Community Partner Update

November 2024

Exciting milestones continue at peopleCare! We’ve recently opened the doors at our new Tavistock LTC home, welcomed more skilled international nurses and deepened our commitment to creating intergenerational, connected communities. With innovative HHR strategies, impactful partnerships and a groundbreaking AI wound care pilot, we’re driving change and innovation in senior living.

Assessing AI-powered wound care in LTC
peopleCare is thrilled to partner with Skinopathy, with support from OBIO’s LSCTC Centre of Excellence, to assess an AI-powered wound care solution – a first of its kind initiative in LTC. The technology captures images of complex wounds on a mobile device, provides visual assessments and suggests treatment options. It can also connect care teams with specialists through telemedicine, making wound management more access and improving outcomes for residents. Excited to see how this AI technology can help us innovate and raise the bar on the management of skin and wound care in LTC!

Read peopleCare partners with OBIO to assess Ontario-made AI-based wound management solution

Reimagining how to live and age well
An innovative partnership between peopleCare and Trent University is the topic of a recent OLTCA podcast Rethinking how we create seniors’ communities. In the episode, peopleCare President Megan Allen-Lamb and Trent University President Cathy Bruce discuss our shared aspirations to create a dynamic, intergenerational LTC community that leads in research and innovation. peopleCare’s future 224-bed LTC home at Trent will be the first built on a Canadian university campus. Enhanced by a teaching and research agreement, it includes at least 91 student placements with opportunities to work or volunteer. This visionary collaboration will bring students and seniors together in a space where learning, living, and care are interconnected. “We’re reimagining how to live and age well through this beautiful campus setting,” says Allen-Lamb.

Cheers and happy tears on Tavistock LTC move-in day
In October, peopleCare opened our brand-new 128-bed LTC home in the wonderful community of Tavistock, where peopleCare began caring for local seniors decades ago. Spirits were high, and the weather cooperated for the short walk across the property. Cheers, hugs and a few happy tears marked the day as residents received a warm welcome from our senior team, staff, family, and friends—setting the tone for this exciting new chapter in the home’s history. For more details and great photos, read peopleCare welcomes residents and staff to new LTC home

Building future-focused senior living
With an ever-expanding LTC waitlist in Ontario, peopleCare is working hard to quickly build and redevelop homes wherever there is the greatest need across the province. As an older “C” home, redeveloping Tavistock with additional LTC beds was a long-standing priority. 2025 promises to be another busy year as we open the brand-new and larger 128-bed Delhi LTC, welcome residents to the 128-bed addition at AR Goudie in Kitchener, and begin construction on three exciting projects in Tillsonburg, Stratford and Peterborough. And we are ready to do even more for seniors in this province! As part of our strategic priority to design vibrant communities, peopleCare is ready to build even more LTC, as part of intentional communities of care that address local need with the right mix of additional care, services and housing options. Our developments are also future-focused, featuring sustainable elements such as living (green) roofs and innovative, energy efficient BluTree air quality systems.

Stay up-to-date on all peopleCare’s Developments.

Inaugural CMO will elevate care standards and foster CQI
peopleCare is delighted to announce Dr. Tracy Hughes as our inaugural Chief Medical Officer. With a background in comprehensive family medicine and inpatient hospital care, Dr. Hughes has devoted over a decade to leading within the LTC sector, including as Medical Director for three peopleCare homes. Dr. Hughes will continue to lead with a strong focus on collaboration, driving innovation and sharing best practices.  peopleCare created this new leadership role to partner with and empower our Medical Directors and Attending Physicians to elevate care standards, improve quality and foster a culture of continuous improvement.

Global talent, local impact
Like other Canadian healthcare organizations, one of peopleCare’s most pressing priorities is hiring, training and retaining skilled and dedicated employees – a health human resource challenge that will only intensify as our organization builds and opens new LTC homes. We’re always working to build strong, committed teams of people whose values align with and fit our mission-driven culture. One standout initiative is the recruitment of Internationally Educated Nurses (IENs). Following the success of welcoming 30 IENs to our new LTC home in Meaford, peopleCare recently brought 20 more to our redeveloped, larger Tavistock home. These highly skilled nurses, primarily from the Philippines and Nigeria, bring valuable experience and a passion for care.

Read Wilmot-Tavistock Gazette’s LTC home hires international nurses

Engagement day highlights vital role of LTC
peopleCare’s annual Community Walk to Wellness in September brought together over 650 participants, including residents, families, staff, volunteers and local leaders. The event coincided with Ontario’s first-ever LTC Engagement Day, spearheaded by the OLTCA, highlighting the vital role LTC plays in supporting seniors. Attendees enjoyed outdoor walks and tours showcasing the innovative programs that make peopleCare homes unique. The day also fostered important conversations with municipal, provincial and federal leaders about the future of LTC.

Read Walk celebrates LTC & community engagement.

Networking with purpose
peopleCare’s Oakcrossing Retirement Living was proud to host the London Chamber of Commerce’s final Business After 5 event of 2024. These informal gatherings give members a chance to get to know one another and explore what each organization offers. The Oakcrossing team is known for building creative local partnerships that enrich the lives of the seniors living in our retirement home and out in the community. Hosting this event fostered meaningful conversations and connections, paving the way for even more valued partnerships. The team went above and beyond to create a memorable experience, reflecting peopleCare’s commitment to building vibrant community connections and supporting community partners. Thank you to everyone who attended. We look forward to growing together and making a lasting impact!

Click image to watch video below, read more on LinkedIn or follow Oakcrossing Retirement Living on Facebook & Instagram

 

peopleCare’s Leadership Support Office is moving!
Effective Dec 2, 2024, our new address will be: 595 Parkside Drive, Suite 2, Waterloo, ON  N2L 0C7. Kindly update your records and share this information with your colleagues. We look forward to welcoming you to our new location!

 

Click to access a pdf version of this newsletter