Maimonides Holiday Party - Donald Berman Maimonides Winter 2010 • For the staff of Maimonides...

M A I M O N I D E S

Winter 2010 • For the staff of Maimonides Geriatric Centre

A McGill University affiliated CentreUn Centre affilié à l’Université McGill

MaimonidesHoliday Party

Staff members from all departments

celebrated the holidays together at

the annual Holiday Party, held

December 9th in the synagogue.

Party-goers enjoyed great food,

drinks, party favours and a DJ that

got (nearly) everyone on the dance

floor and in a winding conga line!

Here’s to a wonderful 2010!

see more photos on page 3

SEASONAL FLU VACCINATION CLINICMonday, January 25 • Tuesday, January 26

6:00 am - 6:00 pm in the small chapel

PRIZESFOR STAFF!

Detailson page 2.

• Maimonides Geriatric Centre • News & Views • Winter 2010

In October 2009, a team ofsurveyors from AccreditationCanada met with the

Maimonides community part-ners, board members, staff, vol-unteers, residents and familymembers in order to assess thestandards of quality and safety atour Centre.

Garnering high praise for thequality of care given to its resi-dents, Maimonides GeriatricCentre subsequently receivedincredible feedback during thegeneral debriefing session.

Surveyors Gayle Campbell andSteven Campbell each said they

Full Accreditation Status GrantedWe have a lot to be proud of!

would be proud to work atMaimonides, and had troublenarrowing our achievementsdown to just a few – but theypointed to the success of theSuite Dreams capital renovationcampaign, our research pro-gram, Art for Healing andPlanetree as examples of excel-lence at Maimonides.

It is the first time the surveyorsever witnessed all RequiredOrganizational Practices weremet. They said our greatest chal-lenge is to maintain the highquality of care that’s wellentrenched at Maimonides.

As Gayle Campbell said at thedebriefing session attended bymany staff members: “You trulyare the leader in raising the bar!”

Maimonides has been grantedfull accreditation status byAccreditation Canada. A finalreport will be available in sixmonths.

With close to 79 percentparticipation amongstaff members, the

H1N1 vaccination clinic, heldNovember 4-6, was a success foreveryone. Infection control spe-cialists Angela Palmer and Marie-Claude Pelletier are to be com-mended for their hard work andgentle hand (!) at giving vaccines.Upon hearing of the high partici-pation rate among employees,Maimonides Executive DirectorBarbra Gold said: "Congratu-lations to all staff members whotook part. I encourage everyone

cheers!to our incredible staff

for helping us achieve

outstanding resultsin the recent survey

Thank you for your participation inthe H1N1 Vaccination Campaign!

to participate in the seasonal fluvaccination campaign to ensureyou are well protected againstinfluenza this winter."

YOU COULD WIN A LAPTOPOR PAID DAYS OFF!

The seasonal flu vaccinationcampaign takes place January25th and 26th, from 6:00 amto 6:00 pm in the smallchapel. Everyone is welcome.If you need to make anappointment at another time,please contact Marie-ClaudePelletier at ext. 2294.

Maimonides Geriatric Centre • News & Views • Winter 2010 •

Maimonides Holiday Party


Katia Alphonse-MichelNursing

Sharon ArmahNursing

Tinica BainesTechnical Services

Gabriel RongoTherapeutic Recreation

Majorie CharlesNursing

Patricia Cordero ArteagaPharmacy

Erlinda B. CortezNursing

Corey DoucetNursing

Donabel GanancialNursing

Lowella GranflorNursing

Noel GrantNursing

Zinash Habtemariam WorkuNursing

Garth JulienNursing

Communications at MaimonidesDid you know?

Lauren Schwartz and Kim Heilpern

Maimonides GeriatricCentre has a communi-cations department,

located in the administrationwing. The department handleseverything from the electronicmessages on the screens aroundthe centre, to informationalbrochures and conference mate-rials, to newsletters like the oneyou are reading now!

The communications depart-ment is also actively involved in

Foundation events like Battle ofthe Bands and the annual GolfTournament.

Maimonides has two full-timeCommunications Officers: LisaBlobstein and Lauren Schwartz.

Lisa has been at Maimonides forseven years, and is now onmaternity leave. She is beingreplaced by Kim Heilpern.Lauren has been at Maimonidessince September 2009. Drop into the communications officeand say “hi” – we are alwaysopen and interested to hear yourstory ideas and input!

Lauren Schwartz can be reachedat ext. 2287

Kim Heilpern can be reached atext. 2258

Welcometo new employees

Nidaa KarnibArchives and Patient Information

Nathaniel Kennedy-NobleTechnical Services

Jessica LabarileTherapeutic Recreation

Tyler MaclellanNutrition/Food Services

LilyPanNutrition/Food Services

Ronaliza Paran GambocNursing

Karuna PatelNursing

Nickesha PatrickNursing

Marie-Claude PelletierNursing

Rhea RamirezNursing

Patrick ReidNutrition/Food Services

Edgar SabadoNursing

Lauren SchwartzCommunications

Jessica SeidmanSocial Services

Lindy Grace SevilloNursing

Steven SzaboRehabilitation Services

Genevieve M.D. TalbotNursing

Otilia Mihaela Vasiliu GogaPharmacy

Maria Ermie VivoNursing

Marie-Denise VoltaireNursing

Djessa Michel ZirigaTechnical Services

WelcomeNidaa Karnib Nidaa Karnib is succeedingDebbie Scipio as head ofarchives and patient informa-tion. Nidaa has a Mastersdegree in Health CareAdministration from theUniversity of Montreal. Prior tocoming to Maimonides, Nidaawas project manager in mentalhealth at CSSSS Montreal Northand CSSSS Jeanne Mance.Nidaa can be reached at ext.2299.


Healing CircleDid you know?

Debbie ScipioAfter fifteen years at Maimonides,Debbie Scipio is retiring. WhileDebbie is known to work quietly(and efficiently!) in her well organ-ized office, as the head ofMaimonides’ Health Information

Centre, she does some very important work.Debbie helped create and expand our residentdatabase, which now contains up to 250 pieces ofinformation for each resident!With such information close at hand, the databasecan also easily offer up data like the average age ofa Maimonides resident (86.5 oldest = 104.7youngest = 30.5), how many residents are over theage of 100 (there are 8 residents who are 100 &older, in 2010 there are 7 residents who will beturning 100) and the average length of stay atMaimonides (2.9 years).As she looks forward to retirement, Debbie says shewill take away with her an incredible amount ofadmiration for the healthcare and administrativestaff of Maimonides. She says her respect for hercolleagues almost held her back from retiring, andhas made her decision to leave difficult.But since making her decision, Debbie is lookingforward to all the “good things” that come withretirement – most importantly, her first grandchildwho’s expected in March! Debbie is also lookingforward to spending more time at her home in

Maine, travelling and visiting friends in other cities,and being able to just stay home during a snow-storm!

Lucie CharlandAfter 11 years at Maimonides,Lucie Charland is bidding us “aurevoir”.As Planetree coordinator, Luciefeels this is the right time to «passthe torch », as we are on track toreaching our goals.

Lucie is going back to her passion of nursing, in herfuture endeavour as a head nurse in the privatesector, closer to her home in Longueuil. At a party held in her honour, Lucie gave her ownpersonal goodbye. Here is an excerpt:…The very first time I set foot in Maimonides, whatstruck me right away were the smiles on the faces ofresidents and staff members. Everybody seemedpeaceful and happy, confident also... Thank you toall Maimonides departments for being such goodpartners. Your team work, friendship and supportwas always appreciated.

XXXLucie Charland

Healing servicestake place eachmonth for resi-

dents on floors 4 – 7.

The program features readingsand songs in both English and Hebrew, to help thehealing process.

In the past, Maimonides staff members were able to

benefit from Healing Circles. The informal groupmeetings offered an opportunity to discuss andcope with issues such as loss and grief in a non-threatening spiritual format. Staff members of allfaiths and backgrounds shared in readings, songs,and took turns talking and listening to one another.

If you are interested in seeing the Healing Circlestarted up again or in participating, or to help organ-ize a healing circle for staff, please contact RabbiWolff at ext. 2281.


advantage because you’re not outsiders, you’respeaking from the perspective of being within thegeriatric center. You guys know what goes on!” When I told Aleem about the idea, his confidencewent through the roof and he acquired the perfectinstrumental within the same week. As we beganwriting the song together, I noticed the passion inhis lyrics. Moments later, he read to me what I feltwere the most powerful and meaningful words Ihad heard musically in recent time.

“And now it’s time I return what you have given me You spoon fed me young now I do it for you willinglyHarry Bubis, your heart beats next to meAnd when you’re gone this song will be your memory”

These four bars depict the irony of the life cycle, asAleem speaks of his grandfather figure who hap-pens to be a resident at Maimonides. After writingthose epic words, the song was recorded the verynext day. It was done so well that we’ve decided itwill be the single of our project that will spearheadour album. The title of the song is “MaimonidesMovement” and it will be performed January 20th

in the synagogue for the celebration of Planetree.

Lance

As we celebrate our 100th

anniversary at Maimonides in2010, it will be an extra-specialspecial year for Planetree eventsas well. Planetree events will runthroughout 2010 and the themethis year is “The Year ofDance” – due to the immensepopularity of dance-relatedactivities from last year’s ses-sions.

A Year of PlanetreeThe grand launch for Planetreeyear takes place January 20th

in the synagogue, from2:00 – 3:30 pm. The event willfeature a performance and songwritten in honour of Maimonidesby our very own (and talented!)staff members, AleemMohammed and Lance Daniel.There will also be special danceperformances featuring Latinstyle, ballroom and Greekdance.

Complementing the many danceactivities throughout the year,there will also be luncheons andeducational sessions offered, ontopics ranging from back healthto business etiquette to laughteryoga!Keep your eyes peeled for ourinformational flyers and the elec-tronic screens for up-to-date infoon all the Planetree activities youdon’t want to miss!

Within the confines of Maimonides, mostknow us as “Lance & Aleem,” but to theMontreal music scene we’re known as

“North Starz.” Musically, we have no barriers asrelates to the age or gender of our targeted audience.Kadeem Peters, a fellow housekeeper in Maimonidessays: “They make feel-good music for everyone.” I was working in the kitchen department one week-end when Mr. Mac approached me with his usualconfident smile. He threw out the idea of making asong about Maimonides. At first I was hesitant, buthe convinced me when he said: “You guys have an

A Letter from Lance


Have you checked out the PACC LearningInstitute on the 2nd floor yet? The state-of-theart learning facility welcomed its first group

of students in November. The first phase of classesoffers training for PAB’s. The class of 18 students isled by instructor Nick Liapis, who says his studentsare all excited and eager to work in geriatrics.

Maimonides is the first facility of its kind to integratean on-site training center like PACC, which is runthrough the Lester B Pearson School Board. TheMaimonides Foundation will finance and supportthis modern teaching environment which willinclude fixed and portable computer facilities, on-site training and access to current procedures and

programs. Tuition is free!

The second phase of the program will be forRegistered Nursing Assistants and is scheduled tobegin in 2010.

For more information on PACC programs offeredat Maimonides, contact WAAVE (WelcomingAgency for Adult and Vocational Education) at514-732-7766 or email [email protected]

The Maimonides PACC Learning Institute is locat-ed on the 2nd floor (near the Health InformationLibrary) in the newly renovated RBC DominionSecurities-Quallenberg Wealth ManagementRoom.

PACC at Maimonides

Health and Safety Day

took place at

Maimonides in

November. Various kiosks

were set up throughout the

lobby, inviting staff members

and visitors to learn more

about such topics as fire safe-

ty, infection control, and tips

for a healthy back. Many lucky

people took advantage of a 20-

minute chair massage, and staff

members were also fitted for

the new H1N1 safety masks.

Health and Safety Day


And the Lucky Winners are...

For a seventh straight year, theMaimonides Battle of the Bands™was a sellout success! Close to 2-thou-

sand people attended the rock shows overthe two-night event at Metropolis. Battle ofthe Bands featured distinctive performanc-es from eight bands which brought thecrowd to their feet, and better yet, helpedraise close to 250-thousand dollars forMaimonides!

Monies raised go toward the Suite Dreams campaign - a capital renovation project to refurbish allof the resident living spaces. The $7 million project will be completed in 2010, ahead of schedule and onbudget, completely funded by donor dollars. This transformation is truly improving our residents’ qualityof life - a testament to More Than Care in our 100th anniversary year.

Thanks to all the volunteers from Maimonides who continue to help make the Battle of the Bands the suc-cess that it is, year after year.

Maimonides Battle of the Bands™

STAFF WEARING I.D. CARDS DRAW

Andrew Samuel, PAB on 7th floor (basket)Dr. Angelo Burkas, 2nd floor (basket)

Agnes Bautista, companion on 3rd South ( basket)

ACCREDITATION TOP 10 QUESTION DRAWRuperta Messiha (basket)

Linda Sohmer (hockey tickets)

Maimonides Holiday Party - Donald Berman Maimonides Winter 2010 • For the staff of Maimonides...

Documents

Transcript of Maimonides Holiday Party - Donald Berman Maimonides Winter 2010 • For the staff of Maimonides...