1
September 30, 2013
Paws-itively heartwarming rescue
Photo courtesy of Jennie Hollings
They say curiosity killed the cat but this curious feline escaped without a scratch thanks to the kindness of Carewest staff. In the photo above, Scheduler Iris Hildebrandt looks on as fire fighters hold a kitten that disappeared under the hood and into the engine of a car owned by a staff member at Carewest Beddington. For more on this heartwarming story, please see Page 2.
Beat the bug Get your flu shot See Page 3.
2
This month in Carewrite
3.....Beat the bug… Get your flu shot
4.....Staff Influenza Immunization Clinics
5.....Did you know?
5.....What’s new on Careweb this month?
6.....Lots to talk about
7.....Carewest awarded high score on PIR audit
7.....Jennifer Lee retires
8…..Falls feature: BEEEACH Model helps reduce falls
10...New mobile app connects OSI clients with resources
11... Food Services update
11….Create a new name for Quick Quisine
12….Kindness to Colleagues
14….Employee Profile: Lucy Lazatin
15….C3 Stampede line dancers and Grandparents Day
16.…Resident Profile: Chris Cameron
17.…Ruth Longhurst retires
18.…The Yoga Corner: Gomukasana pose
19...Donations needed
20.…Signal Pointe garden glory, flood prompts evacuation, Canada Day celebrations
Next issue
Next submission deadline: October 10
Publishing date: October 31
Submissions are welcome from everyone… Staff, residents/clients and their families,
volunteers, students, etc. Please see the back cover for details.
Photo courtesy of Jennie Hollings
Social Worker Seth Roach demonstrates that “other duties” are sometimes the best part of a job as he helps rescue the kitten that climbed into the engine of a
staff member’s Volkswagen at Carewest Beddington.
Paws-itively heartwarming rescue Continued from Cover Page.
When a panicked young woman informed Carewest
Beddington staff that she had seen a kitten climb under
the hood of a car with a Carewest parking sticker, staff
sprang into action, knowing that the little fur ball was in
danger if the car engine was started.
While they waited for the Fire Department to arrive,
Social Worker Seth Roach maneuvered himself under the
car and used his technical skills to figure out which
engine component the kitten had disappeared into.
Seth was able to unscrew the component containing the
feline and, with the help of fire fighters, the frightened cat
was extracted.
The entire operation took a couple of hours but it was a
happy ending for all. Someone from the nearby Safeway
committed to finding the kitten’s owner and the owner of
the Volkswagen was able to drive the car home, even
though it was missing a screw after the rescue.
3
We care about you. Please get your flu shot.
At Carewest, we are very committed to protecting the health of our residents, clients and staff.
The number of staff vaccinated on a unit directly relates to the number of influenza outbreaks on that unit. Don’t create more work for you and your co-workers – strengthen your unit against influenza by ensuring you and your colleagues
are immunized.
Influenza immunization and hand hygiene are the two most important steps that can be taken to prevent illness from occurring and reducing the
risk of transmission to others.
We believe it is in our residents’ and clients’ best interest to be immunized to help prevent serious
health complications that can occur from an influenza infection.
Carewest is offering free influenza vaccinations to all
residents/clients starting Oct. 7 and to staff starting Oct. 15.
If you have questions about the influenza immunizations, discuss them with your client
service manager or a Carewest nurse.
Beat the bug… Get your flu shot
Hand hygiene really does make a difference
Apart from getting your influenza vaccination every year, good quality hand
hygiene using alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water is your best defense
against the flu.
As the flu virus can live on surfaces for up to 48 hours, frequent hand washing,
cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched areas is
recommended.
Influenza can be spread by: Unwashed hands Touching objects and surfaces Talking Sneezing Coughing
Get your annual influenza immunization (flu shot)
Wash your hands often
Keep your hands away from your mouth, nose or eyes until they have been washed
Eat healthy, get plenty of rest and exercise regularly
Cough and sneeze into your sleeve
Stay home if you have influenza-like symptoms
Ask friends and family not to visit if they are ill
Beat the Bug
4
STAFF INFLUENZA IMMUNIZATION CLINICS
October 2013 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Oct. 14 Oct. 15 Oct. 16 Oct. 17 Oct. 18
Thanksgiving Day
Nickle House 1400-1500
OSI 1400-1600
Signal Pointe Library 1400-1600
Royal Park Family Dining Room 1400-1600
Signal Pointe Town Hall 1500-1600
Royal Park Family Dining Room 1400-1600
Signal Pointe Library 1400-1600
Dr. Vernon Fanning Conference Room 1 0800-1600
Administration 1000-1400
Oct. 21 Oct. 22 Oct. 23 Oct. 24 Oct. 25
Garrison Green Bittman Hall 0800-1615
Garrison Green Bittman Hall 0800-1615
Garrison Green Roving Clinic 0700-1100 and 1500-1900
Garrison Green Roving Clinic 0700-1100 and 1500-1900
Garrison Green Roving Clinic or Bittman Hall 0800-1400
George Boyack Victoria Room 0600-1700
George Boyack Victoria Room 0600-1700
George Boyack CSM office 3rd floor 0600-1700
George Boyack CSM office 3rd floor 0600-1700
George Boyack CSM office 3rd floor 0600-1700
Sarcee Front Lobby 0800-1600
Sarcee Front Lobby 0800-1600
Sarcee Front Lobby 0800-1600
Sarcee Front Lobby 0800-1600
Sarcee Front Lobby 0800-1600
Glenmore Park Lobby 0800-1600
Glenmore Park Lobby 0700-1900
Glenmore Park Lobby 0700-1900
Glenmore Park Lobby 0800-1600
Glenmore Park Lobby 0800-1600
Dr. Vernon Fanning Conference Room 2 1200-1600
Dr. Vernon Fanning Conference Room 3 0700-1700
Dr. Vernon Fanning Conference Room 1 0800-1600
Dr. Vernon Fanning Conference Room 2 1200-1700
Dr. Vernon Fanning Conference Room 2 1200-1700
Colonel Belcher Roving Clinic
Colonel Belcher To be determined
Colonel Belcher Roving Clinic
Colonel Belcher 2nd flr. Dining Room 0700-1600
Colonel Belcher Roving Clinic
The times listed above are subject to change. Please see Careweb for the most up-to-date information.
5
Did you know that the CNA recommends that annual influenza immunization of RNs be a condition of service for health-care workers? Vulnerable populations, such as seniors or those with chronic illnesses, are at higher risk of experiencing complications from influenza, which affects 10-20 per cent of the world’s population each year. The rates of serious illness and death are generally highest in people over 65 and in people with underlying medical conditions. Due to the nature of their jobs, health care workers are in contact with people at high risk of complications, like seniors and those with chronic illnesses. In the Code of Ethics for Registered Nurses, it states that nurses provide safe, compassionate, competent and ethical care and that it is the duty of the nurse to
be attentive to the safety of the persons receiving care and to factors that may
compromise their health. In short, it is a nurse’s duty to do no harm.
Health care workers who have direct patient
contact should consider it their responsibility to provide the highest standard of care, which includes
an annual influenza immunization. These vulnerable groups are best protected when their families and the community around them – including health care workers – are immunized.
Source: the Canadian Nurses Association
Corporate payroll calendar
The 2013 corporate payroll calendar has been added
to Careweb. Simply hover your cursor over the
Corporate tab and select “Corporate Calendar” from
the drop-down menu. We received an anonymous
suggestion through our online Suggestion Box.
Thank you to whoever made the suggestion. We
welcome any suggestions for Careweb or for any
aspect of the organization through Careweb’s
Suggestion Box and post the outcomes on the
Resolutions to Your Suggestions page.
Communications Page update
The Communications Page has been updated to
include all brochures, handbooks, booklets and other
publications we might have. If you need
information from a specific Carewest
brochure or publication, you’ll be
able to find it on
Careweb.
The Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) has taken a position that all registered
nurses (RNs) should receive the influenza vaccine annually to protect themselves,
their families and those in their care.
? ? ?
Did you
K K K N N N O O O W W W
Samara Sinclair Manager, Communications
What’s new
on Careweb this month?
6
Photo by Samara Sinclair
Shannan Love and Paige O’Dwyer, Speech Language Pathologists in the Neuro Rehab
Program at Carewest Dr. Vernon Fanning, have assembled the first of a series of kits with tools
that help staff communicate with clients who have aphasia.
Lots to talk about Kits help staff communicate with clients who have aphasia
Samara Sinclair Manager, Communications
The conversation is flowing
on the Neuro-Rehab unit at
Carewest Dr. Vernon
Fanning thanks to several
speech language
pathologists and volunteers
who decided to try and make
the unit more “aphasia
friendly”.
Shannan Love and Paige
O’Dwyer, Speech Language
Pathologists (SLPs), in
partnership with Katherine
Churchward, casual SLP,
SLPs Heather Tomlinson,
Cheryl McGee and several
volunteers, assembled
Communication Carts for the
units and then more specific
Communication Kits for the unit clerks, nursing and
management to help those staff communicate better
with people with aphasia.
Aphasia is an acquired communication disorder that
impairs a person's ability to process language, but
does not affect intelligence.
Aphasia impairs the ability to speak and understand
others, and most people with aphasia experience
difficulty reading and writing.
Shannan says the kits were born from inservice
training given to staff over the last two years where
a need was identified for tools to help caregivers
and communication partners better communicate
with clients who have aphasia.
“One of the things that came out of the initial
inservicing was to develop Communication Carts
for the units. They are physical carts on the unit
with communication boards
in different languages and
other tools. It’s a rolling cart
with resources in it,” she
says.
“There is one for each pod
with resources readily
accessible for staff and
family to use. The next round
of inservicing was in
February, with therapy and
nursing staff and the
Communication Kits came
from that.”
Much like the Communication
Carts, the Communication
Kits include tools to ease and
bridge the communication gap
sometimes caused by aphasia.
They include Yes and No
boards, allowing clients to point to the most
appropriate response and other boards that prompt
the client to gesture at the appropriate picture that
best describes the question they want to ask.
Paige says the Communication Kits were created
for unit clerks first, who, as a group, wanted to
know what the question was about.
“The most-wanted cards were ‘Is the Question
About: hair, medication, transportation’ or “Is it a
Question for your Doctor or Nurse’ with ‘Yes and
No boards’, so unit clerks can direct them quickly
and efficiently. Then, we started to make them for
other therapists. We did one for the unit manager
because sometimes they come to her office and
sometimes it’s hard to tell what the clients want to
communicate,” says Paige.
Continued on Page 7.
7
Photos courtesy of Kelly Baskerville
Jennifer Lee retires After more than a decade of dedication and service as Client Service Manager at Carewest Sarcee’s Hospice,
Jennifer Lee’s retirement plans include downsizing and enjoying more time with her dog and her family.
In the top picture, Christie Holan, Director, Rehabilitation & Recovery Services, Complex
Continuing Care, and IP&C recognizes Jennifer’s many contributions. In the bottom picture to the right, Jennifer is surrounded by members of her team.
Lots to talk about Continued from Page 6.
“All the packages have time cards – like calendars,
‘When: Before, Now, Future cards’ or a ‘How Long
card.’”
Looking to the future, Paige and Shannan hope to
create more kits, for social workers, physical
therapists, occupational therapists and recreation
therapists and aim to refine the kits as the need
arises for tools about different topics.
“It’s hard for us to know what nursing talks about
and what social work talks about – we gave them
our best guess so we’re going to wait to see if they
need anything else,” says Paige.
In the meantime, anyone can use the
Communication Cart on the unit, which has most of
the same resources as the kits.
“The ultimate goal is to make the unit aphasia-
friendly. This is one way we try to make that
happen. It’s another tool to help clients with aphasia
function independently on the unit,” says Shannan.
Photo courtesy of Maria Matias, WCB
Carewest awarded high score on PIR audit
Carewest was awarded a PIR (Partners in Injury Reduction) rebate and commemorative plaque at the
annual luncheon held by WCB to recognize those employers who have demonstrated a commitment to
safety under the program. Carewest achieved a score of 95 per cent on this year's audit, which was held in Sept.
2012. In the picture above, Dieter Brunsch, Vice President Customer Service & Risk Management at WCB, Blair Phillips, Director, Human Resources &
Facilities at Carewest, Carol Dallaire, Administrative Assistant, Human Resources & Facilities at Carewest and the Hon. Frank Oberle, Associate Minister of Services for
Persons with Disabilities with the Government of Alberta, mark Carewest’s achievement with a
commemorative plaque.
8
BEEEACH Model helps reduce falls Samara Sinclair Manager, Communications
Over the last six months, Carewrite has been home to a regular feature about falls – highlighting different aspects of the strategy, including input from sites already implementing Falls Review Committees to make Carewest safer for our residents and clients. This month, we focus on the BEEEACH Model.
No matter what you do,
what precautions you
take, falls will happen.
But Physical Therapist
Donna den Otter and the other staff from Carewest
Rouleau Manor have proven that the number and
severity of falls can be significantly reduced with the
implementation of a simple tool.
The BEEEACH Model – a tool used to determine the
factors that might have contributed to a fall – was
employed by staff at Carewest Rouleau Manor and
Donna was amazed to see their falls rates drop from
more than 30 falls per month to eight falls per month.
“We cut it down to eight falls in three months and did
this by analyzing each fall that occurred in a given
month using the BEEEACH Model with a
multidisciplinary Falls Committee that included
myself, an occupational therapist, team lead, staff
nurse, client service manager and pharmacist,” says
Donna.
“But we noticed a big drop in the frequency of falls at our site when we included our resident assistants (RAs) because they know the clients and know their schedules intimately. They were able to apply all the interventions that we were able to recommend – it’s the RAs who were able to put it into place.”
BEEEACH stands for Behaviour, Education,
Equipment, Environment, Activity, Clothing/
Footwear and Health Management. Each aspect of the
model could represent a factor contributing to a fall.
Behaviour What is the behaviour that contributed to a particular fall? Is this new behaviour or has the behaviour changed? Is there a common contributing behaviour between fall events?
Education Does the client know how to use a walking aid, a seat belt or wheelchair brakes, a call bell or wall bars? Is the client aware of how to transfer safely? Does the client/staff/family know about fall prevention?
Equipment Is the client using walkers/canes, wheelchairs, cushions/covers, fall mats, seat belt, bed alarms, raised toilet seats or armrests?
Environment Assess the area for hazards like floor surfaces (carpet, linoleum, tile, scatter rugs, waxes, moisture or foreign matter), whether wall bars are available, the type of lighting available, the time of day and placement of equipment or furniture.
Activity How the client interacts with others, what their daily routines are like, if they participate in their own activities or in organized activities onsite, how far they can walk and their level of transfer.
Clothing/Footwear Check the length of the client’s pants and pyjamas, whether their shoes fit, are in good repair and are clean and whether they are wearing hip protectors.
Health Management What medications the client is taking, hydration, nutrition, vision, bone health, pain, illness and behaviour changes.
Continued on Page 9.
9
BEEEACH Model reduces falls Continued from Page 8.
Jeanine Kimura, Director, Performance & Risk
Management, says the BEEEACH Model provides a
structure to think about the fall objectively and from a
safety learning approach. The model can draw in the
whole team – from those on the unit on a daily basis
like the health care aides, to people such as the
pharmacist.
“When you think about a variety of different
contributing factors, the team is more informed to
think about multiple interventions that can help reduce
the chance of the fall happening again,” she says.
“This is a multi-level, multi-site effort to move our
strategy forward. There is a Falls Strategy Working
Group and every site now has a Falls Review
Committee to focus on falls-related issues. Through
their efforts, they are moving the strategy forward by
focusing on site-specific needs.”
Inservices about the BEEEACH model are being offered at Carewest sites by Donna, who hopes that people are able to dovetail the model into what they are currently doing for falls prevention.
During the inservices, staff will learn about the model,
that it is only as good as the application of it and that
recommendations coming out of a falls review using
the model should include the care team, support staff,
the client and the family for education and
implementation.
“Falls safety is critical within our environment. Most
of our resident/client population are at risk for falls
and even with our best efforts, falls are still going to
happen,” says Jeanine.
“Our focus is on learning from when a fall happens –
is there something we can do to reduce the chance of
that fall happening again and at the very least, making
sure there are fewer injuries.”
Saving Backs PN Randy Lee from the Daily Adult Living (DAL) program at The Residence at the Colonel Belcher raises the bed up to a safe level before changing a leg dressing for resident Alice Mallabon. Randy says, "There is no task or procedure too small that you should not take the time to raise the height of the bed to save your back." Photo courtesy of Mari Kabunan-Kohn
Photo by Samara Sinclair
Physical Therapist Donna den Otter teaches an inservice about the BEEEACH Model – a tool to help determine and analyze the factors contributing to a
fall. Donna hopes the model will be used by Falls Committees at each site to help prevent falling
in the future.
Beat the bug… Get a flu shot
10
New mobile app connects OSI clients with resources
Samara Sinclair Manager, Communications
Clients at the Carewest Operational Stress Injury
(OSI) Clinic and OSI Clinics across the country
have started taking self-care into their own hands
with a new mobile phone application called OSI
Connect.
Using their cell phones, clients will be able to take
self-assessment tests to rate their sleep, level of
post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and
depression, watch relaxation videos, link to
research publications and much more.
The application, developed by the Royal Ottawa
Mental Health Centre on behalf of the OSI Clinic
Network, with funding from Veterans Affairs, was
launched earlier this summer.
Marney Riendeau, Manager, OSI Clinic, says the
technology will help connect clients with the
multitude of resources available for Post-Traumatic
Stress Disorder (PTSD) sufferers.
“I think it’s a one-stop shop for self-support. We’ve encouraged clients to seek out all these resources and now they are all in one place. They don’t have to go searching anymore – it’s all in the app,” she says.
“We’re excited about this mobile application because
it provides ongoing support away from the clinic to
the clients. You just press a button and you have
access to information that we encourage them to use
on a daily basis.”
PTSD, anxiety, depression, and substance abuse are
types of operational stress injuries.
The OSI Clinics across Canada specialize in treating
these conditions that come from combat, high stress or
operational fatigue.
The “first of its kind” mobile app is free for veterans,
Canadian Armed Forces and RCMP and works as a
mobile learning and self-management tool that
provides information and assistance at the touch of a
button.
OSI Connect is available for clients, potential clients, their families and for professionals. The app is available for iPad, iPhones, Blackberry and Android smart phones and tablets.
11
New Management Appointments Because of the mandate of Commissary and the pivotal role and work being done by Maegan Spezowka, I am happy to announce her re-classification to Manager, Commissary effective immediately. Also, I am happy to announce that Robb Allen has assumed the role of Manager, Food Services for Carewest Garrison Green. Congratulations to both Maegan and Robb! We look forward to your continuing contributions to the team and your dedication to the success of the Food Services department.
Festive Goodies Coming Soon It is never too early to begin thinking about Christmas so keep your eyes open for our annual Quick Quisine Christmas baking. An assortment of delicious goods will be available for ordering in the middle of November in the cafeterias such as fruit cake, Christmas pudding, cherry pound cake, mincemeat tarts and shortbreads just to name a few! Stop by the cafeteria at any Carewest site, check out our Christmas baking brochure and stock up on festive goodies.
Contest! Create a new name for Quick Quisine and you could win a $50 spending spree on Quick Quisine products
We want you to put on
your creative thinking caps
and come up with a new
name for Carewest Food
Services’ Quick Quisine
program!
The winner will receive a
$50 spending spree on any
Quick Quisine products.
The contest runs until Oct. 11 and the winner will be
announced in the November issue of Carewrite.
You can enter as often as you like with a different
Quick Quisine name each time.
In the meantime, take
advantage of our unique
Quick Quisine program
offering homemade, nutritious
baked items, desserts, cookies
entrées and soups – made in
our own Carewest
Commissary kitchen.
We offer a diverse selection
of delectable dishes to make
meal preparation easier for you.
Visit our cafeterias and speak to one of our Food
Services team members for more information. If your
site does not have a cafeteria, please speak to the Food
Services Manager or Cook.
To enter, simply send your ideas either by inter-office mail
addressed to Morgan Burgess, Carewest Dr. Vernon Fanning, or
by email at morganburgess@ albertahealthservices.ca
Contest runs until Oct. 11
12
Kindness to Colleagues
Second phase of Carewest Kindness initiative begins now Samara Sinclair Manager, Communications
The Carewest Kindness initiative –
supported by Employee Health & Safety
(EH&S) – continues through the fall and
winter with the second phase, called
Kindness to Colleagues.
Initiated during this year’s Health
Promotion Month in March, the theme of
which was “Working Towards Wellness –
It Starts With You”, everyone was
encouraged to take action on their own
health and to start with being kind to
themselves and the people around them.
The initiative blossomed from a
Management Day, where managers across
the organization came together and were given The
Business of Kindness book and encouraged to bring
a little kindness into their everyday lives.
The concept spread across the organization as part
of Health Promotion Month, when managers were
sent the Random Act of Kindness cards and pins
and encouraged to share them with their staff.
Treating colleagues with kindness and compassion
is the theme of Kindness Activity Kits distributed
by EH&S during this second phase of kindness
promotion.
Unit and area managers received the kits in August,
containing a set of instructions, awareness posters,
Kindness to Colleagues activity cards, and Random
Acts of Kindness cards and buttons.
The content of the Kindness to Colleagues activity
cards is featured on Page 13.
“Basically, you can do anything you like in terms of
kindness activities with your staff. If you or your
staff are involved in an act of kindness, please have
them write it on the Random Act of Kindness card
and take the button to wear and show you care,”
says Roxanne McKendry, Manager, Employee
Health & Safety and IP&C.
“Please post your acts of kindness for all to see and in November we'll ask for them back so we can feature them in Carewrite.”
If you need more Random Acts of Kindness cards
or pins, please contact Employee Health & Safety at
403-943-8182.
People may forget what we said or did for them, but they never forget that we took
some time and effort to make them feel better. You will know compassion when you see it because it will always lift a colleague to a higher ground, even if for a brief moment in time.
Olivia McIvor, Author, The Business of Kindness
13
Kindness to Colleagues activities
TRUST: Practice honesty with consideration
Practice giving more than receiving in
your personal and professional life.
Start with pleasantries like saying
please and thank you consistently.
Let others know they can confide in
you. Listen without judgement and
don’t misrepresent their point of view
to others.
Refuse to participate in gossip and
conversations that don’t support
building up the human spirit and self-
worth of an individual.
COMPASSION: Show you care with unconditional acceptance
If a colleague seems overwhelmed
with their workload, talk to them and
offer suggestions or assistance.
Extend a friendly invite to a shy
colleague for lunch or to join you on
a coffee break. Welcome new recruits
into your circle of friends quickly.
Place people before tasks. Give them an
acceptable amount of your time when they
request it.
COURAGE: Step through fear to do what is right
Write down three safe risks you
would like to take in your work and
personal life. Build a plan around each
one to get you started.
Refuse to say, “I have always done
it this way” ever again.
Ask a colleague/friend to teach you
something new that will stretch your
mind to new dimensions.
FRIENDSHIP: Welcome others into your circle
Place an anonymous supportive note on a
colleague’s workstation. Bring them
midday tea or assist with their workload.
Walk a colleague or friend to their car or bus
stop at night.
Celebrate a Kindness to Colleagues day by
committing conscious acts of kindness to each
other. Start to make it a daily habit.
Roomies are both 102 years old Carewest Dr. Vernon Fanning roommates Josephine Hazelton, left, and Violet Prew in the Regional Community Transition Program (RCTP) pose for a photograph together after learning they were both 102 years old. But not for much longer, as Josephine’s 103rd birthday is just around the corner.
Photo by Samara Sinclair
14
Carewest employees and volunteers make up
a vibrant community with diverse talents and
dreams. This month, we profile Lucy Lazatin,
Food Services Assistant at Carewest Sarcee.
Samara Sinclair Manager, Communications
E M P L O Y E E P R O F I L E Lucy Lazatin
They call her The Dancing Queen and it’s not hard to
see why.
Arms spread, face to the sky, Food Services Assistant
Lucy Lazatin can be seen and heard from across the
room as she dances from table to table, singing for the
residents while they dine.
Bon Jovi, Billy Joel and Elton John tunes are common
favourites and every morning Lucy will come to work
with a new song of the day.
“I sing and dance for the residents. I love to do it for
them to make them happy,” says Lucy.
“I cannot control myself – even in the hallway I need to sing. I don’t know why. Even at home, always singing and dancing.”
Born and raised in the Philippines, Lucy was married
for 20 years with three sons and working as a secretary,
when her husband passed away.
At 44 years old, she decided to go in search of a fresh
life of opportunity for her and her children and she
came to Canada, sponsored by her sister.
“I had two sisters in the Philippines but felt, as a
widow, I needed to try my best to raise my kids – it’s
not always good to ask people for help all the time. I
survived,” says Lucy.
“My oldest was 18 and the second was 15 and the third
one was eight.”
The move was a big turning point in Lucy’s life and she
found herself back in school studying to be a caregiver,
while she and her boys lived with her sister and her
brother-in-law.
Her first year in Canada passed quickly and Lucy
worked as a caregiver and marveled at how large the
country was.
After earning her VISA, Lucy found a job as a clerk in
the Husky building downtown and worked there for
four years.
Continued on Page 15
15
Employee Profile: Lucy Lazatin
Continued from Page 14.
After that, she returned to caregiving, this time with the
Calgary Progressive Lifestyle Foundation.
“I worked there for one year taking care of the patients.
One day, my boss asked me a favour to help my patient
in the gift store here at Carewest. That’s where I met
my (future) boss here. I applied at that time and started
right away,” says Lucy.
“That was March 2006. I have a good job now. I love it
– preparing all the food in the morning, serving the
residents’ breakfast and lunch. My favourite part is
spending time with the residents.”
That time includes outbursts of singing and impromptu
dance moves that bring joy to the residents and laughter
to her coworkers.
When she was younger, Lucy taught dance lessons for
three years but attributed her love of dance to a diet her
mom had when she was pregnant with Lucy.
“When my mom was pregnant, she was always eating fish and that’s why I got the moves,” Lucy jokes.
Lucy admits she grew up in a family with serious
parents and music and dancing was not part of her
upbringing.
Despite that, Lucy, as well as her brothers and sisters,
all love music and dancing, which makes for exciting
family reunions.
“My sister lives in Coach Hill and I have one brother in
Douglasdale and one in Somerset and every month, we
have a reunion. Last month, was at my sister’s house
and next month, at my house. We sing karaoke and
dance until 1 a.m.,” says Lucy.
“I guess it runs in the family – I have two sisters in the
Philippines and every two years they come to visit us
and all we do is singing and dancing.”
Lucy’s immediate family consists of four sisters and
two brothers – many of whom helped her establish a
life in Calgary.
“I have sisters who help me a lot in Canada, as well as
my brother Mario. He was helping a lot when I needed
help. Every time I ask for help from my brother, he
never says no,” says Lucy.
“I have a lot of good friends in Carewest Sarcee, staff
and residents. I like them a lot because they are good to
me.”
Photo by Samara Sinclair
Grandparents’ Day Therapy Aide Greg Archer helps residents (left to right) Turq McCollum and Bill Bruch at Carewest
Colonel Belcher ring in Grandparents Day on Sept. 5 with coffee and cake.
Photo by Vicki Davis
C3 Stampede line dancers Yee haw! Members of the Comprehensive
Community Care (C3) team performed a “boot scoot ‘n boogie” line dancing routine for clients at
Stampede time.
16
Samara Sinclair Manager, Communications
When resident Chris Cameron first came to
Carewest Sarcee, he made it his personal mission
to give every woman in the care centre a hug. The
outgoing 79-year-old said persistence paid off as
one particular holdout, finally wrapped in his
embrace, told him it was the best hug she ever
had.
“Score one for me,” he said.
Once a truck driver from the Okanagan, Chris was
forced to give up his career after experiencing
problems with his legs.
“I moved to Carewest Sarcee from the Rockyview
Hospital, where they were trying to kill us with
their cooking. I came here and thought I was in
seventh heaven. There’s such a difference – it’s
basically the same food but they give it a twist
here,” says Cameron.
“Years ago, I had a coffee shop on the highway
and had a young guy working for me and what he
could do with a hamburger was absolutely
shameful but we sold so many that I didn’t worry
about it.”
Chris has been a resident at Sarcee for about one
year and has already made a reputation for
himself.
For every major holiday – Christmas, Halloween, Valentine’s Day – Chris’ walker (or, as he likes to call it, his chariot) becomes a focal point for residents, staff and visitors as he proudly displays months of creative effort, culminating in a masterpiece on wheels.
Christmas trees, a moving train set, lights, sounds
and toys are expertly mounted to his chariot,
which becomes a roving holiday display.
Every year his twin granddaughters are enlisted to
help create it. They brainstorm ideas and then
come back with the tools and materials to make it
happen.
“When I start on this, it takes up the best part of
six months of the year. The first one we start up
with is Halloween and we give Halloween a real
blast. At Christmas, the tree is all lit up and it
gives the ladies here something to giggle about
and that’s why we do it,” says Chris. “This year,
we’re hoping for a big fiberglass pumpkin all
carved and lit with batteries.”
Continued on Page 17
OUR RESIDENTS’ STORIES Chris Cameron specializes in mobile works of art
Photo by Samara Sinclair
17
Chris Cameron specializes in mobile work of art Continued from Page 16.
“It’s just a
hobby but it
brings a
cackle and a
giggle to a lot
of people.
That’s what I
do it for – it’s
not for me but
for those I
pass everyday
and you’d be
surprised at
the amount of
friends you
make in a
day.”
It’s not a
surprise Chris
is good with
his hands, as
he worked
with tools his whole life.
Fresh out of high school, he was hired as a
mechanic for a farm implement company. He
worked there for many years, gaining valuable
experience during the day and then spending the
evenings at the old coral or local pubs – anywhere
that featured music or dancers – anything Chris
could “stomp his feet to”.
His experience as a farm equipment mechanic
paid off and Chris was hired by a transport
company to service their trucks. He went from
servicing trucks to driving trucks – transporting
everything from equipment to livestock – a career
that saw him through to retirement.
Today, Chris is looking forward to
welcoming a new member to the
family as his son has just announced
his engagement.
Ruth Longhurst retires
When Ruth Longhurst was hired in 1987 as a staff
nurse at Carewest Dr. Fanning, it was to fill a three-
month maternity leave position.
Twenty-six years later, her career with Carewest has
taken her from staff nurse to interim pain and
palliative care nurse, project coordinator for the
Fanning Centre's client room renovations in the mid-
nineties and, finally, coordinator of Carewest's Pain
& Palliative Care Consulting Service – a position
she has held since 1998.
“I have loved my job, working with our clients and
their families, but I know that it is time to take leave.
‘Thank you’ are words that seem so insignificant
compared to how I feel about those who have
supported me and blessed me through my husband’s
illness and death, and my retirement.”
“I’m not an expensive retiree” says Ruth, who is
looking forward to the simple pleasures in life like
friends, gardens, cooking and grandchildren. She
also hopes to do some volunteer work in other
countries with church groups.
“I don’t know what else life will deal me but I plan
to live and enjoy each day one at a time and be
pleasantly surprised by the events that come my way
that were not planned,” says Ruth.
Photo courtesy of Gerald Seller
Chris Cameron makes seasonal modifications to his chariot, which
he creates with the help of his twin granddaughters.
Photo courtesy of Joan Gilmour
Ruth Longhurst, second from the left, is pictured at her retirement party with colleagues (left to right)
Jennifer Cummings, Ana Lazzaroto and Halley Leung.
Beat the bug… Get a flu shot
18
New!
Gomukasana – Cow Face Pose keeps shoulders and upper back limber In keeping with Carewest’s Wellness initiative, each month we are featuring a yoga posture to help to keep your body mobile and flexible.
Tom King Equipment Coordinator &Yoga Instructor
When you work in the same position for long periods of time, your muscles
begin to fatigue and grow stiff. This can easily happen if you sit at a desk or if
you are doing the same task all day.
The yoga posture called Gomukasana – which literally means Cow Face Pose – will help limber up your arms,
bring mobility to your shoulders and alleviate some of the tightness across your upper back.
Photo courtesy of Tom King
Sharoni Fixler demonstrates Gomukasana. An experienced and certified Iyengar Yoga teacher and the owner of Yoga For Health
(www.yogaforhealthcalgary.com) in Calgary, Sharoni offers a discount to
Carewest employees through Carewest’s Social Club Discount program.
Step-by-step Gomukasana 1. Sit up straight at the front of your chair with
your feet placed firmly on the floor in front of you.
2. Extend your right arm across in front of you and then extend your left arm on top of the right arm. Cross at the elbows.
3. First, bend your right elbow, bringing your forearm to vertical. Then bend your left elbow, bringing your left forearm to vertical.
4. Now intertwine yours arms finishing with your palms together, fingers extended.
5. Lift your right arm up until your upper arm is parallel to the floor.
6. Breathe normally and hold this for approximately 30 seconds.
7. Release your arms and then repeat starting with your left arm.
19
Coffee Break Sources: www.armouredpenguin.com & www.sudokuessentials.com
Word search Fall Influenza Campaign
Samara Sinclair, Manager, Communications
Sudoku Level: Medium
How to play Sudoku Fill in the game board so that every row and column
of numbers contains all digits 1 through 9 in any order. Every 3 x 3 square of the puzzle must include
all digits 1 through 9.
Donations needed Clean out your closets and support a great cause
Carewest Dr. Vernon Fanning Centre is looking for donations to help raise money through Bazaar and Toggery Sales for resident programs. If you have clothes, jewellery, DVDs or household items that could use a second home, please leave them at the front desk. No furniture please. For more information, please contact Activity Convenor Tracy McKenzie at 403-230-6985 or [email protected]
20
Photos by Amy Martin
Signal Pointe garden glory This summer, Carewest Signal Pointe’s gardens looked
amazing – thanks to family, friends, volunteers and loved ones who gathered at the care centre to embellish the outdoor gardens, planter’s pots and flower boxes with different types of beautiful foliage at the annual family spring planting night. Pictured here are (left) resident
Eleanor Hambley and daughter Sharon Barrett and (right) resident Sharon Standley.
Canada Day colours Throughout Carewest, staff celebrated Canada Day with a patriotic flourish of red and white. Pictured here and looking lovely in their Canada Day attire are May Dulce, Maricel de Guzman, Debbie Reykdal, Gloria Olpindo, Rose Liam, Abie Andales, Nenita Venzuela and Aida Maroti – all from the Musculoskeletal (MSK) program.
Photo courtesy of Aida Maroti
Photo by Samara Sinclair
Flood prompts evacuation On June 20, 2013, a local State of Emergency was
called in Calgary after record rainfall flooded parts of the city in what’s being called one of the largest natural disasters to ever hit the province. Affected communities included the Mission area
where Carewest Rouleau Manor is located. Seventy-two clients with varying dementia
diagnoses were evacuated from Rouleau Manor to Carewest Dr. Vernon Fanning Centre that
evening, where they were received, had dinner and then were assigned to available beds or
spaces across Carewest sites. Everyone pitched in to make sure residents were safe and well cared
for. In the photo above, staff from Carewest Transportation Services assist residents being
evacuated from Carewest Rouleau Manor.
Top Related