the
FOUNDATION
report
Spring 2021
in this issue: MESSAGE FROM UHKF’S PRESIDENT AND CEO Page 2
UHKF DONORS SUPPORT YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH Page 4
IMPROVED WAIT TIMES THROUGH A DONOR-POWERED INVESTMENT Page 5 Pictured: Taylor, a recreationist at Providence Care’s Providence Manor, engages with a resident. This is a pre-COVID-19 image.
Pandemic does not stop new Providence Manor from rising up Thanks to the generosity of donors, the dream of a new Providence Manor is becoming a reality. At a time when there is critical attention being paid to conditions within long-term care homes, we know the importance of ensuring they are built to provide some of our most vulnerable residents with a safe, inclusive home where they can live with dignity. “This year has been one like no other, and the people we care for matter the most. We know we need to protect all who chose to live at Providence Manor, and we are planning to design and build a place where they can live safely,” says Providence Care President and CEO Cathy Szabo. This is a monumental task, given limited resources from the province, and is something that could not be done without the generous support of donors.
“We’re really excited about the new Providence Manor building at Providence Village,” adds Krista Wells Pearce, Vice-President, Planning and Corporate Support Services, Providence Care. “What excites me the most is the positive impact the new building is going to have on the lives of residents, families and staff for years to come.” Construction is expected to begin in the spring of 2022. Once complete in the spring of 2024, Providence Manor will leave its Sydenham Street location downtown and relocate to the new Providence Village. The state-of-the-art, longterm care home will meet the needs of residents and families well into the future. The new home will have more beds and will bring all of the best features from the existing home to life in a new space. Continued on page 2...
Pandemic does not stop new Providence Manor from rising up Continued from page 1. The well-loved pub will be recreated and expanded to become a destination within the home and more broadly within Providence Village. Spaces such as the General Store will be enhanced and social spaces such as a music and games room, veterans’ lounge, library space, visitor and family spaces as well as quiet rooms, group rooms and dining areas will all be included. One of the key spaces in the new Providence Manor will be an area for spiritual health and worship centrally located on the main level. Community gatherings and religious services will be available to residents and their loved ones in need of personal space for prayer or reflection. In-home spiritual health practitioners, practices and services will continue to support each
person, respecting their beliefs, values, and traditions. This new home will be a place we would all like to live. “We want the outside of the building to look beautiful and unique during the day or night, but also be cost effective and low maintenance,” says Krista. “Home areas and social spaces will have the modern comforts our residents need and staff will work in a building equipped to support the essential work they do each day. There will also be lots of natural light, modern climate control and larger rooms for everyone’s comfort. Ultimately, this will be an absolutely fantastic location for all of our residents, families and staff.” Providence Care is balancing the progression of the project planning with waiting to hear about any potential changes to long-term care design
caused by the pandemic. Enhancements to better support infection prevention and control have already been made, thanks to the support of donors. In the meantime, they continue to work with the architects on the design of the six-storey building. There are a number of healthcare partners who are also looking to relocate to Providence Village, offering a host of services that will be easily accessible for residents, staff and family members. “It’s going to be a great community that will continue to honour the legacy of the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul, providing services to the vulnerable in our community,” says Krista. “We’re so excited and still confident, yet cautious, that we will break ground on schedule.”
Message from UHKF’s President and CEO the best in our community. The tremendous generosity shown by UHKF donors and the community has been nothing short of inspirational.
Tamás (Tom) Zsolnay President and CEO UHKF
After a long winter with frustrating lockdowns, there is light at the end of the tunnel with good weather and the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines. This difficult period has also brought out
The unprecedented collaboration from our healthcare organizations continues to ensure the safety of our patients, staff and community. Kingston Health Sciences Centre and Providence Care have learned lessons that are here to stay and, combined with the accelerated implementation of new and innovative services and models, are a bright silver lining to the
darkness of this pandemic. At UHKF, we continue to follow Public Health advice and implore our community to do the same. Any pictures in this report showing people not following physical-distancing restrictions were taken at times when it was appropriate to do so. Thank you to our wonderful donors for continuing to help our hospitals through this challenging time. I look forward to brighter times ahead and being able to thank you in person one day soon. 2 | SPRING 2021
UHKF Inspired by Community Donors Tim Hortons Smile Cookie Campaign In September 2020, Kingstonians raised a recordbreaking total of $150,000 through the annual Tim Hortons Smile Cookie campaign! The pandemic did not stop community members from showing their support of Kingston Health Sciences Centre’s (KHSC) Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Last year marks a significant milestone for our local Tim Hortons restaurants. More than $1 million has been donated to KHSC through enthusiastic community support of the Smile Cookie campaign!
Tim Hortons gift presentation (October 2020).
The Beer Store The Beer Store ran a fundraising campaign in its stores to raise funds for local hospitals across Ontario. The Kingston community rallied together to support this initiative and raised an outstanding $23,053.60 to support KHSC. Through this campaign, customers donated part or all of their empty returns to benefit KHSC. Shoppers Drug Mart In December 2020, Adam Doyle, owner of several Shoppers Drug Marts in Kingston, gifted some toys and personal care products for the Pediatric Program at KHSC! Adam wanted to help bring some joy to patients and families at the hospital. Thank you, Adam!
The Beer Store gift presentation (October 2020).
Kingston Frontenacs’ Toy Drive In December 2020, more than 700 individual toys and gifts were generously donated to KHSC’s Pediatric Program through the Kingston Frontenacs’ Toy Drive. Thank you Kingston Frontenacs and Leon’s Centre staff for organizing this initiative, and thank you to everyone who donated!
Kingston Frontenacs toy drop-off (December 2020).
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MESSAGE OF SUPPORT Send a message to show your appreciation of the teams at Kingston Health Sciences Centre and Providence Care. Let’s show them some love! Visit uhkf.ca/waystogive/messagesofsupport to send your message.
UHKF Donors Support Youth Mental Health ART HIVE Over the years, Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC) has seen a significant increase in hospital visits among people with mental health issues, especially during the pandemic.
Thanks to a generous donor who provided $20,000 in seed funding and an amazing $300,000 pledge from TD Bank Group, KHSC will soon be adding a Youth Day Treatment Program to the innovative mental health services they have implemented to help adult patients recently. This new program, aimed at youths aged 16 to 24 who are experiencing mental health difficulties, will provide a safe space for them to pursue their education and discourage them from engaging in behaviours that might put them at risk.
“This program has been our dream for a long time,” says Nicholas Axas (pictured above), Program Manager for Mental Health & Addiction Services at KHSC. “The funds will go a long way in starting to help this specific population access the services and support they need, including materials for activities and access to therapy that will help them develop valuable coping skills.” “Our community has always been very supportive of mental health and addiction needs,” says Nicholas.
“The UHKF donors have been instrumental in providing funds that we otherwise wouldn’t have and this directly affects our patients. If it wasn’t for the community we wouldn’t be able to do half the things we do. Kingston really comes together like nowhere else I’ve experienced. The support we’ve received this year has been remarkable. So I’d like to send a big thank you to the donors because really I can’t see how we would’ve made it through this last year without them.” 4 | SPRING 2021
YES! I WANT TO SUPPORT LIFE-SAVING CARE... Cut out this form and mail to: University Hospitals Kingston Foundation, 55 Rideau Street, Suite 4, Kingston ON, K7K 2Z8
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Improved Wait Times Through a Donor-Powered Investment In 2019, thanks to generous donor support, Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC) installed a second Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine at the Kingston General Hospital (KGH) site. This allowed the original MRI machine to be taken offline and upgraded to a brand new platform with state-of-the-art functionality. With two machines now operating, wait times for MRI scans at KHSC, which had been well above the provincial average, are quickly being reduced. The installation project included the construction of a new MRI suite with a large, bright waiting area for patients. Looking out over Lake Ontario the new suite provides a calm and relaxing space in an otherwise busy department. “MRI scans are in confined spaces which can make some patients nervous,” says Kelly Hubbard, Manager of Imaging Services at KHSC. “It’s our hope that this beautiful and open area will help them feel less anxious and make the process much easier for them.” Despite making substantial improvements to the MRI wait times, up to 1,000 people are still waiting to be booked for a hospital MRI at any one time. This was hindered further by the pandemic which slowed things down significantly in March and April 2020, while safety precautions were implemented. Thankfully, KHSC is now managing an effective recovery.
“We are so thankful for this new machine. With two fully functional magnets, we have been able to manage a recovery plan,” says Karen Pearson, Director of Imaging Services at KHSC. “Our amazing MRI team has been able to maximize patient flow and reduce the wait list created by COVID-19 restrictions and the down time associated with construction. The efforts of this team of MRI technologists and staff cannot be highlighted enough. What seems like an unsurmountable challenge, I know will be successfully managed by them over the next year.” The purchase and installation of the second MRI scanner were made possible thanks to strategic investments by KHSC, the radiologists of KHSC, The A. Britton Smith Foundation and Homestead Land Holdings Ltd. The project also received significant and generous support from the community and UHKF donors. “Truly, without the support of the donors, we would not have this cutting edge technology in our Diagnostic Imaging Department at KHSC and this beautiful space would not have been realized,” says Karen. “We’re thrilled and very fortunate to have this new technology that will help our ability to continue to offer outstanding patient care to people across southeastern Ontario for years to come.”
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the
FOUNDATION
report
SPRING 2021
Technology provides more ways to improve spiritual health Since the start of the pandemic, patients have been able to connect with loved ones who they are unable to see in person, and access virtual care, thanks to the generosity of local community members who donated technology to our hospitals. “We are really thankful for the kind and generous gifts that came to help each of our spiritual health practitioners,” says Dr. Neil Elford, Director for Spiritual Health, Mission and Ethics at Providence Care, and Spiritual Health at Kingston Health Sciences Centre. “To connect with family members through an iPad is often deeply moving and gratifying for patients. It also helps the families who are concerned about their loved one who has been hospitalized or is in longterm care. Just watching the change in people’s demeanor and spirits because of having some time with a loved one, is very gratifying.”
The same technology provides patients with even more ways to improve their spiritual health, including music, meditation and stories. “I love the creativity of the human spirit to be able to find new resources and new ways to meet our fundamental basic needs,” says Neil. “Music helps nurture the spiritual health of our patients, and stories provide comedy and humour which are really powerful influences on mental and spiritual wellbeing. Stories help us feel connected to others. Meditation and mindfulness help counter anxieties caused by isolation, replacing them with feelings of hope and peace. These tools really help enliven the spirits of our patients.” These practises also provide spiritual health practitioner staff with great meaning and purpose. When they see the transformation in the patients, they feel that they are making a difference in this world. It’s
this cycle of giving, and the subsequent emotional impact, that perhaps hold one of the keys to ensuring everyone in our community gets through this pandemic with a strong sense of mental and spiritual wellbeing. “It’s important to consider that COVID-19 is not over,” says Neil. “Kingston has been particularly responsive to the pandemic and I think that’s something we need to commend ourselves for. I also think it’s important we pay attention to staying connected to one another. Showing kindness and feeling you are supporting the people around you, and knowing that you are part of a healthy community that knows how to respond to the common good to keep us all safe, helps your own spiritual health. I can’t stress enough how important a sense of community is for us all as we move forward. By doing this together, we will give each other a greater sense of security.”
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