positive thinking powers rehab hockey - west park

PositivethinkingpowersrehabHockeymomgetsback inthegameAre youraffairs inorder?5basicsofestateplanning

PlusHealth tips on nail care,lung testing, back pain, and more...

Winter 2010/2011

PositivethinkingpowersrehabHockeymom getsback in the gameAre your affairs inorder?5 basics of estate planning

PlusHealth tips on nail care,lung testing, back pain, and more...

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We were so pleased to hear from you after our premiere edition of Healthy Together.In response, we’re adding more of what you most enjoyed, tapping the knowledge of our outstanding staff and physicians to share information on how we all can stay healthy.In this issue, you’ll read more about how we are moving forward with our redevel-

opment planning. Through the dedicated work of our planning team and the supportof the City of Toronto and the Weston community, municipal rezoning of the campushas been approved. While we await a decision from the Province of Ontario on theredevelopment of the hospital, we were pleased to receive approval of our businesscase submission.Once the redevelopment is complete, we’ll have brought a great vision to action,

allowing us to continue offering the best care possible within an integrated campusthat serves the community with state-of-the-art facilities. And all this will be accom-plished with the same commitment to care that you’ll see described in these pages –from helping an accident victim realize his dreams of getting back on the basketballcourt to providing therapy for an injured hockey mom so she can make meals anddo other things for her family.Our commitment to accountability is represented in our 2010 “Balanced Scorecard.”

The Scorecard outlines West Park’s performance in the areas of stakeholder perspective;financial performance; quality and clinical outcomes; and innovation and learning. Let us know what you think by visiting www.healthytogether.caI look forward to hearing from you.

Anne-Marie MalekPresident & CEO

1 Healthy Together • Winter 2010/2011

Located on a picturesque piece of land on the banks of the Humber River in West Toronto, West ParkHealthcare Centre has been helping patients live the fullest lives possible since 1904. Founded asa sanitarium for tuberculosis patients, West Park has expanded on its role as a leader intuberculosis care to develop services for other respiratory illnesses and complex conditions. WestPark provides specialized rehabilitation, complex continuing and long-term care services, helpingindividuals manage difficult health challenges like lung disease, diabetes, stroke, amputation andmusculoskeletal issues arising from a life-changing event or illness.

Through the many talents of our professional staff, dedication to best practices and research, andan unwavering commitment to quality care and patient safety, West Park gets patients on the roadto recovery and an improved quality of life.

Table of

CONTENTS24

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9

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82 Buttonwood Avenue, Toronto, ON M6M 2J5416-243-3600 • www.westpark.org

Health Tips & Bits

Eye on the prizeSetting goals and positivethinking add to successfulrehabilitation

Back in the gameHockey mom scores at West Park’s Spasticity Clinic

Balanced ScorecardBeing accountable to the community

What will yourlegacy be?It’s not too early to make an estate plan

Donor ProfileDr. Nora Cullen

Redevelopmentmoves forward

On our cover:After losing a leg in a vehicle collision, JasonNaval’s goal was to get back on the basketballcourt. He’s done that and more. See page 4.

Healthy Together • Winter 2010/2011Designed by: CS-Graphic Design Inc.Editor: Vince RiceContributors: Helena Moncrieff

Deb WorobecLijeanne LeeMark Palmer

West Park Healthcare Centre gratefully acknowledges funding support from Toronto Central Local Health Integration Network

Join Us


Healthy Together • Winter 2010/2011 2

BREATHING EASY?

We check our blood pressure, measure our heart rate and keep an eye on thecholesterol. New research shows we should be watching our lungs more diligentlytoo. All it takes is a simple breathing test called spirometry.

As many as 20 per cent of adults with known risk factors are suffering from chronicobstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) but haven’t been diagnosed. The conditioncan cause shortness of breath, frequent coughing and susceptibility to lung infection.

West Park respirologist Dr. Roger Goldstein is co-author of a study that measured the risks.“High-risk people (smokers over the age of 40) should be actively screened, so thatCOPD can be caught earlier and bettermanaged,” he says.

Ask your doctor to check it out.

A FRIEND INDEED

HEALTH

tips&bits

Visiting a friend in hospital can offer a welcome break from treatment and a great way to stay connected withhome. Here’s how you can be awelcome and helpful guest:

• Call ahead. Especially for patients in a rehabilitation program, the day may be fully booked.

• Offer to bring supplies. Books,newspapers, magazines, music, and games could all be welcomediversions. If they are loaners, be

sure to put your name on them. And,while you’re there, offer to returnmaterials no longer needed.

• Leave the heavy perfumes andstrongly-scented flowers at home.For many patients, just a whiff ofperfume can cause a seriousreaction.

• Make a firm offer. “I’m going to thepharmacy. What can I pick up?”works better than a general, “Do youneed anything?” Most of us don’twant to impose.

Health Tips are

brought to you by

West Park Healthcare

Centre and its expert staff.

Many serious health issues – includingarthritis, nerve disorders and circulatoryailments – can manifest in the feet. Assuch, foot and nail care are especiallyimportant to good health. Take note of the following tips for proper nail care to ensure the best foot health possible.

• Wash feet with soap and water andalways dry thoroughly; this is the best way to prevent infection.

• Clip toenails straight across withoutextending beyond the tip of the toe.

• Wear shower shoes in public areas.

• Do not apply polish to nails that are red, discolored or swollen.

• Disinfect instruments used to cut nails and home pedicure tools.

• Change shoes, socks or hosiery more than once daily.

• Avoid excessively tight hosiery.

• Wear shoes made of breathablematerials that fit well.

• Wear socks made of synthetic fibers versus cotton or wool.

• Have a chiropodist – a trained footcare specialist – assess any nail infection or nail discolouration.

Courtesy of West Park Pro Active Healthcare Wellness and Rehabilitation Clinic

NAIL CARE FOR EVERYONE


TUBERCULOSIS UPDATE

For many of us, being tested fortuberculosis (TB) is a routine hiringprocedure if we’re working with children,in health care or some other sectors.The good news is our blasé attitude is well-founded. The incidence of TBhas dropped dramatically since WestPark first opened as a TB sanitarium in1904. Not so positive is the emergenceof new resistant strains of TB. “Thesenew strains are much more difficult to treat and require more unusualapproaches,” says West Parkrespirologist Dr. Monica Avendaño.

Extensively drug resistant TB (XDR-TB)cases, while still rare, can requiretreatment in hospital for years assufferers remain infectious and athreat to public health for a long time.

Symptoms of active pulmonary TBdisease include a cough lasting threeor more weeks that may producediscoloured or bloody sputum, poorappetite and weight loss, fever, nightsweats and chills.

For more information go towww.stoptb.ca


HEALTH tips&bits

With winter upon us, it’s time to brushup on back injury prevention practices.Many sprains and strains happen whenwe lift things that are too heavy, or liftthem incorrectly. Here are a few thingsyou can do to ensure this winter is asinjury-free as possible.

• Exercise. Stretch during the day to warm your muscles and increaseyour flexibility.

• Always carry loads close to your body.

• Break down heavy loads. Rather thanlifting an 80-pound parcel, break it down into smaller parts.

• Avoid twisting. Move your entire body instead.

• Bend the knees, not the back.

• Takeimmediatesteps to takecare ofinjuriesright away if they dooccur. Restthe injuredpart of youbody for a few days; apply ice or cold packs periodicallyduring the first three days; keep the injured area elevated andwrapped up if possible; contact your chiropractor or family doctor if swelling has not decreased.

Courtesy of West Park Pro Active HealthcareWellness and Rehabilitation Clinic

HAVE YOUR BACK

We all know that washing your handshelps stop the spread of flu and otherillnesses. But studies continue to showthat we’re still not doing it. Dr. NadineJanes is Manager of ProfessionalPractice at West Park. She’s spent a career looking at how to transferknowledge into practice. Getting yourhands to do what your head knows is a science in itself.

To make hand washing more likely tohappen, ensure the tools are in place to use your new training. Have soapand single-use towels handy at everysink. Keep antiseptic hand wash inbrief cases, backpacks and handbagsfor when you can’t get to runningwater. Get caught washing your hands. It’s infectious. And, for therecord again...

Cough into your sleeve, if you don’t have a tissue.

Wash your hands frequently using warm, running water and soap.

Dry thoroughly and don’t share towels.

GO VIRAL ON VIRUSES

12

3



Jason Naval doesn’t do babysteps. When the early childhoodeducator lost his left leg after a motorcycle crash, he met with a rehabilitation team at West ParkHealthcare Centre and set his first

goal. It wasn’t to get to the bathroomunassisted, to stand at a sink or evenwalk to the end of the block. Navalwanted to play basketball. Four months after the crash, just

three months after being fitted for aprosthetic leg, the 25-year-old was onthe court. “I was able to shoot the balland do some dribbling, but,” he says,with total modesty, “I wasn’t jumping,or anything.” Less than a year later, he joined the

Terry Fox 10K run in the Beach. Hetook up sailing through the summer,encouraged by one of his occupationaltherapists. He went back to rock climb-ing. Now, if he can find a trainer, he’dlike to get onto Canada’s Paralympicteam, probably for running or swimming.It would be hard to say no to Naval.Five-hundred kilometres north in

Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Michael Bondhad been saying no to a lot of things.Shortness of breath and severe, painfulcoughing attacks from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)had limited everything in his life.Walking more than a few steps waslike running a marathon. He couldn’tshop at the mall, do the dishes or goout to dinner with his wife. “I wassupremely depressed and I didn’t havemuch hope,” he remembers.Now he’s full of hope. Bond held his

newborn granddaughter for the firsttime in late summer, something henever expected to be able to do. “I wasworried about that,” he says. He can

Setting goals and positive thinking help set the stage for successful rehabilitation.

Eye on the prize

Support from friends like Issac Guillen (right)helped Jason Naval’s rehabilitation.



walk for an hour at a time, socializewith friends and he’s been working on home repairs. Holding a hammeragain feels good too.Naval and Bond are very determined

people. They found allies in West Park’srehabilitation units – professionalsequally determined to help themreach their goals.Enhancing lives, inspiring hope and

encouraging independence is WestPark’s mission. Getting people backinto the community to their homesand favourite activities is part of that.So is keeping them there, avoiding theneed for urgent hospital care again.

That means tremendous attention toeducation, nutrition, physical trainingand the psychology of getting better.Setting goals is a big part of that.“Setting your own goals is very

important,” says West Park psychologistSharon Jankey. For therapists, thatmeans coming to the patient at theirlevel, she explains, “seeing what’s important to them, not to you.” Naval experienced that thinking in

action. “They tried to know me,” hesays. “They were cool with the goaland kind of designed the rehab to helpme get to it. When I encounteredsome problems, they helped me

recognize those and address them.”Splitting his goal into component

parts was part of the therapy. Navalhad to learn to walk, then run, thenincrease strength and endurance, beforeshooting a hoop. He was cool with that.The notion of building on the last

step works, Dr. Jankey says. “If I canstand, then maybe I can walk. If I canshave, then I may be able to shower.” In addition to being able to do more

physically, increasing independencealso feels good which has its own benefits, helping with recovery and rehabilitation, Dr. Jankey says. “Controlis such an important issue.”

COPD patient Michael Bond (right) worked with Respiratory Rehabilitation physiotherapist Anthony Hin at West Park. Bondsays persistence was a big factor in his remarkable success.


Depression can be a barrier to rehabilitation. But in many cases, itdoesn’t take much to start breakingthrough. “Just registering in a programhas been known to decrease symptomsof depression,” she says. “It has todowith hope, hope that you can improve.”Dr. Jankey also sees

the benefit of being with others in similarcircumstances. “I believethat’s one of the successesof the respiratory rehabprogram, because muchof the program is deliv-ered in a group format.”Bond would agree.

“When I came, I was sitting in a corner, headdown, not really wantingto talk to anybody.” Henoticed a young lad in awheelchair and thought,“You know, he’s a lotsicker than I am andhe’s dealing with it bet-ter than I am. I figured, well, time tosmarten up. If he can handle it thenobviously there’s some hope out there.Now I have to try.” Try, he did. He left West Park with a

new lease on life and plans for supper.

“I walked into Kenogami’sKitchen, the local restau-rant, and people wereshocked to see me,” Bondlaughs, “I even went tohelp do the dishes.”Keeping active and

maintaining the rehabili-tation after leaving hospitalrequires some planning.Remembering to keeptasks manageable, especially if you are an all-or-nothing person,takes some organizationalskills. Bond recentlyhelped his daughter renovate a bathroom inher new home in Hailey-bury. Although he has the

skills to do it all, he largely played the foreman’s role and steered clear of sawdust and paint fumes that couldirritate his lungs. Even smaller household tasks can

be split into manageable components,Dr. Jankey advises. “If you wait untileverything has piled up and try to

tackle it all at once,you’ll exhaust yourself,be unable to functionthe next day and moveyour rehabilitation backinstead of forward.”She encourages patientsto prepare a writtenroutine for the day. At a YMCA gym,

Naval and a friend were ready to start aworkout. Although he’s exceptionally motivated, most peopleare more likely to continue with a program if they have someone to work out

with. Dr. Jankey says the success rateof rehabilitation programs when youexercise with someone you live with is as high as 80 per cent. As patients succeed with their

programs, achieving new goals, more

positive feelings follow, Dr. Jankeysays with a caveat. “Measure your success from when you started yourprogram. Even for people not inrehab, the notion of looking back athow you were at 20 is not helpful.” Michael Bond has his own advice.

“Don’t count yourself out,” he counsels.“If it’s possible and you really want it,it will happen. I never thought I’d bedoing half the things I’m doing now. A lot of it is persistence.”


They say a failure to plan is a plan to fail. West Park HealthcareCentre psychologist Dr. SharonJankey works with patients in thehospital’s rehabilitation programson strategies to succeed. Her advice applies to anyone trying to make a change for the better.So if you’re trying to get in shape,break a habit, or even learn a newlanguage, keep these tips in mind.

1. Be open to change.

2. Set goals and break them intomanageable benchmarks –each single step is one closer to the finish line.

3. Reward yourself – hold off on a treat until the task is done.

4. Involve other people – you cancheer each other on.

5. Get help, if you need it – letyour healthcare providers, orstaff at your community centreor gym do the trouble shooting.

Plan toSUCCEED

We’re all more likely to continue witha program ifwe have

someone elsedoing

it with us.

Jason Naval had a personal rehabilitation program designed to matchhis goals.


Game


Linda Grainger was cheeringon her 14-year-old son at hishockey game three years ago when she fainted andtumbled down the concretesteps of the arena stands.

The 53-year-old, self-describedhockey mom had been treasurer of the team, working hard to raiseenough funds to get the boys to a tournament in Europe. All thatchanged in an instant.

She had suffered an aneurysm, followed by a stroke and brain injuries. Her left side was paralyzed.She also developed spasticity, an extreme tightness in some of the muscles in her leg and hand. “My hand has a death grip,” she

says, describing the clenching effect.She can’t use the hand because of theparalysis but the spasticity stoppedher from even being able to wash it.What may seem like a small thing

can quickly become a big deal. Whenwe wash our hands a dozen times inthe course of a day, imagine the effectsof not doing it.Although it’s not an uncommon

condition, spasticity isn’t widely understood. “A lot of people don’tknow what it is,” Grainger says. The cause is an overabundance ofmessages from the central nervoussystem telling muscles to continuouslycontract.

in theBackHealthyTogether_Resized_Nov5:Layout 1 11/7/10 8:37 PM


Hockey mom scores one for independence at West Park’s Spasticity Clinic

In addition to the clenched handGrainger experienced, spasticity in thearm could cause a bent wrist or elbowor pull an arm tight to the chest. In theleg, it may result in a stiff knee, pointedfoot or curled toes, for instance.Grainger wears a brace to keep herankle from turning in.The World Stroke Organization

describes spasticity as “a wickedcharley horse.” Grainger knows it can be an impediment to getting on with daily life. Try making a sandwich, holding a pen or opening a door with your hand in a fist.More than 30,000 people in the

Greater Toronto Area alone suffer fromspasticity. Of that, 20,000 have experi-enced a stroke, the most commoncause of spasticity. The condition isalso seen as a result of brain injury,cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury or multiple sclerosis.Caught early enough, the condition

can be managed. West Park HealthcareCentre’s Comprehensive SpasticityManagement Clinic is among thelargest adult facilities in the country.Physiatrist Dr. Farooq Ismail, his colleague Dr. Chris Boulias and theirteam record more than 1,200 patientvisits a year. Oral medications are prescribed

for some to help get those musclesloosened up, but many are treatedwith botulinum toxin (also known by brand names Botox or Xeomin) injected directly into the trouble spots. Grainger drives in from Ajax every

three months for her hour-long treat-ment. She is injected from shoulder to fingers and down her left leg. “Itmakes a tremendous difference,” shesays, relaxing the muscles so she canopen her hand again, lift her arm andtake some of the pressure off her leg.“At about the six-week mark it peaks

and then the muscles start to tightenup again,” she says. A very positive personality, she has just one complaint.“I wish it would last longer.”It’s a common sentiment. Almost

no one cancels an appointment at theWest Park clinic. That’s no surprise to Dr. Ismail. “Patients know whentheir medication or treatment effect

has worn off,” he says, “and they relyon the benefits of this treatment effectfor day to day function.” With increased muscle function in

a hand, for instance, they may be ableto feed themselves, comb their hair or brush their own teeth again. Theircaregivers may also enjoy a much-needed break. For example, Dr. Ismail describes the difficulty of replacing a catheter in a patient with multiplesclerosis whose hip adductor muscles

are squeezed tight. “It could take twoor three people to pull the legs apartand another to replace the catheter,”he explains. “Relieving the muscletightness could mean the task couldbe done by just one person.”“It’s not life threatening,” Dr. Ismail

says, “but a quality-of-life threateningcondition.”In addition to other effects of her

injuries, Grainger said the spasticityhad made it difficult to take on manyphysical activities that allowed her tobe independent. Her husband hadtaken months off work to support her, picking up all the duties of the household. Grainger is grateful. “He takes such good care of me.”As the spasticity was relieved, her

husband was relieved of a few of thoseduties and Grainger regained some independence. She was thrilled when,partly as a result of her spasticity treatments, she was able to get out ofher wheelchair. “It made me feel like awhole person,” she remembers. “I feltlike I was trapped in my own body.”“I’m a very independent person,”

she says. As appreciative as she is of all her husband had been doing, “I thought ‘Go back to work. Give mesome time to myself in the day.’”He is back at work as a nuclear

operator and once he’s home, she’llhave dinner waiting for him – thisevening, it’s pork tenderloin withpineapple rings, mashed potatoes and lots of vegetables. “I can make a complete meal but I’ll say I can’t dothe dishes, it’s too hard,” Grainger laughs.“I’ve come a long, long, long way

since getting sick, and a lot of the recovery has to do with West Park,”says Grainger, who has maintained astrong sense of humour despite theadversities. “Now if I could just lose10 pounds.”

Dr. Farooq Ismail says, when it's caught early,spasticity can be managed.

Although it’s not an uncommon condition,

spasticity isn’t widely understood.



West Park’s annual performance check-up has resulted in another clean bill of health for the hospital.Using a management tool called the Balanced Scorecard, West Park measures four key

areas: Stakeholder Perspective; Financial Performance; Quality and Clinical Outcomes; and Innovationand Learning. Overall, the performance for the last year measured is very good. West Park met all of its targets set out in an accountability agreement with the Toronto Central Local Health Integration Network.

Balanced Scorecardshows West Park’s strengths

The hospital’s success follows from a commitment:• to fiscal integrity;• to provide high quality patient care;• to achieve high levels of satisfactionand optimal outcomes for our patients;and

• to transfer knowledge and implementbest practices to support care delivery.

West Park President and CEO Anne-MarieMalek says investing in education and professional development is a key contributor.“It provides our staff with the tools andsupport they need to deliver exemplary care.”Here is a snapshot of the results.

Medical Staff with University Appointments

STUD

ENT

WEE

KS

NUM

BER

OF A

PPOI

NTM

ENTS

2007/08 2008/09 2009/100

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800 25

20

15

10

5

0

953

1325 1606

Student Weeks and Medical Staff with University Appointments

innovation and learning: The Centre received more than half a million dollars in external funds tosupport research in 2009/10. Physicians and staff shared their findings, expertise and experiences in many ways including the publication of 50 articles in peer-reviewed medical journals. They also presented at manylocal and international conferences including the National Conference of Indian Chest Society, the Canadian Association of Advance PracticeNurses Biennial Conference and the World Congress on Brain Injury, toname a few.West Park continues to welcome students from nursing, medicine,

regulated health professions and unregulated healthcare provider programs in their clinical placements. For the first time, the hospital provided placements for personal support worker students as well. The amount of student placements increased by 21 per cent in 2009/10.



0

20

40

60

80

100 97% 99.5%96%

2007/08 2008/09 2009/10Ontario Specialty Rehab Average

PERC

ENTA

GE

% of Rehabilitation Patients Rating Overall Quality of Care Excellent or Goodstakeholder perspective:

Rehabilitation patients at West Parkcontinue to offer excellent ratings ofcare. 99.5 per cent of patients rated thequality of care as excellent or good,which is a higher level than the peer average. In a further endorsement, 98 per cent of rehabilitation patients indicated they would recommend West Park to their friends and family. Overall complex continuing care

patients and family ratings of their care are in line with similar healthcarefacilities. Quality of worklife projectsare underway to address employeefeedback from previous years.

financial perspective: West Park ended the year with a surplus– the eighth straight year with a positiveoutcome. In another measurement affecting financial matters, sick hoursamong staff continued to decline andare well below average. The number of reported employee incidents also decreased by 12 per cent. An increasingnumber of those reports were the iden-tification of hazards and resulted in no injury; reflecting the Centre’s strongfocus on safety.

0

20

40

60

80

55.8

2007/08 2008/09 2009/10

HOUR

S

FISCAL YEAR

Ontario Hospital Association 2008/09 Average

60.870.0

Average Sick Hours per Eligible Employee

quality and clinical outcomes:Service volume targets were met in complex continuing care (CCC), rehabilitationand ambulatory clinic visits. In a challenging year, with the emergence of thepandemic Influenza (H1N1), the immunization rate for CCC patients exceededtargets. The number of Centre staff immunized also increased. Rates of infectionby Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA), Vancomycin Resistant

Ecoli (VRE) and Colostidium-difficileInfection (CDI) are well below existingbenchmarks, reflecting vigilant screen-ing of patients at admission and otherinfection control efforts.Among West Park’s internal targets

is to reduce the percentage of patientsreporting severe or disruptive pain.That was achieved in 2009/10 bringingthe percentage to 11 per cent, belowthe 15 per cent target.

The percentage of nurses employedfull-time is an organizational healthindicator of the Hospital Service Accountability Agreement. West Park met the Ministry’s target of 70 per cent.

PERC

ENTA

GE

2007/08 2008/09 2009/100

5

10

15

2016%

11%

15.4%

Disruptive or Severe Pain



In our youth, it was common to carve our names into schooldesks, or our initials into trees –all in an attempt to say: “I amhere.” For many of us, middleage is when we consider how

to make a more lasting and positiveimpression to say, “I was here.”

Estates lawyer Dan Hicks is oftencalled on to give planning advice to hisclients that opens the door to leaving a legacy. He says it’s pretty common tofind 40-somethings who haven’t givenmuch thought to life after them. “Weall know that everyone else dies,” hesays, “but never ourselves.”

The discussion usually happensafter someone close is struck with an illness or when parents pass away.Hicks’ advice is to start with a willand Powers of Attorney for propertyand personal care.A will directs how your estate will

be distributed once you are gone. You

How will

Youleave Your Mark?

With a bit of planning, you can leavea legacy



The Basics of Estate PlanningWhy do I need a plan?A good estate plan provides for yourloved ones, ensures a quick distribu-tion of your estate, minimizes taxes,lets you direct your affairs and helpsyou organize for the future.

How do I get started?• Prepare an inventory of your assetsand liabilities. That can includeRRSPs, property, bank accountsand jewellery on the asset side andloans, mortgages and credit carddebts on the liability side.

• Identify your objectives. Do youwant to cover your children’seducation, offer a donation to a favourite charity or establish a trust fund?

• Prepare a will.

Can I write my own will?Sure, and there are kits available toguide you. But you must follow therules carefully. The most commonerror? Not having two witnesses toyour signature or using a spouse as witness.

Can I change a will?Yes, and you should review it everythree to five years. Your investments,savings, debts and family statusmay have changed since you firstprepared the document. Be sure todestroy the old version.

What’s an executor?An executor can be any competentadult, professional or trust companychosen by you to carry out the termsof your will and to take care of thelegal and financial obligations insettling your estate. Choose someoneyou trust who understands the obligations. The executor is entitledby law to be paid five percent of thevalue of the estate.

probably have more stuff than you realize and a variety of bank accounts,investments and insurance policies.Hicks stresses the importance of“making a will that is concise andreadable.” The clearer, the better.A common myth, Hicks explains, is

that if you don’t have a will, it all “goesto the government.” Each province hasits own legislation, but generally, everyeffort is made to find an heir. So if younever liked cousin Freddy and he’s thelast of the family line, you’d best makeit clear through a will that your estateis to go elsewhere.Once clients have ensured a gift for

spouses and offspring, many will bespurred to think about another oppor-tunity to do good work through acharitable donation. Hicks says leavinga legacy is a terrific way to show gratitude for care you’ve received, forinstance, and to ensure that the supportyou enjoyed will be there for thosewho come after you. The impact canendure for generations.William Gage was a Brampton

farm boy, born in 1849, who grew upto head his own publishing company.For some, to have your name on thespine of every Dick and Jane readermay have been enough to leave amark. Gage went on to leave a muchmore dramatic imprint. Struck by the plight of a blacksmith’s family of 14, all but one lost to tuberculosis, he made it his mission to build a sanitarium in Canada. The firstopened in Muskoka, and the second,which eventually became West ParkHealthcare Centre was established inToronto in 1904. Gage’s family, many generations

on, continues to support West Park.His great-grandson David Love hasserved on the hospital and founda-tion boards. “He would be delightedto see the extent to which West Parkhas done such fabulous work,” Lovesays of his inspiration.

The Gage-Love legacy is exceptional.An initial contribution doesn’t have to be that sizable to make a difference.Anything can help leave a mark and,Hicks says, there are compelling financial reasons to do so as well. The tax credits are generous. When

you die, all of your assets are treatedas sold, so with capital gains in play,your income on that final tax returncan be substantial. On the first $200of a charitable donation from yourwill, the federal credit is 15 per cent.Anything over $200 has a credit of 29 per cent. “So, even if you are not at the top tax bracket,” Hicks says,“you get credits as if you are.”The same rules apply while you are

here to see your donation in action, by the way. So, by all means, if youcan, give generously. “You can do anything you want in

a will,” Hicks says, “subject to certainlaws.” While some people might feelthe need to explain their intentions to their children, for instance, he saysmost people treat a will and their finalwishes as a very private matter.For Love, ongoing generational

contributions to his great-grandfather’scause, “is a really wonderful way tocarry forward the legacy of a very determined man.” Although there is a building named

for William Gage at West Park andLove’s name appears frequently as asupporter, he says that’s not what it’sall about. “My grandchildren will visitWest Park one day and will see on alist somewhere that I was a contribu-tor. But they’ll know me because ofwho I was, not because my name wason a plaque somewhere.”

Help us

help MORE pe

ople

each day!

Donate on-lin

e at

www.westpar

k.org



Dr. NoraCULLEN

Len Cullen was a man whoknew the responsibility of giving. For his charity ofchoice, the Baptist Church, he was tireless. He needed no recognition, expected no

fanfare, just quietly went about his philanthropy. It was fuelled by his very successful

family business Cullen Gardens andMiniature Village in Whitby. That hechose to create miniature, not giant,replicas may have been a clue to hisunderstatedness.He encouraged his five children to

put their envelopes in the plate everySunday, making their own difference inthe world, one coin at a time. “The givingbecame a habit,” says Nora Cullen. Now a physiatrist, treating people withdisabilities, and West Park HealthcareCentre’s new Chief of Staff, Dr. Cullenknows the value of a donated dime.

She’ll be counting on the generosityof others to help her fulfil her newestprofessional journey. Her mandate asChief of Staff includes bringing anincreased research and education focusto West Park. “There is never enoughmoney for that,” she says plainly. “So it’s apparent to me that I will be a failurein my mandate unless the Foundation is successful.”“Education is often a labour of love,”

Dr. Cullen says, “You can usually find people to teachtheir skills to the nextgeneration. But researchis horrendously expensiveand without money, it won’t happen.”So she sees supporting

West Park’s Foundation,and encouraging othersto do so, as part of the job. Dr. Cullen also has

a personal mission state-ment which is, “to makethe quality of life of people with disabilitiesbetter.” Her career has always been in line with that and so have her charitable efforts.She is deeply involved with Nepal-

Ability, an organization which aims to promote quality of life for patients with disabilities in Nepal by enhancingeducation and supporting local rehabilitation endeavours. It is work, to be sure, but driven by

passion. Dr. Cullen remembers the“fun” in seeing her father work so hardfor something he believed in – riding a bicycle across Ontario at 65, forinstance, stopping at churches to getpeople to pledge support for a newbible college.

Dr. Cullen’s commitment to improvingthe quality of life for people with disabilities is equally driven. Even as achild in Scarborough, she says, she hada fascination with disabilities and whatit might feel like to be unable to move a limb, for instance. Unlike the rest ofher gardening-bent family, she chose acareer in nursing. After five years, shewanted more and headed down a newpath to medical school that eventuallytook her into physiatry – a medical

specialty that focuses on maximizing functionof patients with complexdisabilities.“It’s really difficult

to live in this worldwith a disability,” Dr. Cullen says. “We can do a lot better inmaking the world a better place for thedisabled to live in.”For many, a passion

for a particular field of study comes from a personal connection. Dr. Cullen has none. Shesimply sees the population aging and an increasing need for support for peoplewith disabilities. That support mustinclude a greater effort to intervenesooner to help keep people in their communities longer. “I’ve been remark-ably healthy, as has my family, free fromany hardship or disability or illness. Itjust makes me feel incredibly lucky.”“My life has been rich on so many

levels. It’s my duty to give back if I’m at all able.”Nora Cullen is more than able. She is

giving back and she’s asking you to do the same. �

“It’s really difficult to live in this world with a disability...

We can do a lot better in making the world a better place for the disabled to live in.”

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This bird’s eye view painting shows the mixture of future and existing buildings that might share West Park’s campus.

Did You Know:• West Park first opened as a tuberculosis sanitarium in1904 and remains Ontario’s only dedicated TB inpatient unit, handling the province’smost complex cases.

• The Centre operates 287 in-patient hospital beds and 200 long-term care beds.

• West Park is designated by theOntario government as a Centreof Excellence for Long-TermVentilation.

• Our Comprehensive SpasticityManagement Clinic is one of thelargest program of its kind inCanada and trains physiciansfrom across the country.

• The Centre’s Prosthetic andOrthotic Service is the only adultamputee rehabilitation programin the Greater Toronto Area withonsite manufacturing capabilities.

• West Park is a Nursing BestPractice Spotlight Organizationdesignated by the RegisteredNurses’ Association of Ontario.

West Park Redevelopment

West Park is moving forward on redevelopment plans that will not onlychange the face of the hospital but redefine the boundaries of care.Once it’s approved and complete,

you’ll see an expanded and modernizedfacility with a brand-new patient servicesbuilding, still surrounded by the peacefulgreen space so valued by patients, staffand the community. In an early important step, Toronto

City Council has given the go ahead to zoning changes that will allow thephysical portion of the new vision totake shape. As part of the redevelopment,five acres of land will be devoted toservices that complement West Park’scontinuum of care and programs. Thatdevelopment could include housing andrelated services for seniors and peoplewith disabilities. Architects envisionpotential new buildings in that area ofthe campus ranging from four to 18storeys. Similar to the long-term carehome on campus, you wouldn’t have tobe a West Park patient to take advantageof what’s offered.Response from the community,

garnered in public consultations, hasbeen positive. Indeed, the potential benefits for the Weston neighbourhoodare significant. The campus will integratecontemporary facilities offering leading-edge rehabilitation and complexcontinuing care, with a special focus

on the healthcare needs of seniors. Theproject will also bring economic stimulusand more jobs into the community.Beyond the bricks and mortar,

the redevelopment opens the door toenvisioning the best way of providingheath care, and sets the stage to evolveand redefine the programs and servicesof the Centre. “West Park has a well-earned reputation

as an innovator and high performer,” saysPresident and CEO Anne-Marie Malek.“This redevelopment provides us anopportunity to imagine what it will taketo continue that tradition into the future.”The provincial government has

completed its review of the comprehensivebusiness case for the project, in anotherkey step towards gaining a place in thegovernment’s new 10-year capital planfor infrastructure investments. You can help too. Although the Centre

receives operating funds from theprovince, the West Park HealthcareCentre Foundation counts on generousindividuals and corporations to helpfund research and education, patientcare technology and facility redevelop-ment to improve the lives of patientsand residents. Go to westpark.org andclick on Foundation to join us.

For more detailed information, visit www.westpark.org or drop by to pick up a copy of Sightlines, WestPark’s redevelopment newsletter. �


For more details contact:

416-243-3778proactivehealthcare.caLocated at West Park Healthcare Centre

82 Buttonwood AvenueRuddy Building, 4th Floor, Toronto(minutes to Hwys 400 & 401)

Free Client ParkingDoctor’s referral not required

Physiotherapy

Massage Therapy

Chiropody & Orthotics

Chiropractic Care

Warm-Pool Therapy & Aquafit

Acupuncture

Pilates & Zumba

Cold Laser Therapy

Auto & Work Injury Treatment

Occupational Therapy

We want

to hear from

YOU!

Enter the Healthy Together contest today!Enter the Healthy Together contest today!You could win an iPador a Blue-Ray Player or a

$100 gift certificate from West Park ProActive Healthcare!

Your feedback matters! Tell us what you think about Healthy Togetherand our services! Go to healthytogether.cato complete a short survey for your chance to win.

A S K A B O U T :

Extended Hours • Gift CertificatesInsurance Reimbursement & Direct Billing

100% of proceeds go back into West Park Healthcare Centre

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