Programs & Services
Resident Seasonal 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.
SPECIALIZED DEMENTIA CARE
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.
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.
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).
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: