Northwood Community Report 2023/2024

A Message from CEO & President, Janet Simm

Progress toward our established goals in the final year of our Strategy to Action Plan 2020 - 2024

As we reflect on another year, once again our journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. While we once again faced unprecedented challenges responding to wildfires and severe flooding, the team not only responded with fortitude and grace, we continued to deliver on our Vision and Mission, supporting those we serve to Live More.

Together, we have accomplished incredible feats in pursuit of our shared vision: People living life to the fullest, flourishing in a community of belonging, dignity and choice.

That is the Northwood way and it has been that way since Edward Roach gathered a group of community members to respond to the needs of vulnerable seniors more than 60 years ago.

This report highlights our achievements which range from developing innovative ways to support improved quality of life with our SMARTech and Young Gen pilots, supporting the vulnerably housed at the Bridge, raising funds to replace our bus, to supporting newcomers as they join the Northwood team and achieving Accreditation with commendation…. to name just a few. Each milestone has been a testament to the unwavering commitment and passion of our team, volunteers, donors, and supporters.

After 10 years of service to Northwood, the time has come for me to bid farewell and pass the torch to a new leader.

It is with a mix of emotions because I continue to be so passionate about the work of the organization and the incredible accomplishments we have achieved. It has been such a privilege to work with such a talented and dedicated team.

As I reflect on this chapter coming to a close, I am filled with optimism for the future of Northwood. Our foundation is strong, our mission is clear, and our community is vibrant. I have full confidence in our leadership and with a new CEO at the helm, Northwood will continue to thrive and make a profound impact on the lives of those we serve. In my mind, there is no unfinished business because the organization will continue on its pursuit of our vision and mission. While I may be stepping down as CEO, my commitment to our values and mission will endure. I will be watching with pride as Northwood continues to grow and evolve. I will sincerely miss being a part of that evolution. We have not been afraid to challenge the status quo and to be bold as we embarked on new initiatives that did not always come with an instruction manual!!!! Together, we have made a difference, and I am confident that the organization will continue to change lives for the better.

I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to have served as the CEO of Northwood. The countless memories, relationships forged, and lives touched will forever hold a special place in my heart. It has been a privilege to work alongside such dedicated individuals who embody the spirit of compassion and service.

I want to express my deepest gratitude to each and every one of you who has contributed to the success of Northwood. Your support, generosity, and unwavering belief in our mission have been the driving force behind our accomplishments.

Thank you for allowing me the privilege of serving as your CEO. Thank you for your dedication, your passion, and your unwavering belief in the Power of Love.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Janet Simm President and CEO

A message from our Board of Governors

This year has been another opportunity for Northwood and our tremendous staff to demonstrate their resilience and dedication as they persevered through fires, floods and renewed outbreaks to continue to deliver exceptional care and service to our clients in all Northwood programs, while keeping up our drive to be a leader through innovation. On behalf of the Northwood Board of Governors, we would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to each and every one of our staff for your unwavering dedication and commitment to Northwood. In the face of unprecedented adversity, you have continued to step up and you embody the values that Northwood stands for.

Through it all, the last year was still one of many successes, large and small. We are thrilled to announce that Northwood has successfully achieved Accreditation with Commendation, a testament to the hard work and talents of our team. We are incredibly proud of this accomplishment.

This past year we embarked on the Strategic Plan Refresh, we are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead for Northwood. Input from our staff, our clients, and our stakeholder community were invaluable to the process. We look forward to working together to shape the future of our organization.

This year also brought the news of our CEO, Janet Simm’s intention to retire at the end of June. We would like to take this opportunity to express our deepest gratitude for her outstanding leadership and dedication to Northwood over the past ten years. Janet has been instrumental in the incredible growth and success that Northwood has experienced, and built a leadership team that gave us every confidence that the great work that Northwood has underway will continue. We wish her all the best in her well-deserved retirement.

I am pleased to announced that the search process we initiated soon after Janet’s announcement has been completed with the appointment of Charbel Daniel as the next CEO of Northwood, effective July 29, 2024. Charbel is a dynamic leader with a wealth of experience in healthcare strategy and pioneering operations. With a background in Paramedicine, Charbel is the Executive Director, Provincial Operations at Emergency Medical Care Inc. With over 16 years of experience with Medavie, Charbel has held positions of increasing breadth and responsibility including Senior Manager, System Support at Emergency Medical Care Inc. and Chief Operating Officer at MedLife USA. While respected as an innovative and visionary leader, Charbel values tradition, people, and values-based culture as the heart of collaborative growth and excellence. Our goal was to find a leader to carry on Janet’s legacy of strong leadership and commitment to innovation, and we believe strong record of creative problem solving, collaborative approach to leadership, poise and ability to work with the various competing interests in the health care sector will allow him to deliver on this goal. Please join us in congratulating Charbel and welcoming him to Northwood!

As we move forward, let us continue to work together towards our shared vision of providing exceptional care and support to our residents. Your hard work and dedication are truly appreciated, and we are confident that Northwood will continue to thrive under your leadership.

Thank you for all that you do.

Sincerely,

Gavin Stuttard Chair, Northwood Board of Directors

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.

Ed 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.

Since that time, Northwood has evolved, in response to unmet community needs, to offer additional programs and support. These programs include:

• Long-Term Care - Two campuses, Halifax and Bedford. We also have our Long-Term Care home Ivy Meadows in the Beaverbank area. We have spent the last year planning for our new campuses in Fall River and Dartmouth on Akoma owned properties, as well as another building to be added to our Bedford Campus.

• Home Support

• Adult Day

• Intouch

We have continued to invest in developing new models of community living and responding to unmet needs in the community.

To strengthen our efforts to build new models of community living we have strengthened our Community Based Team. We welcome Tina Feth into her new role as Corporate Director, Community Development & Support, and Cheryl Tschupruk as the new Director of Home Care Operations & Business Development.

Northwood welcomes new Director, Cheryl Tschupruk

Cheryl Tschupruk joined Northwood Homecare Inc. in September of 2023 as Director of Homecare Operations and Business Development, a portfolio of programs that includes Home Support, Health Services and InTouch.

As a social worker with over 20 years of experience in the health and community sectors, her goal is to improve the experience of care for those we serve while promoting a healthy organizational culture and valuebased decision-making. She has worked in various roles across settings of care including home, community and hospital, and has spent the last 10 years with Nova Scotia Health, most recently as the Provincial Director of Palliative Care.

After completing a Certificate in Community Leadership at Mount Saint Vincent University last year, Cheryl decided to make the transition to the non-profit sector and was thrilled to join Northwood, with the goal of supporting a home and community first approach. Originally from Ontario, she is now a proud Haligonian and when she’s not at work you can find her cooking, gardening, and travelling!

Northwood welcomes new Director, Tina Feth

Tina Feth, lives in Eastern Passage and is the Corporate Director of Community Development & Support, bringing experience from previous roles in Northwood as well as across the health sector and the Canadian Armed Forces. Tina provides support to our Adult Day, Community Recreation & Wellness, Affordable Retirement Living programs, Pauline Potter Health and Fitness Centres as well as pilot and grant projects aimed at providing supports for older adults to age in place in their home of choice.

Tina's new role works closely with the Community Team, other Northwood Program leaders, Northwood partner organizations and Community Partners to continue to expand availability and make investments in the current Retirement Living Program and community supports. One of Tina's many responsibilites is to provide leadership to the organization to ensure program integration and support quality and excellence in the delivery of services.

Outside of Tina's career she enjoys spending time with her adult sons, reading, and spending time with her dogs while spending as much time as possible in Canso, NS.

The Bridge Program

We began providing Home Support Services to this program on Friday, September 1, 2023 to support the unhoused population in HRM. The team worked diligently to recruit and support staff to work in this new program with limited notice while not disrupting any other programs. There continues to be a steep learning curve for not just Northwood but the program itself is new and there are items that the team continue to work through.

The Health Care Area is now fully utilized with 28/29 individuals living in that area. The program team is very collaborative as we strive to make this program successful in serving the health care needs of the homeless population living at the Bridge.

In partnership with Nova Scotia Health we were successful in receiving a grant to study and support Palliative Care in this environment.

age well at home

This past fall we welcomed a new joint project with Hospice Toronto in hopes to find a way to support seniors as they age at home.

Age Well at Home is a joint project with Hospice Toronto and Northwood. It is a project that is volunteer based that supports the needs of seniors in the communities of Cherry Brook, North Preston, Lake Loon and East Preston known as Preston Township and Guysborough County (Upper Big Tracadie, Sunnyville and Lincolnville) to live well for as long as they can in their communities. The support will be for those living with chronic health challenges, are isolated, and have limited support in place from families or caregivers.

Two Community Navigators will be hired to support each of the communities who will work with the volunteers as well as create a resource Hub for varies services.

We are very excited to have community partners Akoma, Brotherhood Sisterhood and Health Association of African Canadians (HAAC)who will assist as needed. We will work closely with other partners and the community to provide culturally appropriate services. As we grow this project over the next 18 months it is going to be exciting to see our seniors continuing to grow and live well in their respective communities.

Community Recreation & Wellness

BINGO WITH THE MAYOR

The team continues with efforts to bring the community back to our facility. The bingo event on March 12, 2024 was a great success. Our volunteers made the afternoon an overwhelming success. All reports are that Mayor Savage and Bill Book did a wonderful job calling the bingo. They only had a few groans from the group, which is pretty amazing considering the committed and intense Northwood bingo followers. The Omega Pi sorority also volunteered for this event.

NEW digital platform

Our Community Recreation team has made significant strides in modernizing our operations by introducing an easy to use, digital platform. The system is designed to enhance the efficiency of tracking memberships, scheduling programs, and improving communication between our team and our members. The platform offers robust support to our staff by meticulously tracking programs of interest, creating efficient waiting lists for high-demand programs, and ensuring precise and up-to-date membership records. This includes both members of our Fitness Centre and our Community Clients. One of the standout features of this platform is its user-friendly interface that allows members to effortlessly view upcoming programs and events, as well as register for programs online from the comfort of their homes.

The Community Recreation and Wellness team have been actively building strong, meaningful relationships with a variety of community partners and like-minded organizations. These collaborations aim to enhance our program options, expand our networks, and foster greater community engagement.

To promote physical fitness and social interaction, we organized weekly bus trips to the Zatsman Sportsplex. This initiative allowed participants to engage in healthy activities such as walking on the indoor track, which was available free of charge, or enjoying swimming sessions at a significantly reduced cost. These trips provided an excellent opportunity for community members to stay active and enjoy the state-of-the-art facilities at the sportsplex.

Zatsman Sportsplex

PAULINE POTTER FITNESS CENTRE

The Pauline Potter Fitness Centre at our Halifax site has received a comprehensive upgrade with the introduction of new, stateof-the-art equipment. Most of the gym’s equipment has been replaced with newer or modified versions that incorporate the latest advancements in fitness technology. The new equipment was carefully selected to cater to the diverse needs of our clients and staff. It is designed to be user-friendly and adaptable, allowing exercises to be modified to suit individuals with different ability levels. To ensure that every member makes the most of these new facilities, each new member receives a thorough introduction to the equipment and a personalized fitness plan created by our certified fitness consultant. This personalized approach helps members achieve their fitness goals effectively and safely.

Bedford Community Garden

The Bedford Community Garden has undergone a significant transformation with the installation of all-new garden beds. This enhancement project was generously funded through a grant from Communities Culture and Heritage, Province of Nova Scotia. The new garden beds not only improve the aesthetic appeal of the garden but also enhance its functionality. Each raised garden bed is designed with a supportive edge for leaning or sitting, making gardening more accessible to individuals with varying levels of mobility. The beds have been elevated to a height of 16 inches from the ground, providing ergonomic benefits and making it easier to tend to plants. Additionally, all the beds have been replenished with rejuvenated soil, ensuring optimal growing conditions. Last year, the community garden welcomed a beehive to promote pollination. This year, we have thoughtfully relocated the beehive to a new section of the garden to better support the thriving bee population.

falls prevention workshops

Recognizing the importance of safety and well-being for our senior community members, we delivered a series of physiotherapist-led falls prevention workshops. Funded by the Age Friendlies Grant, these workshops were meticulously designed to educate older adults on techniques to prevent falls and improve their overall stability and confidence. The program received positive feedback for its practical and easy to follow approach.

Music Therapy

In an effort to support the emotional and mental well-being of our members and tenants, we engaged with the Maritime Conservatory’s Music Therapy team. This collaboration introduced therapeutic music sessions, which have been scientifically proven to enhance mood, reduce stress, and improve cognitive functions. The music therapy programs were tailored to meet the specific needs of our community, creating a harmonious and supportive environment for all participants.

VOLUNTEER SERVICES

Our Northwood volunteers are extremely important to Northwood, our residents, and clients. Some volunteers go above and beyond, Like Alison Roe Smith. We are so happy that Alison has been awarded the 2024 Halifax Volunteer Award for her caring and dedication.

Alison has a rich relationship with Northwood. She is an accomplished musician who has brought her musical talent to the Northwood population for over 10 years. The music Alison plays is versatile for a range of interests and offers benefits for people with a variety of musical experience levels and with different mental or physical health challenges. She is able to adapt her style to suit our population with Alzheimer’s, mental health challenges, and also provide an up-beat energetic performance.

Alison also accompanies our church services on a weekly basis. In this capacity, she is able

to move people spiritually through her voice and instrumental talent.

Alison is deserving to be recognized for her commitment to Northwood residents. She has assisted the North Street Singers Choir director in running a very popular and successful Northwood choir program. She provides music performances to our long term care population as well as the Spiritual care program. She continues to keep music alive at Northwood.

Canadian Service Recovery Fund

MOCEAN DANCE

We have established a fruitful partnership with Mocean Dance, a local dance company known for its innovative and inclusive approach to movement arts. Through this collaboration, we facilitated a series of dynamic dance and movement programs that catered to a wide audience. Our joint efforts culminated in a spectacular dance performance, which was hosted at both our Halifax site and the Paul O’Regan Hall at the Spring Garden Road, Halifax Public Library. These events not only showcased local talent but also provided our community members with unique cultural experiences.

VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT

The Community Services Recovery Fund is a $400 million investment from the Government of Canada to support charities, non-profits and Indigenous governing bodies as they adapt their organizations for pandemic recovery.

The fund supports community service organizations, including non-profit organizations, indigenous governing bodies and registered charities located in Canada. The Community Services Recovery Fund was built to respond to what charities and nonprofits need right now and support them as they adapt to the long-term impacts of the pandemic.

This project will research the elements of the Covid-19 pandemic that contributed to the disengagement of existing volunteers and staff while exploring how we can recruit, retain, and engage all future human resources. Through this project we will broaden and adapt existing policies to strengthen the organization for a post pandemic world.

As a result of this project, Northwood will have a tool kit of recruitment, retention, and overall engagement strategies that are relevant for a modern post-pandemic world. We will have adapted existing organizational policies and procedures to accommodate post-pandemic volunteer and staff needs. We will have a refined system for tracking volunteer interests, commitments, and feedback.

From this project we will have the tools needed to recruit the volunteers required to re-build the thriving culture of volunteerism that existed at Northwood before the pandemic. We will be able to re-open many programs that were put on hold due to

Covid-19 including a variety of mental health, fitness, recreation, and wellness programs. It will help us target new demographics based on modern post-pandemic techniques and find relevant and meaningful ways for volunteers to engage once again. This will support Northwood to strengthen existing systems while creating the conditions for greater resiliency moving forward.

The Adult Day Program has been supporting clients and their care partners since 1978. Once again, all 4 locations are open and providing opportunities for socialization and meaningful engagement in a safe environment through our holistic approach. Our Bedford location was relocated to the Sackville Sports Stadium in July due to flooding from the unprecedented rain that fell. In November, we were pleased to reopen to clients after renovations were completed and have been working on rebuilding the program.

In 2022, we were pleased to be approved to include a location for an Adult Day Program in the new Fall River location. We continue to work on the design of the location and developing a program for the potential clients in that community. In addition, work is being undertaken to develop an Africentric Adult Day Program for the communities of the Preston Township. Work has begun to connect with community partners in that area and seek funding initiatives that would assist in bringing this vision to reality.

The Adult Day Program aims to provide respite to care partners who are providing for loved ones in their homes. Our goal is to assist with helping our clients to live independently in their homes for as long as possible and support our care partners in achieving that goal. Our team is from a multidisciplinary background and includes LPN’s, CCA’s and Therapeutic Recreation Professionals that all contribute to our holistic approach.

General Inquiries: 902-454-9706

Program Locations and Addresses:

Dartmouth Program 130 Eileen Stubbs Avenue, Unit 6 Dartmouth, NS

Halifax Program

Halifax Campus, 2630 Gottingen Street Halifax, NS

Bedford Program

Bedford Campus, 123 Gary Martin Drive Bedford, NS

Sackville Program

Sackville Sports Stadium, 408 Glendale Drive Lower Sackville, NS

Long-Term Care

NORTHWOOD GARDENS

Northwood Gardens is the newest addition to the Northwood Retirement Living family. The 75 unit Retirement Living building is slated to open in September of 2024.

In July of 2023, the Federal Housing Minister and the local MLA visited the Northwood Gardens site to review its progress.

This new additon will help grow our already exciting and engaging Bedford Campus. Northwood Gardens bosts 8 modern, barrier free units. Tenants can choose from one bedroom and two bedroom units, with some units including a den.

FALL RIVER

The land purchase agreement has been completed. Interim financing has been provided by the province. The developer is working through the final requirements of the Subdivision application. The Department of Environment is requesting to see the plan for the Northwood septic field.

The Project Management Team have submitted components of Steps 4 and 5 of the Facility and Design Approval (11 Step) Process which includes the Schematic Design Drawing Package, SLTC space and design commentary, commissioning plan, F & E List and procurement plan preoccupancy plan and budget, project schedule snapshots, energy report and project budget. On Jan 2, we received conditional approval with several follow-up items required. This includes some changes to the proposed design and budgetary concerns.

AKOMA

In July of 2023 Nova Scotia's premier announced plans to build a publicly funded nursing home on the eastern outskirts of Halifax geared towards the needs of black communities. The preperation for this new 96room facility are underway. The care home will be owned and operated by Northwood and built on land leased from AKOMA Holdings Inc.

YOUNG GEN PILOT

We are currently using the Alexa Smart Properties platform managed by Aiva for the hub of our SMART Devices. Through Aiva we can tailor information specific to our residents. Users can get information on Northwood dining menus and events organized by Recreation Therapy. Residents can get the information by verbally asking their Alexa device, “what’s for lunch today?” or “what activities are on today?" The most frequently asked information is currently menu information. Many residents use the SMART speakers for listening to their favorite music and the weather forecast.

Currently we have residents operating lights, lamps, fans, TVs, curtains, and beds in their rooms, all by voice control. Some devices can also enhance resident safety, such as remote curtains and voice activated lights. (fall prevention). We continue to explore and learn how SMART products can be used in the care environment.

Through the Young Gen Program we have brought in Sleepsense devices. These are sensors placed under the wheel or leg of the bed to measure resident pulse, respirations, provide a sleep score, and can alert staff for bed exit and need for repositioning.

eMAR

In March of 2022, Northwood Halifax implemented the Point Click Care (PCC) electronic medication administration record (eMAR). The Lawton’s Pharmacy team and the Northwood Halifax Long-Term Care nursing team worked closely with PCC to ensure we had a great system that would improve the efficiency of how we administer medications at Northwood Halifax. Through collaboration and education sessions, we celebrated a very successful implementation!!

In early 2024, the Lawton’s Pharmacy located at the Northwood Halifax campus moved to a new location. Again, the pharmacy and nursing teams worked together to make this happen with as little disruption as possible. Faced with tight timelines our teamwork allowed us to complete a smooth transition with very little impact to the residents living in our care!

Since our implementation in 2022, we continue to learn what this system can do and how we can use it to increase efficiency as well as reduce the potential for errors in medication administration. It has improved our communication with our Pharmacy team and our overall ability to provide safe, efficient medication administration & care to the residents of Northwood.

MAINTENANCE UPGRADES

BEDFORD FLOOD DAMAGE

The year 2023 was challenging to say the least. Unfortunately, due to intense rainfall and subsequent flooding in July of 2023, the residents on the first floor of our Bedford facility had to be relocated. With amazing help from staff and the community, residents were relocated to the second floor of Ivany Place.

In late July, the First On Site remediation company gave us an initial assessment of the damage and the work that would be involved to repair all of the flood damage. It was estimated that our entire first floor would be uninhabitable until approximately April of 2024. Additional living spaces were provided on the second floor to accommodate residents. Northwood worked with the Department of Seniors & Long-Term care to find alternative living arrangements to offer to those prioritized due to medical needs. Some residents also left the facility to stay with family during remediation.

We are happy to announce that our main kitchen has been restored, and onsite meal preparation has commenced. The administration offices, cafe, and hair salon have begun reoccupancy. We are very excited and once again like to thank you all for your patience and understanding.

Are you afraid of falling? Have you fallen and spent time laying on the floor because it’s difficult to get up on your own? Researchers in the School of Physiotherapy are working with Axtion Mobility Inc. to test a new personal lift device called the Raymex™ Lift. The lift functions as a rollator walker, transfer aid, and lift assist to help you get off the floor on your own. If you are interested in learning more about this project, contact us 902-431-5357 or 3F.ResearchGroup@dal.ca

With perseverance, dedication, and a lot of creativity by Northwood staff, residents and family we have weathered almost a year of disruption. Residents are returning to their homes on the first floor.

The maintenance department has been working hard on tasks that will safeguard critical services at Northwood. They have been using what is called a "Critical Matrix" which the maintenance department uses to determine which equipment and systems are critical to the operational objectives of Northwood.

Get ready to visit the all new Kaye's Place. This amazing space is now able to service even more families.

Kaye’s Place, in honour of philanthropist and educator, Katherine (Kaye) Dickson, provides residents and those with dementia the opportunity to reconnect with their loved ones in a homelike environment. This welcoming space, formerly located on the bottom floor of Halifax's campus, known as “Main Street,” will now be situated on the Penthouse floor of the Northwood Terrace building. Here, residents can cook, socialize with friends and family, and truly feel at home while enjoying the gorgeous views of the Halifax harbour.

We continue to invest in bringing our vision for our campus garden to life. The Bedford pedway is fully functional between Ivany Place and Northwood Place. The retaining walls and drainage have been completed. The formwork for the outdoor kitchen area is in place.

Northwood's Tower building, our first building, continues to be an important component of our Retirement Living Program. Due to the age of the building we have undertaken an evaluation of the building so the Tower building can continue to be a part of our Retirement Living Program for years to come. The concrete assessments have been completed and the building has been found to be sound. We will begin examining a phased in plan to upgrade the building for the safety and comfort of our tenants.

The tower building

BEDFORD CAMPUS COMMUNITY GARDEN PARK

THE NEW KAYE'S PLACE - Halifax Campus

BE A LEARNING AND TEACHING ORGANIZATION:

Curiosity and a commitment to continuous quality improvement

RESEARCH 2023/2024

Activities/Projects

Cognitive Decline and Oral Health

Principle Investigator: Dr. Violet D’Souza

Alzheimer's disease is a brain disease that causes problems with memory and thinking. It's the most common type of dementia worldwide. People with Alzheimer's gradually lose their ability to do everyday things and often need help from others.

Taking care of your teeth is important for overall health, but people with Alzheimer's are at higher risk of dental problems. These problems can include tooth decay (cavities) and gum disease, which can lead to pain, tooth loss, and difficulty eating.

There's a strong link between gum disease and problems with memory and thinking. Some studies have found that people with gum disease are more likely to have problems with memory.

Good oral health is especially important for people with Alzheimer's and other cognitive problems, but they may have trouble taking care of their teeth on their own. This study aims to address the knowledge gap and guide future oral health interventions and policies concerning oral health for those with cognitive decline.

Understanding and Supporting Quality of Work Life in Long-term Care

Principal investigator: Dr. Janice Keefe

As the medical complexity and care requirements among long-term care residents

increases, there is increasing strain on leadership and staff as they strive to maintain high-quality care. Previous research studies have shown that work environment and staff well-being are associated with improved quality indicators.

Our study aims to assess long-term care staff and examine the effects of work environment on quality of work life. The study is being implemented across the four Atlantic provinces. There are 50 long-term care homes, including Northwood Ivany Place that have been randomly selected to participate. Atlantic Canada has limited data to understand long-term care staff’s quality of work life and what we can do to support them. Our project will provide evidence to support improvements for staff, by enabling knowledge users to consider tangible interventions to improve staff quality of work life, their work environment and ultimately, the quality of care for residents.

Life Before Death: Exploring Long-Term

Care Institutions and Life-Affirming Care for LGBT and Queer Seniors

Principle Investigator: Dr. Liesl Gambold

The population in Canada is getting older. Traditional ideas about aging are often based on being straight cisgender. This means that LGBTQ+ elders don't always get the support they need. As the Baby Boomer generation, including LGBTQ+ members, enters long-term care, we need to think about their unique experiences, especially since many of them came of age during the gay rights movement. Our care systems should be inclusive and consider the specific needs of LGBTQ+ elders as they move into long-term care facilities.

Organizational Performance

In the fall of 2023 Northwood completed another Accreditation evaluation and we are happy to say we have been Accredited with Commendation. An on-site survey was conducted by trained surveyors who assess Northwood against various standards. The surveyors are health care professionals and administrators from other accredited health care organizations. During the three days the surveyors were at our facilities, they looked at our policies and procedures, talked to staff, clients, residents, family members, leaders, board members, and our community partners. They also observed key areas of care or service and ask about examples and stories that demonstrated our commitment to quality and safety. After the visit, we were provided with a report detailing our strengths and areas for improvement, we can always do better.

Although the two programs that are being accredited are the Home Support Program and Long -Term Care, Accreditation is an organization wide endeavour. While on-site, a surveyor could approach anybody, and ask them questions related to Northwood’s commitment to quality, safety, and risk management.

Thank you to all who supported another successful

Infection control - Long-term care program surveillance

Northwood campuses had seen a peak in respiratory cases during our 2023 summer months- with a decline in respiratory cases heading into late fall. This is a similar pattern with peaks and declines in respiratory like illness cases within our last two fiscal years.

0ur fall COVID-19 vaccines continue to be crucial for our most vulnerable population with 97% of our residents vaccinated. Spring COVID vaccine campaign is now underway At present with the lower respiratory cases in our province and within the facilities, we can have optional masking for staff, families and volunteers. However, masking continues to be a very effective means of controlling the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory illness.

We continue to educate our staff, residents, and families on keeping each other safe. Hand washing is crucial with proper masking when indicated and staying home when sick to help minimize the risk to our vulnerable population.

2023/2024 Northwood Scorecard Indicators

Measurement: # of opportunities for hand hygiene met/ total # of opportunities observed. Random hand hygiene audits are completed on a quarterly basis with the goal to observe 10% of staff including regular, part time and casual staff.

Key Points

Compliance at all sites remains above Northwood's target of 80%. Areas scoring under 80% continue to be reviewed for increased awareness through staff meetings, education and ongoing auditing.

Halifax: Q4 was 88%. There was an increase in hand hygiene audits completed this quarter. Noted points for ongoing education for direct hands-on care, before handling clean linen and hand hygiene in between a procedure with the same resident. Email is sent with results for this past quarter and what we need to work on. Items that were a lower percentage this quarter will be discussed at the Halifax site IPAC meeting.

Bedford: Q4 was 81%. Low amount of Hand Hygiene audits completed this past quarter. Will speak to staff regarding this in the next IPAC meeting.

Ivy Meadows: Q4 was 80%. Noted a low percentage with food prep, feeding and cleaning between resident rooms. Education was done by staff in this quarter- sanitizer added to the food cart easy access for hand hygiene. Will talk with staff during IPAC site meeting this quarter to educate and increase our percentage for next quarter.

Leadership in Community Care:

A trusted voice on matters of fairness, dignity, and uncompromising standards of

Seeds of Success

Mental Health and Wellness Program

The Seeds of Success, Mental Health and Wellness program has experienced an exciting and transformative year. We had the pleasure of welcoming back our program lead, Kendra Lang, whose passion for mental health is inspiring. In addition to Kendra’s return, we introduced several new staff members to our dynamic team and welcomed a group of dedicated volunteers, all of whom have brought fresh energy and perspectives to our initiatives.

This comprehensive program offers a diverse range of activity-based mental health programming. Our unique approach incorporates therapeutic gardening, where participants engage in hands-on gardening activities that foster a sense of accomplishment and tranquility. We also provide art-based therapy sessions, which allow individuals to express their emotions and creativity through various artistic mediums. Furthermore, our small group sessions are specifically designed to build resilience and support mental wellness by fostering a sense of community and mutual support among participants.

To celebrate and showcase the talents and skills developed through the program, participants have organized and executed “Seeds Sales.” These events serve as a platform for participants to display and sell their art, plants, and other creative items. These sales not only boost the participants' confidence but also create a tangible connection between their efforts and the wider community, highlighting the therapeutic benefits of their work.

In 2023, the program expanded its reach to the Bedford Campus, introducing a horticultural therapy program. Although the Seeds of Success team is no longer directly supporting the program at the Bedford site, the Recreation Therapy team has seamlessly adopted the program. They have continued to offer gardening as a powerful therapeutic modality, ensuring that the benefits of horticultural therapy remain accessible to the community.

Seeds of Success remains a cornerstone of therapeutic support for mental health within our community. Over the past several months, we have embarked on a thorough review of our program model. This review began with a core team of dedicated professionals and has since expanded to include our broader interdisciplinary team. Together, we have examined our current processes, program model, and offerings, ensuring that we are responsive to the evolving needs of those we serve.

As we begin to implement the changes identified during our review, we remain committed to continuous assessment and adaptation. Our goal is to ensure that we are consistently meeting and exceeding the needs of our clients. By staying flexible and responsive, we aim to provide the most effective and supportive environment for mental wellness, reinforcing the core values of the Seeds of Success program.

Strategic Directions

CELEBRATE AND LEARN FROM THE REST

Being an Innovator

EMBRACING TECHNOLOGY

SMARTech

Northwood is a non-profit that strives for growth and innovation in everything we do for our community. We believe that technology is a transformative tool for our residents to help them live with dignity, belonging and choice. Live More SMARTech is an initiative that brings innovation directly to our long-term care facilities. Thanks to advanced technology, our residents can live more freely and independently.

SMARTech allows our residents to do simple daily tasks without the need for assistance from a caregiver. Through voice activation, specialized switches, sensors, and robotics, residents can reclaim their independence. Residents being able to easily control their environment isn’t just a dream.

We provide participating residents with the tools they need to live more independently. From smart plugs to voice-activated remote controls, and even the Echo Show 8 with managed Alexa Smart Properties, a variety of connected devices tailored to individual needs will be provided with each donation. Your support will empower residents to lead more independent and technologically advanced lives.

SMARTech started as a pilot project and has gained much interest with more and more residents being interested in giving it a shot. We are so excited to say that with the support of donors and contributions from Northwood's social enterprises we are in the positions to continue our SMARTech program post pilot/ research project.

Remote curtain devices

In 2024 we installed voice activated curtains controls in some resident rooms. There are two purposes for these, one is to provide people that would otherwise be unable to open /close curtains the ability, the other is to increase safety and potentially prevent falls for residents that open/close their own curtains.

Northwood continues to use smart plugs, smart light switches, voice activated bed control, and IR hubs for remote control devices, with the Alexa devices. Stand alone devices are the Obi robotic feeder and the Sleepsense devices for monitoring vitals of residents while in bed, determining sleep quality and enabling bed exit alarms if required.

We have some low tech items such as adaptive straws and flow controls for straws to make independent drinking with a straw possible.

We would like to congratulate the SMARTech Team for supporting residents to be successful in taking full advantage of technology to support residents to LIVE MORE!

ADDITIONAL TECH ITEMS - SMARTech

PARAGLIDE

In 2014 Northwood worked with NSCC to develop a wheelchair device to help with employee injuries and to give residents more independence.

The Paraglide automated repositioning system for wheelchair users is the latest in assistive device technology that changes the way people are repositioned in wheelchairs in homes, hospitals and care facilities around the world. With Paraglide's patented technology, a wheelchair user can move freely from a slouched position to an upright position with the touch of a button - safely, independently and with dignity.

Currently Northwood residents enjoy the use of this incredible new technology to make life easier and to be more independent.

INTOUCH

ROBOTIC

FEEDERS - SMARTech

In 2023 Northwood introduced the public to our new robotic feeders. These feeders are important, offering a sense of independence to residents.

We are exploring an alternate robotic feeder, with some different features from our current one, namely a snack holder and a Spork ( combination spoon and fork) that can be used to spear foods vs scoop them.

EV CHARGING STATIONS

Northwood does its very best to use clean energy and to keep our environment top of mind. We have kept that in mind when doing upgrades or offering new programs like our Beehive Program at our Bedford Campus.

We are now happy to announce the installation of two new EV charging stations. We have charging stations at both our Halifax Campus and our Bedford Campus. Each location has two parking spots dedicated to it and charging is provided using SWITCH Energy Inc.'s hardware and platform.

All revenue generated will be remitted to the Northwood Foundation for their continued work supporting community and care causes.

The Client and Family Advisory Council (C&FAC) is comprised of a group of diverse and dedicated individuals who uphold Northwood’s collective goal of helping aging adults to Live More. Through group meetings and discussions, the Council works to provide input on care policies and staff education, helping to ensure a client-centred lens is followed in all forms of service delivery.

In the new year the advisors welcomed a new Council Chair, Meaghan Murchison, who has been a member of the Northwood team in various roles since 2020. Even amongst the changing group

BEHAVIORAL SUPPORT UNIT

We are pleased to share that Northwoods Behavioral Support Team & unit, Chestnut Lake, have received additional funding from the Department of Seniors & Long Term Care to extend our Halifax Campus pilot while the program evaluation is completed.

dynamics the Council has continued to provide invaluable feedback of firstperson experiences, offering insights on what works well.

The input provided by the C&FAC continues to be instrumental in ensuring that Northwood services and initiatives promote empowerment while fostering inclusive and compassionate environments. We extend our most sincere thank you to the Council members.

Chestnut Lake is a place where people living with complex behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia receive augmented care and access to a specially trained interdisciplinary team who help create individualized care plans.

Our pilot program has focused on a dignity sparing and person centered approach to care. The Behavior Support interdisciplinary team meets weekly and works together to find creative solutions to support individuals living with complex behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. The team is invested in ensuring each resident gets what they need and that all programming is tailored to the needs of the residents.

Our team also supports and offers consultations to other areas within Northwood to help provide support or care planning suggestions to help build broader team capacity and improve resident care and outcomes.

Over the last year the Behavior Support Team have had many successes supporting residents, trialing new technologies, utilizing music therapy, developing our therapeutic living environment and offering educational opportunities to further hone our knowledge and expertise.

Our Northwood Foundation continues to support our effort to create a positive, therapeutic environment for residents living on Chestnut Lake.

We are thrilled to be able to continue to mature and develop the program over the next year.

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

LEADERSHIP DROP IN SESSIONS

We have continued our Leadership DropIn sessions for front line staff. We have completed sessions in Dartmouth, Bedford and our Halifax Campus. We will continue to rotate through our sites, providing front-line staff from across the organization a chance to dialogue with our leaders.

RECRUITMENT CAMPAIGNS

May 7 - May 17, 2024

We Are Hiring

Social Media

Reach: 20,708

April 29 - May 30, 2024

Home Care is Hiring!

Social Media

Reach: 38,011

In September 2023, Northwood was invited to attend the Premiers’ Mission to Singapore and the Philippines to recruit healthcare workers. Participants were pre-screened and interviewed. Offers were made on the spot to successful candidates.

In January 2024, Northwood was invited by Atlantic Jobs to visit Northern India and there they met and interviewed applicants for healthcare positions.

April 2024, Northwood was invited by the Nova Scotia government on a successful recruitment trip to Birmingham, UK, and Dublin, Ireland, with the goal of hiring healthcare workers for Homecare and future buildings. The response was overwhelming, with over 2,000 attendees in Birmingham and 1,400 in Dublin, showcasing a vast pool of qualified candidates and we are currently in the process of reviewing applications, marking the beginning of the interview phase.

The enthusiasm and qualifications of the applicants from all three trips was impressive, promising a bright future for our healthcare team here at Northwood!

April 12 - April 17, 2024

Career Chat Thursday

Social Media

Reach: 9,449

April 5 - April 19, 2024

Attention Students!

Social Media

Reach: 37,104

March 25 - April 25, 2024

We Are Hiring!

Social Media

Reach: 104,000

March 5 - April 5, 2024

Virtual Job Fair

Social Media

Reach: 83,186

CAREER COLLEGE

Northwood Career College (NCC) supports students in obtaining CCA Certification through two separate venues. A Recognizing Prior Learning (RPL), Phase II process; a self-directed process where students work closely with an SDL Guide in the completion of all educational components required for eligibility to write the CCA provincial certification exam. To date NCC has graduated 25 students through the RPL process. Northwood now has approval to offer the full CCA Program through in-class theory, lab instruction and practicum placements with a scheduled program starting September 3, 2024.

• Northwood is a champion for diversity. We represent over 20 nationalities and are proud to do so. We embrace all students for who they are with no barriers.

• Northwood is a teaching organization, and you will benefit from our hands-on approach to learning with mentorship and skills placements.

• You learn the latest practices and standards of care. NCC works in partnership with healthcare stakeholders and the provincial government in implementing the provincial curriculum standards for CCA education.

For more information please contact: Cheryl King, Program Manager, cking@nwood.ns.ca

Margaret Leveck, CCA Primary Instructor margaret.leveck@nwood.ns.ca

SHARING OUR EXPERTISE

We were invited by the Seniors’ Advisory Council of Nova Scotia to share our role in the provision of seniors housing and were consulted on the policy barriers that exist to support the development of affordable housing in the province.

ORGANIZATION RECOGNITION

Northwood has been named one of Nova Scotia’s and Atlantic Canada’s Top Employers for 2024. Northwood has been named a top employer in Nova Scotia since 2014 and a top employer in Atlantic Canada since 2013.

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.

diversity

"Everyone Plays a Part"

This year has seen us enhance the work we do as a committee to strengthen our commitment to diversity. We make every effort to welcome different ideas and perspectives, so we have a deep appreciation and understanding of the many people who live and work here. One of the most recent changes is welcoming resident/family/ community members to the committee. We also conducted a Pulse Survey regarding language support at Northwood. The results were 60% of staff wanted this so we will reach out to ISHANS to see if they are willing to support.

In the last year these are some of our celebrations:

African Heritage Month – Celebrating The Smiles, Joy and the Resilience of our African Nova Scotians saw some events such as church service, a Lunch and Learn for our tenants, and a Lunch and Learn for Corporate Office. We also had a draw for 2 tickets to The Gala Event and daily quotes for the month. We continue to contract ABSW to support staff and provide education as requested.

As we continue to grow, we will make every effort to celebrate cultures as presented to us.

The Northwood Foundation

Northwood touches the lives of over 7,000 Nova Scotians every day who need special, loving care.

The aim of the Northwood Foundation is to cultivate connections and exchange narratives within our community, fostering a deeper understanding of the profound impact Northwood has on people's lives. Through various programs, grants and fundraisers, the Northwood Foundation can provide the care our community needs to live with dignity, belonging and choice.

We rely on our six pillars – Advocacy, Research, Innovation, Diversity, Community, and Loving Care – as our compass, guiding us in our mission to enrich the quality of life for Nova Scotia's aging population. At the heart of our efforts those who live in our Northwood communities, driving everything we do at the Foundation. We are committed to making everyone's aging journey the best it can be by empowering our community to live more.

JOHN GRACIE

On Dec. 12, the Northwood Foundation hosted John Gracie at the Halifax location for his 3rd annual concert.

The John Gracie Christmas, presented by Eastlink, has been putting people in the Holiday spirit for many years. Residents were thrilled to see Gracie perform on stage, singing popular Christmas hits. Gracie, a baritone singer with multiple awards, created a magical experience and brought the Holiday season to life. The event provided an opportunity for Northwood residents and tenants to come together and celebrate the Holidays as a community.

In November, the Northwood Foundation hosted their very first Live More Market––an online auction dedicated to supporting Northwood’s Dignified Living Program. This exciting initiative has been made possible through the generous sponsorship of AMJ Campbell and Bluebird Storage.

The Live More Market offers a variety of items, including both brand new and gently used products that have been returned from major online retailers. From chairs and bedframes to loveseats and more, our market has something for everyone.

What makes the Live More Market even more appealing is that bidding for each item starts at less than the retail price. Each product is sold in its current condition.

The Live More Market is an incredible auction that is continuously receiving new items. The Northwood Foundation is eager to serve the community through this auction while contributing to the Dignified Living Program.

LIVE MORE MARKET

LIVE MORE INVITATIONAL

On Sept. 25, Ashburn Golf Club hosted golfers from across Canada to raise funds for Northwood’s Mental Wellness programs.

The Inaugural, Live More Invitational, presented by Novacorp Properties Ltd. took place on September 25th at the Old Ashburn Golf Course. The team at IMP Solutions took first place and had a chance to boast the silver cup at their office! This year’s tournament offered golf enthusiasts from around the country a chance to come together and highlight the importance of mental wellness for Northwood residents.

The Northwood Foundation’s golf tournament successfully raised $41,290 – a triumph for those who supported the event. Chris Harding, chair of Northwood’s Live More Invitational and a local, real estate agent with Engel & Völkers, was thrilled to see numerous sponsors come out and show their support for Northwood.

The Northwood Foundation is thankful to Ashburn for embracing Northwood, noting our similarities as Northwood cares for the oldest population, and they are the oldest golf course in Nova Scotia. Also, many thanks to those community volunteers at Admiral Insurance and RBC for embracing our first Live More Invitational in support of mental wellness.

DIGNIFIED LIVING FUND

September is Dignity Month at Northwood where the community supports an online auction as well as holds their own fundraisers. Lasting all month long, this auction raised over $25,000 to help people live with dignity, including donations from the Kin Club as well as a pickleball tournament fundraiser! Every dollar makes a difference for dignity.

HOLIDAY CARD CAMPAIGN

For 11 years, Jack 92.9 has been collaborating with Northwood to collect cards from the community and deliver them to the residents and tenants at Northwood. We understand how important feeling loved during the holiday season is, and our goal is to ensure everyone who would like a holiday card is remembered. This year, we received thousands of holiday cards. Schools, daycares, churches, and businesses were at the forefront of making our residents and tenants feel special this year.

Northwood is Nova Scotia's original senior citizen advocate, dating back to 1962. As a not-for-pro t 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

• A ordable Retirement Living

• Assisted Living

• Long Term Care

• Northwood Foundation

• On Campus Health, Fitness, Lifestyle and Wellness Programs and Services