This is a bi-weekly newsletter designed to create connections across the Long-Term Care and Assisted Living sector at Vancouver Coastal Health. It is an opportunity to share best practice and innovations, celebrate successes and get to know what our colleagues are doing at VCH, and beyond, to create the best possible experience for residents, families and staff at our homes. We want to build our COMMUNITY, so please share this newsletter widely and send us your stories!

A note from Jo-Ann Tait, Executive Director, Regional Long-Term Care, Assisted Living and Supported Housing:

Living meaningfully in community with Dignity, Connection and Well-Being

New Year's messages often aspire to reinvigorate with statements of renewed hope and optimism and the promise of a clean slate, but after the January that we have been through, that feels inauthentic.  I've decided to add January 2022 to the year 2021 and start this new year in February, aligned with the Lunar New Year - Year of the Tiger. 

While these last 2 years has shone a light on the most vulnerable people in our communities, it has also been an opportunity to take a closer look at how long-term care, assisted living and services supporting seniors and other vulnerable populations need to be disrupted. We need to fundamentally shift the institutionalized cultures and practices that have existed for decades.

As a sector, we are tired and utterly exhausted - not just physically exhausted but also morally exhausted.  As we rebuild our teams and our strength to keep going, I want us to ground ourselves in the work that is needed in 2022. Over the years, we have heard many stories and had many conversations with those who live, visit and work in long-term care.  From the voices of the people we serve, their families, and the staff who support them, we have identified seven themes that have been reignited during the pandemic and are as relevant as ever:

1. Balance and well-being starts with the individual.
2. Choice is valuable and important.
3. We are all on the team. Our role matters.
4. Leadership is present and active.
5. The environments we create nurture life.
6. Quality and Quality of Life drive our decisions.  Make the moments count.
7. We are visible and accountable to our community.

Over this coming year, you will see these themes reflected in our work more and more, starting with this newsletter. Each issue will highlight a topic from a resident perspective followed by examples of the topic in action at homes and relevant resources.  The hope is that you can start to see how these themes shape our conversations and ultimately our actions. 

The Chinese horoscope states that tiger years are times of change and can "bring unexpected good news and turn crazy dreams into glorious reality." So, in this year of the tiger, I ask all of us to lean on its symbols of strength and bravery as we work together to bring to reality our vision of Living meaningfully in community with Dignity, Connection and Well-Being.

In our youth we fall in love, we get married, we look forward to the life and adventures that await.  We don't often think about what happens when one person falls ill and how that can change the relationship and life that has defined us as a couple. Thank you to Stella for sharing her and Vic's experience of moving in to long-term care and what that has meant for their relationship and their roles as husband and wife.

This is Victor (I call him Vic), my husband of 27 years. Last summer, after a nice get-together with the kids, Vic became confused and weak. I had to call the fire department to help lift him. They have helped out before when I haven’t been able to move him, but this time was different. I knew that I couldn’t take care of him at home anymore.

Vic moved into Minoru Residence in November after 5 weeks in the hospital. The transition went well, but it was still a bit scary for me. I felt trepidatious. You want to know that your loved one is going to be properly looked after but we’ve all heard various stories from the media. I had looked at lots of places in preparation for this day, but Minoru was not one that I had considered. I didn't know what to expect. Now that Vic is at Minoru, I feel a sense of relief.  The staff are so kind and thoughtful and he is treated as an individual – not just part of a group. All of the staff know and call him by his name instead of “dear” or some other generic term. I mentioned to the social worker how much he loves the outdoors and she was able to find him a room that had a window and easy access to the deck. I was told that he could stay on the list and go elsewhere if he preferred but he has settled in and I wouldn’t want to move him again – it’s hard on someone with dementia.

We miss each other, and there have been tears – there is no doubt about that. But he says that he is happy and he feels he can be who he is and do what he likes to do. When he first moved in, I noticed that he used to get taken to all of the activities. Now, he doesn’t go to as many but he has picked the ones that he likes. He is getting to do things the way he likes. I think he is also more comfortable having a nurse or care aide help with some of the personal care than he was with me doing those jobs. I see that he is eating well, and that he is attended to. Our biggest relief and the main comfort with him being there is that he’s being taken care of and I’m not failing as a caregiver.

For years, on Thursdays, we used to go for lunch with friends. We can now meet them again at White Spot across the street and keep those Thursday luncheons that were such an important part of our life and relationship. When I visit Vic we can just sit and hold hands and watch TV. I feel like his wife again.

Resource | Deciding on long-term care

When considering, or in the process of moving to long-term care, the Alzheimer Society has many resources to help with the decision. From a 'caregiver stress assessment checklist' to advice on finding the right home, preparing for the move or adjusting to long-term care, this webpage can provide a starting point for support: https://bit.ly/3ApBCP1

Research | Care Bundles: Easing the transition to long-term care  

This paper describes the development of a four-element care bundle for admissions to long-term care. The idea for this care bundle came from staff members commenting that they didn't know the former lives or family involvment of newly admitted residents.  staff members reported an improved level of knowing, understanding and communicating for all involved.  Family expressed feeling involved with the transition of their loved one and how their knowing of their loved one was valued. The elements of the bundle are described here: https://bit.ly/3qRH2z8

Boosting Our Workforce

Thank you to the LTC staff who continue to keep residents and colleagues safe. Since December 16, the rate of staff who have received their booster vaccine has increased by 36%. Over the last 3 weeks alone, the LTC Professional Practice team has worked together with peer immunizers at the homes to provide support for 35 on-site clinics, which led to 637 additional vaccines being given.