Dear Families,
The RK truly values your feedback and we greatly appreciate your completing the Family and Friend Satisfaction Survey that was recently mailed out to you.
However, since we are in the midst of a Canada Post strike, we ask that you please drop off your completed survey in the main lobby of the RK.
The deadline for these surveys is December 13,2024.
Thanks everyone,
– Terry, CEO
A Campaign Update Due to the On-going Postal Strike
The RK Foundation is in the midst of their “Lights of Love “Campaign with the goal of raising funds for two resident blanket warmers. As a result of the Canada Post strike, we would appreciate if donations can be dropped off at the RK to ensure donors are acknowledged during the December 8th Lights of Love celebration. Donation forms are available in the front lobby and the completed forms can be dropped off at the front desk. Option #2 – please reach out to CanadaHelps.org to make a donation.
How you can help with the campaign: It would be greatly appreciated if you would forward this message to family members/ friends of your loved one so they are aware of the Lights of Love Campaign and that donations may be made here at the RK or online at CanadaHelps.org.
For more information on this years campaign please visit our 2024 Campaign Page.
This morning we’re revisiting our Core Values Video from August, 2023. It’s a wonderful showcase and reminder to us as an RK Community of the importance of living our Core Values each and every day in support of our mission and vision.
POSITION: Resident Support Worker (RSW)
DEPARTMENT: Clinical Services
RESPONSIBLE TO: Director of Clinical Services
The Long-Term Care Assistant (LTCA) role at R.K. MacDonald Nursing Home is a supportive position that contributes to the activities of daily living for the residents. LTCAs directly report to the Director or Manager of Clinical Services. The LTCAs are a vital part of the multidisciplinary health care team that work alongside the Continuing Care Assistants (CCA) and licensed employees; Registered Nurses (RN) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN). The LTCA is responsible to the Team Lead RN or LPN in the Care Area. They are assigned to work throughout the home and provide extra support to the care area they are working in. The LTCA is a team player, who is resident centered in their role. They are adaptable to changes of environment and needs that arise during the day. A good work ethic, initiative, and ability to meet the physical demands in a fast pace environment is essential in this role
We are committed to upholding the Human Rights of all R.K MacDonald employees, including the right of all people to enjoy a physically and psychologically safe work environment; the right of all people to just and favorable terms of employment; and the right of all people to be respected and valued for their differences with equitable opportunities and outcomes in an inclusive environment where all can thrive.
RESPONSIBLITIES:
Daily coordination of the following duties as part of the broader Circle of Care:
SAFE WORK PRACTICES/RESPONSIBLITIES
The R.K MacDonald Occupational Health and Safety Home Policy establishes employee expectations for working safely. To achieve these expectations employees at all levels of the organization must adhere to Core Values of Safety and Safety Responsibilities listed below:
TRAINING PROVIDED ON SITE
POSITION SPECIFIC COMPE
All interactions, care delivery and presentation of self to others is congruent with the Mission, Vision and Core Values (Compassion, Accountability, Respect, Excellence and Safety)
EDUCATION/EXPERINENCE
NOTE: LCTA – Replaced Resident Support Worker role May 2024. Reference for Job Description: Continuing Care Release Long Term Care Assistant (LTCA) Sept 25, 2019
On September 12, 2024, the RK MacDonald wore pink to signify that bullying is unacceptable in our workplace – and that we as a community will not accept bullying. Our Core Values of Compassion, Respect, and Safety define our culture and our role modeling of our Core Values is an effective way to help a bully stop being a bully!
Staff during the Anti-Bullying Day 2024 at the RK MacDonald
For Anti-Bullying Day staff were requested to:
“People say sticks and stones may break your bones, but names can never hurt you, but that’s not true. Words can hurt. They hurt me. Things were said to me that I still haven’t forgotten.” – Demi Lovato
“I allowed myself to be bullied because I was scared and didn’t know how to defend myself. I was bullied until I prevented a new student from being bullied. By standing up for him, I learned to stand up for myself” – Jackie Chan
“We explain when someone is cruel or acts like a bully, you do not stoop to their level. Our motto is when they go low, you go high.” – Michelle Obama
“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.” – Desmond Tutu
Family Council during the Anti-Bullying Day 2024 at the RK MacDonald
To do nothing reinforces the bully’s behavior is acceptable – it’s never acceptable!
Dear Family Members
The R. K. Family Council is a council of family members who meet regularly to provide feedback on our services and discuss ways to enhance the R.K. MacDonald Nursing Home community. The Family Council advocates on behalf of R.K. residents to acknowledge excellence in care, identify and respond to issues that affect residents’ quality of life, plan activities for residents, families, and staff, and support each other. As a Council, we function as an independent committee and work collaboratively with the Administration of the Home.
At present, the Council is recruiting new members and asks that if wish to join the Council or wish to receive information about the role of the Council, please contact the Administrative Executive Assistant at cathy.brouwer@rkmacdonald.ca or visit our website at https://www.rkmacdonald.ca/family-council/
Once we have received your contact information, we will put you in touch with the Chair of the Family Council for follow-up to inform you of the next Council meeting. Past Council minutes can be viewed at https://www.rkmacdonald.ca/family-council/
The RK MacDonald Nursing Home Years Of Service Awards Dinner was held on June 17, 2024. Fifteen staff members were celebrated with one having served 45 years, five celebrating twenty-five years and three twenty-years. Unfortunately we do not have pictures of everyone but please enjoy the below images of the events.
Present at the dinner were :
The Staff Members being honored were:
We would like to thank everyone for their many years of service and the care and passion they bring to their jobs and the lives of the residents at The RK MacDonald Nursing Home.
“Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success”
As we move forward from 2023 into 2024, on behalf of the Board of Directors, we welcome you to our AGM for the fiscal year ending March 2024. I want to extend a special thank you to all the RK MacDonald staffs, Senior Leadership team, and our stakeholders, that have made the commitment along with their dedication to improve the lives of our Residents and Families. Additionally, I would also like to thank the Board of Directors for their true heartedness and investment to the organization.
The Board is truly appreciative for the past and present RK Foundation members on their 30th Anniversary, and for their ongoing and generous support. The donor’s contributions have certainly impacted the lives of the residents and staffs. To the volunteers that support the Home and Residents we are very grateful for all you do.
The Board from post pandemic to resuming normalcy in 2023 marked the 65th year of our relationship with the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Martha. Although the Congregation has not been involved in the management of the Home since 1971, the Congregation continues to support the Corporation’s governing body. The Congregation appoints one-third (1/3) of the membership of the Board of Directors and continues to play an active role in reviewing amendments to the by-laws of the Corporation.
There are twelve (12) Board of Directors, four of which are appointed by the Municipality of the County of Antigonish and the Town of Antigonish and the Sisters of St Martha. The Board has five (5) working committees; Executive, Quality Safety & Governance, Finance, Infrastructure Renewal, Building & Grounds. Chairs of the Committee report to both the Board Chair and Directors monthly. The Board of Directors have a fiduciary duty to ensure the Cooperation is well managed and in a stable financial position.
The Board was thrilled with the Nursing Home’s award and recognition from the National Accreditation which was conducted in December 2023. The RK MacDonald received the award of full accreditation with commendation. This most certainly reflects the organization’s staff’s dedication and expertise that everyone on the team at the RK MacDonald Home brings with them in their role each and everyday. Planning for an onsite accreditation visit was a significant undertaking and required the whole organization and Board to come together to prepare.
Download the Annual Progress Report 2023 – 2024
Other key milestones achieved last year:
Board Governance:
Board Professional Development:
Culture:
Electronic Charting:
Financial Audit – 2023:
Infrastructure Renewal:
Medical Director:
Strategic Plan:
As the Chair of the Board, it remains an honour to work with the Leadership Team and Directors of the Board to strengthen the organization and deliver efficient governance and support the organization to strive and experience growth as a Long-Term Care facility, in providing care for our residents, their families and our valued staff.
Sincerely ,
Camilla Benoit,
Chair of the RK MacDonald Nursing Home
Download the Annual Progress Report 2023 – 2024
You are invited to attend the R.K. MacDonald Annual General Meeting!
Thursday June 27th, 2024
5:30 pm
The RK Chapel
This is a great opportunity to meet our Board of Directors who are Representatives of The Town of Antigonish, The Municipality of the County of Antigonish, and The Congregation of the Sisters of St Martha.
Our Guest Speaker will be Dr. Katie Aubrecht, Canada Research Chair in Health Equity and Social Justice and Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology at StFX.
There will be light refreshments served in the Main Dining Room following the AGM honoring the Foundation’s 30 year anniversary.
Due to space limitations we ask that you RSVP to Cathy.Brouwer@rkmacdonald.ca by June 24, 2024.
RK MacDonald staff were delighted to once again attend the Continuing Care Association of Nova Scotia’s (CCANS) Annual Conference and AGM at White Point Beach on June 12-14, 2024.
Topics of discussion were Emergency Management, Hot Topics in Health Care, and Culture Change From An Architectural Lens. Presenters included Noella Martin of law firm Burchell Wickwire Bryson, Adjunct Professor at Dalhousie University Benjie Nycum, the President/CEO for SHIFT Strategies Lori Anne Jones, and Evan Bunkis, Shawna Larade, & Megan Macpherson of Davis Pier Consulting.
The chance to network with other continuing care organizations across the province is invaluable and ensures the RK stays abreast of the latest developments in long-term care.