Category For managers

Sunset Haven in Ontario has become a haven indeed, but for birds, thanks to their innovative Bird Sanctuary Initiative started in June 2021. The property is now dotted with bird feeders and houses, attracting a variety of local bird species. Residents take part in feeding the birds, maintaining the birdhouses, and engaging in bird-watching, which has become a beloved pastime, enhancing their connection with nature.

The project not only supports local wildlife but has also brought immense joy to the residents. They’ve reported feeling a sense of peace and fulfillment from their interactions with the birds, making bird watching a highlight of their day at Sunset Haven.

Photo from Anish Lakkapragada, Unsplash

In May 2021, Sunnyside Senior Living in Oslo has transformed its rooftops into green gardens where residents can participate in gardening activities. The initiative includes raised garden beds for vegetables, flowers, and herbs, accessible to those in wheelchairs. They also incorporated bird feeders to attract local bird species, enhancing the biodiversity and providing residents with bird-watching opportunities.

Residents express joy in having a space to engage with nature, reporting improved mood and social interaction. The fresh produce is sometimes used in the residence’s kitchen, adding to the community feel.

If you cannot or do not want to install feeders, there is an alternative. The ornithology laboratory of Cornell University in the USA has put a camera in front of its feeders so we can see different species of birds coming and going live (sometimes accompanied by a squirrel). . To the right of the screen, there is a service for identifying birds. You must register your email, then confirm and access is free. You must enter the place (in this case Ithaca, USA), what the bird was doing (it was in the feeder). We must then choose between 4 sizes, then the colors and a choice of answers is given with a photo and a description. Easy enough. Binoculars and bird guides are not necessary anymore.

Other cameras have been installed in a variety of locations. For example, a camera in Texas is filming hummingbirds on adapted feeders.

I wonder if this could be displayed on the screens of the common room, the entrance or on a resident’s television set programmed by the residence …

On line or via the phone

Vent Over Tea is a free active listening service that pairs people who need to vent with a trained empathetic listener to chat. Normally, it is done in a local coffee shop; at the moment it can be held online or on the phone. Based in Montréal and founded in April 2015 by McGill psychology graduates, the goal is to provide a casual, confidential, and non-judgmental outlet for members of the community. 

Reservation is done online. Elders that must stay indoor could benefit from this service if they have access to the internet or if a member of their family or an employee of their residence could reserve for them.

Movies Granny Power and Two Raging Grannies

The Raging Grannies (or just “Raging Grannies”) are activist organizations in many cities and towns in Canada, the United States, and in other countries. They are social justice activists, all women old enough to be grandmothers, who dress up in clothes that mock stereotypes of older women, and sing songs at protests. They typically write the lyrics themselves, putting their political messages to the tunes of well-known songs. Their activism includes peace and environmental causes.

There Montreal Group has a website.

There are documentaries with Trailers entitled Granny Power from Magnus Isacssonand Two Raging Grannies from UpNorth films that could be presented in a residence.

The Raging Grannies I have met don’t live in a residence but they can visit residences to present their songs and their activities/campaigns.

Activity Kit and a Practical Guide

United Nations chose March 22th as the World Water Day.

Hand hygiene is essential to containing the spread of COVID-19, as well as other infectious diseases. 

And to wash our hands, we need water. Unfortunately, close to 3 billion people don’t have access to water to protect themselves against COVID-19.

Ecohabitation, a non-profit organization, has created an activity kit and a practical guide to make tenants in multi-unit buildings (for example residences) aware of the challenges of drinking water. It’s free and the links to the material are on their site. The documents are in french.

These could be useful to recreation technicians of residences.

Les résidences Soleil, Manoir St-Laurent won the award Prix Coup de coeur 2017 du Regroupement des résidences pour aînés du Québec  for the creation of a garden including milkweed and other pollinator plants. The project involving 8 residents was realized by an environmental group, Vert Cité. The garden became a partner of the Mission Monarque cause set up par Espace pour la vie Montréal.

This project helped residents socialize while contributing to the protection of butterflies which enhance the experience of residents in the courtyard.

Evergreen Retirement Community, in Toronto, has also initiated a project to plant milkweed around the property to support monarch butterfly populations. The gardens serve dual purposes: they act as a habitat for butterflies and provide an educational and therapeutic activity for the residents, who help plant and maintain the milkweed. Workshops on butterfly conservation are also held.

In March 2021, Monarch Villas launched the Butterfly Haven Project focusing on planting milkweed and other nectar-rich plants to create a habitat for monarch butterflies and other pollinators. This initiative aims at conservation and education, with residents involved in planting, maintaining the garden, and learning about butterfly life cycles. Special educational events are held with local schools where residents teach children about conservation.

The project has been a hit among residents, providing them with a purposeful activity that connects them with nature and the younger generation. It has also visually transformed the living space into a vibrant, colorful haven, enhancing the aesthetic appeal and mental well-being of the residents. With its name, the residence was predisposed to work on monarch protection.

Finally, at Riverside Care Facility in Virginia, the Milkweed for Monarchs project has given residents a unique opportunity to engage with nature. By planting milkweed, they’re not just gardening; they’re participating in a crucial ecological effort to save the monarch butterflies. Each plant they nurture supports the lifecycle of these beautiful creatures.

The joy of watching caterpillars transform into butterflies has brought a new sense of purpose to the residents. Their involvement in this conservation project has sparked conversations, education, and a deeper appreciation for nature’s wonders, making Riverside a place of both care and environmental stewardship.

These initiatives illustrate how assisted living and long-term care facilities can integrate sustainable practices that also enrich the lives of their residents.

In 2018, Dr Éric Malbos, Rodolphe Oppenheimer and Pr Christophe Lançon published a book entitled Se libérer des troubles anxieux par la réalité virtuelle. Psychothérapie pour traiter les phobies, l’inquiétude chronique, les troubles obsessionnels compulsifs et la phobie sociale. The translation could be Freeing oneself from anxiety with virtual reality.

My question: Could this therapy help elders suffering from anxiety with an immersion in nature? Leave your comments.

Ventas Inc. bought 87% of 34 properties of  Le Groupe Maurice for 1,8 billion American dollars. LGM will continue to manage the residences. Since the mission of ResidenConsult is to implement sustainable development, the article will discuss this aspect of the transaction.

Like Welltower Inc., Ventas gives a detailed report of its Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) performance.

Here is an example of what can be found in the report:

Compensation structure (primarily discretionary bonus incentive) is tied (in part) to successful implementation of energy reduction initiatives throughout the Ventas portfolio. Examples include, LED lighting upgrades and energy efficiency improvements to HVAC operations.

Any employee that supports the company’s efforts to manage climate change through the following types of activities may receive written and/or verbal recognition/praise from their managers, the Director of Sustainability and/or Ventas executives: a) Helps to improve consumption and emissions performance at the asset or corporate level b) Promotes efforts to reduce utility expenses via reduced consumption and improved, responsible purchasing efforts c) Identifies opportunities to actively invest capital in energy saving projects within the portfolio d) Assists in obtaining and/or maintaining ENERGY STAR certifications.

https://www.ventasreit.com/sites/default/files/pdf/Ventas-2018-CDP-Climate-Change.pdf

A general rule of thumb is that the total cost of hiring a new employee is 1,5 her annual salary (interval between 70 % & 200 %).

To keep employees, the enterprise must also maintain a good reputation and good surroundings, which involve costs. Renovations permit to reduce those costs by increasing employee satisfaction towards the enterprise and the job.

Employee satisfaction increases when air quality increases and when the air temperature is more comfortable. With natural light, they see more clearly the task to accomplish and if windows allow them to have a nice view, they appreciate it

Results are obtained with standard energy efficiency measures. Examples include natural ventilation, skylights or additional windows, access to a view or to the outdoor environment.  

You can find this information in a Quebec French adaptation of an American guide  or read the original: How to calculate and present deep retrofit value, a guide for owner-occupants, published by the Rocky Mountain Institute in the US.

Bird Watching

In 2018, a birdfeeder was installed in front of each room window of the palliative care residence, La Source Bleue. M. Pierre St-Onge, a volunteer, had this initiative; he fills the feeders with sunflower seeds twice a week. The equipment was donated by the Canadian Tire Foundation and the posters with bird pictures and names were donated by Nature Expert. The patients of this residence, located in Boucherville, Quebec, appreciate bird watching, which allows them to forget their sickness for a brief moment.

In this podcast, Marielle Savard interviews M. Pierre St-Onge. The content is not exactly the same as in the french interview.

Until you install feeders, you can watch the live cams of the Cornell University Ornithology Lab. We can see a variety of species along with a squirrel, at times.https://www.allaboutbirds.org/cams/cornell-lab-feederwatch/