December 2014
Oakcrossing News
1242 Oakcrossing Rd. London N6H-0G2 (519) 641-0021
Celebrating
December
Men’s Breakfast
Thursday Dec. 8th at 8am in
the Chapel
Keeping Busy in
November
Holy Family Children’s
Choir- Sat. Dec. 6th at 1:30 pm
in the Chapel
Girl Guides Caroling and
Crafts
Monday Dec. 8th at 6:30pm in
the Café
Resident and Family
Christmas Party
Thursday Dec. 11th at 6pm in
the Town Square
Preparing for the Christmas Bazaar
Breakfast with Santa
Tuesday Dec. 16th at 8am in
the Chapel
Girl Guide Performance
Tuesday Dec. 16th at 6:30pm
in the Chapel
Ladies Luncheon
Wednesday Dec. 17th at 12pm
in the Café
Making Wine for Christmas Dinner
Birthday Party
Friday Dec. 26th at 2pm in the
White Pine D/R
New Year’s Eve Party
Wednesday Dec. 31st at 2pm
in the Cafe
Decorating for Christmas
December 2014
Welcome Home
Mike P.- Juniper
Karl M.-Sugar Maple
Harvey S.-Norway Spruce
Eileen M.-Sugar Maple
Happy Birthday to
All those born in December
Resident
Name
Date
Pear L.
Dec. 4
Mary C.
Grace D.
Harold C.
Margaret S.
Lily T.
Roy C.
Kay V.
Helen G.
Sarah D.
Maxine H.
Margot W.
Rita C.
Ron McNall
Leta L.
Dec. 5
Dec. 12
Dec.17
Dec.18
Dec. 23
Dec.24
Dec. 24
Dec. 25
Dec. 25
Dec. 25
Dec. 25
Dec. 27
Dec. 29
Dec. 30
Welcome New Staff
PSW TEAM
Ryan Clemente
Zory Chavaco
Jennifer Holland
Chris Gosnell
ENVIRONMENTAL TEAM
Meaghan O’Reilly
Jennifer Durham-
In Memory Of,
Bob McLeod and Jane Czencz
Our deepest thoughts and sympathies go
out to the family and friends
"He spoke well who said that graves are
the footprints of angels.”
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
www.peoplecare.ca
December 2014 www.peoplecare.ca
Message from the Executive Director
Family Council:
As I write this the snow is falling and it is
beginning to look like Christmas!
Oakcrossing Family Council continues to grow.
In November, Executive Director Carol Bradley
joined us to provide updates, answer questions
and receive comments. It was an informative
evening.
Thank you to everyone that has taken the
time to fill out the Satisfaction Survey that
you are given at each resident Care
Conference. I would really appreciate it if
you could sign the form after you complete
it. We appreciate your feedback.
Sometimes I would like the opportunity to
follow up with you to discuss further your
concerns or comments. I value your
thoughts, and your assistance can make
peopleCare Oakcrossing a better place for
your loved one to live.
Since the recent fires in 2 Long Term Care
Homes peopleCare has taken a close look at
our policies on fire drills. Each month we
conduct a drill on each of the 3 shifts. To
date we have only rang the bells on nights
twice a year. We will now be ringing the
bells on the night shift, just after 10 pm once
a month. Staff need to be able to respond
in an orderly fashion to the fire signal. We
apologize if the bells wake anyone. I know
that you understand that the safety of our
residents and staff is the reason for this
change.
I would like to wish each one of you a warm
and blessed Holiday Season!
Carol
Family Council usually meets the 3rd Monday,
every other month. However, the next Family
Council meeting will be held Monday, February
9th from 6:30 - 8:00 pm, to avoid conflicts with
Family Day (which is the following Monday).
Family and friends of residents are welcome to
attend. For more information, please contact
Sarah Holman, Social Worker, at
(519) 641-0023; [email protected].
SPECIALIZED TRANSIT SERVICE
UPDATE
2014 Christmas Season Advanced Booking
Dates
Starting Nov. 19th 2014
Agents will be accepting trip requests for
the following days
Christmas Eve- Wed. Dec. 24th 2014
Christmas Day- Thurs. Dec. 25th 2014
Boxing Day- Friday Dec. 26th 2014
New Year’s Eve Day- Wed. Dec. 31st 2014
Please be reminded that all subscription
bookings for Dec. 25, 26 2014 and Jan. 1
2015 will be automatically cancelled. If you
require trips on these days please call and
make demand bookings at
519 453-3444.
For more information please contact the
London Transit info line at
(519)-451-1347
Christmas Dinner 2014 (will be served at noon!)
December 2014
A Message From Resident
Council
President-Neil Russell
Greetings to peopleCare residents, managers
and staff.
Although some participants had a problems
hearing the meeting of the Council on 3
November went well. Special guests were:
Brenda Nethercott, Director of Resident Care;
Natalie Aikins, Food Services Manager; Zoltan
Nemes, [new] Director of Environmental
Services; and Ruth-Anne Durocher, Director of
Programs [who also took records of the
meeting]. In each case the manager told us of
plans underway and listened patiently to our
concerns.
On the compliments side, I listed some of the
Fall special events: Octoberfest, Thanksgiving
and the [first ever] Christmas Bazaar. Mention
was made of Ruth N, Thelma K, and three senior
staff who were sales persons at the bazaar, as
well as residents who helped make products for
sale. The bazaar was a success, sure to be held
again next year.
At the meeting there was good two way
discussion of compliments and complaints
involving: shortages of staff, lost laundry, mail
delivery, food services [but not menus which are
the topic at the Food Committee]. You will be
pleased to hear the some additional staff are
being hired and there will be greater effort to
orient them to resident needs. Also we will be
trying to get peopleCare a dedicated mailbox
near the front door.
The next meeting of Resident Council will be
held on Monday, 8 December and held in the
chapel, where acoustics should be better. All
residents are welcome!
Neil R., President
www.peoplecare.ca
Spiritual Proramming Available
SUNDAY CHURCH SERVICE 1:30 PM in the
CHAPEL facilitated by members of Community
Churches
BIBLE STUDY TUESDAY 1030 AM in 2nd
Floor Dining Room
ROSARY TUESDAY 4PM on 3rd Floor
HYMN SING 2nd Friday of the month at 630
pm
CATHOLIC COMMUNION SERVICE OR
MASS 2nd Tues of the month at 2pm
A Volunteer brings Communion to Catholic
residents each week.
COMMUNION SERVICE BY ANGLICAN
PRIEST 3rd Wed of the month at 2pm
PALLIATIVE CARE by a Community Minister
is available on request at the Nurses Station.
DECEMBERS SPECIAL SERVICES
ADVENT SERVICE
Tuesdays -2nd,9th 16th and 23rd –
Hosted in the
Chapel at 10:30 am
CHRISTMAS SERVICE
Wednesday Dec. 24th –Hosted in the
Chapel at 2pm
Christmas Trivia
Name the Christmas Movie
1.“Teacher says every
time a bell rings an
Angel gets his
wings.”
2.“It’s a one year
membership to the
Jelly of the Month
Club.”
3.“You’ll shoot your
eye out kid.”
4.“Fog as thick as
peanut butter.”
5.“Strange, isn’t it?
Each man’s life
touches so many
other lives. When he
isn’t around he
leaves an awful hole,
doesn’t he?”
Check out the General Store for
great Christmas Gift Ideas
We redeem your bingo bucks!
www.peoplecare.ca
ANSWERS TO CHRISTMAS
MOVIE TRIVIA
1.IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE
2.NATIONAL LAMPOON’S
CHRISTMAS VACATION
3.A CHRISTMAS STORY
4.RUDOLPH THE RED NOSE
REINDEER
5. IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE
Sudoku
Every row, column and box of 3x3 cells must
contain the numbers 1 through 9 exactly once.
www.peoplecare.ca
December Wellness- Managing Finances
The most common worry in modern day society is money. As the holidays are fast approaching,
it is import ant how to create a reasonable budget for spending. Debt can build up fast if you do
not manage finances appropriately. Develop a good understanding of your finances for a clear
and realistic view of where you can take control.
Identifying your problem is an important step towards changing your spending habits. By
reviewing your receipts from purchases made for the holidays will give you an idea of where you
overspent.
Stop accumulating more debt. Putting away credit cards may be essential to your success. Use
debit, check or cash when making purchases. That way you will only spend what you have
available now.
Create a budget. List your sources of income compared to your financial obligations such as
monthly living expenses like utilities, food, rent or mortgage payments etc. What is surplus is
available for your extra spending.
Separate your needs from your wants. When you review your spending, determine if every
purchase was necessary or planned for.
If you just can’t seem to stop spending beyond your means, maybe it is time to get some debt
help. Credit counseling agencies can help you manage your problem.
Here are some interesting facts:
One in ten families will still be paying of the previous year’s holiday debt when that
time of year rolls around again.
Consumers spend on average $740 on Christmas presents.
The average holiday shopper will spend $107.00 on themselves while gift shopping.
On average it takes five trips to the mall to complete all holiday shopping.
Remember it is never too late to develop a budget and start trimming debt. Resolve to
get a better handle on spending and debt this year!
Fire Safety
Fire safety is extremely important in long term care. Our residents are
considered the most vulnerable population. Staff members in our homes
play a critical role in protecting the residents and themselves. The better
prepared employees are, the safer the residents and staff will be.
“Comprehensive” fire drills are required to be completed once each month
on all three shifts. One of the components of a comprehensive drill is that
the fire alarm system is activated during the drill. This involves the ringing
of the fire bells. The purpose behind the drill is to provide staff with an
opportunity to practice their fire safety and evacuation skills.
While we recognize that the ringing of the fire bells on the night shift is an
inconvenience we believe all residents can understand that we are doing
this to keep them as safe as we can in the event of a real fire. Resident
safety is our number one priority. We want everyone to take fire drills
seriously and stay calm and collected during an emergency situation.
Practicing the process is the best way to ensure staff and residents remain
calm when faced with a real event.
All fire drills end with a debriefing session. The purpose of this session is
to critique the exercise and provide constructive feedback. Understanding
the process can help minimize tension and confusion often associated with
an emergency situation. In addition the fire department visits each Home
annually to do a timed fire evacuation drill with the minimal staffing level
of the Home. There are provincial requirements including length of time for
evacuation which must be met by each Home.
We are all working together for the safety and well- being of our residents.
If you have any questions please ask your Executive Director.
www.peoplecare.ca
Living the peopleCare Values
INTEGRITY
Dare to be transparent
Are all of your decisions made
with integrity?
Be honest, trustworthy,
transparent and consistent in your
work and home life
Congratulations to our November Draw
Winners!
Name of Receiver: Jillian S.
Name of Giver: Brent M.
They have received a $25 gift card to for
displaying the peopleCare Values!
Thank you for all you do
Quality Initiatives:
We are initiating a
mentorship program to
develop a successful
orientation process for
our staff. This process
is part of our
Operational Plan for
2014-2015
We are currently
interviewing staff who
would like to be
mentors for new staff
members.
peopleCare Is here for you!
peopleCare recognizes that we cannot thrive
without the hard work and dedication our
employees make every day in all our Homes.
Please remember all of the programs that
peopleCare has to assist you in your personal
lives, educational pursuits and employee
recognition! If you are unfamiliar with any of the
following, please speak to your manager:
Employee Assistance Program
Education Assistance Program
HEARTbeats Rewards and Recognition
Program
Disaster Relief Fund