2018 / 2019
Strategic Directions
Building Meaningful Relationships Everyday
NORTHWOOD CORPORATE OFFICE Suite 1 South , 130 Eileen Stubbs Ave, Dartmouth Nova Scotia B3B 2C4
info@northwood.care www.northwood.care Northwood - Live More @Northwood_NS
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@northwoodcare
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linkedin.com/company/northwoodcare
www.northwood.care
2018-2019
community report
Northwood's Strategic Directions
Program Development and Growth: Achieving excellence in care and services ...3
Our Vision
People living life to the fullest, flourishing in a community of belonging, dignity and choice.
Our Mission
As a leader in continuing care, we build meaningful relationships with our clients everyday and make a positive difference in the communities we serve.
Our Core Values
Human Resources: An employer of choice ...10
Brand Awareness: Getting to know us
...13
Housing: Building for the future ...18
Advocacy: Using our influence
...20
1 Community Report • 2018 / 2019
PEOPLE COME FIRST - We believe treating each other with respect and dignity builds the trust that is essential to our effective relationships. We foster the talent and potential in everyone. Simple rule: seek to understand and act with kindness EVERYONE PLAYS A PART - We value a vibrant and diverse community where contributions are recognized and celebrated. We are stronger together. Simple rule: share what you know, ask for what you need, invite different views WE PROMOTE SOCIAL JUSTICE - We believe in using our voice to influence positive change and fairness. Simple rule: speak up for positive change, fairness and choice WE ARE ALL ACCOUNTABLE - Each person is accountable for their actions in delivering service, proper use and respect of resources, and fostering healthy relationships. Simple rule: own your responsibilities and the impact of your actions WE CAN ALWAYS DO BETTER - Achieving excellence in all our programs and services is based on learning from our mistakes, applying the best evidence and setting the highest standards. We value our ability to challenge the status quo in pursuing new opportunities. Simple rule: challenge thinking, learn more, do better
Advocacy. A radio broadcast in the early 1960s featured the lonely voice of a senior living a substandard quality of life. Our founder, Ed Roach, was so moved by this heartwarming story, he created Northwood, and became a strong voice for seniors in Nova Scotia. We are proud to continue Ed’s journey, ever mindful of his passionate conviction for social justice.
Community. We play a key role in shaping the future of continuing care by participating in the community at large, and fostering opportunities to share knowledge and partner with others. We are a team of professionals that work together to develop dynamic solutions. When life changes and society changes, Northwood is there.
Innovation. It all started with an idea. A desire to do something better, something new for seniors and vulnerable adults. Northwood has a 50+ year legacy of innovating, introducing and sharing interesting and inspiring new ideas, and first-time concepts into the continuing care sector.
Diversity. We aim for a vibrant, inclusive space that invites meaningful, positive relationships with our clients, each other and our greater community. Respect and dignity builds the trust that fosters individual talents and contributions, expanding our collective expertise. In becoming better caregivers, we become better continuing care leaders.
Research. As a leading organization, we investigate, integrate and contribute to the ever-expanding knowledge base of continuing care in Canada. In our pursuit of excellence, and in challenging the status quo, we seek to establish and enhance our understanding of facts, principles and knowledge, for the betterment of our clients and the betterment of society.
Loving Care. Northwood’s person centred care model comes from a 50+ year history of not only caring for people, but caring about people. The loving care that motivated Ed and our founding Board Members to help older adults “live life, the way that want to live it” is the legacy we nourish through every action and task, every day.
2 Community Report • 2018 / 2019
Strategic Directions
Program Development and Growth:
Achieving excellence in care and services
Northwood recognizes the reality of an aging society. Our programs will reflect the changing needs of our clients and feature a flexible approach that puts the client at the centre of our efforts.
In 1970, we opened Northwood Centre, an innovative new approach to long term care and began reaching out to the community through its Multi-Purpose Centre. Since that time, Northwood has introduced a home care service, Intouch, and Adult Day to support seniors wishing to remain independent in their own homes. Northwood was the first home for special care to offer in-house banking services and the first to provide a full-time pastoral care coordinator. We introduced hospice services and were the first to provide a fulltime physiotherapist. In 1977, we became the first home for special care to open a dental clinic. Ed Roach retired in 1987, handing over a dynamic, caring organization committed to innovation and change.
That legacy continues today. Northwood is committed to strengthening programs to improve the quality of life and safety of our clients and to developing new responsive programs that address the changing needs of our clients.
The Northwood Foundation A message from Faye LeBlanc, Managing Director of the Northwood Foundation: The Northwood Foundation relies on the generosity of our donors to fulfill our mission of helping people live more. Giving comes in many forms and they all play a role in helping Northwood be the best that it can be. Whether through corporate event sponsorships, monetary donations, gifts of shares, legacy gifts or staff payroll deductions – every single gift matters. They are all amazing donors! Each donor has a lasting impact on our Northwood community. Their kindness and generosity of giving is changing lives. Those who participate in our Seeds of Success mental-wellness program now have a stronger purpose to connect, to share and to live. Through our Dignified Living Fund, struggling members of our Northwood community get the basic medical and lifestyle supports they need to live more, because dignity matters. Donors are embracing the Northwood Foundation in their charitable giving and we love them for that! They understand that through the many services Northwood offers, we are caring for their family, friends and colleagues – people that they love. Their compassion and kindness are gifts to many.
3 Community Report • 2018 / 2019 • Program Development and Growth
None of the strategic development of Northwood could be achieved without the support of our Northwood Foundation team and the Northwood Foundation Board. The Northwood Foundation raises the funds needed to support the development of programs and services that add to the quality of life for our clients and the Northwood community. The Foundation Board plays an important role in developing relationships with donors and partnerships within the business community to ensure that everyone at Northwood is able to live more. With annual fundraising initiatives like direct mail campaigns, the Live More Awards and the Live More Walk, funding is provided for the special projects and initiatives that help make Northwood unique. In the 2018-19 fiscal year, the Northwood Foundation had some great successes: • • • • •
In May, the Live More Awards honoured Ken & Dorothy Rowe with the Hedley G. Ivany Live More Award and raised over $188,000 In June, the Live More Toonie Draw began which had raised $21,063 for mental health initiatives at Northwood by year end In September, the Live More Walk, which supports Northwood’s very own Dignified Living Fund, raised over $40,000 In November, the inaugural Models for Mental Health fashion show raised over $26,000 for Seeds of Success In December, we collected approximately 5,000 holiday cards for our residents, tenants and homecare clients through the annual Holiday Card Campaign
4 Community Report • 2018 / 2019 • Program Development and Growth
Innovation & Technology Update Northwood is committed to responding to the ever-changing needs of an aging society. We take on a number of innovative projects and embrace the use of technology to help better the lives of those we serve. Here are just some of the new and innovative projects we took on this year:
Age Care Technologies • A powerful assessment tool that better aligns Nova Scotians with the services and tools available to them through telephone surveys that helps to gain their insights • A holistic, upstream intervention that addresses well-being, independence, social connectedness and health to improve quality of life and reduce healthcare resource use • We started with an initial group of 95 respondents • Participants appreciated that they are being asked to provide their voice and that their experience is being captured and used to guide decisions made about our aging population
Mentia • In March 2019, Mandy Salomon, CEO of Mentia, visited Northwood to help us understand how their Deva World app can help improve the lives of residents with dementia • We are working on getting residents enrolled in Deva World and staff are learning how to incorporate this app into care and recreation
Caring Canines • A research project with Mount Saint Vincent University started in the fall of 2018 that brings a dog named Bella to the Bedford Campus for several hours a day • A first for long term care in Canada • We are learning how dogs in care settings might positively impact the well-being of the people who live there
5 Community Report • 2018 / 2019 • Program Development and Growth
Virtual Reality • In October 2018, we officially launched our virtual reality program with a grant from the Department of Seniors • 360 degree videos were produced of 16 different Nova Scotia landmarks and places of cultural significance, allowing those who can’t leave Northwood to visit these places • This began our research and partnerships around virtual reality
Oculus • In December 2018, filming took place for the 360 degree video being made about Northwood through Oculus’s VR for Good program • Representatives from Oculus were also on site, giving demonstration sessions with VR headsets and training our staff • Five Oculus Go headsets were gifted to Northwood to expand our existing virtual reality program
Sandbox • We had a second group of software engineering students from the Saint Mary’s University Service Learning program join us for the fall 2018 semester to work with residents to build personal assistant apps • The apps were co-created, with the students building the software with input and feedback from the end users – the residents
6 Community Report • 2018 / 2019 • Program Development and Growth
Northwood Intouch Northwood is committed to providing services that add to the quality of life and safety of those we serve. Our Northwood Intouch service gives peace of mind to our clients and their families and strengthens their independence. This year, Intouch has worked to raise their profile, aiming to become the service of choice for Nova Scotians looking for fall alert and assistive technologies: • • •
Working with an external marketing agency, Intouch has invested in promotional campaigns on social media, radio and in print In Feburary 2019, a quarterly mail-out newsletter was launched. It is sent to industry stakeholders and complements their existing online monthly newsletter In October 2018, Intouch launched their own Facebook page to better promote their services with more specific client targeting
Northwood Care Aides Program Northwood is committed to developing new programs that respond to changes within our industry. This commitment has led us to the Northwood Care Aides program, which began in the fall of 2018. This program recruits experienced caregivers and provides training for three weeks in the classroom with lab time and an extended orientation, slowly increasing the number of residents they were caring for. After finishing the training and working with us in Health Services, Northwood Care Aides will be able to continue with more training and obtaining higher certifications with support from Northwood. The program has had three cohorts with 29 Northwood Care Aides now on the job.
Living Histories Northwood is committed to improving the quality of life for our clients. We’ve invested in the Living History Program, which is a process for engaging residents to gather and share basic life information. This program enables healthcare workers to provide care to the heart and soul of the resident, positively impacting the way we care about and for residents. Our staff can read a resident's one page story and get to know them personally. A Living History serves as a mechanism to strengthen connections with the people we care for and positively shifts the experience for the resident, family and members of the care delivery team. We believe you understand, appreciate, and ultimately care for residents better in knowing their personal stories. To date, almost 200 residents have had their stories completed. Storywriters are now working with families of residents with advanced dementia to record their Living Histories.
7 Community Report • 2018 / 2019 • Program Development and Growth
New Adult Day Location in Dartmouth Northwood is committed to strengthening our existing programs to respond to the growing needs of our clients and the community. Carrying on the success of our Adult Day programs in Halifax and Bedford, we’ve opened a new Adult Day location in Dartmouth. The new location officially opened its doors in February 2019. Located at 130 Eileen Stubbs Ave. in Burnside, this new location allows us to serve the needs of clients living in Dartmouth and the surrounding area. This means that Northwood now has three Adult Day locations – in Dartmouth, Halifax and Bedford. We’re proud to be able to spread our reach throughout the Halifax Regional Municipality.
Adult Day works with clients who have been diagnosed with moderate to advanced levels of dementia, giving them the opportunity to participate in meaningful programming while giving their caregivers a day of respite.
Mobile Food Market Northwood is committed to creating partnerships in order to develop mutually beneficial projects that add to our clients’ quality of life and our community’s well-being. From this commitment came the Mobile Food Market. Community Recreation & Wellness partnered with the Mobile Food Market in July 2018, offering fresh, high quality produce bi-weekly to residents and tenants at the Halifax Campus. We offered a variety of food options at different quantities, giving people the ability to buy for just one or two. These options were a great success. By having this produce available on site, we decreased barriers many face in accessing healthy and affordable food. 8 Community Report • 2018 / 2019 • Program Development and Growth
Memories of Thyme Northwood is always looking for new ways to improve the quality of life for our clients. In September 2018, a pilot project was started by Nursing and Food Services at the Bedford Campus called Memories of Thyme.
some tickets through the Care & Share program. This ensures that this experience is accessible to anyone who wishes to participate.
Memories of Thyme transforms the Bedford Campus Adult Day dining room into a fine dining restaurant, giving residents an experience they might otherwise never get to have. Four events will were held throughout the year, and were so successful that this project will become a staple at the Bedford Campus. Tickets for Memories of Thyme are available to residents and their family members for a cost. We recognize that not all residents can afford the cost of the ticket, so we've begun to provide Residents Rolande and Zita at Memories of Thyme.
Nurse Practitioner at the Pauline Potter Community Health Centre Northwood responds to the changing needs of the diverse population living in our facilities and in the community through collaboration, new partnerships and enhancement of current programs and services. We’ve enhanced services at the Pauline Potter Health Centre at our Halifax Campus by adding a full-time nurse practitioner, who started in the summer of 2018. Our nurse practitioner clinic now offers services five days a week, rather than the one afternoon a week we offered previously. This addition took 800 patients off of the provincial waiting list for a family doctor.
Looking Forward: Fourth Adult Day Location Recognizing an ever growing need for support in the community, we are making plans to open a fourth Adult Day location. In the early planning stages, the expansion location and timeline for opening will be announced in the future.
9 Community Report • 2018 / 2019 • Program Development and Growth
Strategic Directions
Human Resources:
An Employer of Choice
Northwood’s vision speaks to a commitment that grew out of a journey dedicated to helping older adults and people at risk live more. Today, we are recognized both here at home and across Canada as an extraordinary example of social justice. Northwood is justifiably proud of its person centred approach to care that puts the client at the centre of our efforts. It’s an approach that relies on a committed and dedicated staff working together to deliver service to the client. Whether working at the bedside, in the community or providing support services, Northwood staff not only care for people but also care about people.
That kind of philosophy doesn’t just happen, it requires investment in our people. Northwood constantly updates its approach to recruitment, develops initiatives that encourages individuals
Interesting Facts • Number of jobs posted externally . . . . . . . 264 • Number of summer students hired . . . . . . . 44 • Number of recent graduates hired on a full term basis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 • Number of work term or co-op placements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 • Number of paid internships. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 • Number of unpaid internships . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Long Service Awards In November 2018, we held our annual Long Service Awards ceremony. We honoured 127 long-serving employees who were celebrating their 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th, 30th, 35th, 40th and 45th year with Northwood. 10 years…50 employees 15 years…16 employees 20 years…31 employees 25 years…10 employees
30 years…9 employees 35 years…1 employee 40 years…8 employees 45 years…2 employees
to enter the profession, and supports our people to reach their full potential through continuing education. Our goal: to become an employer of choice for those entering the health care profession.
10 Community Report • 2018 / 2019 • Human Resources: An Employer of Choice
iTacit 2.0 Northwood is committed to supporting our people to reach their full potential through open communication and continuing education. To better do this, we launched iTacit 2.0 in the fall of 2018, improving our Staff Resource Hub so that it could replace our Staff Portal.
The goals of this project are: • To improve multisite access to employee files • To reduce workload, improve efficiency and reduce the cost associated with current processes to access employee files • Reduce duplication of effort • Improve accuracy
The new iTacit offers better staff communication with a notice board tool and in-app messaging, user-friendly education modules, a library of resource documents and an internal job application tool. We have now implemented the Recruitment and Onboarding module as part of the Staff Resource Hub. We have also begun to upload current employee files to the Staff Resource Hub for our Home Support workforce to support a remote work environment for the Home Support Supervisors.
Staff Resource Hub landing page.
Looking Forward: 'Come Home' Recruitment Strategy Northwood has a goal of becoming the employer of choice for those entering the health and continuing care profession, in Nova Scotia and beyond. Plans are in place to implement a recruitment strategy that will encourage potential employees to come to, or return to, Nova Scotia from other provinces to work for Northwood. Our existing recruitment and signing bonuses will be used as a “relocation bonus” to incentivise a move with ads being placed on Facebook targeted to different areas of the country.
11 Community Report • 2018 / 2019 • Human Resources: An Employer of Choice
2019 Top Employer Northwood is committed to developing a strong recruitment strategy that positions us as an “Employer of Choice” for those working in the health and continuing care fields. We received the 2019 Nova Scotia Top Employer and Atlantic Canada Top Employer awards. These designations are for organizations that lead their industries in offering exceptional places to work. Key reasons we continue to be recognized include: • Our Diversity Strategy • The Leadership Development Program • Northwood Health Services
• Guaranteed hours in Homecare • E-learning and the Staff Resource Hub • Internal communications and engagement • Fostering alignment • SMART Committee • On site CCA training and support to attain CCA certification • EFAP • Organizational Health & Occupational Health teams This recognition continues to grow our legacy as Eastern Canada’s most progressive and innovative organization for seniors and people at risk. With over 1,900 employees and 600 volunteers across the province, Northwood offers a huge pool of experience, knowledge and talent to draw from.
First Dalhousie Leadership Cohort Graduates At Northwood, we believe in continually investing in our people. We have begun to provide leadership training to our staff through the Dalhousie Leadership Development program.
The goal of this program is for staff to return to work prepared to implement change, make an impact through the application of strategies, and to lead Northwood to success in the years to come. A second cohort began in the fall of 2018.
The first cohort of Northwood staff graduated from the program in the fall of 2018. Leaders from across the organization applied and were selected to participate in this program which was modular in design and customized to our organizational needs and contextualized for our industry. This significant investment in our Northwood leaders is an example of us living our core values: People Come First. Northwood and its Board of Governors are committed to fostering the talent and potential from within the organization. As part of our commitment to be an employer of choice we are supporting our people in reaching their full potential. The first Dalhousie Leadership Cohort at their Graduation.
12 Community Report • 2018 / 2019 • Human Resources: An Employer of Choice
Strategic Directions
Brand Awareness: Getting to know us
As a not-for-profit organization, we reinvest our surpluses back into the organization to help our community live more. It begins with a 50+ year legacy of innovation, a philosophy that inspires new ideas and an ongoing commitment to contribute to the ever-expanding knowledge base of continuing care. Northwood has always played a key role, not only as a provider of essential services but also as a leader in the continuing care sector. More than a service provider, people have come to look on us as a helping hand and a support to those in need. It’s a story that traces its beginnings to Ed Roach, Northwood’s founder and first President. We are proud to continue that journey, ever mindful of his ‘live more’ philosophy and his commitment to change. It is a legacy we live everyday and pass onto future generations.
Looking Forward: New Website Staff from all departments have been working collaboratively with an external developer on a new website for Northwood. We were expecting to launch the website in this fiscal year, but due to delays in development that goal could not be reached. The new website will launch before 2020, and we’ll continue to work together to be successful in this new timeline to give our clients, their families and staff even better access to everything they need online.
Northwood continues to build on that story, to use its name and reputation to promote a better understanding of the continuum of services we offer.
A sneak peek of the new website.
13 Community Report • 2018 / 2019 • Brand Awareness: Getting to know us
Prime Minister & Federal Officials Visit Northwood At Northwood, we work to develop relationships with local government officials so we can keep Northwood top-of-mind when they think of continuing care in our area. In February of 2019 Andy Fillmore, Member of Parliament for Halifax, toured the Halifax Campus as part of #BecauseYouCare Week, an initiative where the Canadian Association for Long Term Care (CALTC) encouraged Members of Parliament to visit long term care homes in their area. In March 2019, Northwood was selected as the location for the Federal Minister of Seniors, the Honourable Filomena Tassi, to host a seminar on fraud prevention. She was given a tour of the Halifax Campus and spent time in the Shirley Burnstein Hall, answering questions from our residents and tenants. The Halifax Regional Police gave a seminar on how seniors can avoid fraud. Following the success of Ms. Tassi’s visit, we were selected as one of the locations for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s visit to the Maritimes on March 28, 2019. He spent time with a group of residents in Kaye’s Place to discuss the recently announced Pharmacare program, addressing their questions and concerns. He then moved into the Shirley Burnstein Hall where he went around the room shaking hands with residents and staff, taking the time to have one-on-one discussions with some. We’re thrilled that Northwood is developing a reputation as the place to come in Nova Scotia to discuss continuing care and the issues facing seniors in Canada.
14 Community Report • 2018 / 2019 • Brand Awareness: Getting to know us
Brand Awareness Highlights April 2018
• Halifax’s Recreation Therapy department hosted National Dance Week celebrations that were featured in the Chronicle Herald
August 2018
• A discussion with caregivers led by Dr. Marilyn
• The Live More Awards were held on May 4 • Josie Ryan, Executive Director of Long Term Care, did
MacDonald from Dalhousie School of Nursing was held at Northwood and featured in the Chronicle Herald • The Chronicle Herald reported on a story about intimacy, consent and capacity in long term care and asked Northwood to see our policy as subject matter experts
• Hi-Tech with Heart was featured on CTV and in
September 2018
• The first issue of the Northwood Live More
was interviewed by the Chronicle Herald about the possible development of senior living complexes in Fall River • A petting zoo was held at the Bedford Campus and featured in the Chronicle Herald • Articles about Northwood were featured on Health Association Nova Scotia’s website for Continuing Care Month • Seeds of Success and the Northwood Foundation’s Models for Mental Health event were featured in Senior Living • A story about Hi Tech with Heart was included in the Continuing Care Association of Nova Scotia’s Voice for Care Magazine and was featured on the cover • The Live More Walk was held on September 29
May 2018
an interview with Global News about the flu season Business Voice Magazine
Community Newspaper was published
June 2018
• Ashley Gallant, former Communications & Marketing
Specialist, did an interview on the Sheldon MacLeod Show about our community newspaper • Kaye’s Place was featured in Business Voice Magazine • A feature about the Live More Awards was published in Parkview News • A feature on Toaster the therapy bunny was published in the Chronicle Herald • Janet Simm, President & CEO, and Shelley James, Manager, Organization Health & Safety, were interviewed for CTV News at 5 about caregivers • Josie Ryan was interviewed by the Star Halifax about LGBTQ supports in long term care
July 2018
• Bernadette Mitchell-McDonald, Clinical Resource
Manager, was interviewed by CBC about Northwood’s pressure injury prevalence rate and our policy of prevention and education • Janet Simm was interviewed by the Chronicle Herald about Paraglide, a wheelchair repositioning device that was trialed at Northwood • Northwood entered a float in the Pride Parade which was featured on CTV and CBC • Janet Simm was interviewed by CTV about preventative measures for protecting residents during the heatwave, with an offer for community members to come to Northwood to cool off
• Margaret Szabo, Director of Business Development,
October 2018
• A press conference was held in Kaye’s Place in
partnership with the Department of Seniors to announce our Nova Scotia Virtual Reality Program, covered by CBC, Global, CTV and Halifax Today • Starr Cunningham, President & CEO of the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia, and Stephanie Graham, Chair of the Models for Mental Health planning committee, were interviewed on CTV Morning Live about Seeds of Success and the Models for Mental Health event
November 2018
• The Northwood Foundation held the inaugural Models
for Mental Health event, in support of Seeds of Success
15 Community Report • 2018 / 2019 • Brand Awareness: Getting to know us
December 2018
• A winter formal was held at the Halifax Campus in
partnership with Oculus as part of the VR for Good program, featured on CTV • Nicole Martelle, Client Support Work & Northwood Volunteer, collected over 200 handmade blankets from the community to give to residents for holiday gifts, featured in Halifax Today, CBC and on the Sheldon MacLeod Show • The Northwood Foundation ran our annual Holiday Card Campaign and the card delivery was covered by CTV and Global • Melanie Gaunt, resident at the Bedford Campus & Co-Founder of Empowered, was interviewed by the Chronicle Herald about living with MS
January 2019
• Josie Ryan was interviewed by Global about the flu season and precautions that Northwood takes to prevent the spread of illness in long term care • A story about an Intouch client who used her pendant to call for help after a home invasion was featured on CBC • The Northwood Sandbox was featured in Saint Mary’s University Campus News • Northwood's Wound Care Team was featured in Wound Care Canada Magazine • Spread about Northwood was included in the Chronicle Herald’s feature on Nova Scotia’s Top Employers
February 2019
• A couple who were separated after one of them
moved to Camp Hill were reunited at Northwood, featured in the Chronicle Herald
March 2019 • A feature about the sensors available at Intouch in addition to the traditional fall alert was published in Senior Living • The proposal for a senior living complex in Fall River was approved, with plans in place for Northwood to be contracted by the developer to provide support services. Covered by Halifax Today and CBC • The Province of Nova Scotia came to Northwood to capture photographs to be used in the Positive Aging Directory • The Federal Minister of Seniors, the Honourable Filomena Tassi, visited Northwood and hosted a seminar on fraud prevention, covered by Global • Josie Ryan was interviewed by Global about a memo that was sent by the Nova Scotia Health Authority to long term care homes and homecare organizations about reducing hospital backlog • Josie Ryan was quoted in stories by the Chronicle Herald and CBC about the province announcing $2.5 million in funding for pressure injury prevention equipment for long term care homes • Justin Trudeau visited the Halifax Campus to speak with residents about issues facing seniors in Canada, covered by all major news outlets 16 Community Report • 2018 / 2019 • Brand Awareness: Getting to know us
Social Media Update An active, daily social media presence gives the community an opportunity to get to know Northwood every day. Our social media presence continues to grow as we gain more followers and engagement on all platforms. The number of people who "like" our Northwood Facebook page has grown from 1,620 to 2,161 this fiscal year, and we’ve garnered 128.5k impressions on Twitter. We have been investing more in paid posts and ads on Facebook for marketing and recruitment. Our paid campaigns drive potential employees to Northwood and creates more brand awareness. The goal is to be the first to come to mind when people are looking for the services we offer online. The graph below shows our organic vs. paid reach on Facebook, showing how many more people we can connect with when there is money invested. We have launched an Instagram page to continue to increase our brand awareness. We are one of the only continuing care organizations in the area currently utilizing Instagram, putting us at a competitive advantage.
Northwood Live More Community Newspaper In a commitment to brand awareness, Northwood aims to promote a better understanding of our continuum of services. The Northwood Live More Community Newspaper is a tool in doing this, bringing together stories from all of our program areas in one accessible place. Through the newspaper, the whole Northwood community is connected and able to read about what’s going on across the entire organization. In the 2018-19 fiscal year, we published four issues of the newspaper, printing 10,000 copies each time. The paper is distributed by mail to our homecare staff and clients, Health Services staff and clients and Intouch clients, responders and next of kin. It is distributed to each floor of each building at both campuses, at the corporate office and to some buildings in the surrounding communities.
www.northwood.care
www.northwood.care
www.northwood.care
A community paper sharing the stories of the largest not-for-profit continuing care organization in Atlantic Canada
A Community Paper sharing the stories of the largest not-for-profit continuing care organization in Atlantic Canada
Summer 2018
Fall 2018
Volume 01, Issue 01
20th Anniversary Fundraising Gala Raises $189K to Help the Northwood Community Live More The Northwood Foundation’s 20th anniversary Live More Awards took place on May 4th, raising $188,000 to help support programs and initiatives here at Northwood that aren’t funded by the government. In the past, the funds from this gala have been used to make the William E. Frank Live More Park, Kaye’s Place, the Marjorie Lindsay Centre and the Pauline Potter Fitness Centre possible. “Northwood is committed to providing our residents and clients with opportunities to live more,” says Janet Simm, President and CEO of Northwood. “Being a not-for-profit, we use the funds raised at the Live More Awards to support initiatives that improve the quality of life for our community.” This year’s event saw more than 600 guests, supporting
National Dance Page 5 Week
Mayor Mike Savage makes toast via video message.
the Northwood Foundation through sponsorships, donations, purchasing tickets and participating in a live and silent auction. There was also raffle and a UPICK game. The grand prize of the UPICK
Kaye's Place Opens
Page 6
game, two tickets anywhere WestJet flies (generously donated by WestJet), was won by Dave Power. We also received 17 donations to the event’s funda-need, “Power of Music”
Pauline Potter Fitness Centre 'One Big Family' Page 11
packages that include an iPad and case, a year subscription to Apple Music, a Bluetooth speaker and five sets of headphones. The Foundation is excited about the results of the event, and appreciates the generosity and effort of everyone that was involved. “An event of this caliber is not possible without the support of our donors, volunteers and community,” says Faye LeBlanc, Managing Director of the Northwood Foundation. “A very special thank you to all of our corporate sponsors, including the presenting sponsors, IMP Group & CAN-Med Healthcare. Your commitment to Northwood is inspiring and it’s because of support like yours that we can improve the lives of our residents and clients.”
Volume 01, Issue 02
September is Continuing Care Month Continuing Care Month is celebrated each year in September. The theme, Continuing Care: Your Home, Our Passion, reflects the aim of continuing care services to help people to live well in the place they can call home. It also reinforces the commitment and compassion of the many people who have chosen this caring field of employment. Continuing care programs and services help people to maximize their independence, promote their health and well-being, sustain or enhance their quality of life and support families to meet the ongoing care needs of their loved ones. The goal of the an-
nual campaign is to recognize the contributions of the
thousands of Nova Scotians who work in continuing care
in a variety of practice settings across the province. These include nursing homes, home care organizations, residential care facilities and adult residential centres/regional rehabilitation centres. The campaign is also about profiling the advances being made in Nova Scotia’s continuing care sector to improve quality of life and quality of care for the Nova Scotians who rely on these important services. Please visit www. continuingcaremonth. ca to read a variety of stories highlighting this year’s campaign theme and other helpful and interesting information regarding the continuing care sector.
A Community Paper sharing the stories of the largest not-for-profit continuing care organization in Atlantic Canada Winter 2018
Volume 1, Issue 3
Virtual Reality Program for Residents & Community Members Now at Northwood Northwood is now home to six virtual reality headsets, each loaded up with 360 degree videos of 16 different Nova Scotia landmarks and places of cultural significance. The headsets are currently being used to offer a VR service through Community Recreation & Wellness, but with the potential for use in reminiscence, pain management, leisure and beyond, we can’t wait to see where else this project will take us. The collection of 360 degree videos were produced especially for Northwood by Edward Mowbray of Quirk360. The videos include a Mi'kmaq smudging ceremony, a tour through a cave in the Ovens Natural Park, a Catholic Church service, a Baptist choir practice, a musical performance inside the Red Shoe Pub in Cape Breton
A Community Paper sharing the stories of the largest not-for-profit continuing care organization in Atlantic Canada Spring 2019
On March 8, the Federal Minister of Seniors, the Honourable Filmoena Tassi, visited Northwood as part of her three day visit to Nova Scotia. She was given a tour of the Halifax Campus, accompanied by Janet Simm, Josie Ryan, Peter Wilde and Andy Fillmore, Member of Parliament for Halifax. The tour wrapped up in the Shirley Burnstein Hall, where Minister Tassi addressed our residents before the Halifax Regional Police gave a seminar on fraud prevention. While Minister Tassi was given the tour, the Northwood Encores performed for everyone waiting in the hall. The seminar focused on current scams and best practices for seniors to
Continued on page 3 Millan and Maxine McDonough at the VR program announcement.
Filmmakers Scouting at Northwood Page 2
Northwood Participates in Pride Week Festivities Page 3
Seeds of Success Plants the Seeds of Wellbeing Page 8
Mackenzie Atlantic Partners with Northwood on Innovative Project Page 11
Recreation Therapy at Northwood Page 4
Volume 1, Issue 4
Federal Minister of Seniors Visits Northwood
Minister of Seniors Leo Glavine, Janet Simm, Margaret Szabo, Natasha Handspiker, Gloria Mac-
Continued on page 2
Northwood Intouch Gives Back to Your Community Page 15
www.northwood.care
Live More Walk Raises Funds for Dignified Living Fund Page 8
Fine-Dining Restaurant Experience for Residents Page 13 & Families
The Honourable Filomena Tassi & Andy Fillmore, MP chatting with a resident. Continued on page 3
Northwood Encores Take the Stage Page 14
Northwood Achieves the Highest Level of Accreditation Page 4
17 Community Report • 2018 / 2019 • Brand Awareness: Getting to know us
SMU Students & Northwood Residents Team up to Develop Apps Page 8
Bedford Resident Loves to Watch Skating at the BMO Centre Page 10
Intouch Client uses Pendant to Contact Police Page 20
Strategic Directions
Housing: Building for the future
In 1967, Northwood opened Halifax’s first affordable retirement option for seniors. The Towers was the crowning achievement of Ed Roach’s five year effort to address the urgent need of many seniors living in isolation and without adequate housing throughout Halifax. The seven story, 73-unit, apartment building offered more than just affordable housing. Northwood created an innovative new approach that recognized the unique make up of the community within the building. Tenants took responsibility for themselves and each other. They participated in decision making and developed their own meaningful activities to improve their own lives and foster a sense of belonging. The Towers first caretaker, Harold Harris, kept a list of residents’ names, doctors’ phone numbers, clergy and next of kin. He also began an ad hoc information centre and dispensed information on services available to deal with sickness, accidents and other emergencies. A “buddy” system was established where neighbour looked after neighbour and checked in every day.
That commitment to help others live more continues today. Northwood is developing a new vision for housing that responds to the needs of the population we serve and addresses perceived gaps within the system. It’s called the power of love.
Looking Forward: Halifax LTC Housing Strategy As the needs of our residents in long term care continue to evolve, Northwood is committed to responding to those changing needs. We are fortunate to have Ivany Place at our Bedford Campus, which is a stateof-the-art facility that is just 10 years old. But, the infrastructure in Halifax needs to be upgraded to meet the standards of today and the expectations of our residents and their families. Our Board of Governors is committed to addressing the issue of shared accommodations at the Halifax Campus and the aging infrastructure, because we can always do better. We need to be able to provide services at the right price and within a safe environment that meets provincial and industry standards. We continue to explore opportunities to reduce shared accommodations and to create physical environments that respond to unique needs of the individuals we serve in our long term care program at the Halifax Campus.
Fall River Housing Development Northwood continues to advocate for affordable housing for older adults in the Fall River community. In March 2018, Halifax Regional Council approved a zoning legislation change that will allow a 400-unit seniors housing complex to be built in the Fall River area. Northwood is working with GFC Management Limited to help build the complex, using evidence based design principles to put a service structure in place.
18 Community Report • 2018 / 2019 • Housing: Building for the future
Northwood Place will help us build a community
Northwood Place
as we aim to mimic the atmosphere we’ve created at the Halifax Campus. With a blended population and a wide variety of programs and services
Northwood has a vision for housing that responds to the needs of the population we serve and addresses the gaps in the system. Of that vision
offered under one roof, this new community will be focused on meaningful connections and creating a place where people can truly live more.
came the Towers, the Manor and now Northwood Place, affordable retirement living coming to the Bedford Campus. We’ve made strides in this project this fiscal year, clearing the land behind Ivany Place in preparation for construction, beginning a marketing strategy and opening up a waiting list for the muchanticipated apartments. A rendering of Northwood Place
Main Street at the Halifax Campus We continue to invest in our buildings in Halifax
accommodates our weekly vendor markets and
to modernize our space, creating an warm and
the Mobile Food Market.
inviting environment for those living at the Halifax Campus. Some of the improvements made this
NWBC: Northwood Broadcasting Club moved to
year include:
a brand new studio space across from the Shirley Burnstein Hall. The space has a big window so that
The Harbourview Link: This space provides a link
everyone walking by can see the broadcasters in
between the Harbourview Lounge and the Shirley
action.
Burnstein Hall. The area includes a beautiful new bar to replace the existing bar in the Lounge. Reception: The reception desk was moved so that it’s immediately visible to everyone walking in the main entrance of the Edward L. Roach Centre for Living. It’s a bright, inviting space. Market Space: A new market space was created
The new reception desk.
next to the new reception desk. This area The Harbourview Link bar.
19 Community Report • 2018 / 2019 • Housing: Building for the future
Strategic Directions
Advocacy: Using our Influence
The 1960s were a time of great change. While we think of the 60s as a decade belonging to the youth, it also exposed a growing gap in services for the older adults. Many seniors lived below the poverty line. They lived in quiet desperation, in substandard housing, often living in isolation, loneliness and helplessness. They had no voice and no means to advocate for change. In 1961, they found a champion in Edward L. Roach. On the way to work, Ed happened to be listening to an open mike radio show on CHNS when an interview came on that changed his life and the lives of seniors living in Nova Scotia. He listened with growing anger as a 70 year women spoke of having to go into an “old ladies’ home” while her husband was being moved to an “old men’s home” because no facilities were available for couples in Halifax. Her story touched Ed deeply. Motivated to act, Ed embarked on a 30-year crusade to change the face of continuing care in Nova Scotia. He did it by creating Northwood.
Accreditation Northwood aims to achieve excellence in all of our programs and services based on learning from our mistakes and applying the best evidence to set the highest standards. We do this by being Accredited every four years. Accreditation standards have been integrated into our quality strategy, because we always strive for the highest standard of care. Accreditation is a continuous process for Northwood because we believe we can always do better. In February 2019, we were assessed by Accreditation Canada received a score of 98.3%, achieving Accreditation with Exemplary Standing. This shows our commitment to quality, safety, and accountability. We are committed to providing excellence in all of our programs and services.
So began a journey that saw Northwood become a voice for seniors and people at risk and their determination to live life to the fullest. We took up his passion for change and social justice, creating a network of support for those most at risk in our society.
Northwood is committed to speak up on issues that are critical to us in carrying out our mandate, to influence discussion at a system level and, when appropriate, take public positions on issues that are important. 20 Community Report • 2018 / 2019 • Advocacy: Using our influence
Client & Family Advisory Council Northwood is committed to improving client and resident feedback opportunities. In an effort to have the client and family experience fairly represented, a Client and Family Advisory Council has been established. The Client and Family Advisory Council will bring forward the voice and experience of clients and families by empowering them to be active participants in care and provided services. They take part in focus groups and are members of committees that help effect change in areas such as: Policy, Occupational Health and Safety, Research, Quality, and Risk. It provides a forum and conversation where council members can share their story and experiences with mutual respect. There is an open communication with members to discuss new program ideas, development and implementation of any new programs. Any person who has had Northwood services (Adult Day, Long Term Care, Home Support, Assisted Living, Intouch or Retirement Living) or their families are welcome to apply to join.
Paraglide Northwood is committed to seeking solutions to problems that affect the well-being of our clients and staff. Of that commitment came Paraglide, an innovative wheelchair repositioning device called Paraglide. Paraglide allows someone in a wheelchair to be repositioned at the press of a button. The idea for Paraglide started in 2011 when Northwood identified a common problem: it was often difficult for residents in wheelchairs to reposition themselves, and safely repositioning a resident would often take two staff members or a mechanical lift. We set out to create partnerships to find the right solution. We reached out to NSCC’s Mechanical Engineering Technology program to develop a partnership and look at possible solutions. The students created a prototype, which was sold to MacKenzie Atlantic. MacKenzie Atlantic continued the collaborative research on the device with Northwood and NSCC, eventually creating another prototype which has been trialed by 10 residents at Northwood. In November 2018, MacKenzie Atlantic presented their prototype at an event in the Shirley Burnstein Hall. MacKenzie Atlantic will be testing a market-ready version of the device at Northwood in the near future. The Paraglide prototype.
21
Timeline of Connecting with the Community Northwood's Community Recreation & Wellness department is committed to community development opportunities, building new partnerships and promoting links with our neighbours in Bedford, Halifax, Dartmouth and throughout the province.
April 2018
• A wellness grant from Cobequid Community Health Board allowed us to purchase accessible seating for the William E. Frank Live More Park • We formed a relationship with The Mi’Kmaw Native Friendship Centre, coming together for multicultural events and a dreamcatcher workshop • We presented at the Lucasville Community Association Health Fair
May 2018
Truck Rally with over 200 people in attendance • Northwood Encores theatre and musical group started through Community Recreation & Wellness
October 2018
• We partnered with Shaw Lifestyle to hold two events: Halloween Movie Night and Pumpkin Carving
November 2018
• We held our first Holiday Tree Lighting in the William E. Frank Live More Park
December 2018
• A winter formal was held at the Halifax Campus in partnership with Oculus as part of the VR for Good program
• We partnered with Shaw Lifestyle to hold a Food Truck Rally at our Bedford Campus with over 300 people in attendance
January 2019
June 2018
February 2019
• We joined Engage Mainland North round table, a collaboration to share upcoming programs and events with community partners
July 2018
• The Mobile Food Market started at the Halifax Campus, giving residents an opportunity to have groceries come to them
August 2018
• We met with the Community Health Board to discuss transportation
• We partnered with Halifax Public Libraries to show the film Maudie for residents and to create Maud Lewis inspired paintings on Heritage Day
March 2019
• Applied for the TD Park People grant for the William E. Frank Live More Park • We joined the Community Food Program through the Ecology Action Centre
• Canada Bread spent the day in the William E. Frank Live More Park and donated park benches for residents and the community to enjoy
September 2018
• Tree Canada donated trees that were planted at our Bedford Campus, starting our fruit orchard in the William E. Frank Live More Park • We partnered with Shaw Lifestyle to host a Food 22 Community Report • 2018 / 2019 • Advocacy: Using our influence
Northwood is Nova Scotia’s original senior citizen advocate, dating back to 1962. As a not-for-profit organization, we re-invest our surpluses back into a caring community that helps our Northwood community live more. We are recognized both here at home and across Canada as an extraordinary example of the power of social justice. We like to call it the power of love.
Northwood is a full spectrum health, lifestyle and continuing care organization. Affordable Retirement Living
Health, Fitness & Lifestyle Programs and Services in your community
Assisted Living
Home Care
Long Term Care
Fall Alert & Other Assistive Technologies Adult Day, specializing in memory loss
On Campus Health, Fitness, Lifestyle and Wellness Programs and Services
Northwood Foundation
Halifax Campus (Ed Roach Centre)
Bedford Campus (Ivany Place)
In Your Home (Across Nova Scotia)
Northwood Corporate Office Suite 1 South, 130 Eileen Stubbs Ave, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia T 902-425-2273
TF 1-866-700-2273
information@nwood.ns.ca
B3B 2C4
www.northwood.care