, an empty
social calendar, fes ve weight
gain, miserable weather and a
dwindling bank balance can
contribute to a general feeling
of melancholy. Thankfully, there
are ways to get your spirits back
-up a er the fes ve period. Here
are some ps to beat the post-
Christmas blues.
Make a plan
A er the excitement of
Christmas, going back to a
regular, mundane rou ne is
enough to lower anyone’s
spirits. Create something to
an cipate.
Exercise your
funny bone
Laugher is an effec-
ve mood booster.
To raise your spir-
its, grab a funny
DVD or book and spend a few
hours exercising your funny
bone.
Brave your fears
If you are feeling listless or
uninspired, step out of your
comfort zone and take a few
risks.
Weather or Not Many believe the weather on Dec. 25 can tell us quite a bit about the coming year.
What do you think of these bits of weather lore? A windy Christmas is a sign of a good year to come. A bright Christmas foretells that a hen will lay well. If Christmas day be bright and clear, there’ll be two winters in the year.
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T his Christmas, I just want
you to know that you
have been the best gi I
have ever received. And every
Christmas therea er, the only
thing that I want from Santa is
to strengthen our rela onship.
Merry Christmas to you. I hope
you have a very Happy New Year
ahead.
Let this Christmas be a period of
reflec on on our past. Let us
show greater love and care for
one another more in this year.
May the sadness and gloom in
your life be replaced with never
ending happiness and cheer!
Smile my dear, for the season of
Christmas has finally arrived
here! Here’s wishing you a
Merry Christmas and a very
Happy New Year!
Have an ideal Christmas; an
occasion that is celebrated as a
reflec on of your values, de-
sires, affec ons, tradi ons.
May this Christmas be so special
that you never ever feel lonely
again and be surrounded by
loved ones throughout!
May the closeness of friends,
the comfort of home and the
unity of our na on, renew your
spirits this holiday season.
May this Christmas diminish
your sadness and bury any tears
so that your life is perpetually
filled with happiness and joy.
The joy of brightening other
lives, bearing each other’s bur-
dens, easing other’s loads and
supplan ng empty hearts and
lives with generous gi s
becomes for us the magic of
Christmas.
May love be in your life. May
hope be in your heart. May
peace be in your world.
May this Christmas be bright
and cheerful and may the New
Year begin on a prosperous
note!
From our family to yours, Merry Christmas
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Happy Birthday STAFF Anne M, Dec. 1 Colleen B, Dec. 4 Cheryl B, Dec. 5 Kendra K, Dec. 9 Melissa I, Dec. 11 Lucia C, Dec. 13 Connie M, Dec. 15 Erin W, Dec. 16 Michelle B, Dec. 18 Pamela S, Dec. 18 Janet C, Dec. 28 Rachel B, Dec. 29 Welcome STAFF Kerry Nichol, Hostess Robert Tailler, PSW Laura Oldfield, PSW Chelsea Boomhour, Ac vity Aide Janet Snider, Cook
Holiday shopping The holiday season is upon us which means shopping. Here are a few safety ps to remember:
Dress comfortably and avoid wearing expensive jewelry.
Do not carry a purse or wallet, if possible.
Even though you are rushed and thinking about a thousand things, stay alert of your surroundings.
Avoid carrying large amounts of cash. Pay for purchases with a debit or credit card when possible. Keep cash in your front pocket.
No fy the credit card issuer immediately if your credit card is lost, stolen or misused.
Be extra careful if you do carry a wallet or purse. They are the prime targets of criminals in crowded shopping areas, transporta on terminals, bus stops, on buses and other rapid transit.
Avoid overloading yourself with packages. It is important to have clear visibility and freedom of mo on to avoid mishaps.
Health & Wellness
Just a gentle reminder to refrain from wearing perfume or cologne to our home. Thank you for helping keep our residents and staff safe. PS. As in past years, we can't accept Poinse as at the home due to allergies and sensi vi es. Thank you for thinking of us, but please keep this fes ve plant for your own enjoyment.
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from Helen Henderson Care Centre
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Christmas
Baskets Please contribute a non-
perishable food item to the
Food Bank in Amherstview.
Collec on boxes will be in
the entrance to the lodge
and entrance to Kingsley
Terrace.
With your help, we can make
someone’s Christmas a li le
brighter.
Room bookings The holiday season is here
and now is the me to
book a room for your
family func on. If you
would like to book a room
for Christmas (or any spe-
cial occasion), please con-
tact Ac va on Director
Donna Joudoin at 613-384-
4585 ext 224. Rooms avail-
able include the Lodge
Lounge, Gibson Room and
Harvest Room.
Congratula ons Helen Henderson Care Centre for receiving a Shout-Out from the Napanee Business Improvement Associa on on Nov. 6. The home was NOMINATED for a visit as a way to recognize business success. Great job!
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Winter Open House Please join us for a trip to the Kingston School of Dance for its annual Winter Open House at 9:30 am on Dec. 21. To learn more, contact Ac va on at 613-384-4585 ext. 224.
Items needed for fidget quilts Our home would like to send a BIG thanks to Deb Flood for making fidget quilts to help our residents with idle hands. Deb is one of our family members who makes fidget quits in the community. She has already donated five to our home and they are magnificent! Deb and her fellow volunteers with the Limestone Quilters Guild could use the following items: velour, corduroy, wool, chenille, seersucker, fake fur, orphan blocks, sa n/taffeta, flannel, minky, co on, velvet, fleece, plaids/tartans and embellishments such as zippers and lace.
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W hen dealing with grief, it helps to look for happiness amid
the heartbreak. Assis ng residents of a local nursing home navigate the grieving process is volunteer Barb Kelly of Bereaved Families of Ontario. “When people are grieving, it’s like a light goes out. They need to learn to live with the loss,” the Amherstview woman explains so ly from Helen Henderson Care Centre where she plans to launch a grief support group in November. A volunteer at the accredited long-term care home for the past 14 years, Barb knows the residents and staff from years of pet therapy and suppor ve vis-its. She plans to hold the support group for one-hour, twice a month, in the Gibson Family Room. “It’s such a nice room,” says the 61-year-old trained facilitator. “We can shut the door for priva-cy. It’s a cheery room with a big window. Light is important. The room conveys the same feel and look of this home: comfortable and cheery. “I love this home,” she con nues wis ully from Recep on Three where her father-in-law has lived since last March. “I’ve been kick-ing around here for quite some
me. It’s nice to see a mul -faceted facility like this which has re rement living, long-term care and specialized extended care.”
Married with an adult son, Barb saw the need for a grief support group in the mostly senior popu-la on. “I’m familiar with most of the residents and I know there are a few people here who have sud-denly lost their spouse,” she ex-plains. “You see a lot of loneli-ness and people star ng to with-draw. I think helping people deal with grief is important work.” Speaking on behalf of the ac-credited the home, Ac vity Di-rector Donna Joudoin notes, “I was delighted when Barb ap-proached me about star ng this support group because we’ve always wanted to offer some-thing like this at Helen Hender-son Care Centre. We know it’s going to help our families, resi-dents, staff and communi-ty. Barb has been a volunteer here for many years and always shows great compassion and care. It’s been said that death is not the greatest loss in life. It’s what dies inside us while we live. Barb’s efforts to help people
deal with grief is a wonderful way to ensure internal lights shine as bright as possible for as long as possible.” According to Barb, people are welcome to contribute to the discussion or sit quietly and lis-ten. “Grief affects people in many ways, not just emo onally, but physical aches and pains,” she explains pa ently. “Some mes people have problems sleeping or ea ng. It’s nice to know you’re not alone. Hugs are im-portant. They’re therapeu c.” Equipped with years of volunteer visi ng experience and training as a bereavement facilitator, Barb brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the home. She plans to use com-passion, kindness and pa ence as guides. “I’m here because I have experi-enced a lot of loss in my life,” she a ests. “I think it’s im-portant to have this type of pro-gram; especially in a long-term family where death is a natural part of life. It happens. I just think a program would be hugely helpful.” The support group is open to residents, family members, volunteers and staff. “I think I have a good solid vis-i ng knowledge of the needs of the people who reside here,” she says. “I think it’s nice for them to have a safe place to express their feelings. “I’m just trying to make a differ-ence,” she says kindly.
Grief support group launched at nursing home
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Our Remembrance Day service and Celebra on of Life on Nov. 11 were a beau ful tribute to Canadians who are no longer with us. Thank you Rev. Catherine Oxenford-Grant for officia ng.
Lest we forget
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Home praised for growth and consistent sa sfac on rates
long-term care home in the Kingston area is celebra ng another year of posi ve reviews.
Speaking from Helen Henderson Care Centre in Amhersview in November 2019, Assistant Direc-tor of Care, Melissa Locke, shared the results of an exten-sive survey completed by resi-dents and families.
According to the surveys, every family (of residents at the home) is sa sfied with the medical care by frontline workers who are described as kind, caring and compassionate.
“Our Family and Resident Sa s-fac on Surveys allow us to re-flect on the needs, wants and wishes of the most important people in the home, our resi-dents,” says the friendly manag-er. “It enables family, staff and residents to work together to enhance our person-centred ap-proach.”
According to the Assistant Direc-tor of Care, the home is con-stantly se ng high standards and establishing best prac ces for quality control.
“We’re always trying to im-prove, that’s why we’re here,” she explains. “We want to im-prove the health of our resi-dents, staff and families.”
Known for its beau ful gardens and innova ve programs, the home con nues to gain a en-
on for its health care that is
safe, compassionate and cu ng edge.
In early November, the home won an award for business suc-cess by the Napanee Business Improvement Associa on.
“Helen Henderson Care Centre is se ng high standards in long-term care,” confirms Lisa Gib-son, Owner and Operator.
“This home is constantly improv-ing, and our staff is constantly learning. We are determined to deliver the best health care in the world and our progress is showing.”
According to respondents of the family survey:
100 per cent are sa sfied
with the care of their loved
one and the nursing staff.
100 per cent are happy
with the home’s programs,
meals, and cleanliness.
Almost every family mem-
ber said they would recom-
mend the home to others.
“I like that my mom is living in a
warm and loving environment,”
says a family member.
“Everyone seems to genuinely
care which makes me happy for
my mom.”
Families complimented the
home for its gardens, friendly
atmosphere, spacious rooms,
and opera onal efficiency.
Residents of the home say they
like the music, security, pub
nights, exercises, sunshine and
peacefulness.
“Helen Henderson Care Centre is proud of these survey results because they prove how much our staff care about the health and happiness of the people who live here,” says Angela Gib-son, Assistant Administrator.
“Our home is helping people reach their fullest poten al. We value compassion, kindness and smiles. It is heartwarming to hear how much our residents’ families appreciate these same values.”
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Did you know… The snowiest city is in Japan.
Aomori City in north-ern Japan receives more snowfall than any major city on the planet.
Each year ci zens are pummeled with 312 inches, or about 26 feet, of snow on average.
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Looking for meaningful employment in a great environment?
Join our team and help us provide excep onal care for our residents!
We care about your quality of life - As such, we offer stable employment and a compe ve salary. This is a family business that will help you succeed.
We are currently looking for part- me:
Cook (part‐ me) Host/Hostess Dietary Aide Residen al Aide Personal Support Worker (PSW) Registered Prac cal Nurse (RPN) Registered Nurse (RN)
Find full job descrip ons at
www.gibsonfamilyhealthcare.com The successful candidates will be required to provide
a sa sfactory Canadian Police Informa on Check (CPIC) at their own expense.
Employment Opportuni es
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Welcome Margaret Mar n, Lodge Susanna McCarty, Lodge
George Henderson, Lodge Ronald Bronkhorst, Lodge
Patricia Gordon, Recep on Two Dawna Cameron, Recep on Three Norma Pickering, Recep on Three
Birthdays Marie H (Lodge), Dec. 7
Mildred K (Lodge), Dec. 12 Cecilia N (Lodge), Dec. 21
Geraldine B (Lodge), Dec. 23 David W (Lodge), Dec. 29
Gail B, Dec. 1 Bill S, Dec. 5
Virginia P, Dec. 6 Wayne M, Dec. 12
Shirley L, Dec. 13 Marjorie T, Dec. 17
Eva T, Dec. 18 Richard M, Dec. 23
Alexandra A, Dec. 30
In memory Agrinoalda Fortado
Helen Henderson Garden of Love The rose speaks of love silently in a language known only to the heart