2021-2022
community report 2021 / 2022 Strategic Directions
Celebrating 60 years while looking to the future
NORTHWOOD CORPORATE OFFICE Suite 1 South, 130 Eileen Stubbs Ave, Dartmouth Nova Scotia B3B 2C4 1-866-700-2273 902-425-2273
info@northwood.care www.northwood.care Please visit our website for additional resources Northwood - Live More
Halifax Campus, Edward Roach Centre
Bedford Campus, Ivany Place
Northwood Home Care, In Your Home Across Nova Scotia
www.northwood.care
Northwood's Strategic Directions The Northwood story is one of inspiration and leadership. The story began in 1962, when many seniors lived below the poverty line in substandard housing. They often lived in isolation and loneliness until they found a champion in Edward L. Roach, the founder of Northwood. He spoke passionately about seniors and the need for affordable housing. It is amazing that 60 years later, the organization he founded is still advocating for societal change and improved resources for those who need continuing care and the staff that provides it. Today I am proud to say Northwood is one of the largest, most innovative seniors organizations in Canada. You will be amazed as you learn about the many successes and stories in this community report. Northwood is participating in research projects that will lead to improvement in the lives of the elderly and disabled. The board is also really excited about advancements and investments in smart technology, which helps people maintain some independence and control over their environment. The board recognizes that it has been a very difficult few years for everyone, but the community support for Northwood has been tremendous. As we celebrate our 60th anniversary, the board is committed to upholding the values that made the organization strong. There will always be challenges and decisions to be made with limited resources. However, our greatest asset is the dedicated and caring Northwood team. Together we will meet those challenges and work with our community partners to advocate for societal justice so that seniors can live with dignity. On behalf of the volunteer Board of Governors, thank you for your continued support in making Northwood Strong. In appreciation, Barbara Hall, Board Chair
We look forward to our future as we pursue our 5 strategic directions.
Lead the development of new models of Community Living: A holistic approach to housing
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Be a Learning and Teaching Organization: Curiosity and a commitment to continuous quality improvement ...12
Leadership in Community Care: A trusted voice on matters of fairness, dignity, and uncompromising standards of care ...13
Celebrate and learn from the rest: Being an innovator ...15 Attract, develop, and keep the people we need: Attracting people who are committed to our mission and supporting them, so they chose to continue in their role ...17
1 Community Report • 2021 / 2022 • Lead the development of new models of Community Living.
A Message from CEO & President, Janet Simm Progress toward our established goals in the final year of our Strategy to Action Plan 2014 - 2021
Another year has come and gone. We have faced our fair share of challenges over the last three years, and we continue to live under the cloud of COVID-19. The realities of the global pandemic continued to have a direct impact on all of our programs and services this year. However, the Northwood family, with the tremendous support of our community and the entire health system, has responded to the challenge. I continue to be so amazed at the resiliency of our residents, tenants, clients, and their families, our community, and our team. I sincerely thank everyone for your patience and understanding during this challenging period in our history. As we as an organization celebrate our 60th year, and despite continued challenges placed upon us by COVID-19, we continue to make progress toward our vision and Mission. This report outlines the progress that the team has made to help Nova Scotians LIVE MORE. While it has slowed us down, we have not let the pandemic stop us. We continue to make significant measurable progress toward our five strategic directions and the goals we established in our Strategy to Action Plan. We have achieved some significant milestones. We continue to invest in support for our staff to ensure we have qualified and compassionate staff; to build programs and services to support people to remain safe, engaged and active; to improve our physical environments for those who live in our buildings and communities and we continue to respond to unmet needs in the community. The team continues to seek opportunities and implement creative solutions in our quest for a high-quality living experience for our clients. I would like to personally thank our team, our families, and our community for their patience, commitment, and assistance in living our values. I would also like to recognize the tremendous commitment of the Board of Governors and the Northwood Foundation Board. The dedication and courage of all of these volunteers is incredible. Their support has guided us through some challenging times. Our future is bright, with new programs and services on the horizon that will respond to unmet needs in our communities. This year we will renew our commitment to Ed Roach’s vision for Northwood. While our communities and the needs of the people we serve have evolved over the last 60 years, our commitment to continuously strive to do better and positively impact the communities and people we serve – our Power of Love - has not. Janet Simm President and CEO
www.northwood.care
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Community Report • 2021 / 2022 • Lead the development of new models of Community Living.
Strategic Directions
Lead the Development of new models of Community Living: A holistic approach to housing - beyond accommodations.
Northwood began as a social movement. Moved to act, founder Ed Roach invited over 580 individuals and groups to a public meeting in 1962 to discuss the plight of seniors living in Nova Scotia. Two hundred and eighty-five concerned citizens gathered that night at St. Thomas Aquinas School in the South end of Halifax to hear Ed's vision for the future. He spoke passionately about the plight of seniors and the need for affordable housing. The meeting resulted in a call to action and the creation of the Halifax Senior Citizens' Housing Corporation (HSCHC), with Ed Roach as president. Northwood was born.
Northwood is also a champion for diversity. We represent over 20 nationalities and are proud to do so. Northwood was the first long-term care facility in Nova Scotia to have a diversity committee to support its staff! Northwood was the first long-term care facility to participate in Halifax pride and has been participating since 2010. Northwood embraces all employees for who they are with no barriers. Northwood welcomes with open arms the LGBTQIA2S+ community, international persons, families, and people from all backgrounds.
"Northwood's innovations have always been guided by Ed's conviction that seniors should be lifted out of the 'loneliness, lovelessness and isolation' he witnessed in the 1960s.
Northwood quickly became a voice for seniors in Nova Scotia, demanding a new approach to aging in place. Northwood provided an affordable option for seniors wanting to remain independent within a supportive environment. In 1970, Northwood opened Northwood Centre, an innovative new approach to long-term care, and began reaching out to the community through its Multi-Purpose Centre. As a leader in Continuing Care, over the past 60 years, we have been the ‘First’ at many things. Northwood introduced a Home Care Service, Intouch, and Adult Day to support seniors wishing to remain independent. Northwood was the first to provide a licensed lounge, Hospice and Pastoral Care, Health Centre Services, and a dedicated floor designed for the deaf community.
We are so proud to continue the journey of our founder and persevere through an unprecidented time in our history. Northwood is learning and growing, the future is bright." Northwood's founder Edward L. Roach 1928 - 2012
CEO & President, Janet Simm on the impact of Northwood's founder, Edward L. Roach.
Northwood recognizes the reality of an aging society. Our programs reflect the changing needs of our clients. The flexibility of our programs has never been more necessary than during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Home Support
VCHSS
Northwood Home Care meets the needs of those living independently or with family in the community. We have over 400 staff delivering care to approximately 1800 clients. Northwood Home Care serves NSH (including Halifax Regional Municipality, West Hants, Hantsport and Windsor). We are partnering with Antigonish and Area Homemaker Service and Victoria County Home Support Services to deliver programs and services in their communities.
Last year Northwood began supporting the Victoria County Home Support Agency- sharing our expertise and welcoming them to our team. Profiling the great work that they do in the community is very important. The Northwood Communications Team was given the task of developing the first VCHSS website. Their new website is now live.
Areas we specialize in include: • Personal care and assistance with mobility • Meal preparation and assistance with feeding • General household tasks • Alzheimer’s / Dementia / Palliative care • Respite care, providing the family a break from care giving. Northwood believes People Come First. Assisting people to stay in their homes for as long as they can is a key priority. For information on the Provincial Home Care Program, contact the Continuing Care Program at the Department of Health: 1-800-225-7225 or visit their website: www.gov.ns.ca/health.ccs
HOME CARE UPDATE
AAHS The agency is in the process of expanding its services to offer the Meals Plus Program in their community with support from the Department of Seniors and Long-Term care. The program is based on the model that was introduced in VCHSS last year. Meals Plus includes fresh ingredients delivered every other week and prepared in the home by a Continuing Care Assistant. The program is for AAHS clients.
Close work with our Infection, Prevention, and Control Team along with Staff Health have helped us deliver safe, quality care to the community while keeping our staff safe. Supervisory teams have ensured full PPE is delivered out to the community, and our staffing team has worked diligently with schedules as things rapidly changed during the pandemic. Continued rapid testing and PCR testing are in effect; CCA’s are provided ongoing education and updates with anything pandemic related.
www.northwood.care
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Community Report • 2021 / 2022 • Lead the development of new models of Community Living.
Northwood Health Services Northwood Health Services continues to support our facilities, communities, and partners throughout the HRM and the province.
QUICK RESPONSE PROGRAM The HS team has been actively supporting the QRP (Quick Response Program) since it began with Northwood in April of 2021 – this program allows residents of our communities (who meet the criteria) to return home and heal in their own homes and environment. This provides the individual with five days of 24-hour care which allows them to rest while being in a familiar and comforting place. Our wonderful team assists with each clients particular ADLs.
NORTHWOOD CARE AIDE PROGRAM Health Services will be holding a Summer 2022 NCA Training Program on July 11. This program is a great way for individuals with a caring spirit and previous caregiving experience to begin their career in the Healthcare industry. If you or someone you know is interested in finding out more information, please reach out to Elaine Blanchard at 902-421-7316.
Travel Staff Recruitment of skilled health care professionals is a challenge that the entire health care system is facing. As the system works to rebuild our workforce, the Travel Nurse Program is providing temporary support to ensure individuals living in Long-term Care receive the care they deserve. Northwood has partnered with the Department of Seniors and Long-term Care to coordinate this workforce initiative. Northwood coordinates the placement and movement of RN’s, LPN’s, and CCA’s throughout our province. These “Travel Staff” provide staffing support to
facilities in crisis all across Nova Scotia. Whether it be a Covid outbreak, or the supplement of staffing levels to allow for the opening of beds to welcome new residents, the Travel Staff are moved at a moments notice, jumping in to help. We are currently working with 113 Travel Staff in 23 facilities.
ASSISTANCE FOR IVY MEADOWS Ivy Meadows is a long-term care facility owned and operated by the Stevens Group: Rosecrest Communities. They had provided the Department of Seniors and Long-Term Care with notice of closure effective Dec. 31, 2021. SLTC approached Northwood, asking for staffing support for Ivy Meadows. We provided staff through our Health Services.
SYSTEM NAVIGATION The Navigator role has been in place at Northwood for over a decade. It was established to ensure that Northwood was providing accurate information and ensuring appropriate linkages were being made to meet the needs of individuals who reached out to Northwood for support. The Navigator role was established as a part time role. Our Navigator works closely with community based services. The Northwood Navigator role will continue to evolve based on the changing needs of our clients.
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Community Recreation & Wellness The Community Recreation and Wellness team offers a variety of programs and services to support individuals to remain healthy and independant in their home. Over the past year, there have been many changes to the Community Recreation & Wellness program. We’ve introduced a new programming location, new staff, and new programs. At our Bedford campus, we are very excited to share the new Bedford Community & Fitness Center, located at 185 Gary Martin Drive. The new Bedford location includes a fitness centre, studio space, and our community garden next door. At our Halifax location, the Fitness Centre has reopened to the community. Our community programs are starting to resume in person. Some programs were able to transition to a virtual format during COVID, and others were temporarily put on hold. We had an increase in outdoor programming at both programming sites, including gardening, Cycling Without Age tours, and bus trips in the community. As the community adjusts to the new normal, so will our programs; keep an eye out for new and exciting recreation opportunities.
CYCLING WITHOUT AGE This season, Cycling Without Age is obtaining permission to take the trishaw into the Public Gardens. Many of our tenants have not been through the Public Gardens in years because it is such a long walk through the gardens. Clients will also be attending weekly live music performances happening at the Bandstand.
Neptune's songs & stories with seniors “Songs and Stories with Seniors" is a new initiative which brings together theatre students, industry professionals, and seniors. With the generous support of the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia, Neptune Theatre is pleased to offer this program for FREE. These performances will be at the Halifax Campus, Almon Place, and Northwood Place.
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Community Report • 2021 / 2022 • Lead the development of new models of Community Living.
Adult Day The Adult Day program is designed to provide respite to care givers who are caring for a loved one at home. We are pleased to now be open at all four locations. We offer a variety of programming, providing opportunities for socialization and meaningful engagement through a holistic approach. Our goal is to provide a service that will enable our clients to continue to live as independently as long as possible in their home. Our team also provides support to caregivers.
Ask about some of the fun activities you might see at our ADP program. • • •
Pet Therapy Crafts Chair Zumba – a favorite!
We are happy to welcome Sarah Cluett as the new manager of the Adult Day program. Sarah has been with Northwood since 2013, working as a Recreation Therapist at the Halifax Campus. In October 2021, she moved over to her role as Manager of the Adult Day Programs. We have welcomed several new staff members to the Adult Day team coming with many different skills. We are a multidisciplinary team consisting of LPNs, RNs, CCAs, and Therapeutic Recreation Programmers. General Inquiries: 902-454-9706 Program Location and Addresses Dartmouth ADP 130 Eileen Stubbs Ave Unit 6 Dartmouth, NS Halifax ADP Halifax Campus 2630 Gottingen Street Halifax, NS., B3K 3C6 Bedford ADP Bedford Campus 123 Gary Martin Drive Bedford, NS Sackville ADP Sackville Sports Stadium 409 Glendale Drive Lower Sackville, NS
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Accreditation Accreditation Canada’s NEW Continuous Assessment Model for Northwood’s Long-Term Care and Home Support Programs Northwood’s Long-Term Care and Home Support Programs participate in the Accreditation process, achieving the highest possible standing in our last Accreditation cycle - Exemplary. Since Northwood’s last on-site visit, Accreditation Canada has made significant changes and has transitioned to a new Continuous Assessment Process. Organizations are now able to better pace the accreditation program requirements and activities over the four phases of the program cycle. As a result, organizations will be able to better maintain a sustainable focus on planning, implementing, and evaluating improvements. Self-Assessment Accreditation starts with the organization assessing itself against standards, which cover a broad array of topics, such as governance, leadership, infection prevention and control, and medication management, as well as the quality of care in our programs (i.e., home support, long-term care). These assessments identify areas that need work, so we can plan quality improvement activities for the coming months. Northwood has already begun this process with the Client and Family Experience Surveys, which will help us start to identify gaps. We will continue over the coming weeks/months to complete the self-assessments, staff and governance surveys, develop corresponding action plans as well as implement improvements. On-site survey An on-site survey is conducted by trained surveyors who assess the organization against the national standards. The surveyors will examine our policies and procedures, and talk to staff, clients, residents, leaders, and our community partners. They will also observe key areas of care or service and ask about examples and stories that demonstrate our commitment to quality and safety. Northwood is excited to announce that our next on-site survey date is scheduled for September 2023. Quality improvement and ensuring safe and quality care for Northwood clients is ongoing. There are a number of actions we will be completing between now and September to ensure we are hearing from our stakeholders and examining our processes. To name a few: resident, client, family, staff, Board of Governor surveys, self-assessment surveys, and action planning. Although the focus will be on LongTerm Care and Home Support, Accreditation is an organization-wide commitment, with participation needed from all. We look forward to engaging with all of our stakeholders to ensure we have another successful survey in 2023. Ongoing Quality Journey The results of the on-site survey point to areas of success and areas where improvements can be made; the latter is used to shape our ongoing quality improvement program. This is an ongoing cycle, as we constantly assess ourselves and find new opportunities for improvement.
www.northwood.care
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Community Report • 2021 / 2022 • Lead the development of new models of Community Living.
EXPANDING IN BEDFORD AND INTO FALL RIVER
Investing in infrastructure As the list of Northwood facilities grows, so does the need for continued investment in maintaining our infrastructure. It is essential for our residents, tenants, and staff that all of our facilities run safely and efficiently. These facilities are more than buildings; they are homes for over 1,000 people. Our Northwood staff also need to have the proper tools at their disposal in order to work properly and keep residents safe and happy. Renovation/construction projects: • • • • • • • •
Boiler replacement project – Halifax Campus Siding project – Bedford Campus, Ivany Place Ventilation cleaning – Halifax Campus Flooring upgrades – Bedford Campus, Ivany Place Spa rooms – Bedford Campus, Ivany Place Pedway construction – Bedford Campus Kitchenette construction – Halifax Campus, Manor Assisted Living Dining room upgrade - Halifax
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BEDFORD PEDWAY The pedway that will bring together our Ivany Place Long-Term Care facility and our Northwood Place tenants has been on hold. We are excited that we expect to get this project back underway very soon. The Amended Development Agreement (ADA) and LUB amendments to allow the pedway project to continue were approved at the HRM Community Council meeting on April 25th, 2022. An ADA must be registered on the property before a building permit may be issued. We expect the pedway work to resume in July, 2022.
BEDFORD SIDING PROJECT Construction of Ivany Place happened from 2008 until 2010, and HardiePlank cement siding was chosen as a “lifetime” product. After installation, it was determined that this product, while functional in some climates, was not suitable for long-term exposure to our climate, and defects were detected, which cause flaking, warping, cracking, and product shrinkage. Since the distributing company of the product in Canada has since declared bankruptcy, there is no recourse left to the consumers to claim on the lifetime warranty attached with the sale of this product. A siding replacement project is now underway at Ivany Place. Funding was provided under the Federal/Provincial funding partnership of ICIP – Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. This project has a projected completion date of July 31, 2022. We are using an aluminum extruded siding to provide for longevity and added fire safety protection for Ivany Place.
www.northwood.care
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Community Report • 2021 / 2022 • Lead the development of new models of Community Living.
NORTHWOOD GARDENS The Northwood Bedford Campus continues to grow with the addition of our new affordable living building, Northwood Gardens. Construction has begun and we anticipate this new building will open in the Fall of 2023.
Long-Term Care IVY MEADOWS
FALL RIVER
During the pandemic, government supported Northwood to reduce the number of individuals living in shared rooms. This allowed the majority of Halifax residents to have private rooms. This also gave us some flexibility for our team to support the rest of the health system during the pandemic with initiatives such as the Community Transition Unit. We now have the opportunity to assist elsewhere in the system. We have been asked to operate the 36-bed Ivy Meadows facility in Beaver Bank until our Fall River site opens. This agreement allows us the opportunity to stabilize our Halifax Long-Term Care Program budget, reopen spaces that are closed at Ivy Meadows, and facilitate a smoother transition for Ivy Meadows residents in the coming years. The team who currently work at Ivy Meadows will continue to work there, but Northwood will be supplementing and supporting operations there to increase their resident numbers. The support for this initiative will come from teams across Northwood, including LTC, Infrastructure, HR, Finance, Health Services, etc.
We are happy to say the 100 beds that were reduced in our Halifax Campus will be relocated to our new long-term care facility in Fall River. This facility will offer 144 beds in total. The design for the new long-term care facility is underway! The picture below is the preliminary design. We are currently in discussion with the developer regarding the land allocated to the Long-Term Care facility building and how it relates to the rest of the campus. We are close to finalizing our Stage 3 submittal to the Department of Seniors and Long-Term care for the Northwood LTC facility that will be located at this site. The long-term care facility will comprise only a portion of the development at this site. The vision for this campus will involve multiple levels of senior living with supports and initiatives to assist seniors to LIVE MORE
We are extremely excited about this opportunity and welcome the Ivy Meadows team.
11 Community Report • 2021 / 2022 • Be a Learning and Teaching Organization.
Strategic Directions
BE A LEARNING AND TEACHING ORGANIZATION: Curiosity and a commitment to continuous quality improvement
RESEARCH 2021/22
One of Northwood's values is, we can always do better. Research supports evidence informed decisions and investment
• In 2021-22, there were 15 active projects at Northwood, five of which are new applications. Seven projects were continued from 2020-21, and three from 2019-20. Many of the projects are in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic and aim to understand topics such as communication, health care, frailty, immunity, and safety. Additional projects focus on areas such as fall prevention, rehabilitation for residents living with dementia, oral health, and hygiene, measuring frailty in long-term care, and technology. • One of the projects Northwood participated in was published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine and is entitled “Goals of Care Conversations in Long-term Care during the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic.” • The 2021-22 fiscal year had the most research activity (15 studies) compared to all previous fiscal years, with the majority of studies occurring in long-term care (11 studies). • In June 2022, Northwood will virtually host its 10th Annual Research Symposium after a two year hiatus. The symposium covers many topics such as SMART technology in continuing care, improving care for younger residents, benefits of dogs within LTC, and understanding the needs of communitydwelling older adults. The symposium will also have a panel discussion on the health care system and the impact of COVID-19. • Aligned with Northwood’s strategic direction to strengthen its role in research, the organization has hired a Research Associate to help manage the growing demands of research at Northwood. Furthermore, Northwood is also taking active steps in the organization and planning of an innovation and research center. We want to grow the number of projects supported at Northwood. www.northwood.care
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Community Report • 2021 / 2022 • Be a Learning and Teaching Organization.
Strategic Directions
Leadership in Community Care:
A trusted voice on matters of fairness, dignity, and uncompromising standards of care.
Northwood is one of the largest continuing care providers in Nova Scotia, with an extensive and comprehensive range of programs for a diverse and vulnerable service population. It is a natural leader in this rapidly growing but largely undervalued service sector. As the need for community care grows, the need for advocacy grows with it. Northwood will continue to be a trusted voice on matters of fairness, dignity, and uncompromising standards of care.
Special thanks to John Gracie, Eastlink, and the Northwood Foundation for another great tree lighting and holiday concert.
The pandemic has highlighted the need for affordable housing options in our community. For over 60 years, Northwood has delivered programs and services to seniors to address unmet housing needs. There is much more work to be done!
The Op-Ed is discussing housing inflation and how Almon Place is one of the few affordable options for seniors left in the city.
Opinion Piece In April of 2022, Lisa Roberts had an Op-Ed published in the Chronicle Herald. Northwood’s Affordable Retirement Living Program was highlighted as a local success. Lisa Roberts is a former MLA, a former journalist, and a present-day consultant working to help get non-market housing built. She served as the NDP critic on housing. The Op-Ed mentions Northwood's Almon Place, a 66-unit building in Halifax. Almon Place is one of four affordable housing buildings in HRM. Northwood is pleased to be able to introduce a 5th affordable housing building in Fall of 2023. Lisa Roberts highlights the fact that rents at Almon Place — include in-floor heating, a community room, and access to Northwood recreation programs when COVID allows. A twobedroom rents for $975 a month, 73 percent of the average price ($1,335) in Halifax. 13
Community Report • 2021 / 2021 • Leadership in Community Care.
Northwood highlights
the laker news
CTV MORNING LIVE In January of 2022, CTV Morning Live surprised our Northwood Halifax staff with a donation of free individually wrapped mugs as a way of thanking staff for their hard work during some challenging times.
In May of 2022, The Laker News did a short story highlighting the Northwood and Ivy Meadows transition. The transition will be complete in April of 2023.
Organization Recognition Northwood has been named one of Nova Scotia’s and Atlantic Canada’s Top Employers for 2022. Northwood has been named a top employer for Nova Scotia since 2014 and a top employer for Atlantic Canada since 2013. This special designation recognizes employers in Nova Scotia and in Canada’s four Atlantic provinces that lead their industries in offering exceptional places to work. Employers are evaluated by the editors of Canada’s Top 100 Employers using the same criteria as the national competition and are also compared to other organizations in their field to determine which organization offers the most progressive and forward-thinking programs. www.northwood.care
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Community Report • 2021 / 2021 • Leadership in Community Care.
Strategic Directions
CELEBRATE AND LEARN FROM THE BEST Being an Innovator
SCREENING KIOSKS
SMARTTech Northwood, the Nova Scotia Health Authority, and national and international partners have been awarded funding through AGE-WELL, Canada’s Technology and Aging Network, to advance research on SMART assistive technology and person-centred care solutions in continuing care. Northwood itself has received $648,055 from the SLTC Innovation Program to support equipment purchase, IT support, and our Rehab Team. Using off the shelf devices and the breakthrough Emitto technology, the research explores how to enable older people aging with complex mobility needs to live with greater independence and dignity. This project is intended to examine and pave the way for a better model of care for our residents who have significant physical disabilities. Using this technology helps residents of all ages live more independantly while also offering support to the care staff.
In April 2021, the RimotHEALTH Screening Kiosks were deployed to Northwood sites to assist our screeners, and to validate visitors and employees at our main building entrypoints. With a thermal camera to read body temperatures and automated questionnaire for people entering our buildings, the system also includes a cellular link to facilitate remote web and smartphone monitoring for all locations. This provides our site care team with real-time data insights for informed decision-making and site entry. Northwood also has the ability to request verification of Proof of Vaccination (POV) by using the Provincial supplied QR codes for visitors to scan to ensure the safety of our residents. These kiosks are located at both our Halifax and Bedford locations. The kiosks ask all screening questions, keeping minimal contact by using foot pedals rather than on-screen touchpoints to answer the questions.
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EMBRACING TECHNOLOGY INTOUCH ON-THE-MOVE Northwood Intouch has launched their newest device Intouch On-The-MOVE Mobile help buttons have been seeing an increase in popularity. To meet community interest and the needs of our clients, we found a device that can be used both at home and away.
virtual research Symposium In June of 2020, we were scheduled to celebrate our 10th Anniversary of this event. Unfortunately, due to COVID, the event was postponed for 2020 and 2021. We have, however, in conjunction with the support of our Research Advisory Committee, made the decision to offer a virtual Symposium on Friday, June 17, 2022.
The newest button combines the base unit and help button in one, so that clients can take it with them wherever they go. Using cellular service, the button can be used anywhere in Canada, giving more flexibility for those more active seniors.
Northwood teamed up with pheedloop, an online event management company. Using the pheedloop event management software, we will be able to celebrate our 10th and first full online Research Symposium, including speaker sessions, an online forum, virtual booths, and much more.
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Community Report • 2021 / 2022 • Celebrate and learn from the rest.
Strategic Directions
ATTRACT, DEVELOP, AND KEEP THE PEOPLE WE NEED: Attracting people who are committed to our mission and supporting them, so they chose to continue in their role
Today, we are recognized 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 has been challenging navigating through a global pandemic. We believe our dedication to clients, residents, and staff has never been more evident than it has been at this point in our history. The health and well-being of our staff is extremely important to us. Throughout the pandemic, mental health resources have been available. The Northwood Hub provides access to a wealth of important staff information and resources. There is an area of the library that is populated with various Mental Health resource links. This section was updated with a number of mental health-related resource links, which also include access to a couple of previously recorded webinars. Staff is encouraged to check out what is available and to share any resource links they believe would be beneficial to other staff members. Northwood also updated and promoted the Employee and Family Assistance Program during the pandemic as a reminder that help is always available for those who need it. The service is free for staff and their families and provides online support to those who need to talk about grief, stress, or simply have a safe place to go.
STINGRAY CAMPAIGN Recruiting the best and most qualified people in Home Care and Long-term Care is challenging at the best of times. During a worldwide pandemic, it is more challenging than ever. We are constantly searching for new and creative ways to recruit new Northwood staff. In 2022 we teamed up with Stingray Media Solutions. Stingray put together an advertising campaign that ran from Feb. until April of 2022. This campaign ran a combination of two 30-second video ads on a variety of websites. These 30-second video ads would play before a viewer could watch the video content on each of the particular websites. These video ads worked similarly to TV commercials. Our video ads ran on a variety of websites, from CBC to CNN. Our ads received 388,000 video views during the campaign for an effective CPM of close to $13, which is great for a video campaign. We received 347 clicks for a click-through rate of .09%, which is well above industry standards and much better than we would have received on youtube. The top websites were Global News and Saltwire (Chronicle Herald). It’s always nice to be on the local sites.
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Avanti Project Update
In fiscal year 21-22, the Avanti Project Team were able to meet a number of important milestones as they worked towards the launch of Northwood’s new payroll, Long-Term Care scheduling, and Human Resources (Recruiting & Onboarding) system. By the end of March 31, 2022, the team had completed a full data conversion, moving payroll data from our current payroll system Computerease to Avanti in preparation for parallel testing. In the coming weeks, Avanti will be fully implemented as we finalize parallel testing, ensuring payroll is consistent between the two systems. Our projected Go Live date is July 2022.
The purpose behind the implementation of the new system was to create improvements and efficiencies in our processes, which includes: • The ability to reduce processing tasks and times • To have a self-service module for staff & managers reducing payroll inquiries • To reduce duplication of efforts across program areas and systems • To improve reporting • To improve importing/exporting of information to other Northwood systems • To improve onboarding of new hires and new hire set up processes
THANK YOU FROM THE BOARD The last two and a half years have been the most challenging years Northwood has ever faced. We can’t imagine where we would be without the dedication and courage of the Northwood team. In March of 2022, the Board of Governors wanted to show their appreciation for the courage of the Northwood team that battled the Omicron wave. Eligible Northwood staff received a beautiful thank you card along with a Sobeys gift card. Many staff members expressed their appreciation to the Board of Governors for their gratitude and generosity.
Gift Card Feedback: “I was just wondering if you could pass along a big thank you to the Board of Governors. Their gift was so amazingly generous that thank you really isn't enough. I have never felt or been showed so much appreciation at a workplace and today just changed my whole perspective. It's going to be put to good use and I still am and will continue to be so thankful. Everyone on the board needs to know how appreciated it was and how thankful I am!!" CCA Home Support Program www.northwood.care
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Community Report • 2021 / 2022 • Attract, Develop, and Keep the People we Need.
CCA WAGE INCREASE The COVID-19 pandemic has been difficult for all, especially our health care workers. All Northwood staff contributed to the care and wellbeing of our clients across all programs. In February of 2022, the government recognized the challenges CCAs face each day and announced a 23 percent wage increase for CCAs working in Long-term Care and Home Support. We thank government for this recognition and congratulate our CCAs on this well deserved increase.
CAREER COLLEGE UPDATE
In October 2021, Northwood received approval to be able to deliver Phase II of the Recognizing Prior Leaning (RPL) to gain CCA Certification. This allows our Northwood staff the opportunity to continue to work in a care giving role while completing their schooling through selfdirected learning to become a Certified Continuing Care Assistant. The Northwood Career College has dedicated resources to help students as they move through their education. Each student is paired with a Self-Directed Learning Guide who helps them through the CCA Certification process, including support for the certification exam if required. Currently there are 18 staff moving through the CCA Certification process with the Northwood Career College and more in the registration process.
diversity
Northwood Human Resources
Interesting Facts from 2020/2021 • Number of applications received . . . . . . 7428 • Number of summer students hired . . . . . . .46 • Number of work terms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..254
The Northwood Diversity Committee helped to promote the Work Culture Program being offered by IASNS to all staff. All staff were encouraged to enroll at least in one program. Internationally trained staff bring skills, experiences, and perspectives that can make your workplace more inclusive and responsive. The workshops, presentations, and other services provided tools, examples, and personal support for our organization so our new colleagues can shine!
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COVID-19 and Infection Control
Nova Scotia experienced an Omicron (B.1.1 529) SARS-COV2 Variant case spike. The Omicron was noted to be highly transmissible, and with many community contacts. Rapid test kits became a staple for our LTC staff asymptomatic and symptomatic screening- this was helpful in limiting contact with others if positive before a PCR was able to be performed. Halifax and Bedford Campuses were put in facility-wide outbreak status from January to May 2022. Northwood has worked closely with Public Health and the Medical Officer of Health as recommendations and guidelines were changing with the increase and then decrease in cases. The team has been successful in minimizing COVID-19 impacts in all of our programs. Within Northwood, 98% of residents were vaccinated with the primary series and most with 1st booster doses. COVID vaccines have been crucial for our residents, and we have seen milder symptoms of COVID with our residents compared to our 1st wave in 2020. Public Health mandated for all health care workers –as of November 30th, 2021 all staff, DCGs and visitors were required to be vaccinated to enter our facilities in order to protect our vulnerable population. Second dose boosters were started in May 2022 for LTC facilities. Thank you to staff and our clients for your adherence to Public Health protocols to keep us all safe. "Everyone Plays a Part." Epicurve for Northwood LTC Resident positive cases January 2021 - June 2022
www.northwood.care
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Community Report • 2021 / 2022 • Attract, Develop, and Keep the People we Need.
The Northwood Foundation
In 2020, the world changed in response to the global pandemic. Despite these challenges and changes, kindness and generosity prospered and helped welcome a calmer, stronger 2021. The Northwood Foundation is humbled by the outpouring of support from local community members, organizations, and businesses that helped the Foundation ensure people could live a life filled with belonging, dignity, and choice. Faye LeBlanc, Managing Director of the Northwood Foundation, saw the community understand the need to come together now more than ever – to support others and to be a part of making a difference.
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Faye LeBlanc Managing Director Northwood Foundation
I truly believe that our donors want to feel as though they help make a positive impact on another person’s life. Whether it’s through making a monetary donation or sending a holiday card – there are many options for everyone to play a part in lifting others up through the Northwood Foundation.
DIGNIFIED LIVING FUND The Dignified Living Fund is a special fund created by Northwood staff after recognizing that residents and clients were going without items and services necessary to maintaining their dignity and quality of life. The Dignified Living Fund provides ongoing support to residents and clients who are struggling with medical needs like transportation to appointments, dental work, hearing aids, and other necessities that aren’t covered by the government, their insurance or their income.
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Thank you to all our sponsors, Nature's Way, Embracor Medical, Lawtons, Nova Corp Properties, Soles in Motion, Northwood SMART Committee & RBC. As well to our Friends of Northwood: Scotiabank, SWISH, BANC, Cypress Landscaping, Wood Wyant, Barbara Hall, Harvey Architectural, Peter Wilde, TranscenDental Group, Kin Club, Dynamic Business Controls and TJ Tracey. Northwood is beyond proud to have a dignified living fund – one that supports those living in our community who need it the most.
Dignity Month at Northwood is a month where the community comes together to raise much-needed funds for Northwood's Dignified Living Fund. In September of 2021 we did something new. An online silent auction named “Bidding for Dignity” was held throughout the month, with items generously donated from the community. Together with sponsors, friends, donors, and a silent auction, we raised $39,000 just for dignity! 21 Community Report • 2021 / 2022 • Northwood Foundation.
GIVING TREE
Holiday-Card Campaign
The Northwood Foundation was thrilled to have so many local businesses take part in this year's Giving-Tree Campaign. This program is a great opportunity for businesses to share with their staff the importance of remembering those living in long-term care – especially during the holidays. While many residents have family and friends to share the season, some are alone. With help from the Giving-Tree campaign, we were able to supply gifts like chocolate treats, new slippers, shampoo, body wash, nail polish, facial tissues, new stuffed toys, socks, or Lawton’s gift cards – just to mention a few.
Once again this year, our friends at JACK 92.9 partnered with Sleep Country for the annual Holiday Card Campaign for Northwood. Over 4,000 holiday cards were donated throughout HRM by individuals, children’s groups, schools, and local businesses. The cards were delivered to our wonderful tenants, residents, and Homecare Clients at Northwood so they have some holiday cards to open this season. A huge thank you to everyone for being part of this magical campaign that brings joy to so many in the Northwood Community!
Cycling Without Age – Northwood Partnership – made possible by the Northwood Foundation Cycling Without Age was started in 2012 to help elders get back on their bicycles. The founder had to find a solution to their limited mobility. The answer was a trishaw, and he started offering free bike rides to the local nursing home residents. He then got in touch with a civil society consultant from the City of Copenhagen, Dorthe Pedersen, who was intrigued by the idea and together, they bought five trishaws and launched Cycling Without Age. In April 2021, Northwood started the first chapter of Cycling Without Age in Nova Scotia after the Northwood Foundation purchased two of Ole’s trishaws for our Northwood Community. The summer saw volunteer cyclists giving over 100 rides for Northwood Tenants from Halifax and Bedford. Sometimes the highlight of the ride is to feel the wind, see local sights, and maybe be treated to a homemade ice cream from the Lemonade General store in the Hydrostone Market or an ice-cold root beer from A&W in Hammonds Plains. Cycling Without Age also participated in the Musquodoboit Pride Parade, the Halifax and Dartmouth open street festivals, and the Halifax Cycling Coalition “I Light Halifax” evening bike ride.
Holiday magic The Northwood Foundation was thrilled to have Van Wart Productions embrace Northwood again this year with Holiday Magic, a local musical talent fundraiser aired on CTV December 18th. Presented by Avondale Construction – this holiday fundraiser raised over $138,000 for the Northwood Foundation! We are thankful to the VanWart Family for embracing Northwood.
Sponsor Spotlight: Soles in Motion Jennifer Estabrooks, owner of Soles in Motion in Dartmouth, embraced Northwood this past spring with a huge, in-kind donation of over 160 pairs of new shoes and slippers for residents in need. Jennifer has been a long-time friend and supporter of our Foundation and recognizes the vulnerable population that Northwood serves. Whether selling Hearts of Dignity at their retail store on Baker Drive during Dignified Living Month in September or donating footwear to residents – Soles in Motion is always willing to help. The Northwood Foundation is grateful for her generosity. www.northwood.care
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Community Report • 2021 / 2022 • Northwood Foundation.
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 system of care that helps our community. 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. • Health, Fitness & Lifestyle Programs and Services in your community • Home Care • Fall Alert & Other Assistive Technologies • Adult Day, specializing in memory loss • Affordable Retirement Living • Assisted Living • Long Term Care • 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 B3B 2C4 T 902-425-2273
TF 1-866-700-2273
information@nwood.ns.ca www.northwood.care
