Entre Nous

March 2017 - Long-term care

Fire at the Saint-Louis Residence 

As you know, on Monday, January 30, a fire occurred on the third floor of Saint-Louis Residence. The quick response from the monitoring and sprinkler systems, staff and the fire department prevented the fire from spreading. We were fortunate that no one was injured in the fire. I wish to thank all the staff members who made a difference that night and all those working hard on getting the residence completely back to normal. The renovations are going well and should be completed shortly. Join us for a special thank you event on March 23, from 2 to 4 p.m., in the Saint-Louis Residence auditorium! 

- Melissa Donskov. Executive Director, Long-term care 

Partners in Excellence 

The Partners in Excellence recognition program is a wonderful opportunity to highlight the exceptional performance and contributions of the employees, physicians and volunteers who enrich the quality of life of our residents and colleagues. 
We encourage you to take a moment to nominate your colleagues who you feel are deserving of an excellence award. To do so, simply click on the 2017 Partners in Excellence button located on the InfoNet home page.
For family members who wish to nominate an employee, please contact Anne-Laure Grenier (613-562-6262, ext. 2518).

Thank you, Michel! 

Valentine’s day was extra special this year! On February 14, Michel, a volunteer at the Saint-Louis Residence, gave a rose to each of the residents on 2AB. Relieving the loneliness of our resident is a priority for Michel! 

Flu season 

The season for flu and other infections isn’t over! Everyone plays a role in helping to reduce the spread of infections by following these simple rules:

• Clean your hands - it is the most important means of preventing the spread of germs
• Family and friends: Delay your visit if you are sick. This is of utmost importance in protecting our residents who are vulnerable to infections and therefore more likely to become ill.
• During outbreaks, visits may be restricted. When this happens, announcements will be made on our website and on the Info-Bruyère telephone line (613-562-6262, ext. 1600).

Élisabeth-Bruyère Residence 

Lifts and transfers training 

Bruyère Continuing Care’s occupational therapists will present best practices on resident transfers and lifts during 20-minute training sessions. They will demonstrate the different techniques and the employees will also be able to put their newly acquired knowledge into practice.
The training sessions will take place on March 9, 14, 20, 23 and 30.

Annual evacuation exercise 

On February 21, 2017, Élisabeth Bruyère Residence successfully completed their annual evacuation exercise under the supervision of the Ottawa Fire Services. Congratulations to the staff from 5Y, along with all the other responders and participants, for an exceptional response during the safe evacuation of a dozen residents within the home. Thank you to the residents for their volunteer participation resulting in a more realistic
simulation. Remember, drills provide an excellent opportunity to continuously review and enhance our response plans.
Thank you for supporting Bruyère’s mission of enhancing lives and transforming care.

Happy retirement to the following employees who will be greatly missed:

• Mary Momo
• Rachel DesForges
• Kathleen Eleazar 

Congratulations to the employees below, who together, have accumulated more than 85 years of service at Bruyère!

• France Daigle
• Louise Greffe-Rousselle
• Martha Jean-Charles

Family council 

Did you know that the Élisabeth-Bruyère Residence has a family council that meets regularly? It addresses issues of common concern, providing a means for residents, family members and administration to collaborate. As a participant, you will receive more information about events and special projects at the residence. You can also find answers to some of your questions. This forum allows you to share your opinions, which are always welcomed and appreciated. The next meeting will be held on March 28, from 4 to 5 p.m. in the Welton Beauchamp Conference room (748D, ÉBH). Everyone is welcome!

Saint-Louis Residence 

CLRI events 

The Bruyère CLRI is pleased to offer a FREE webinar on Understanding the Hospice Palliative Care Approach to Inform Communication at
End-of-Life in Long-Term Care (February 28, 2017). Everyone is welcome!

In March, the CLRI and Algonquin College will hold a train-the-trainer workshop on building nursing leadership skills. For more information on

either event, visit www.clriltc.ca.

Family council

Do you want to get more involved in the well-being of your loved one at Saint-Louis Residence? Are you committed, motivated and determined to improve the residents’ quality of life? The Saint-Louis Residence family council is always looking for new members, including a new president, vice-president and secretary.

Every resident’s family members and loved ones are invited to join the council team. Please find all the information on the bulletin board located at the entrance. All the council’s relevant information is displayed there, including meeting dates.

Denture labelling

Has your loved one already lost their dentures? Labelling dentures is the best and easiest way to prevent a loss which can be inconvenient and costly. For as little as $20, you could have your loved one's dentures labelled. If you are interested in this service, please contact Joanne Marin (jmarin@bruyere.org or ext. 2512). If many express their interest, Saint-Louis Residence staff will coordinate the labelling. 

Dining room renovation 

In an effort to improve everyone’s dining experience, the cafeteria is currently being transformed into a beautiful dining room. We are pleased to inform you that the renovation project is going well. Marketed Services have been successful in hiring a head chef and an assistant chef. The recruitment process is now underway to hire qualified servers. Bruyère remains committed to providing you with progress updates as the renovation project continues to move forward.

Do you have a funny, touching, story that is worth sharing? Send it to Anne-Laure Grenier (agrenier@bruyere.org or ext. 2518).