outreach
st. joseph’s villa
beyond bandages As a healthcare provider, St. Joseph’s Villa works hard to treat its residents and enhance the community it calls home by sally deering
S
t. Joseph’s Villa, of Dundas, Ontario, was established in 1879 when the Sisters of St. Joseph of Hamilton opened the House of Providence to care for the poor and marginalized. Today, the nonprofit, which is owned by the St. Joseph’s Health System, stands as one of the largest and most innovative senior-healthcare providers in Ontario. The organization’s services are twofold,
offering both long-term care to residents, as well as medical clinics and adult day programs out in the community. St. Joseph’s Villa is a model for the long-term-care sector and provides a holistic approach to meeting the physical, social, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual needs of seniors while embracing new technologies to improve service and efficiency.
Under the guidance of president Shawn Gadsby, St. Joseph’s Villa strives to meet the diverse needs of the community, external partners, and legislative requirements, as well as adhere to an excellent standard of care. Unlike similar institutions, St. Joseph’s Villa strives to move beyond the facility to impact the community itself. “While our core service is long-term care, we are very active in services that promote independent living and allow people to age at home,” Gadsby says. “Another major focus is our position as a leader in the regional education of healthcare professionals such as physicians, nurses, personal-support workers, therapists, and social workers.” For the past six years, St. Joseph’s Villa has partnered with Centric Health Active to provide physical therapy, occupational therapy, therapy assistance, and education to staff and residents. The partnership made Central Health Active a clear choice when St. Joseph’s Villa opened up its transitional care unit. The goal of the unit was to facilitate in-home living for the elderly. “[Central Health Active] has been right on board with it,” Gadsby says. “Without
Company Stats founded
1879 employees
565 volunteers
180 top managers
20 operating budget
$26 million A volunteer spends time with a resident of St. Joseph’s.
78
advantage
S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R 2011
ADV5_monday_may9.indd 78
employee retention rate
90%
advantagemagazine.ca
5/12/11 4:44 PM