Keeping up with Kensington September 2019

KEEPING UP WITH

Volume 3 | Issue 9

K E N S INGTON

September 2019

GIVING NEW MEANING TO COMMUNITY CARE Over the past two years, the Communications team & IT Support Services team have worked hand in hand to develop a new website for Kensington Health.

You can take a look at the website by visiting www.kensingtonhealth.org The website project was an opportunity to make the site more user friendly. With the help of staff, residents, patients, and volunteers at Kensington, the Communications and IT teams have succeeded in creating a central hub where people from our

LETTER

FROM THE

CEO

community can find support services that they need.

Thank you to everyone who put in their time and effort to help us along the way.

The team looks forward to developing additional features that further improve the user experience.

We encourage all of you to check out the new website, and share your feedback and comments to communications@kensingtonhealth.org

Hi everyone, As fall approaches, it’s time to settle up ourselves back to our routine.

Join me on September 8 at the Kensington Hike.

You can support palliative and end-of-life care at Kensington by registering for the hike or sponsoring a team at kensingtonhike.ca.

The Kensington team that raises the most money will win a free lunch from myself and Corinne, CEO of the Kensington Health Foundation.

Can’t make the hike? You can register as a virtual hiker and ask your family and friends to support your cause.

New website alert: www.kensingtonhealth.org Check out the new Kensington Health website. We’ve updated our look, and made the site much easier to navigate.

We want to hear what you think.

Please take a minute and give your feedback to communications@kensingtonhealth.org

The Kensington Hike is on September 8, 2019, and will begin at 8:30 a.m., rain or shine. The Hike is pet friendly so bring your furry friend with you!

With one week to go – you still have time to register and make an impact at the Kensington Hike!

Visit kensingtonhike.ca to sign up today.

Your impact By participating in the Hike, you give comfort to residents, families and caregivers by supporting hospice programs not fully funded by the government. Music and art therapy, massage and holistic care, spiritual programming, caregiver and bereavement support are made possible through philanthropy, and symbolize Kensington’s distinct commitment to quality of life for our residents, families and caregivers.

Healthcare is complex. It’s no surprise that many people don’t realize the role philanthropy plays in Kensington’s ability to offer quality end-of-life care. While the government is a vital partner, so are donors. Register for the Hike today and support those in our community who need end-of-life care.

Thank you We are grateful for the generosity of our sponsors: Mount Pleasant Group of Cemetaries, Sodexo, and VitalAire, and the hard work of our current top fundraising teams: Team Andrew, Busy Bees and Team H. Thank you for making Kensington a home away from home for those we serve.

Don’t delay, the Hike is coming up soon! Register for the hike and invite your friends and family to join you: kensingtonhike.ca

GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND: ONE WOMAN’S PASSION TO SUPPORT HOSPICE CARE Andrea Taylor has been volunteering at Kensington Hospice for two years now. As a part-time lawyer and student looking to complete her Master’s in Pastoral Studies at University of Toronto, she not only finds time in her busy life to volunteer at the hospice, but also supports palliative and end-of-life care at Kensington through her amazing fundraising efforts.

“As a volunteer, I see the donations being put into action every day I’m helping at the hospice, whether it’s through the food and nutrition program, supplies we use for our residents or hospice operations,” says Andrea. “We live in a big city, and unfortunately, hospice care isn’t available to everyone who needs it. If we don’t fundraise, the care that our hospice provides and is known for wouldn’t exist.”

As a Kensington hospice volunteer and top fundraiser at the Kensington Hike, Andrea Taylor shares how she translates her passion for hospice, into a successful fundraising campaign. To date, Andrea has raised $2932.

Andrea currently leads the fundraising leaderboard for the Kensington Hike with almost $3000 raised. She’s a fundraiser extraordinaire who is aiming to surpass her $3500 goal.

To read Andrea’s fundraising tips and register or donate to the Hike today, visit: https://bit.ly/2k2rxFd

SEPTEMBER IS WORLD ALZHEIMER’S MONTH September is known around the world as Alzheimer’s month.

People living with Alzheimer’s and dementia can encounter stigma and stereotypes that reduce their well-being and quality of life. At Kensington Health, we want to create positive change and reduce the stigma around Alzheimer’s and dementia.

By learning from our experts in the field, like Kensington social worker, Olivia Boukydis, we can gain a better understanding of the complex behaviours associated with Alzheimer’s, dementia, mental health, and various neurocognitive conditions. The more we learn about these conditions, the more we reduce the stigma.

Ajiitha Anand, summer intern at Kensington Health (right) and her grandmother who lives with dementia.

Reducing stigma

Maintaining identity

Some may mistake Alzheimer’s as a normal part of aging, although for people and their families living with the disease it can feel like anything but. Alzheimer’s disease leads to decreased cognition and memory loss over time, and can cause severe anxiety and stress to those impacted.

Olivia believes a person living with Alzheimer’s or dementia tends to continue to identify with the many roles they were playing in their life before being diagnosed.

Olivia explains that in order to work with people living with the disease, we must find a way to be supportive and responsive at all times.

“Let’s not focus on the deficit caused by Alzheimer’s disease, let’s focus on the strengths.” -Olivia “It is not uncommon for people with responsive behaviours to display behaviour such as hoarding or rearranging items such as books or chairs.” says Olivia.

“We like to be diligent with finding ways to manage these behaviours. Rather than limit our residents, we follow a personcentred approach by looking for safe and meaningful ways in which we can support them. This can be in the form of providing a fidget box, a rummaging bin or providing them with items to fold, sort and organize, such methods can encourage an improved interaction between residents.”

“It’s my job to find out everything about the person and their life before being diagnosed so that I can help them maintain their identity.” says Olivia.

“The more I know who they were, the more I can understand who they are now.” -Olivia Kensington Health is changing the conversation about Alzheimer’s and dementia, and helping those living and caring for people with the disease.

If you are looking for more information, we are here to help.

Visit: www.kensingtonhealth.org/longterm-care

WELCOME NEW STAFF

UPCOMING EVENTS Kensington Hike

Rebecca, Freeman Life Enhancement Assistant, Kensington Gardens

Date: Sunday, September 8 Location: 25 Brunswick Ave.

Evelyn Leong-Cheung, Case Manager, Second Mile Club

Planning for end-of-life is difficult. At Kensington Health we believe life is a celebration and living continues even as health care needs change.

Kevin Silva, Gardener, Kensington Health Laura Peters, Life Enhancement Assistant, Kensington Gardens

We are completely not-for-profit and community-based. From our 350-bed long-term care home, to palliative hospice support for those living with terminal illness, Kensington Health sees each person as unique and their individual care is managed with sensitivity and expertise.

Help us continue to provide 24-hour compassionate care, comfort and relief, giving dignity to those when it’s needed most. If you would like to participate in the event, please go to www.kensingtonhike.ca

HUMANS OF KENSINGTON “I was born in India, and spent five years of my life in Japan before moving to Canada in 2008.

I’ve worked at Kensington for five years now in a variety of roles including a Personal Support Worker, Receptionist, Nursing Coordinator, and now an Administrative Assistant.

Sangyal Dolma, Administrative Assistant, Kensington Health

I really enjoy serving our residents and answering their needs.

Kensington is a special place with great coworkers. I enjoy working with our leaders as they go the extra mile to support and help you reach your goals.

My dream is to one day travel to Tibet, which is my parents’ home country, and see their culture, how people live and take in the beautiful scenery.”

SAVE THE DATE: THURSDAY OCTOBER 24, 2019

QUALITY DAY 25 BRUNSWICK AVE. STAY TUNED FOR EVENT DETAILS!