As of today, Wednesday, December 4, the Fraser Health Influenza Control Program Policy is in effect at Menno Home, Menno Hospital and Terrace East, Assisted Living.

Influenza causes the most deaths among vaccine-preventable diseases, outpacing all others combined. Each year in Canada approximately 3,500 people die from the flu and its complications. Hospitalized patients and seniors in residential care are usually more vulnerable than healthy adults.

To help protect this vulnerable population and the people who care for them, in 2012 Fraser Health implemented the Influenza Control Program Policy, which required health care workers and visitors to get the flu vaccine or to wear a mask in all patient care areas during flu season.

Fraser Health is implementing its Influenza Control Program Policy, effective Wednesday, December 4^th, 2019.  This policy requires that all staff and visitors, who have not received a flu shot, are required to wear a surgical mask when they are in the “resident care areas” (which means any area within Menno Home, Hospital and Assisted Living that is accessible to the residents who live here).

Masks will be available at the Nursing desks on each unit and the front entrances at Menno Home and Hospital. For Assisted Living, masks will be available at the front entrance.

Your participation for the health and safety of our residents will be required and greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

The Infection Prevention and Control Committee at Menno Place

After this week’s unusually cold weather, there are a lot of heroes that deserve praise for going beyond the call of duty. Frontline staff in hospitals and first responders, as well as the municipal staff who maintain our roads come to mind. But it is the staff who work in our long-term care, assisted living and independent living sites – in addition to home support workers out in the community and braving the snowy conditions – that we would like to recognize as well.

Whether you are a care aide or nurse, a cook preparing meals, housekeeping staff or a maintenance worker, we owe you our gratitude for taking care of our elderly loved ones.

There are so many stories we hear about that indicate the dedication and compassion people working in the seniors living and wellness sector exhibit every day. When the going gets tough as it has this week, it is remarkable how many great people step up.

At the Menno Place campus of care, it was a struggle for many to navigate the treacherous roadways to get into work. Abbotsford, like so many Fraser Valley communities, bore the brunt of the blizzard conditions.

Karen Baillie, CEO at Menno Place and BCCPA past president, described how her staff went the extra mile.

“Bas, my Maintenance Manager and his staff member, not only came in before the highway was closed,” says Karen, “but stayed overnight last night here in Abbotsford in a hotel and cleared our whole campus of snow. Also, our Manager of Dining Experience came in before the highway closed to make sure we could run our 5 kitchens. What a wonderful team we have!”

Read Full Article on BCCare.ca

This Christmas, the staff of Menno Home received this beautiful message from the family of Gian Maestri. It is a reminder of what makes our work in long term care so precious! This meaningful note inspires us all to work with an even greater sense of purpose. 

To the staff of Menno Home,

This past year has been one of acceptance for our family. The reality of our dad’s condition has always been there, but never has it been more real for us than at this present moment.

This journey has been one of a thousand tears, a thousand questions and a thousand goodbyes. We’ve met some extraordinary people and seemingly in the same breath, had to say goodbye to them. The privilege of walking the last steps of their journey was all ours. Their legacies will live on in our memories.

Who knows how much time we have left with our dad. No doubt the final goodbye will be the hardest one yet. But knowing that he is in the hands of the most loving and devoted care staff makes this process just a little bit easier. Because the reality is that you not only care for the residents, but you also take care of us – the family members.

Your smiles, warm hugs and love have meant the difference between falling on our knees in despair, and rising up in hope of a better day. You carry us, even on the days when I’m sure it’s a struggle to keep yourselves standing. But you do it any.

We are so blessed to know each of you. Your selfless love makes this place home to us. To whatever the future holds for us, we look forward to walking it hand-in-hand with you.

With sincere love & gratitude,

Alex, Leah, Cris & Family*

*This message has been published with the family’s permission