When I arrived at the homes, I would go to the floors with pen in hand eager to capture the magic happening in our homes each day. I talked to anyone I came across. I asked them for examples that demonstrated flexibility in meeting the individual needs of residents, where we were able to extend a sense of purpose in the lives of our residents and where we had reduced the reliance on medications thereby improving their quality of life.

What follows are some of the amazing stories about how our people apply their knowledge, live life beyond themselves and make a meaningful difference in the lives of others each and every day.

In every home, without exception, I was given examples where we had given our residents their lives back. I saw housekeepers assisting and encouraging residents. I heard of residents being given the opportunity to make a contribution to their home by helping staff make beds, set tables, clean handrails and fold laundry. I heard about an office manager, initially apprehensive about her interaction with residents, who now participates in small, intimate sing-a-longs in her office.

At West Lake Terrace, George* had come from the hospital where he was restrained and on three psychotropic medications. When he was transferred to West Lake, our staff took it upon themselves to question the medication and gradually reduce them in collaboration with our physician. Today George is free from daily doses of psychotropic medications. He is no longer restrained in any way and freely wanders the entire home. He is now lucid, living life and participating in programs, thanks to staff that believed in him.

At Streamway Villa, Ethel* is a chronic wanderer who can’t sit still long enough to eat her meal. The staff in the dining room learned to accommodate Ethel by allowing her to ‘eat on the run.’ They pass Ethel a piece of toast as she leaves the dining room to walk down the hall. As she returns to the dining room they pass her juice and the cycle continues. Given the flexibility, creativity and genuine interest of our staff, Ethel has been able to maintain her nutritional health and has actually gained weight.

At Springdale Country Manor, we used to get Mary* up at 8 a.m. for breakfast and follow our typical routine. Mary became agitated, verbally inappropriate and at times physically aggressive, to the dismay of our other residents. Our people realized that they had to change what they were doing to accommodate her. Mary was an alcoholic and diabetic who used to get up at 4 p.m. and go to sleep at 4 a.m. Our people worked together as a team to accommodate Mary’s prior life style. In collaboration with the nutritional care department, Mary now has her meals through the night, starting at 5 p.m. This is co-ordinated with the nursing in order to give Mary her insulin with her meals. With commitment and a whole lot of heart, our people restored Mary to a life style that was familiar and comfortable to her. Her level of agitation has subsided and her contentment has increased considerably.

At Burnbrae, John* is a young man with Downs syndrome. He was over stimulated with our other residents occasionally exhibiting loud outbursts and reduced appetite. Our regular programming and activities were not suited to his abilities. Once again our people took it upon themselves to find a way to accommodate John. Together with his family they converted our library into John’s Room with a TV, appropriate videos, books, musical instruments and board games. He has his own space away from the stimulation and receives one-on-one programming. He is happy and laughing and both his sleeping and appetite have improved. John has a sense of belonging in a home where he is loved.

In another example Burnbrae’s life enrichment staff incorporated a new activity called Brain Gym. This is a series of exercises and range of motions that help residents stimulate the brain to recognize the link between different parts of the body. Fred* was withdrawn and non-communicative. Having participated in this program he is now whistling and talking. He has regained his appetite, is feeding himself and is now mobile. Our staff have given of themselves, made a meaningful contribution to Fred’s life and have restored in Fred his dignity, his independence and the ability to live life to his fullest potential. His wife is delighted.

At Kentwood, one of our residents was palliative. His wife stayed with him every day until he passed away. She recently had a heart attack and was not in the best of health herself. Our people in an act of compassion, love and support took it upon themselves to provide her with a bubble bath, pampered her and blow-dried her hair. This allowed her to stay at our home and be with her husband up until the end. As she said, her husband was able to die with ‘family’ in ‘his home at Kentwood.’

At Willows, Margaret* came to us from hospital with psychiatric disorders and had given up on life. She was not walking and due to the amount of medication she was on, was rolling and chewing her tongue. By altering her medications, working with our physician and with the encouragement from our staff, Margaret is now attempting to walk. She is eating without assistance and is now able to recognize jokes (apparently laughing for half-an-hour when the doctor fell off his chair). She can recall the names of staff and is able to notice small changes like the length of some staff’s hair. This is yet another example of our people looking for opportunities to give our residents their lives back.

At Forest Hill, James* came to us on two psychotropic medications. He was sleeping during the day and up during the night. With commitment and persistence our people have been able to alter James’s medication regime and return him to sleeping at night and awake through the day, a routine that is a more familiar life pattern to him. James now has minimal reliance on psychotropic medication and he is able to communicate in English, in addition to his mother tongue, Dutch. With the belief and determination of our people, James was able to attend his daughter’s wedding this summer with two of our staff on their own time. Although, James may have struggled to recognize the people at the wedding, he rose to the occasion and stood a proud man.

The recent road trip left me inspired. I went in search of enlightening and uplifting stories. I started to see beacons of light and of hope. The more I asked the more I saw. I saw our people genuinely giving of themselves, helping co-workers without hesitation. This experience left me warm hearted and fulfilled me as an individual and CEO. I also believe it left our people feeling good about themselves and appreciated for what they do. My hope is that I was able to have them look at the significance they make in the lives of our residents, and give them cause for celebration within themselves.

Today we are surrounded by societal negativity. A world that looks for what is wrong, not what is right. A society that looks for faults in one another as opposed to the good. I do not condone nor defend what happened to Natalie Babineau as referenced in the Toronto Star. I can’t stand the thought that this individual was treated with such disrespect as a human being. I am truly sorry that this has happened in our sector.

On the other hand, it is my responsibility to stand up for our people who give of themselves every day. To bring light to the incredible stories of support, love and compassion that allows our residents to live life to their fullest potential. I plead with those reading the Star’s articles to put them into perspective. There are many more success stories than there are failures in the system. Unfortunately success stories don’t make the news and don’t sell papers. Please do not unjustly judge those who inspire hope, purpose and belonging every day. They give their heart and soul to make a difference in the lives of others. They deserve your balanced perspective.

Fraser Wilson, CEO
OMNI Health Care

* Resident’s names have been changed.