the
FOUNDATION
report
Winter 2020
in this issue: MESSAGE FROM PROVIDENCE CARE’S PRESIDENT AND CEO Page 2
EVERY GIFT GOES A LONG WAY Page 4
DONATIONS KEEP SPIRITS UP AT PROVIDENCE MANOR Page 6
Henderson Foundation Funds Groundbreaking Research Earlier this year, the William James Henderson Foundation made a transformational gift to Providence Care Hospital (PCH). The donation secured a two-year commitment to take part in a groundbreaking study by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). The study is testing the effectiveness of existing interventions for symptoms of dementia, primarily agitation and aggression. The project, which takes place in the Seniors Mental Health (SMH) unit at PCH, presents a unique opportunity to integrate evidencebased research from CAMH into practice. It also provides education to all staff and families involved and creates a platform to evaluate new treatment protocols and conduct further research.
“Without this amazing donation, we simply wouldn’t have been able to launch this research,” says Janine Mels-Dyer, Senior Director, Mental Health and Specialized Geriatrics. “So, the impact of the donation has been truly significant. It has given life to this exciting opportunity.” The vision is to enable patients to return home, or to their long-term care facility, in a more peaceful and satisfied state. A reduction in agitation and anxiety for these patients will help to improve their quality of life, dramatically reduce inpatient stays and use of medication, and stabilize them for the transition back to home or long-term care. It will also help to relieve stress for caregivers and family members. Continued on page 2...
Janine Mels-Dyer Senior Director, Mental Health and Specialized Geriatrics Providence Care
Kara Asselstine Program Manager, Seniors Mental Health Providence Care
Henderson Foundation Funds Groundbreaking Research Continued from page 1. “I am very happy that we are part of this study,” says Kara Asselstine, Program Manager, Seniors Mental Health. “We are learning the best treatment for non-pharmacological interventions, which everybody struggles with. And we are learning them in real time, so we can pass that information on to our therapists, as well as the family members and
caregivers who help our patients, immediately.” Once the study is complete, the results will also be integrated across the province and beyond. The study will have a direct and measurable impact on how care is delivered for clients and patients with dementia and other cognitive impairments. “We are just so thankful. I don’t know how we can
express enough our sincere appreciation for the donors in our community,” says Kara. “Without them, there are so many things we wouldn’t be able to access, including this research. We have never been part of a study like this on our Seniors Mental Health unit, and for the interventions to potentially have such a positive impact on our population, it’s life-changing.”
Message of hope from Providence Care’s President and CEO and now in the response to COVID-19. Our communities are full of people like you who pull together to do what is needed.
Cathy Szabo President and CEO Providence Care
We are here for you. In times of crisis, people from southeastern Ontario pull together. We have seen this before – from the Ice Storm of 1998 to rallying behind people who are most in need
This past year has tested us in many ways – from anxiety about the pandemic to added challenges of loneliness and isolation. The world paused – at least for a few months – and during that time, many slowed down. Families stepped away from their busy activity schedule to sit together at the dinner table. We went outside, took up gardening, and learned to explore our neighbourhoods.
Providence Care and your Kingston area healthcare providers are also continuing to pull together and build hope for a better future. As healthcare organizations, we’re working closer than ever before with so many partners – from primary care physicians, mental health and addictions to community support services – to not only respond to the pandemic but also to deliver care in a more cohesive way to you. Together, let’s focus on a much brighter 2021. 2 | WINTER 2020
Rose of Hope Golf Tournament Endures Pandemic Since 1998, the Rose of Hope Golf Tournament has impacted the lives of women in their cancer care journey. Run by the passionate and visionary ladies at the Cataraqui Golf and Country Club, the tournament is the largest all-female charity golf tournament in North America. This year’s successful tournament brings the total raised to more than $2 million for women’s cancer care! Over the years, these funds have helped provide Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC) with a variety of up-to-date equipment and resources. This year, due to the pandemic, the team was unsure if the event would take place. However, the club and Rose of Hope committee persevered to create a successful golfing occasion under physical distancing guidelines.
The incredible results from the Rose of Hope charity highlight the extensive power and impact of the tournament. The atmosphere on the day itself also shows how exciting it can be when people come together to support local health care. “It feels amazing, and everyone is so proud to be involved. I think that’s one thing people don’t always understand about volunteering time to fundraise and donate, how good it feels,” says Sherri. “The experiences that I’ve had, the people that I’ve gotten to work with, the patients that I’ve met, and just being with the Sisters have been simply incredible. So we’re going to stick around for a long time!”
“Cancer didn’t take a break because of COVID so we had to keep moving forward,” says Sherri McCullough, Chair, Rose of Hope committee. “It wasn’t the grand event we are used to but we raised more than $187,000, thanks to the amazing support from our golfers, the public and our sponsors. This event is so important because we have world-class doctors in Kingston, but they need the best equipment and facilities to provide positive outcomes for people in our community.” Funds generated by this annual event have been instrumental in providing women’s cancer care close to home. One gift the charity is most proud of is the seed money it provided a few years ago for KHSC’s breast reconstruction program. Today, this program saves stress, expense and travel time for women in our community who may have otherwise had to travel to Toronto or Ottawa, as many as 19 times each, for their reconstruction. This year’s funds will help purchase a new mammogram machine. “We are so grateful and feel so lucky to have helped so many women with breast cancer receive their treatment right here in Kingston. We are all affected in some way by breast cancer, and no family should go through it alone or frightened. It feels so amazing to be able to give back in this way, and it’s really humbling to see how generous people are and how they support our club and community.”
3 | WINTER 2020
Every gift goes long way ART a HIVE “I support UHKF because I have felt the difference donors can make.” Cathy Dunne has age-related macular degeneration. It is a chronic eye condition inherited through genetics that may get worse over time. The disease can cause permanent vision loss. She also has arthritis in her spine, which causes severe pain that limits her mobility. “I spent my whole career in health care and I know how desperately community funds are required for services that are (either) not funded or (not) fully funded by our healthcare system in Ontario,” says Cathy, a grateful patient.
“The Chronic Pain Care program is one example and it’s very dear to my heart. I wouldn’t have any kind of quality of life without it. The University Hospitals Kingston Foundation (UHKF) is one of the main charities that I support and I foresee myself continuing to do so. I have been helped, as have so many people that I know of in the community, by various programs funded by UHKF.” “People with lots of pain are not always the easiest of clients to deal with,” Cathy continues, “but the staff members at
Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC) are patient, kind and compassionate. They’re a special bunch.” Cathy has a better quality of life because she and others in our community have stepped up and supported health care through UHKF. “Every gift made goes a long way,” says Dr. David Pichora, President and CEO of KHSC. “Donations allow us to care for patients like Cathy in a way we couldn’t, without donors like you.” 4 | WINTER 2020
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Donation from Patient Gives KHSC New Cancer Treatment Thanks to a very generous donation from the University Hospitals Kingston Foundation donors Ken and Nancy Sedgewick, Kingston Health Sciences Centre’s (KHSC) Cancer Centre of Southeastern Ontario (CCSEO) now offers a more effective treatment to patients with cancer. Many patients suffer from spinal metastasis, a condition in which tumours grow along the vertebrae as a result of cancer cells travelling around the body. These tumours are often found in patients with breast, prostate or lung cancer and can significantly worsen quality of life. Ken and Nancy’s incredible donation has brought Spinal Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) to our region. SBRT uses a speciallydesigned platform to ensure patients are completely immobilized during treatment. Combined with extremely advanced imaging, the tumours can now be targeted by radiation therapy with unparalleled precision, reducing risk to surrounding tissues and organs. This therapy helps to eradicate tumours more quickly, with fewer side effects for patients. “Being able to offer this treatment locally allows the patient to take less time off work, stay closer to the comforts of home, and save money on the expense of travelling,” says Dr. Fabio Ynoe de Moraes, a Radiation Oncologist at the CCSEO. “These are some real barriers to care that are significantly reduced now that we have this equipment in Kingston.” Patients used to travel to Ottawa or Toronto for SBRT and require up to 10 days of treatment. With this device, patients in our region are now seeing significant results after as few as
Dr. Fabio Ynoe de Moraes, Radiation Oncologist CCSEO
three appointments. Ken understands these challenges more than most, having been a cancer patient for many years. His positive experiences in the Radiation Oncology Department last year encouraged him to give this remarkable gift. “I’ve had cancer for a long time and Kingston General Hospital has done a lot to keep me alive,” says Ken. “Going to the Radiation Department was like going home; the staff were always smiling and helpful, the technicians carried out their jobs expertly, and Dr. [Timothy] Hannah impressed us so much he got us thinking about giving to the department.” This gift isn’t only helping patients, but families too. Ken speaks fondly of the support he received from Nancy, and the worry she has also experienced over the years. Having this treatment available locally ensures the families of patients experience as little stress as possible, while their loved one receives care. “We wanted to give the money to a worthwhile cause, but it wasn’t until we saw something as specific as this treatment, that helps people get access to great care in their own community, that we understood how good it feels. It’s helped my wife too. She didn’t have the radiation, but she’s extremely happy that the equipment is there to help spouses and families of other patients. Now that we’ve done this, we can see how important it is for us all to give what we can to our local health care.” 5 | WINTER 2020
the
FOUNDATION
report
WINTER 2020
Donations Keep Spirits Up at Providence Manor The restrictions required to protect the vulnerable population at Providence Manor during the pandemic resulted in family members and friends being unable to visit their loved ones for many months. Staff work hard to provide connections with residents, but their remarkable efforts to care for and entertain the residents often go unseen. Thankfully, donations from families, friends and the wider community have acknowledged the wonderful work the staff continue to do. “The most uplifting thing during the pandemic for me has been the resilience of our staff,” says Krystal Mack, Administrator at Providence Manor. “Their ongoing commitment to the residents has really brought to the forefront how much love there is here. However, donations have been very important for morale and acknowledging that our staff are still on the front line. So
they’re very thankful for being remembered by these generous contributions.” Gifts have included baked treats, other goods and gift cards, as well as a fridge and a coffee maker for the staff room. Staff could never have imagined they would be working in such difficult and challenging conditions. In such a trying time, these gifts express the level of gratitude so many families have for the dedicated staff. “If somebody reaches out with a donation to say that we are making a difference, that is very important for the staff to hear,” says Krystal. “Getting that affirmation helps them to keep doing what they’re doing, because obviously their hard work is reaching the people that it is intended to serve. Even without the pandemic, small gifts go a long way but there’s no doubt that these donations have kept spirits up during these
difficult times. It’s been very inspiring.” Donations can also have a significant impact on care. Earlier this year, donations from the community helped to purchase iPads, which have helped staff engage residents and connect them virtually with their loved ones. In addition, the special appeal through the Family Council Connections provided ceiling fans to help combat the summer heat. “We do the very best with what we have, but there are many new and subtle changes that can enhance care,” says Krystal. “Our staff get very connected with the residents, so any new or innovative equipment that can make life more comfortable for them is hugely appreciated.”
uhkf.ca 55 Rideau Street, Suite 4 Kingston ON, K7K 2Z8 613.549.5452 uhkf.ca