OMNI homes pull together in time of need
Friday December 7, 2007 -- Deron Hamel
When Garden Terrace director of care (DOC) Elisabeth Hinton passed away suddenly on Nov. 28, it sent shockwaves throughout the OMNI family.

For Carolyn Della Foresta, the Kanata long-term care home’s administrator, it was especially difficult. Della Foresta, who began her post only two month ago, was still learning all the ins and outs that come with the position.

As DOC, Hinton had been a mentor to Della Foresta, helping her learn the ropes and ease her transition.

“From Day 1, when I walked into this building, Elisabeth was beside me. She was such a strong support. You just knew that whatever you needed, Elisabeth was there for you and that she would support you and guide you through it,” remembers Della Foresta, who had previously worked a few blocks away at Forest Hill as life enrichment co-ordinator.

When the terrible news came Nov. 28, Della Foresta’s former co-workers immediately arrived at Garden Terrace to rally behind the staff members. When time came to inform all the staff members and residents that Hinton had passed away, Forest Hill stood shoulder-to-shoulder with their Garden Terrace colleagues.

“Within five minutes the managers of Forest Hill were at our door to hug us, to tell us it was going to be OK, to tell us they would do anything they could,” says Della Foresta.

Della Foresta’s predecessor, Karl Samuelson, a close friend of Hinton’s, was also on-hand to help break the news to residents and support staff members. Throughout the day the phones at Garden Terrace were ringing off the hook with calls from OMNI homes, as well as from other long-term care providers, who wanted to express their condolences and provide support.

All these things, says Della Foresta, illustrates the close-knit bond existing within the OMNI family.

The past week has been a time of immense challenge at Garden Terrace, says Della Foresta. With three new nurse managers and a new administrator, coupled with the loss of Hinton, there’s understandably a lot of concern amongst staff members.

Realizing that staff members needed some assurance and Della Foresta decided to bring in coffee and doughnuts one day for all shifts and pizza the following day, so everyone could sit down together and have a meal together.

“Before we could get our doughnuts, though, the social committee at Forest Hill pulled together and showed up at our door with coffee for the whole building and doughnuts for the whole building,” says Della Foresta, her voice gripped with emotion.

“And there was a beautiful, little sign on the coffee saying, ‘Your friends at Forest Hill are thinking of you and love you.’”