transcript veritage house

20140806 Vegreville Heratige House

BRAD: Ok, Vegreville, Wednesday morning. Heritage house. This is 42-70 Maple Street and once again, in Vegreville. I hope to get the right date today. Wednesday, August, 6th. So, Heritage House is a…sorry, it’s an assisted living built in 2009. 80 people designated, so it’s public. So that’s been assessed for assisted living. And I can see a large [inaudible 01:04] this propriety. Just across the street. I would imagine it’s going to be the home stead (?). Anyway, so we’ll go there next, but for this one, the Heritage House in Vegreville, I do have a shirt pocket today, so, I’m going in, [with glasses?]

BRAD: Good morning! How are you?

SPEAKER 2: Good, how are you?

BRAD: Fine, thanks! I have a father living in the area, he’s been assessed for assisted living.

SPEAKER 2: Okay.

BRAD: And so, Transition Services told me to go around see how I like the facilities and then I’m supposed to give them three…

SPEAKER 2: Ok…

BRAD: …that…for our choices, that…and they will select one based on availability.

SPEAKER 2: Great!

BRAD: I think…

SPEAKER 2: That’s fair! I can give you this…

BRAD: Oh, great! I’m from Calgary.

SPEAKER 2: Ok.

BRAD: And he didn’t want to move down there, he wants to be here.

SPEAKER 2: Well, that’s…


BRAD: And here’s where he’s got his friends.

SPEAKER 2: Right.

BRAD: And he’s…he needs care, but he’s still fairly social. So, it’s his choice he gets to sit here.

SPEAKER 2: I’m just trying to think, I’m doing payroll right now, the manager is in India, so…I just think what room we could…

BRAD: I don’t even know what question to ask. This is the first time I’ve been to something like this, so…Do people usually just, do they ask for a tour?

SPEAKER 2: Well, yes, I mean, I can give you, like, a quick tour, I just, I prefer if you do with the LPN if she has time, or the manager just because they do it all the time and they know what to tell you…

BRAD: Okay..

SPEAKER 2: …And probably what you need.

BRAD: And an LPN is a…?

SPEAKER 2: It’s a Licensed Nurse Practitioner, we have one on staff 24 hours.

BRAD: So, a Health Person.

SPEAKER 2: Yes.

BRAD: I got you.

SPEAKER 2: Yes, so if you just want to wait for one minute, I’ll be right back.

BRAD: Sure thing, I’ll wait here.

BRAD: I see some birds, a fish, [inaudible] open here again.

BRAD: Hey, buddy. You are a fairly demanding little guy. I’ll sit with you. (addressing to the bird)

SPEAKER 2: Hi! One second, I’ll be right here for you!


BRAD: Hi, thanks!

SPEAKER 2: Hi, I’m Fiona.

BRAD: Hi, Fiona, I’m Brad.

FIONA: Brad, so, I hear this is a new experience for you.

BRAD: Very much so. This is Day One on it.

FIONA: It’s pretty intimidating.

BRAD: Yes.

FIONA: I can totally support that. So, I heard you’re not sure what questions to ask.

BRAD: Yes, I just…he’s got some concern that we are going to put him in a home so…when I asked Transition Services about this / a base (?) I just caught out (?) and said ‘Maybe assess him a room’. But as far as me determining which is good place and which is not, I’ve got no idea what the ranking factors are.

FIONA: It’s intimidating, that’s for sure. I’m going to grab my keys so that I can show you around.

BRAD: Ok.

FIONA: So, that would be a good place to start. Ok, so, what sets [inaudible] apart from some other rooms. Is that are [inaudible]. We want people to feel as independent as possible. That they’re contributing even to the community.

BRAD: Ok.

FIONA: So, we have residents who help in the kitchen, we have residents who set the tables, we have residents to do the gardening, growing corns, peppers, tomatoes, fantastic (?) gardening. And we really embrace the idea of letting people take charge.

BRAD: Ok.


FIONA: You know, you are here for your needs, yes, whether is medical, or needing help getting dressed in the morning, manage your new medications. We take care of that, whatever you can take care of, we encourage this. They can take part in our monthly [inaudible] meetings so we can try to make obviously [ ] those things that you can’t make everyone happy.

BRAD: Yes, yes.

FIONA: We try to make as many people as happy is possible most of the time.

BRAD:

FIONA: We are also working with low Sodium and low fat.

BRAD: He has diverticulitis, so he doesn’t have-- he doesn’t need stuff like that.

FIONA: Yes, that’s our call as many people are concerned. So, we work [ ] to make everyone happy. So, the main dinning room. Whenever we do-- we do brunches once a month to encourage families to come and visit for, so we open these up to do like a café style, getting more involved, so far the favorite is either the fried chicken or the pork ribs.

BRAD: That sounds like it would be.

FIONA: Yes, it’s fancy. If you want to do, say, his birthday or something or want to get the family together, we can let you to our private [ ] room.

BRAD: Ok.

FIONA: So, all you do is book that for an evening or an afternoon, whatever the case may be, bring everyone in.

BRAD: And people just order the food or get it made?


FIONA: It depends on your preference. For guests, breakfast is four dollars, lunch is six dollars and dinner is ten dollars.

BRAD: Ok, I see.

FIONA: But if you want to bring in something special, you want to bring in a special meal for him or whatever, you can do that too.

BRAD: I guess I’m just considering that bringing in Chinese food wouldn’t really work for him in a place like this and probably for his diet.

FIONA: Well, it’s one of those things that we encourage residents to make healthier choices, but they’re adults, right? That’s what sets us apart from some other places. We go [ ], talk to them, for [ ] something [ ], probably we’ll say ‘Did you want to try something else?’.

BRAD: Ok, it is right to provide a little guidance.

FIONA: Yes, exactly. We have a common shared showering area for people who can’t come into tubs.

BRAD: Ok.

FIONA: So, if he’s --

BRAD: Ok, that’s what they call assisted baths?

FIONA: Yes.

BRAD: You love shuffle board.

FIONA: And we do the [ ] on it.

BRAD: Ok, cool!

FIONA: Laura (?) is one of our longest staying [ ] and she’s been here since I was in grad school.

BRAD: Really home-like environment.

FIONA: Pardon?


BRAD: That just really looks home-like, even seeing that door opener, I can see the kitchen table and stuff like that.

FIONA: Yes, we like the idea that your room isn’t just yours. The entire building is your home. Cover the walls as you please.

BRAD: Got you. So, you don’t have people staying in their rooms all the time.

FIONA: No. No, we really encourage people to go out and visit and get involved.

BRAD: Wow, that’s an-- Now you’ve got me lost. It’s a sprawling --

FIONA: It is. It’s my weight-loss plan.

BRAD: Ok…

FIONA: Two couple [ ] the building, [inaudible 00:13:02] especially in the heels.

BRAD: Yes, I look like I know what’s that like, but I can’t imagine [ ] all the steps around here.

FIONA: This side of--, our residents that have a little or memory issues, people who are less dependent, because our one bedrooms on the other side actually have a little kitchen and everything. They’re like a one bedroom apartments with en-suite laundry and everything.

BRAD: This one’s small?

FIONA: These ones are the studios. And this side, personally is my favorite time, the time runs at its own pace, the HCAs are actually making breakfast for the residents and then they get lunch and supper, brought down to th--

BRAD: Ok. HCAs are...? Health Care Aid?

FIONA: Health Care Aid, yes.


BRAD: I could have guessed so.

FIONA: Ok, Leah (?) is one of the HCAs on this side. She can run this side better than I did, so just, she comes to me when she needs frying pans and I smile and nod. But this side is fantastic.

BRAD: Yes, this, all looks very new.

FIONA: Yes, this side is only two years old.

BRAD: Two years…

BRAD: It looks very nice with what looks like a kitchen at home.

FIONA: Exactly.

BRAD: It’s--, just looks like a big [ ] room.

FIONA: Yes, looks like my dream kitchen, is what it looks like.

BRAD: Ok.

FIONA: And they have their small room area, gardening area, the residents can decide to go out when they please, they get to decide what they want to plant there.

BRAD: So they just get to go out there and wander around an do what they like.

FIONA: Exactly. If anyone has the tendency to wander off, we kind of try to keep an eye on them. 68 is open, I believe, right?

SPEAKER 3: You bet--

FIONA: Awesome! Now whether is anything in there, I don’t know. I’m pretty sure I cleared it this morning.

BRAD: Sounds exciting!

FIONA: Pretty sure I cleared it this morning, but—So, yes, this is the smaller rooms.


BRAD: These look really big.

FIONA: Yes, it’s kind of funny to say this is our smallest suit.

BRAD: Yes, and all he talks about is keeping his chair.

FIONA: Yes? That one can go back to the living room, if he has a favorite chair.

BRAD: Yes? This morning I feel like that’s where I can sit. Ok.

FIONA: And this side has the working showers.

BRAD: I see.

FIONA: So they, each stays [inaudible 00:16:09] in this room for this ones /once.

BRAD: Ok, so he gets his shower and his room, assisted, no bath they could sat before. I got you.

FIONA: If he’s on this side.

BRAD: Wow, this bathroom is really big.

FIONA: Yes.

BRAD: Storage…ok.

FIONA: I said, I really love this side it’s so, just, calm.

BRAD: It’s really new too.

FIONA: It is. And I really, really wish I knew just who decorated this side [inaudible 00:16:41]

BRAD: The carpet makes it feel home-like.

FIONA: Yes, I, I’m really proud of this place, like, I worked in Assisting Living Long Term Caring Facility and it’d go [inaudible 00:16:57] for seven years and this one’s my favorite.

BRAD: Ok…


FIONA: Like, hands down, the approach, the staff, the residents, the décor, the size of the room, hand down.

BRAD: So, what makes Vegreville different?

FIONA: It’s, well, it’s actually the approach of the company.

BRAD: Ok.

FIONA: Point was to follow what they call the [Evenly/Evening] Philosophy, and the entire idea behind the [inaudible 00:17:29] is to make it as home-like as possible, to put on as much as independence as possible. You take away a little bit of the structure, like, in Long Term care its meds are 8-9-8-4-8.

BRAD: Yes, ok.

FIONA: And here’s is like, you know, Mary doesn’t like to get up at 08:00 in the morning, we don’t wake her up at 08:00 in the morning for force meds down her throat. You say you do like to get up at 10:00? Ok, we can call the pharmacy say ‘Can you change her med times?’

BRAD: So it’s way less institutional.

FIONA: Exactly. Exactly, and it’s like up 20 points stepping home. So, here in Vegreville that would be us and the Century park. Our both run on the [inaudible 00:18:14] Philosophy.

BRAD: So you have another one here in town.

FIONA: Yes, Century Park is a little more structured because they have a dimensionate, a locked-down unit.

BRAD: Ok.

FIONA: Just for residents who tend to wander off.

BRAD: I see, I see. To leave the building and such.


FIONA: Exactly, I’m going to have to interrupt these two one second. Cathy, this is Brad. Cathy is our recreation--

BRAD: Hi, Cathy, I’m Brad.

CATHY: Nice to meet you.

FIONA: She runs recreation pretty well.

BRAD: Recreation…So, physiotherapy and stuff like that?

FIONA: No, we have a AT, we have a PT team, like the table top bowling, exercising…

BRAD: You are trying to keep everybody busy.

FIONA: They are having fun.

BRAD: I got you. That sounds like a tough job.

FIONA: Yes, Bingo, [inaudible 00:19:03], gardening, anything..

CATHY: Services we do. I do up a calendar.

BRAD: Ok.

FIONA: And all residents get a calendar plus their contact card, their family member you would know, this day we’re having a brunch, I want to come and spend it, so, you know, with my family member, some trip services. They--, you know, you’re always wanted to entertainment, you have entertainment that comes, some in the afternoons, some in the evening.

FIONA: We had a band once, so there was a week--

CATHY: We do, Fiona, we had the first week as our little [inaudible 00:19:40], but we get the regular dates, so we have probably eight bands that come, and some come in the summer time so they take it off which is ok. So it’s, there we keep them busy.

FIONA: At the events they don’t show up she throws a guitar riff.


CATHY: Yes! We need to, which we enjoy and we want to do it again.

FIONA: Ok, and how’s the song we’re calling?

CATHY: I had song-books, I put them together.

FIONA: I don’t think they want to listen to Metal, I don’t know what it [inaudible 00:20:11] like.

CATHY: They are asking for all these old songs which I don’t even know. And she’s looking it up and did a fantastic job, but we are a better comedy act than musical.

RANDY: Well, as long as they came--

BRAD: That’s what—

CATHY: It can’t be that bad.

FIONA: I can laugh at people myself, so I don’t mind people laughing at me

FIONA: Randy is in our maintenance group.

BRAD: Nice to meet you, Randy.

FIONA: He takes care of the grounds, makes sure we get painters if we need them, he’s helping me with flooring--

RANDY: Changing light-bulbs, we program the telephone, training staff, telling management what they shouldn’t have -- Okay, something else.

FIONA: Keeping me in line.

BRAD: So, with the new renovation, I bet you’re a pretty busy guy.

RANDY: Yes, I was [inaudible 00:20:57] at the Century Park which is also by the Library (?)

BRAD: Ok…


RANDY: On 43 Street, building…

BRAD: Yes, I’m sure I’ll be over there later today.

RANDY: And what you may be--

BRAD: I’m Brad.

RANDY: From…?

BRAD: From Calgary. My dad lives in the outskirts of the town here.

RANDY: Okay.

BRAD: And he didn’t want to move to Calgary, so I’m up here checking everything up for him.

RANDY: You know, this is a fine [inaudible 00:21:16]. We’ve got some really good people at.

BRAD: You know, I think I shouldn’t have picked this one to see, I think I should have seen something a little bit more--, you know, when he says like ‘Don’t put me in’, all I can imagine is what he’s talking about.

RANDY: No, this is a unique little culture onto itself, it’s like I’m a long brother of these places as well. It’s much different, here is as it is --

FIONA: Well, maybe not once for this instance, this is what happens when I get bored.

CATHY: You can flip it.

BRAD: Okay. Very nice you got your little artistic favorite [?]

FIONA: Well, a little bit, a little bit. And yet, the residents will come and bug me while I’m painting and tell me I’m doing it wrong, and tease me…

BRAD: I’m sure it’s just something fen--

FIONA: Oh, no, there’s very much, very much teasing. This one gentleman would come by every time ‘Child,


you’re going to wreck it!’ And then he would walk out and he’d give me a smile and will [inaudible 00:22:12].

CATHY: So, we’ll finally [inaudible 00:22:16] Fiona because I asked her where you live, she said she doesn’t know. But we just, what did I tell you? We jus--, I just saw the sign, so this is Garden View Lane. And I’ll be painting that sign, possibly on this floor. What do you think about taking, where do you think the sign should go?

[inaudible 00:22:36 – 00:22:40]

FIONA: I know, I think that’s a good idea, that wall is probably a good idea? Yes, if we moved here, if we moved that painting, we’d put it on that wall?

CATHY: Yes, because if you walked down from there, you can see that sign.

FIONA: Plus, if you’re coming from here, you could look at it, but if you come around, at the corner, rose garden, each pod has its own –

BRAD: It’s a way-finding thing, I see.

FIONA: Yeah, and right now --

RANDY: Nice to meet you guys.

FIONA: What’s driving people nuts is that the signs were

just printage.

BRAD: Okay.

FIONA: Like, I wonder, she and I just don’t talk, so -- A lot of

the staff didn’t even realize that the pods [inaudible

00:23:25]


BRAD: Well, I’m seeing pink and green, so there’s a bit of a

color separation too, there.

FIONA: Yeah, I know. Some people use that. I live in a green

area with [inaudible 00:23:34].

BRAD: Okay.

FIONA: Uhm, so –

BRAD: Jeez, lots going on here.

FIONA: Well, it’s memory curing, right? Because even

before dementia gets to any sort of advanced stage,

and even just with natural memory loss with age,

you start to need more visual cues. The numbers

don’t always make sense to people, because they’re

not exactly in order so you can say “I’m half done

this one” or “I’ve finished that one” so --

BRAD: Yeah, it looks good to this guy but –

FIONA: I’m outlining them and highlighting them and doing all sorts of things.

BRAD: So, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven people per pod?

FIONA: Yeah, seven rooms.

BRAD: Eight. I guess I missed one.

Woman 2: Oh no, that one doesn’t have a --

FIONA: No, that’s just a storage room.

BRAD: Oh, okay. Yeah, I guess you need it around here, eh?

Woman 2: Yes.

FIONA: Yes. I’m thinking about which bedroom to show you.


BRAD: So, do you have two bedrooms here?

FIONA: We do have two bedrooms, the wait list for those is insane.

BRAD: So, is there a way -- I suppose you guys should’ve asked “Is there any [inaudible 00:24:25] for this?”

FIONA: Well, with placement, if he’s coming through placement, it’s much faster than coming through independently.

BRAD: Yeah, they said they’d know more about it than you guys would.

FIONA: Yeah, I kind of tell them when I have an open room and about a week later I get --

BRAD: That’s, I mean, that’s really nice.

FIONA: Mary, Mary’s --

BRAD: She keeps it better decorated than my place.

FIONA: The family brought her in with the chandelier. Mary? Mary, how are you? We’re running some issues with the older [00:25:16] here. Oh, dear, how are you?

Mary: My bum is still sore.

FIONA: Your bum is sore. That’s no good.

[Unintelligible chatter]

BRAD: Hello. Hi, Mary.

FIONA: Okay, maybe we should get the [00:25:38]. Okay, so, the [00:25:40] will come take a look at that and let us know what’s going on, okay?

Mary: What time? So I would be --

FIONA: She’ll be on her way shortly. Okay?

Mary: Ok. Are you [inaudible 00:25:53]?

FIONA: Well, I am but right now I’m doing a tour. I’m the General Manager.


Mary: Oh, okay.

FIONA: So, Jenn will come and get you, okay?

Mary: Oh, thank you.

FIONA: You’re welcome. So, this is Sweet 10, here. Now, I need to redo the carpets, so, the carpets in here are a bit of a mess… and we’re just about to get them redone. But, as the carpets in here are ripped out, we’re gonna put the hardwood in --

BRAD: Yeah, I think you probably have to do that most times --

FIONA: That’s mainly what we’re doing now as residents move out. This one really needs a paintjob.

BRAD: Are we facing south here?

FIONA: Oh, so you aren’t from [unclear 00:26:37]. I actually have to think about that.

BRAD: And I’m from [unclear 00:26:39]. You can probably say whatever and I’ll believe you.

FIONA: I think that’s north. I think so. So, there are our one bedroom sweets. They are significantly larger.

BRAD: So, they actually have a tub to step inside.

FIONA: Yeah, and --

BRAD: Oh, I want to watch the dryer. So you have people doing their own --

FIONA: Yeah.

BRAD: -- Laundry here?

FIONA: Yeah, so, again, it depends on what level of needs for your dad, so if he’s going to need someone to do his laundry, if he’s going to need a walk in shower, if he’s going to need all of that, then we will put him in one of the studios.

BRAD: I’ve got you.

FIONA: But if all he needs is med management and he’s fine physically, then we will look at a sweet like this.


BRAD: No, I like this better because he’s functioning in this environment now. In two years, I couldn’t tell you if he’ll be the same.

FIONA: Well, that’s the thing, if in two years he’s assessed and it’s not working, then I call you up and say “Hey, I have a studio open and I think it might be more comfortable to move.” We’re not going to be like --

BRAD: Yeah, I like that. So what’s the price difference between --?

FIONA: Well, because we are doing all of the laundry, like, in here, we would help with personal laundry if he wanted and we would do his linens for him, like stripping the bed and stuff, because lots of elderly people have problems with that. We would linens for him, help him with personal laundry if he wants all that and we are doing all of his laundry and care. So, it [unclear 00:28:11] 18, 38, 55 out of the way.

BRAD: Okay, so you just -- The laundry is the only difference?

FIONA: Yeah, Laundry and, like, in here, if he wanted to make his own breakfast and lunch.

BRAD: I see it’s got a stove top.

FIONA: Yeah. You could do --

BRAD: Bring the microwave in? Wow, okay. So, this is really independent.

FIONA: Yes. Yeah.

BRAD: That’s great.

FIONA: We like independence. We love being able to let people do as much as they are able to do.

BRAD: So, do you have the same type of thing in the other location?

FIONA: Uhm, I actually don’t know what their sweets look like.

BRAD: Okay, well, maybe I’ll find out. Wow, that just seems like --

FIONA: People here at the ward [unclear 00:28:56] like long term care over assisted living. And it’s a scary thought because in movies all we see is old people looking bored in wheelchairs and drooling and the staff rushing around --

BRAD: That’s kind of what I expected to see…


FIONA: Exactly. That’s the Hollywood return. I’ve worked six months in the States, I’ll tell you. Unless you’re paying five, six, seven thousand dollars a month, that is the cost of healthcare in the States.

BRAD: Ouch!

FIONA: There’s a reason I’ve only worked there for six months. Oh, if he wants to get his hair trimmed --

BRAD: Oh, okay. So he doesn’t have to go out for that stuff.

FIONA: No, I think men’s trimmings are 10 to 20 depending on the case. [Unclear 00:29:54] So, we --

BRAD: I see now, we’re back at the start.

FIONA: Yeah. And this is where bands typically play.

BRAD: Okay. Multi-purpose space.

FIONA: Yeah. Bingo is typically here and when they’re doing a big [00:30:21] a lot of these little ladies like making their own [00:30:24] so we’ll start some of that, every once in a while. That one’s a big undertaking. That one’s a full-day tackle project.

BRAD: Yeah, I’ve seen it happen.

FIONA: Everyone think everyone else wraps the [00:30:39].

BRAD: Okay. So you have a very Ukrainian culture.

FIONA: Very, very. Have you seen the [unclear 00:30:51] downtown?

BRAD: Yes.

FIONA: Yeah, very Ukrainian culture. Did you grow up here?

BRAD: No, no. May father moved here after my mother died, probably 15 years ago and I’ve probably been up here for five or six times, maybe.

Woman 2: So what brought him here?

BRAD: You know, I just think he grew up here, so, just moving back to --

Woman 2: Yeah.

BRAD: -- to the rural environment he likes.


FIONA: You will find that the Hollywood image of the system is much different than what you’re going to see. The difference between us and other facilities here is we take that level -- Every place tries to get a level of independence, that’s part of HS and protecting elderly right is acknowledging you are caring for the elderly; they still have their own minds, they still make their own decisions, they’re adults.

BRAD: I think he’d appreciate that.

FIONA: Exactly. But we just take it a step further and we encourage our staff to speak up and say “Okay, do you know what? Giving this person his medication at 7 in the morning isn’t working. She doesn’t want to be up that early.” “Okay, call, pharmacy, we’re changing the med times.” We push it next step to really let people take their own routines, take charge of their own lives; as long as happy, healthy and safe, they can make their own decisions.

BRAD: Yeah, so, you don’t take much of their own independence.

FIONA: We take as little as possible.

Woman 2: We push them a little bit.

FIONA: Yeah, well… every once in a while you’ll have people who you know they can walk around and don’t want you to push them in the wheelchair. It’s like, come on now, you know better than that.

BRAD: Everybody needs a challenge I suppose.

FIONA: We have one resident and the HCs have been helping her get dressed in the morning and, funny enough, after breakfast, she gets undressed just fine on her own. She gets back in her pajamas and goes back to bed. Wow, if you can do that, why can’t you get yourself dressed in the morning?

BRAD: Yeah, everybody needs a little attention.

FIONA: So it is. It’s a game, it’s fun. It’s kind of hilarious to be walking down the hallway just here “Hey, maybe you should put your pants back on.”

BRAD: Yeah, I suppose you get to know some characters, probably both of them.


FIONA: Oh, absolutely. It’s the best part of my job. It’s when I actually get together in our office and visit and have [unclear 00:33:40], yeah.

BRAD: Dad is 84, so, what’s the average, around what age?

FIONA: Average is probably 80 to 90, but the oldest lady has just passed 101. But you wouldn’t have known she was 101.

Woman 2: And our youngest resident is 30.

BRAD: Okay, so, you cater to a very wide range.

FIONA: Yeah, it’s -- Are you okay? Debbie is one of our [unclear 00:34:13].

Man: Yeah. Thanks very much for showing me around, Fiona.

FIONA: Do you have any other questions?

BRAD: I don’t, but if you have a card… I’d --

FIONA: I haven’t got any cards yet, I’m very new.

BRAD: Are you? I don’t even know what to ask at this point.

Woman: Well, it’s very overloading, it’s a huge decision to make --

BRAD: Even if you just throw it on there, I can -- No, I’m the eldest son, so…

FIONA: Yeah, that doesn’t always mean anything. I come from a very, very large family, I’m the youngest and I can tell you -- Well, no, my older sister or myself would be the two that would be asked to make these sorts of decisions, because she is a nurse as well.

BRAD: Well, I guess if you have the training for it… Because I certainly think I need a Nursing degree to navigate all these acronyms and types of things.

FIONA: So, they haven’t given you any information about how the DSL works or anything?

BRAD: DS --?

FIONA: Daily [unclear 00:35:23] living.

BRAD: I’ve heard DAL, designated assisted living… I’ve got no idea what either means.


FIONA: Okay, so, why don’t I print you off some info that might help --?

BRAD: Sure, or even, just -- Look, I know how Google works so I can --

Woman: Well, I basically have a package that I give anyone who steps in. Anyways, you know what, I might as well just -- I’m gonna photocopy you this entire package. This would be like, should he come here, I’d be handing him this package.

BRAD: Okay.

Woman: So, I might as well print it out for you and then you can actually read it through and if you end up [unclear 00:36:11] you’ll know where to come to.

BRAD: Excuse me, when people have to select for assisted living in Vegreville is this always number one because it’s new?

FIONA: I’d like to think that people [unclear 00:36:26].

BRAD: Okay. Maybe a naïve question, this one…

FIONA: No, it’s because there are different levels of care. We straddle independence and DAL4, so some of our residents that are here actually get no care.

BRAD: DAL4 is…?

FIONA: Daily assisted living, level 4.

BRAD: Okay

FIONA: So that’s a step below long term care. So we have some residents that are just here in case something happens, you know. Maybe they’re here because their kids live far away and wanted to make sure they were in an environment that, if they do start to need help, they’re not on a waiting list.

BRAD: Sounds like –

FIONA: They’re not a placement list, because if you wait until there is an emergency, then you just get placed in the first place within a 100-kilometer radius of your desired community.

BRAD: Oh, wow.


FIONA: Whereas, if you take steps like you’ve taken, you can be more selective. One step earlier would have been if, a couple of years ago, your dad decided that “I want to get there early and if I need help, it’ll be there.” We have a number of residents that have gone on that route and as the aging process kicks in, they become home care residents and maybe some of them need a little bit of help in the shower, then they slowly transition to DAL4, where we’re doing some more of their care, more of their laundry, more of their meals.

BRAD: I see, so they get to stay here as they --

FIONA: Exactly. And that’s the goal. The goal is to keep someone where they’re happy, as long as they’re safe.

BRAD: Yeah. That sounds like a nice thought for me. Peace of mind.

FIONA: It is. It’s wonderful. I’ve [unclear 00:38:21] several people. Like I said, I’ve worked in the system and [unclear 00:38:25], I’ve seen everything from the best to the worst and, if someone told me tomorrow it was my job to find some place for my grandma, even if it meant quitting my job, if that meant I couldn’t be working here due to a conflict of interest, gladly, I would prefer [unclear 00:38:45] myself.

BRAD: Okay.

FIONA: So, that’s my view. I wouldn’t have accepted this job if [unclear 00:38:55]. I’m far too strong for that.

BRAD: Okay.

Woman 2: On the flipside, my father-in-law moved at Vegreville Manor and, you know, it’s a nice, okay building, definitely not as new as this one or nice as this one. I think he got a good care. Not as many activities and stuff, but happy. I don’t think there’s any problem --

Woman 2: No, no, that’s right. I mean, the rooms are a little smaller and stuff like that.

BRAD: Yeah, the rooms here a huge.

Woman 2: Yeah, I thought they were quite generous when I saw them, compared where he lives. But he didn’t live in a very big house, so room [unclear 00:39:37] wasn’t that important to him and he brought such a small amount of stuff. But, definitely, I had never been in this facility until I


started working here. So, I did realize I would of much prefer I’d see him here in the long run, but, you know, happy, he was okay there. And that was interesting because at that time they had a big number of [unclear 00:40:14]


FIONA:

BRAD:

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