O ANHSS Awards Program 

Innovation & Excellence - Summary of Submissions for the 2005 OANHSS Awards

Sharing successes and innovative approaches to services for seniors is what the OANHSS Awards program is all about. This year we had some truly unique and exciting submissions reflecting the creative things going on every day in member organizations. Below is a summary of the entries received for the following awards:

2005 Recipient:
- Fudger House - "Community Links Programs & Services"

2005 Honourable Mentions:
(see link below for a Complete Summary of 2005 Submissions)
- Belmont House - "Robert and Barbara Mitchell Music Therapy Program"
- Castleview Wychwood Towers - "Aphasic Resources and Communication Program"
- Castleview Wychwood Towers - "Behavioural Support Program"
- City of Thunder Bay - "Jasper Support Program for Seniors"
- D.H. Rapeleje Lodge - "A Tribute to Veterans” Program"
- Fairview Mennonite Home - "Quality Dining Experiences Program"
- Fudger House - "Art Project"
- Kristus Darzs Latvian Home - "An Old Concept to a New Approach Program"
- Luther Village on the Park / The Sunshine Centre of Lutherwood - "Wellness Centre"
- Marianhill Senior’s Residence - "Resident Laundry Service Match, Label and Return Program"
- Maxville Manor - "Life History Project"
- Mount Hope Centre for LTC - "Wellness Centre"
- Rideaucrest Home for the Aged - "Dementia Care Program"
- Saint Luke’s Place - "Clown Program"
- St. Joseph’s Health Centre - Guelph - "Younger Generation Program"
- St. Joseph’s Health Centre - Guelph – "Community Outreach Day Centres"
- St. Joseph’s Health Centre - Guelph – "Horticultural Therapy Program"
- St. Patrick’s Home of Ottawa - "Palliative Care Course"
- Storefront Humber Inc. - "Well Elderly Person’s Centre"
- Wellington Terrace - "Monitoring Program"

Recipient - 2005 Innovation & Excellence Award - "Supporting Seniors" Category

Fudger House
"Community Links Programs & Services"

In 2003, Fudger House formed “Community Links” which offers a series of programs and services for their residents. One of their primary goals is to try to normalize the lives of residents as much as possible by continuing to involve them with activities that they may have taken part in prior to entering the home.

Each month, Community Links selects topics of important dates, current events and findings from feedback surveys that residents complete and tries to accommodate for their varied interests by arranging talks and/or demonstrations which provide residents with an opportunity to learn something new or to reminisce about their past experiences. In effect, this program incorporates the community at large with the Fudger House community.

One particular initiative exemplifies what Community Links strives to achieve. A video presentation was developed based on the 2004 Seniors' Month theme of 'Active Living.' Titled "Tribute to Seniors," it featured candid interviews and captured the thoughts of residents on keeping themselves active. Residents were given the opportunity to share their beliefs, thoughts, humour and individuality with their peers and the community at large. The video was formally presented to the community, staff, friends and family.

Other topics and activities held over the past year in conjunction with a community partner included: municipal elections with the University of Toronto Political Science Department; Black History Month with the Ontario Black History Society; seniors’ month with the Ontario Seniors’ Secretariat, the history of Fudger House with previous administrator, Anne Evans, and a Tsunami Relief Fundraiser with the 51 Division.

Fudger House’s Community Links Programs and Services provides educational based programming facilitating intellectual stimulation among group participants by inviting members of the community into the home. The program strives to enhance a sense of belonging, awareness and relatedness to the community and provides the opportunity for residents to reminisce and for an environment conducive to social interaction. In addition, the program encourages family involvement in order to enhance connection with family members.

For more information on the Community Links Programs and Services, please contact Lorraine Siu, Administrator, Fudger House Home for the Aged or the Community Links Team at Fudger House -- Silvia DiLeo, Effie Kirkotsoglon or Angela Desand at 416-392-9663.

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Recipient - 2005 Innovation & Excellence Award - "Workplace Quality" Category

Region of Peel LTC Division
"Staff Surveys and Committees"

The Region of Peel LTC Division operates five long term care centres. The Division’s strategic plan includes the commitment "To create a supportive environment in which employees and volunteers can do their best work." Employees are the first line of service delivery and contact with clients, and every effort is taken to make their work experience fulfilling and productive.

This is achieved through two key initiatives - staff surveys to obtain constructive feedback and work-life improvement committees.

The feedback or "B.E.S.T" survey, standing for "Building Employee Satisfaction Together," is a corporate wide initiative which provides every employee the opportunity to comment anonymously on their impressions of their experience as a worker once a year, through the completion of a survey created specifically for Peel. A summary of the results is distributed to the employees each year. In addition, detailed analysis of the responses for each LTC Centre is made available to staff. Management staff also receive detailed reports on the results to assist with their workplans and departmental goals. The analysis has been very helpful in determining which areas of concern are the highest priority in managing staff wisely and improving the working experience of employees.

Each LTC Centre has established a work-life improvement committee comprised of front line staff to respond to B.E.S.T. survey results and staff suggestions and concerns. Employees are selected at each LTC Centre to participate and at some Centres elections are held. These are not labour/management committees.

Principles include voluntary participation of a cross section of front line staff representative of all departments and services; opportunities for input to the work of the committee from all staff; review and development of initiatives to increase staff satisfaction and commitment, and communication of the outcomes of the committee’s work to all staff. The goal is to ensure that employees are directly involved in initiatives that are designed to improve work-life.

In all Centres the direct result has been better communication with staff about issues that affect their lives at work and, stemming from this, improvements in delivering services to clients.

For more information on Staff Surveys and Committees, please contact Janette Smith, Director, Peel LTC Division at 905-791-7800 ext. 2647.

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Questions?
For more information on the OANHSS Awards Program, contact Sharon Clark-Koufis at 905-851-8821 ext 237.

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OANHSS members include not-for-profit providers of long term care, services and housing for seniors in Ontario.
Members include municipal and charitable long term care homes, non-profit nursing homes,
seniors' housing projects and community service agencies.