Community Partner Update

Mar/Apr 2023

What an incredibly optimistic time in senior living. Being able to safely reduce enhanced measures is supporting our goal to create welcoming Homes. New funding is enabling accelerated LTC development and quality improvement. Not to mention a collective focus on building an engaged, skilled, sustainable healthcare workforce. Read on for more about how peopleCare is embracing the changes, leveraging the opportunities and leading impactful solutions.

Bringing Internationally Educated Nurses to Join our Teams
peopleCare has hired 30 internationally educated nurses to join the dedicated team at our new Meaford LTC Home. As we support them in completing the required 450 clinical hours to qualify for their nursing license in Ontario, all will practice as personal support workers, providing personal care and enhancing resident quality of life. “It’s always been my dream to live and work in Canada,” says RN Kerl Ocampo. Read their heartwarming stories and reasons for embracing the opportunity with peopleCare.

Full Steam Ahead on New peopleCare Homes
With 40,000 people on the wait list for LTC in Ontario, we all need to come together to meet the needs of the province’s aging adults. peopleCare is doing our part, with plans for new builds and redevelopments that will bring care and services to local seniors in communities from Delhi to Tillsonburg to Peterborough and more. Working closely with the East Zorra-Tavistock township and Ministry of Long-Term Care, we anticipate having shovels in the ground late this spring on the rebuild of peopleCare Tavistock to a brand-new 128-bed LTC Home. Read about our progress in this recent Wilmot-Tavistock Gazette article.

peopleCare’s Golden Year team welcomed Long-Term Care Minister Paul Calandra and Cambridge MPP Brian Riddell for a tour and chat with staff and residents. The Home has lots to celebrate, with an upcoming 256-bed redevelopment – made possible thanks to an award from the Ministry of new LTC beds – and funding under the Local Priorities Fund to purchase specialized equipment. This will improve care and quality of life for residents by enabling our skilled clinical team to provide early care and intervention that might otherwise require a hospital or specialist visit.

Employee Wellness Survey
For the second year, peopleCare recently asked our employees to share their wellness priorities and ideas. The hundreds of responses are helping us understand current needs and where to focus our collective efforts. Among the findings: people are feeling better, staff valued our Recovering Strong wellness initiatives to date and, raising awareness about our Employee Assistance Program meant more people could access the support if needed. Check out this handy Infographic for a snapshot of the full results.

 

Committed to Workplace Mental Wellbeing
peopleCare is proud to be recognized by our partner the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Ontario for our commitment to supporting workplace mental health. We were one of the first senior living organizations to implement CMHA’s Your Health Space (YHS) program and are the first to receive their new digital badge for our efforts.

Contributing in our Communities and Beyond
As a family owned, mission-driven organization, peopleCare is committed to giving back. In 2022, our organization and partners supported local charities and causes, and raised funds for MEDA. Thanks to donation multiplying from government and foundations, the total of our collective efforts is an impactful $280,000. Read our Beyond Ourselves 2022 Highlights. We look forward to accomplishing even more in 2023. Stay tuned to get involved, have some fun and help peopleCare make a difference!

Game-Changing Multiplex Rapid Tests
Imagine a test that detects both influenza A/B and COVID-19 – and does it in mere minutes instead of days. That’s the type of game-changing technology peopleCare staff and residents piloted recently in partnership with St Michael’s Unity Health in Toronto, enabled by Health Canada funding. This new multiplex rapid antigen test supports earlier flu detection, and could lead to faster treatment, lower rates of transmission and reduced risk of outbreaks. Read full story.

Living our Values
peopleCare’s caring employees are inspired to live our Values each and every day. Our annual peer-nominated Values Awards are an opportunity to also celebrate team members who go above and beyond. Nominations for the 2023 Values Awards are in full swing. Watch for a winners’ announcement in May.

HOLD the DATE! Hit the Links for a Great Cause
Join peopleCare on Sept 18, 2023 at Rebel Creek Golf Club for an entertaining day of golf, great food and prizes. Proceeds will benefit MEDA. More details – including how to register an individual or team – will be shared soon. Contact Sydney Taylor via staylor@peoplecare.ca with any questions in the meantime.

For a printable version of this update, please click here.