The music of Van Django – Concerts in Care
Today, we enjoyed the magical gypsy jazz, waltz, old time swing music and ballads of Van Django. Performing for the residents of Menno Place, this acclaimed quartet brought us gypsy jazz, waltzes, old time music, swing music and ballads. These four talented musicians inspired by the music of Django Reinhard & Stephane Grapelli’s 1930’s gypsy jazz group “Quintent Of The Hot Club Of France”. Their arrangements and original compositions draw on a galaxy of musical styles while remaining true to the classic sound of the quintet. The lads are forging an original west coast sound, featuring virtuosic solos, bouncy rhythm, witty arrangements and an infectious sense of fun!
Over 110 residents and their family members joined us for this Concert in Care. If you are a family member or friend of a resident, we encourage you to come out for the Concerts in Care.
Since 2006, over 8,000 high-quality professional Concerts in Care have brought the rich experience of performance arts to people in residential care across Canada.
Family Council Meetings – You’re Invited
A family council is a group consisting of resident family members, friends and representatives who work together with staff to maintain and enhance the quality of life of residents and to provide a voice in decisions within the facility that affect them.
Family council meets every third Thursday of the month.
From February 19, 2015:
Members met in the Menno Home Chapel for an informative presentation by Nelson Cordoco and Joanie Dunn from Dignity Memorial Funeral Services. Research states that the most stressful event in one’s life is the death of a spouse. The presentation was a reminder that planning ahead is so important in order to protect our loved ones. Filling out a pre-planning guide ahead of time is highly recommended so you do not have to once your loved one has passed on. It is a huge stress reliever.
Education resources, and a time of reflecting on residents that have passed away in the past few months were shared with the group.
Next meeting, family council will have presenters discussing the topic of Polypharmacy. Sometimes, too many medications cause side-effects and drug interactions may cause more harm than good. Every medication that is put in our body involves a balance between risk and benefit; the more medications involved, the more complex the balance is to figure out. Come and bring your questions for this intriguing presentation.
Next family council meeting:
March 19, 1:30pm-2:30pm in the Menno Home Chapel. We hope to see you there.
—–
Dan Janzen, BSW, RSW
Social Worker
Menno Home / Menno Hospital
604.853.2411 Ext. 441
Compassionate Care – Henri Nouwen
Have you discovered Henri Nouwen’s writings?
Henri Nouwen was an internationally renowned priest and author. After leaving his professorship position at Harvard University, he worked with the L’Arche Daybreak community near Toronto, Canada. It was there that Henri served those with development disabilities, most notably Adam who became his dear friend and gateway to understanding the Jesus Story.
Henri says this to caregivers (and the rest of society, too)…
Compassion asks us to go where it hurts, to enter into the places of pain, to share in brokenness, fear, confusion, and anguish.
Compassion challenges us to cry out with those in misery, to mourn with those who are lonely, to weep with those in tears.
Compassion requires us to be weak with the weak, vulnerable with the vulnerable and powerless with the powerless.
Compassion means full immersion in the condition of being human.
