www.northwood.care
A Community Paper sharing the stories of the largest not-for-profit continuing care organization in Atlantic Canada Spring 2019
Volume 1, Issue 4
Federal Minister of Seniors Visits Northwood 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 The Honourable Filomena Tassi & Andy Fillmore, MP chatting with a resident. Continued on page 3
Northwood Achieves the Highest Level of Accreditation Page 4
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
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Message from Board Chair, Peter Wilde Welcome to the fourth edition of Northwood’s Live More community paper. Rounding out a full year since we began this publication gives me even more of a reason to take a look back and appreciate everything we’ve been able to accomplish at Northwood and for the people we serve. The staff at Northwood have been working extremely hard to prepare for our visit from Accreditation Canada at the end of February. I am beyond happy to report Northwood has been accredited with Exemplary Standing. This is a tremendous feat for Northwood. Accreditation Canada represents the gold standard when it comes to health-
care in Canada – it means Northwood’s commitment to quality care has been recognized formally. The buzz of excitement from Northwood staff I pass in the hallways is almost palpable. It’s one thing when I say Northwood staff are incredible but to have a third party organization give their stamp of approval is another. You can read the full article on page 4. You may have heard the buzz about our latest expansion – Northwood has broken ground on a brand new affordable Retirement Living building in the Parks of West Bedford, directly behind Ivany Place. The building will be called Northwood Place. Find out
how you can reserve your unit at Northwood Place on page 12. In this edition you’ll also find information about the opening of our new Adult Day Program location in Dartmouth. We are extremely proud to be able to expand and address the need in another community. We are in the planning stages of a fourth Adult Day location. You can see photos of our new Dartmouth location on page 22. We have several stories about Innovative projects happening at Northwood, one of those being Caring Canines, a research project with Mount Saint Vincent University which has a dog named Bella living with
Chair of the Northwood Board of Governors, Peter Wilde
residents at Ivany Place. You can learn more about the project and why Bella has moved in on page 11. I hope you enjoy this edition of our community paper and reading about the wonderful things that have been going on at Northwood over the last few months.
Comment Cards Each of our locations has a comment box and comment cards that we invite any and all visitors, residents, staff and community members to use to offer
feedback. These comments are compiled and given to management for review at Quality Council on a monthly basis where solutions are discussed and put
into action. Going forward, we will be printing the comments along with their resolutions. We won’t publish any identifying information from the comments.
If you would like your comment to be followed up on with you personally, please leave your name and phone number on the comment card.
Pigeons at our Halifax Campus We received a number of comments in our comment box at the Halifax Campus regarding the increase in pigeons around the entrances of our
buildings. The comments indicated that the pigeons are getting more aggressive as a result of continued feeding of them. We have been investigating
solutions and will be implementing a program to help deter the pigeons, but we need your cooperation. By offering the pigeons food, we are inviting
them to keep coming back for more and they are bringing their friends. This is an infection control issue as well as a driver safety concern.
www.northwood.care
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Andy Fillmore, MP Tours Northwood for #BecauseYouCare Week Northwood hosted Andy Fillmore, the Member of Parliament for Halifax, at our Halifax Campus during the first annual #BecauseYouCare week sponsored by the Canadian Association for Long Term Care (CALTC). During the week of February 10 – 16, elected officials were invited to tour long term care homes in their communities to help them better understand the challenges older adults in Canada are facing. We thank Andy Fillmore, MP for taking the time out of his busy schedule to tour Northwood and learn more about the challenges facing the sector.
Rick Saulnier, Jackie Wilson, Josie Ryan, Executive Director of Long Term Care, and Andy Fillmore, Member of Parliament for Halifax.
Federal Minister of Seniors Visits Northwood Continued from page 1
recognize and avoid fraud. Residents and tenants of the Halifax Campus came to the Hall with questions and comments about their own experiences. Three takeaways for fraud prevention from the event were: Don’t provide personal information, like your social insurance number, over the phone. Talk to someone you trust if you’re unsure of a call or message you’ve received. And lastly, if you are scammed do not be ashamed or embarrassed, reach out to the person you trust or local police to share your experience and for advice on the next steps to take.
Janet Simm, President & CEO of Northwood gives Minister Tassi and Andy Fillmore, MP a tour of the Halifax Campus.
Representatives from HRP giving a seminar to residents on fraud prevention.
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No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior written consent of the publisher.
PUBLISHER Northwood Communications EDITOR Jenna Farrell COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING SPECIALIST Stephanie McDougall 902-493-3016 smcdougall@nwood.ns.ca COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANTS Jenna Farrell 902-454-3342 jenna.farrell@nwood.ns.ca Alyson Estey 902-454-3377 alyson.estey@nwood.ns.ca GRAPHIC DESIGNER Karine Gautreau PRODUCTION MANAGER Vicki Hines
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Northwood Achieves the Highest Level of Accreditation Following a visit from Accreditation Canada surveyors in February, we have been reviewed and have achieved Accreditation with Exemplary Standing. This is the highest possible award and two levels above standard Accreditation! “I’m so proud of everyone here at Northwood for this achievement,” says Janet Simm, President & CEO of Northwood. “Our staff work hard every day to provide safe, effective and high quality care to our clients. Our accreditation standing is a true testament to how much we make quality and safety a priority.” An Accreditation Canada
certificate shows that we care about client safety and providing quality service. The process of accreditation helps identify where we are doing well and where there is room for improvement. It is one of the most effective ways for an organization to review their procedures and practices in order to improve their quality of care. “We participate in accreditation because quality and safety is important to us and to our residents, clients and their families,” says Kathryn Graves, Quality Specialist at Northwood. Accreditation Canada is a not-for-profit, independent organization providing
national and international health care organizations with a program to evaluate their performance against standards of excellence. These standards examine all aspects of health care – from client safety and ethics, to staff training and partnering with the community.
PRINTING Advocate Printing & Publishing
Congratulations on this Achievement from the Northwood Board of Governors FOR ADVERTISING SALES CONTACT: publishers@metroguide.ca Tel. 902-420-9943 For more information, please contact Northwood Corporate Office, Suite 1 South, 130 Eileen Stubbs Ave., Dartmouth, NS B3B 2C4 902-425-2273 information@nwood.ns.ca www.northwood.care
Dear Northwood Community, As you know, we were reviewed by Accreditation Canada in February and received Accreditation with Exemplary Standing. This is the highest award that Accreditation Canada gives, and we received it because we achieved a score of 98.3%! This is truly remarkable, and I’d like to congratulate everyone here at Northwood for the accomplishment. A score like this is a true example of our values at work. It’s a reflection of the
dedication of our staff, volunteers, clients and family members to person-centred care and quality improvement, with everyone playing a part. It’s a result of the hard work that everyone in our community does to ensure that Northwood is a place our clients love to call home or have in their home, because they come first. We deserve to celebrate this award, but our work will continue. Accreditation is a valuable tool in improving our quality program.
We’ll take the feedback we received throughout the accreditation process and develop plans to continue to improve on the quality and safety of the services we provide, because we can always do better. Thank you so much for your support throughout this process and your commitment to Northwood. Congratulations again for this achievement! Peter Wilde Chair, Northwood Board of Governors
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The Northwood Foundation
Live More Awards Gala to Honour Joe Shannon The Northwood Foundation’s annual fundraising gala – The Live More Awards – will be taking place this year on June 1 at the Cunard Centre. This event honours an outstanding member of the community with the Hedley G. Ivany Live More Award, celebrating a lifetime practice of giving back. We’re pleased to announce that Joe Shannon will be this year’s recipient. Mr. Shannon has been a leader in the Canadian business industry for many years, building family businesses across multiple sectors such as trucking, healthcare, information technology, real estate and construction. “My father is a remarkable person who has had a tremendous business and philanthropic impact in Nova Scotia and throughout Canada,” says Jason Shannon, CEO of Shannex Inc. “I speak for my family in saying we are thankful Northwood has stood firm in a belief that people deserve to live with dignity and respect – no matter what their age, or stage of life. It is a philosophy we too share at Shannex. We are thrilled to partner with Northwood in honouring my father, Joe, with this prestigious award. I am very pleased that Shannex will be the Presenting Sponsor for this year’s Awards Gala.” “We’re grateful to have the support of Shannex this year,” says Faye LeBlanc, Managing Director of the Northwood Foundation.
“This gives us the opportunity to partner with other leaders in the continuingcare sector and raise muchneeded funds for the Northwood Foundation.” The event will also recognize six distinction award winners, given to individuals within the Northwood community who exemplify our pillars: advocacy, research, innovation, diversity, community and loving care, which will be announced at a later date. Guaranteed to be an enjoyable evening complete with a gourmet, four-course dinner, fabulous silent and live auctions and games of chance! You can get your tickets online at northwoodfoundation.ca or by calling Debra at 902-493-3015. We look forward to seeing you there!
Cunard Centre, Halifax June 1st, 2019
Save the Date
FEATURED HONOUREE JOE SHANNON
Celebrating a lifelong practice of giving back.
Tickets for the 21st Annual Live More Awards can be purchased online at www.northwoodfoundation.ca or by calling 902-493-3015. Discount available for staff and volunteers
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The Northwood Foundation
Bringing the Treats to Northwood Northwood’s Goody and Sunshine Carts are calling for donations! The Goody and Sunshine Carts are an initiative that was started by resident families. This cart provides residents with a small monthly treat and a visit with a volunteer. In Halifax it’s called the Goody Cart, and in Bedford it’s
called the Sunshine Cart. “It’s to provide a treat as many residents have little financial means to purchase items themselves,” says Faye Leblanc, Managing Director of the Northwood Foundation. The larger treat to residents is the social visit the volunteer has with them.
The Northwood Foundation’s Live More Toonie Draw A weekly 50/50 draw that costs $2 to play. A number is registered to you and will stay permanently in the drum, but you have to pay each week to play. A number is drawn every Friday with 50% of that weeks pot going to the winner. If a number is drawn but not played that week, the winnings will roll-over to the next week’s draw.
You can pay in advance for up to a year! $20 = 10 weeks $52 = 6 months $104 = 1 year Red toonie boxes are set up at all 3 of our sites and at Burnside Pizza (109 Illsley Ave.). A representative from the Foundation will be onsite in Halifax every Thursday to take payments (cash, credit, debit). You can also pay by credit card over the phone ($10 minimum) by calling Debra at 902-222-4428.
Lottery License # AGD-102496-18
Sunshine Cart in Bedford.
“True value of this program is a visit, because some residents don’t have many visits from family or friends,” says Faye. We look for donations of items like nut-free chocolate bars such as, Aero, Coffee Crisp, and Kit-Kat. Other common items residents ask for are: chips, pop, costume jewelry, scarves, shampoo
and Kleenex. “Our most popular items are chocolate bars and unscented body wash,” says Faye. These carts are distributed around the Halifax and Bedford Campuses. To make a monetary donation to The Goody Cart please visit: northwoodfoundation. ca/waystogive/general-donations
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Halifax Campus
Winter Formal at the Centre of Virtual Reality Film Set at Northwood If you live or work at the Halifax Campus, you probably haven’t forgotten the winter formal that was held in the Shirley Burnstein Hall in December. The hall was transformed into a winter wonderland with sparkly snowflakes and twinkle lights. There was a live band, a performance by Halifax Cirque and virtual reality demonstrations. It was all thanks to Oculus, a leading virtual reality and technology company based in California that chose Northwood to participate in their VR for Good Creators Lab program. This program teams filmmakers up with not-for-profit organizations to create virtual reality films. We were matched with Katrina Sorrentino and Andrea
Patiño, who spent a week at Northwood filming Bill Mont, a tenant in the Towers. The main event of the film will be the winter formal. “We are really excited to be making this film and culminating the process with this event that captured the joy and life at Northwood, where aging means living more fully,” says Katrina and Andrea. The two spent time getting to know the Northwood community and meticulously planning the film, which will aim to change the negative perceptions that some have about senior living. Representatives from Oculus were onsite during filming, offering virtual reality demonstrations to everyone
Everyone danced the night away at the winter formal.
and training to our staff. They generously gave Northwood five Oculus Go headsets, allowing us to expand our existing virtual reality program. Being chosen for this program has given Northwood so many opportunities that we’re extremely grateful for. “We’re thrilled to have been chosen for this project and for everything Katrina, Andrea and Oculus have done for Northwood,” says Janet Simm, President & CEO of Northwood. “We can’t wait to see how the film turns out and to see it showcase how our community is living more.” The film is now in the editing stages and is scheduled Formal guests trying out the Oculus Go virtual to be released by the end of reality headsets. spring 2019.
Halifax Cirque performs for the crowd.
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Halifax Campus
SMU Students & Northwood Residents Team up to Develop Apps In the fall, a group of Saint Mary’s University software engineering students completed a service learning placement at Northwood, participating in a project that we call the Sandbox. The idea was simple: students would develop apps that could be used by long term care residents on their phones, computers or other devices using input and feedback from the actual users – the residents. It resulted in a truly meaningful learning experience for all involved. “I was pleasantly surprised by the enthusiasm of the Northwood residents,” says Yusreen Bibi Shah, one of the students that participated. “They knew from the beginning what they wanted which was a huge help as we were developing our project.” It started with an initial visit to Northwood to consult with a group of residents to see what their wants and needs were, then the students got to work developing the apps. They would come back to Northwood periodically to present their work to the residents, getting their input and going back to work tweaking and developing the apps, always implementing the feedback they received. “I never noticed any hostility toward our suggestions or criticisms,” says Trudie Helmke, a Northwood resi-
dent who participated in the Sandbox. “They didn’t try to defend themselves.” The students and the residents formed a team, openly bouncing ideas off each other in a way one might not expect from two groups of people that are outwardly so different. “As a professor, and as well, a continuing care assistant, I witnessed something truly amazing when this bright and energetic group of residents got together with my class of 30 software engineering students,” says Terry Goldsmith, computer science professor at Saint Mary’s and home support worker at Northwood. “Together they visualized and then created their software vision. I saw software engineers taking on the role of continuing care assistant, and residents taking on the role of software engineer. They could learn together, because of the opportunity service learning provided.” By the end of the semester, each student group had developed an app that the residents actually wanted available for them to use. They included features like voice control, facial recognition, instant messaging and contrasting colours for optimal visibility – all things that are crucial for use by those with physical limitations.
Student works one on one with Judy Quann.
One of the presentation and brainstorming sessions.
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Bedford Campus
Memories of Thyme: Bedford’s Fine Dining Experience Memories of Thyme has been creating a buzz at the Bedford Campus. On Memories of Thyme night, the Adult Day dining room transforms into a fine dining restaurant for our residents and their loved ones to enjoy. On March 6, we had our fourth Memories of Thyme event and it was the biggest one yet! Families gathered around their tables taking photos and making memories while being served a three course meal of baked brie or salad, braised chicken with tomato, bacon and mushroom sauce,
garlic mashed potatoes and vegetables, and finally a chocolate brownie with ice cream and caramel sauce – all catered by Northwood Food Services. We ask the guests to leave feedback on comment cards. Here are some of the highlights: “Great meal! Very nice service. Wonderful atmosphere for a family gathering.” “Feels like fine dining – Lovely decorations, music, table setting, flowers, candles. Food was delicious! Thoroughly enjoyed!! Thank you” “Thank you for a lovely ex-
perience with my Grandad!” “A great opportunity to spend quality time with my loved one” “A very elegant meal. Beautiful decorations.
Memorable evening – Thank you” Stay tuned for information about the next Memories of Thyme event, coming in May 2019.
Did you know that our Recreation Therapy and resident event calendars are on our website?
www.nwood.ns.ca Visit the website to see recreation therapy calendars, upcoming events and other up-to-date information relevant to living in long term care at Northwood!
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Bedford Campus
Bedford Resident Loves to Watch Skating at the BMO Centre For Della MacLellan, a resident at the Bedford Campus, a quick walk to Bedford’s BMO Centre is just what her morning needs. She started walking there when she got settled in at Northwood, almost a year ago. “They’re the nicest people,” says Della. She then names all of the workers there she knows, a quite extensive list. “Most of the time when I go in the workers say, 'hi Della, how are you doing?'" says Della. She enjoys the peace and quiet with her morning coffee, but also loves to watch
Della MacLellan
the skating. Her favorite thing to watch is children practicing hockey.
“Sometimes I watch the kids, their little legs are just going with the hockey sticks and they get the puck in the net and sometimes they go in the net right after it,” says Della. She stays until about 10 to 10:30 every morning. Della never took skating growing up, but she’s a huge fan of hockey. “My mother didn’t want me to skate because I’d fall on my face,” says Della. “But oh I love hockey, my favorite team is the Toronto Maple Leafs.” One of her favorite things was being able to watch the
Toronto Maple Leafs play when they were practicing at the BMO Centre. The walk only takes her five to ten minutes and she doesn’t mind it one bit. “Through the week it’s so quiet and relaxing, the weekends are a little bit busier but it’s a nice way to drink my coffee and read the paper,” says Della. She mentioned watching the young girls figure skating and was amazed at what they could do. “They skate so fast, and can do these flips, just amazing,” says Della. “I love going over there.”
Get Connected We provide a regular social call from a Northwood volunteer to an older adult living alone. Get Connected offers: • A free weekly connection with a trained volunteer • A friendly call from someone who knows your name • Pleasant conversation on topics of mutual interest For more information: getconnected@nwood.ns.ca 902-454-3351 www.northwood.care *Not intended as a check-in or monitoring service*
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Bedford Campus
The Bedford Campus has a new Furry Friend! Bella, a beautiful rough collie, is now visiting the Bedford Campus for several days each week for the next couple months as part of an innovative research project with Mount Saint Vincent University called Caring Canines. Researchers seek to learn about life in long term care and how Bella mixes with our community. They are quietly observing and taking pictures to see what Bella does when she is here. So far, Bella seems to be really enjoying herself and is quite at home. She has been welcomed by all and is bringing joy to those residents
who invite her to join them in daily routines and activities. The researchers are talking with residents, families and staff to understand what people think about Bella being here. This research project is a first for long-term care in Canada! Together we are learning how dogs in care settings might positively impact the well-being of the people who live there. If you would like to learn more about the Caring Canines project please reach out to Jennifer Tucker, Clinical Practice Manager, at 902-223-9639.
Bedford resident, Brenda, with Bella.
A painting of a tree in the Live More Park done by Melanie Gaunt.
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Retirement Living
New Development at the Bedford Campus If you’ve driven past our Bedford Campus lately, you surely will have noticed the bustle of activity on the property located behind Ivany Place. Northwood Place will be home to independent retirement living units located in the Parks of West Bedford.
This new development is being built with older adults in mind. A high degree of care is going into the planning of this property with consideration to what older adults are looking for in their retirement years. There will be underground parking with an onsite car
ness programming. Those who choose to call Northwood Place home will also be able to purchase additional services to customize their style of living. Email Lynn at ljenkins@ nwood.ns.ca to reserve your unit today!
wash, a scooter charging station, storage, a common room with access to a full kitchen and bathrooms, as well as all the amenities in the area like walking trails, the William E. Frank Live More Park and Community Garden and Community Recreation & Well-
“So glad you are there. I don’t know how I would have gotten through this without you.” – CNS caregiver client
Caregivers Nova Scotia is a non-profit organization providing FREE programs, services, information, and advocacy for unpaid, friend and family caregivers.
Caregivers Nova Scotia is a non-profit organization providing FREE programs, services, information, and advocacy for unpaid family and friend caregivers.
Phone: 902.421.7390 or 1.877.488.7390 www.CaregiversNS.org
150748
Caregivers Nova Scotia Association
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Community Recreation & Wellness
Garden Beds Available to Rent at the Bedford Campus “To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow” – Audrey Hepburn The Northwood community is now able reserve their garden beds for the upcoming season at William E. Frank Live More Park and Community Garden, located at our Bedford Campus. Beds are $50 to rent for the season. This garden provides a space where
everyone can enjoy themselves, making healthy lifestyle choices with outdoor exercise and high quality organic food. Some of the perks included with the rental fee are free education sessions, complimentary Community Recreation & Wellness membership and a fully supplied tool shed. Rentals are open to anyone. Designed for all ages to
enjoy the outdoors, gardening brings people together. It’s all about sharing and learning together, with many different ways to get involved. “We want to encourage time spent outdoors,” says Jessica Titchmarsh, Community Programmer at Northwood. “You don’t need any gardening knowhow to take part, there will be free education ses-
sions during the season for people to take advantage of.” We will offer education sessions on gardening and food-related topics throughout the year. We’re always looking for new ideas, so if you have a workshop idea you would like to lead or organize please let us know. For more information go to www.nwood.ns.ca or call 902-454-8311
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Community Recreation & Wellness
Northwood Engages the North End Community with Recreation Programs Since April 2018, Northwood Community Recreation & Wellness has been working with the Metropolitan Regional Housing Authority (MRHA) to engage with residents of the North End MRHA buildings to create and facilitate their own recreation programs. This collaboration included Richmond Manor, Samuel Prince Manor, Acadia Square Lodge, Acadia Square Lodge South and Gordon B Isnor Manor. Thanks to a grant from the New Horizons for Seniors Program, Northwood Community Programmers were able to consult with the residents to find out what types of programs and events they were already accessing in their buildings and local community and to create a wish list of recreation programs they wanted to see happening in their buildings. Discussion and planning continued, planning programs and events that could be enjoyed by all – not just on site at their buildings, but at Northwood as well. As a result, our programmers have put on exercise and leisure programs in the MRHA buildings, teaching the residents how they can continue to facilitate similar programs for themselves. In addition, all residents of the MRHA buildings were offered a
A group of MRHA residents at the final engagement session held at Gordon B Isnor Manor.
free Community Recreation & Wellness membership, giving them access to all of Northwood’s programming. “It was wonderful to see participants enjoying programs and events here at Northwood over the past year,” says Sharon MacVicar, Community Programmer at Northwood. “We hope to see more attending in future.” Some highlights from this collaboration over the past year include: • Gentle yoga classes at all buildings. These turned into a weekly class on Tuesdays at Samuel Prince which
will continue going forward. • Summer and Fall programming at Almon Place including artful escapes, an art studio series, active walking group, community yoga classes and friendly fitness classes. • Bus trips throughout the summer including trips to Halls Harbour, Sugar Moon Farms and Uniake House. • MRHA residents were invited and encouraged to attend Northwood’s summer events including the member barbecue and the block party. The grant is now com-
plete, but Northwood will continue to offer support and programming to the residents of the MRHA buildings. Free Community Recreation & Wellness memberships will continue to be available to the residents of these buildings that haven’t registered yet. We will encourage MRHA residents to utilize the membership to attend any of Northwood’s programming, and to look to Northwood’s Community Programmers for support and guidance in continuing to develop their own recreation programs.
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Recipes & Comics
Lynn Eyland studied art in Edmonton and then went on to enjoy a successful artistic career. She was 17 years old when she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Despite the difficulties and limitations this disease has imposed on Lynn, her enjoyment and desire to share her art continues. Lynn lives in Northwood Manor, and we’re proud to display her art to our community. Check out this recipe from the March 1986 issue of Northwood News, a monthly newsletter that used to be produced at our Halifax Campus.
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Puzzles
CLUES ACROSS
1. Public broadcaster 4. The media 9. Manila hemp
14. Not just “play” 15. Trailblazing German historian 16. Type of puzzle
17. Plant in the daisy family 18. Not young 20. Dennis is one 22. Revealed 23. But goodie 24. Absurd 28. Commercials 29. University of Dayton 30. Expression of annoyance 31. Stories 33. More critical 37. Of I 38. Time units (abbr.) 39. Arousing intense feeling 41. High schoolers’ test 42. Trauma center 43. Astronomical period 44. Fights 46. Italian Lake 49. Rhenium 50. Baseball stat 51. State of consciousness 55. Some is dietary 58. Stringed instrument 59. __ Kidman, actress 60. Orator 64. Ottoman military commander 65. Makes known
66. Type of font 67. Cool! 68. Short musical composition 69. Porticos 70. Not wet
CLUES DOWN
1. The upper part of a duet 2. Carpenter’s tool 3. Outrageous events 4. Procedures 5. Type of party 6. Between northeast and east 7. Sanskrit (abbr.) 8. NJ college __ Hall 9. Sharp mountain ridge 10. Observed something remarkable 11. One who obeys 12. __ de sac 13. Sign language 19. Predecessor to Protestantism 21. Right-hand man 24. __ anglicus: sweating sickness 25. People who proof 26. Israeli Defence Forces sergeant 27. Remains as is 31. Receptacle 32. Archers’ tool 34. Gets up 35. Unit of energy 36. Explains again 40. Pa’s partner 41. Region bordering the sea 45. Type of acid 47. Lesotho capital 48. Gave a speech 52. Irregular as though nibbled away 53. Neither 54. Copyreads 56. Edward __, British composer 57. Prepared 59. Launched Apollo 60. Relative biological effectiveness (abbr.) 61. Protects from weather 62. Feline 63. Equal
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Volunteering at Northwood
National Volunteer Week National Volunteer Week is from April 7-13 this year. We’d like to take the time to say a huge thank you to our 500 volunteers that make everything we do at Northwood possible. They’re always there to spend one on one time with residents, help run activities and programs, make sure our special
Northwood Volunteer to be Honoured at Halifax Volunteer Awards Ceremony One of our most dedicated volunteers, Patti, will be receiving an award at this year’s Halifax Volunteer Awards ceremony.
Patti has been volunteering at our Halifax Campus for over 21 years and is so deserving of this recognition.
events go off without a hitch, bringing residents to the fitness centre, running our Goody and Sunshine Carts and so much more. We will have special recognition events planned at each campus for our volunteers that week. Keep an eye out for information about what’s happening at your site!
Every Monday and Saturday, 7 pm Northwood Halifax Campus 10 regular games One jackpot game Six specials (optional) Loonie number
Loonie Pot accumulates until it is won (prizes have been as high as $2,500) Card sales from 6:00 to 6:50 pm Contact Community Recreation & Wellness for complete price and prize information. Shirley Burnstein Hall, 2615 Northwood Terrace, Halifax
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Volunteering at Northwood
NWBC Opens a New Studio Space In a small room, on a red accent wall are two computer monitors. Two keyboards, a phone, and a radio switchboard perch on a grey desk. A window faces the busy Northwood hallway, a high traffic area near the Harbourview Lounge, Lawley’s and Shirley Burnstein Hall. During our thirty minute interview, almost every person that walked by peered in and waved. This is the setting Linda Furlought says feels a lot like home. “It’s bright and cheery, I can’t give enough positive feedback about it,” says Linda. The NWBC station has been around since 1987, but the new studio space opened just after Christmas. Linda has been the president for the last year, and has been volunteering at the station for around two years. “It gives us visibility,” says Linda. “They know where we are now in our new space, it has brought awareness to the station.” Typically she hosts on Thursdays and plays anything from Abba to Anne Murray, Elvis, and Louise Armstrong. “On Mondays it’s country, we aren’t about to play disco or rap but every host brings their own flare, one likes to play British hits,” says Linda. “It’s a nice variety, it really caters to seniors but there’s a bit of everything.” There’s a faithful audience, some whom have been listening since the 80’s. Some listeners call in seven days a week. “You build this rapport, and have to keep this pro-
NWBC President, Linda Furlought
fessionalism about you, but you also want to know how they’ve been,” says Linda. “I know for some listeners it’s their one daily link with the outside world.” “Another great benefit is providing this service, and knowing and understanding our audience,” says Linda. “It’s a lot of fun, and gives volunteers a reason to get out of bed.” “It feels good to bring pleasure and joy to people,” says Linda. NWBC would like to invite the public, residents, tenants and Northwood staff to an open house on Sunday, April 28 from 2pm – 4pm in the Harbourview Lounge with a tour of the new studio space.
NWBC volunteers Allison Brewer & Sue MacKeigan.
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Volunteering at Northwood
Volunteer Job Board At Northwood, we couldn’t do what we do without our dedicated team of volunteers. Our volunteers provide comfort, entertainment, security and peace of mind. Are you interested in becoming part of our volunteer team? We have a number of positions available: • Fitness Buddy: We’re looking for energetic, personable and patient volunteers to provide one on one support to residents attending the fitness centre. This role may involve as-
sisting individuals to and from the fitness centre. • Worship Companion: We’re looking for warm and friendly volunteers that are comfortable working with a resident who requires additional support (primarily residents living with dementia and/or mobility challenges) to provide one on one support in attending worship services within Northwood. • Support Companion/ Friendly Visitor – With the warmer weather on
the way, many residents would like the opportunity to spend time outdoors, going for a walk or sitting in the café for tea or ice cream. This role gives volunteers the opportunity to enhance the lives of our residents by reading, walking and having conversations with them. Must be responsible, dependable and comfortable working with people with dementia, mobility and/or mental health issues. • Community Gardener – The William E. Frank
Live More Park in Bedford is looking for gardeners to volunteer prepping the garden for the season, maintaining the beauty of the garden beds and to provide expertise and knowledge to our community garden. All levels of gardening experience welcome. For these and other volunteer opportunities at Northwood, please contact our Volunteer Engagement Coordinator at 902454-3353 or volunteers@ nwood.ns.ca.
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20 | NORTHWOOD | MARCH 28, 2019
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Northwood Intouch
Intouch Client uses Pendant to Contact Police It was quick thinking that led Willena Payne to use her Intouch button to call for help when an intruder entered her house. Tisha White, Program Manager at Northwood Intouch, was thankful Willena had this service available. "I actually listened to the call and looked at the transcript and yes, Willena did exactly what we would hope someone with our service would do," says Tisha.
These devices are available throughout Nova Scotia and give families comfort, knowing their loved ones are protected for any reason they may need help. “Even though we tell people all of the time, this story made people realize ‘oh yeah I really can use it for everything,’” says Tisha. The buttons are waterproof and can be worn around the neck or wrist. A common misconception
is that the demographic these devices can help is narrow. “We have ages range from 19 to 105,” says Tisha. “In the younger age it’s for disabilities and specific medical conditions. The older demographic has it because they’re at higher risk of falls and often these people are living alone.” The most well-known type is for fall detection, however, Northwood In-
touch goes even further to provide safety with devices for medication management, wandering and stove safety. With safety being a priority, Northwood has made Intouch accessible for all incomes. There are subsidies available through several programs – reach out to us to ask more. For more information visit - northwoodintouch. com or call (902) 492 3346.
Willena Payne speaking with CBC about her experience (CREDIT: ERIC WOLLISCROFT/CBC)
MARCH 28, 2019 | NORTHWOOD | 21
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Northwood Intouch
Thank You Intouch Volunteers!
A group of Intouch Volunteers at our 2018 volunteer conference.
National Volunteer Week is from April 7th-13th, making now the perfect time to extend a huge thank you to our dedicated group of Intouch volunteers. We partner with local service clubs who volunteer their time to install our Northwood Intouch service to new clients in their communities. They’re our local, recognizable face
within all of the areas we serve across Nova Scotia. The money that we receive from installation fees goes to the service clubs, and they then put the funds to work in their communities. Without these volunteers, we wouldn’t be able to provide service across the province – for that we’re thankful, all year round.
Submissions Submissions for this newspaper can be sent to communications@nwood.
ns.ca for consideration. Please note: not all submissions can be printed.
Apology In the previous issue of the Northwood Live More Community Paper, we printed an ad for the New Year’s Eve party
at the Halifax Campus that included a Union Jack flag that was positioned upside down. We apologize for this mistake.
22 | NORTHWOOD | SPRING 2019
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Northwood Adult Day
Adult Day Now Open in Dartmouth Our new Dartmouth Adult Day location officially opened its doors on February 20, 2019! It’s located at 130 Eileen Stubbs Ave. in Burnside, allowing 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 HRM. 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. Spaces are available. Call 902-454-9706 or email adultday@nwood.ns.ca to find out more.
160620
LIVING WITH DEMENTIA? We can help.
902-42 2 -7 9 6 1 ALZH E IM ER. C A/NS
A small green house donated by Josie & Bill Ryan. Adult Day participants will use it to grow plants that will be given to the Blue Frog Campus community garden.
SPRING 2019 | NORTHWOOD | 23
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Health Services
New Program Trains Caregivers at Northwood This fall, Northwood started a new initiative called Northwood Care Aide (formally called PCW in Training). We recruited experienced caregivers and provided training for three weeks in the classroom with lab time and an extended orientation, slowly increasing the number of residents they were caring for. “It was very educational,” says Amanda Taylor,
Emad Jalabi
who took the training program and is now working for Northwood Health Services. “It was really great for the short period that it is, with a really good hands on part.” The program has had two groups finish so far, one began in November 2018 and the other in January 2019. Twenty new Northwood Care Aides are now working for us, helping our
residents live more. Emad Jalabi finished the program and now works with Northwood Health Services. When asked if he’d recommend the training to a friend he said yes, “It’s a good step to develop your skills.” Amanda says she loves her job here at Northwood, “Every day going to work feels like I'm going out not as a job, I’m here
Amanda Taylor
with all my friends.” After finishing the training and working with us, Northwood Care Aides will be able to continue with more training and obtaining higher certifications with support from Northwood. “The more training they offer I’ll take it,” says Amanda. “That’s what I like about this company, there’s always more opportunities to move higher.”
24 | NORTHWOOD | SPRING 2019
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