Comfort In Community – Update Week of May 19

COMFORT IN COMMUNITY – UPDATE

And so it begins – that haze of weeks and months gently starting to ease. Sunshine and direction softly peek through the fog of messages and speculation. Like stirring from a long rest – with dreams and unanswered questions still swirling around our minds, we awaken to cautiously and thoughtfully stretch our bodies and our souls into the days and phases that lie before us. We tread lightly. Step by step. Measured, encouraged, informed. Look at how far we’ve come? Together, that’s the key.

Last week, we celebrated that spirit of togetherness and teamwork. During National Nursing Week at the Villa, we took the opportunity to recognize the efforts of all of our essential workers. Daily activities, prizes, draws and tokens of gratitude and appreciation from family members and the community made an unusual time remarkable, maybe even unforgettable. We recognize the thousands of health care workers across the St. Joseph’s Health System and our country who have been working tirelessly to care for us. Thank you for choosing such an important role and serving with courage and strength during this difficult time and every day.

Our efforts continue to protect the health and safety of Villa residents and staff, following the guidelines and recommendations of the Ministry of Health, public health officials and the province. We are grateful for the community’s perseverance and dedication to practicing proper hand hygiene and physical distancing, which continues to be our most effective methods to containing spread. Your innovation and flexibility to find new ways to do business, to shop, to exercise, to entertain, to adopt new routines and to relate to each other are signs that crisis compels creativity. Thank you for standing with us.

Inside, Outside, Upside, Downside

Creativity has been in full swing for our poet-in-residence Glenn. There’s no shortage of inspiration for his writing during the pandemic. Therapeutic Recreationist Adam Buys has helped us share his wise insights and perspectives over the past several weeks, from inside the Villa’s walls. Here are Adam and Glenn in a double-header – two stellar up-to-date takes on the world inside and outside the Villa in The Equalizer & Masks.

Sweets, Treats & Great Eats

In honour of National Nursing Week, support poured in from community and family members with some extra special surprises for extra special staff.

Stacey Ernst reached out to sponsor Cake Day! Delicious pieces of cake were delivered floor by floor for staff to enjoy in between caring for residents.

Robert Galashan, grandson and nephew of two Villa residents, wanted to find a way to thank staff for their service and compassion in caring for his family. He arranged for Dundas Pizzeria, Emilio’s Eatery, to supply boxes and boxes of pizza to treat Villa staff to a hot, tasty lunch.

Built Ford Tough – Face Shields by Ford

Many businesses have adapted to meet the urgent need for locally sourced personal protective equipment and supplies during the pandemic. The Ford Canada plant in Windsor repurposed its lines create critical PPE, like the face shields we received on Friday. A huge thank you to Joanne Pettifer from Leggat Discovery Ford and Ford Canada for dropping off this shipment to our our doors. Your generous gift of these valuable tools will help us keep residents and staff safe. Thank you for thinking of the Villa.

Best Buy Gives Back

Best Buy Canada has remained open during the pandemic. As one of the country’s tech giants, they’ve been key to supporting work-from-home teams and providing resources for virtual interactions and communication that helps businesses keep their operations running smoothly. At a local level, the team at Best Buy Burlington, located on Brant St. wanted to do more. Spearheaded by Kristopher Barth who has long admired the care his grandparents received at the Villa many years ago, Best Buy reached out to offer the Villa an in-kind donation to support residents, families and staff. On Friday, Kris along with Melanie Parkes and Kevin Huang brought tablets, headsets, chromecasts and HDMI cables to the Villa.

“We want them to be able to enjoy visits with their families, even if it is over a screen. These devices will make it easier for them to hear their families when they are talking and even enjoy some live streaming programs or recreation activities online. Our whole team is thrilled we could make this happen. It’s our way of saying thanks. It’s just the right thing to do,” said Kris.

Family Ties

Each resident at the Villa leaves a legacy – an imprint on our hearts and souls. They touch our lives in the moments and memories we share together. We treasure the care we are able to provide and seek every opportunity to learn about their needs and interests to improve the richness of their experiences and quality of life. Before the pandemic, we caught up with Marion McLean, daughter of Dr. Frank Doherty, a former Villa resident and beloved Brantford family physician. Marion reflected on her family’s journey with her dad at the Villa and how staff and community support made a lasting impact on their lives.

Standing in Solidarity

St. Joseph’s Villa & Foundation has remarkable volunteers who serve as advocates, ambassadors and educators about the challenges facing long-term and hospice care and the lasting impact community support can make on quality of life for residents, families and staff. St. Joseph’s Villa Foundation Board Members enthusiastically shared words of support and solidarity with the Villa team and thanked the community for rising up around the most vulnerable during this difficult time.

As the world begins to slowly clear away the clouds hanging over us, we know that…

Now more than ever, your support matters.

Your gifts and generosity fund important initiatives, critical care equipment, and renovations that directly impact the residents’ experiences and quality of life.

Make a gift this May!

Villa residents and future Margaret’s Place Hospice patients and families thank you. We thank you as we continue to passionately serve the most vulnerable in our community and prepare ourselves for the days, phases and changes before us.