Programs & Services

Mount St. Mary Hospital continues a rich tradition of care, rooted in the values passed down by our founders. We strive to create a home-like atmosphere that promotes comfort, dignity, and well-being.

Resident Seasonal Menu

Food and Nutrition Services is committed to providing nutritious and appetizing meals that are prepared on-site. Our menu is based on a 4-week cycle that promotes seasonal variety, as well as meals for special occasions. The Clinical Dietitian provides an initial assessment and nutritional care plan for each resident and on-going follow-up to promote nutrition. Cultural and general food preferences are obtained and included in meal planning.

View Resident Menu

COMMUNITY BATHING Program

Individualized bathing service provided by a skilled and caring Registered Care Assistant in a private, homelike environment. Time and attention is paid to the physical as well as emotional well-being.

More than just a bath!

Community members taking part in the program enjoy a social visit where they can be provided:

A tub bath, shampoo and blow dry
cleaning and trimming of finger and toenails
minor treatments such as application of medicated shampoo, prescription cream and dressings changes
access to the Mount St. Mary Café with complimentary tea or coffee
assistance with HandyDart bookings

The fee for this service is $5.00, which can be waived if it is a hardship. Timeslots are based on mobility needs.

Contact Bathing Spa Specialist

SPECIALIZED DEMENTIA CARE

Mount St. Mary Hospital is creating safe, engaging, and appropriate indoor and outdoor space for residents with dementia to live in, explore and enjoy. All of the components of our dementia unit have been designed to help to reduce residents’ loneliness, aggression, tension, and anxiety. These spaces promote independence and dignity and will encourage self-esteem, self-control, and self-confidence.

Butterfly Décor

Bright and colourful door “skins” at Mount St. Mary Hospital are safe and functional. Images along walls and corridors help promote the feeling of home. Additional skins have been used to personalize the door into a resident’s private room. Residents can recognize and find their own doors through, thus increasing their sense of privacy and safety.

Snoezelen Room

This is a therapeutic environment which delivers high levels of stimuli to residents with dementia. Using the Snoezelen equipment, optical illusions are combined with lighting effects, aromas, colors, textures and sounds to stimulate a resident’s senses.

There are many benefits to this type of therapy. There is often increased resident and caregiver communication (both verbal and non-verbal) as this type of therapy often reduces a resident’s fears while enhancing their trust in people. Snoezelen and sensory therapy is proven effective in calming aggressive behavior and improving mood. Snoezelen is often an effective intervention for sundowning (late day agitation).

Those living with dementia are often sensory-deprived and in a Snoezelen room they receive a steady stream of stimuli which can increase their awareness and understanding of their environment. When residents have an elevated sense of awareness—both of self and their environment—they may experience improved self-esteem and feelings of frustration and inadequacy may be reduced.

Thank you to TELUS Friendly Future Foundation and Peninsula Co-op for their incredible support of this important project.

SENSORY “PEACE” GARDEN

Our beautiful Peace Garden has been safely designed to meet the therapeutic, physical and sensory needs of people living with dementia. The flowers, shrubs, and trees are either edible or not harmful if ingested. Scented plants invoke memories and encourage reminiscing. The walking paths are designed to be non-slip and non-trip and they are well-lit, drainable, and wide. The hardscape is a loop with destination points (benches, etc.) and no dead ends so as to encourage walking while guaranteeing the garden is less confusing to navigate.

Both of our dementia houses have been renovated to create direct access from the house to the Peace Garden. Residents are able to move freely from their house to the outdoor space. They also have the choice to safely wander into the other house before returning to their home.

RESIDENT ACTIVITIES

Each resident of Mount St. Mary receives a comprehensive Recreation Therapy Assessment of their physical, intellectual, social, spiritual and emotional abilities, as well as their leisure interests. Monthly activity calendars are developed based on the assessments and on interests expressed by the residents. General recreation activities include monthly birthday parties, special/seasonal events, exercise classes, discussion groups, baking and crafts.

The Recreation Therapist facilitates both individual and small group Recreation Therapy interventions and programs to improve functional ability in all five domains of health, acquisition of skills, and/or ability to participate in general recreation programs. Recreation Therapy software is used to track programing participation and engagement.

In addition to our general activity programming, specialized activities, in our secured dementia Houses, is informed by up-to-date education on dementia-based care and facilitated by staff that have been trained in the unique needs of people living with dementia.

View Activity Calendar

MUSIC THERAPY

Accredited Music Therapists (MTAs) from the Victoria Conservatory of Music provide individual and group music therapy programs. Using music that is meaningful and familiar, music therapists provide sessions to meet the emotional, physical, spiritual and social needs of residents.

promotes relaxation
breaks through barriers to communication
builds community and sense of belonging
supports residents in their spirituality
increases functioning: physically, cognitively, socially and musically

Group programs involve singing, song writing, reminiscence, instrument playing, and relaxation to music experiences. Individual music therapy sessions are provided to residents who are in need of one on one or palliative care. Therapists use adaptive technology, such a SoundBeam to enable residents with physical challenges to express themselves through music.

Social Work

Social workers help long-term care residents and their families with mental health and well-being, and help them navigate the health care system. As key members of an interdisciplinary team, social workers help provide comprehensive care designed especially for residents. They also help residents and families understand goals of care.

In long-term care, social workers provide care and build an environment that honours the dignity of residents. Every resident is a unique individual with a rich history, and social workers ensure treatment plans reflect individual needs and strengths.

Social Workers play a key role at Mount St. Mary Hospital by:

Facilitating all new admissions to Mount St. Mary Hospital, once identified by Island Health
Supporting residents and their families during their transition to long term care
Supporting residents and their families navigating the health care system and assisting in accessing community resources
Facilitating a monthly Family and Friends of Mount St. Mary support group
Supporting residents and families in their palliative care journey
Collaborating and consulting with team members, such as nursing , recreation therapy, and occupational therapy to provide cohesive care to the resident
Providing supportive counselling to residents as needed
Providing emotional support to families as it pertains to their loved one
Ensuring that a resident’s right to self determination and independence is honoured whenever possible
Providing education and resources to resident’s and family such as dementia care and stages of dementia
Referring to the Public Guardianship and Trustee when needed

Spiritual Care

“Spiritual care is not only for those who identify with a religion . . . Spiritual care helps individuals live their lives in a manner that is most meaningful for them. Beyond religion, it encompasses aspects of psycho-social-spiritual support, including social, recreational, physical, occupational and religious activities.”

Spirituality is a dimension of health. A Spiritual Care Practitioner (SCP) is a member of the health care team that can help you understand your unique health journey in light of your personal beliefs, values, relationships and experiences. Spiritual healthcare is confidential, inclusive, compassionate, and respectful and SCPs are skilled in providing philosophical, spiritual, and religious patient care across beliefs, cultural perspectives, and practices. They address Spiritual distress (experiences of loss of meaning and connection in relation to yourself, to others and to what you understand as greater) and promote spiritual well-being (connection in relation to yourself, to others and to what you understand as greater).