Our Family Council provides opportunities for families and friends of residents to be involved in the care of their loved ones at St. Peter’s Residence at Chedoke.

Our main purpose is to be a partner in helping to improve the quality of life of residents and to give their families a voice in decisions that affect them and their loved ones.

Louise Harmsma and Kathryn Hazlewood were recognized by the Regional Geriatric Program of St. Peter’s Hospital, Affiliated with McMaster University, for valuable contributions by community members to older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. They were each presented with personalized glass trophies.

• Established in 2005 to support all families and friends of residents
• Learning opportunities called “Take a Break” for families and friends of residents
• Annual Christmas Gift Wrapping
• Petitions to the Ontario Government for increased fund for staffing of Long-Term Care homes
• Column in Thrive Alive Newsletter
• Advocated with the City of Hamilton for a Bus Shelter at 125 Redfern
• Raised $1900 for technology initiatives, specifically iPods and iPads for residents’ use
• Received 20 new E-Readers from KOBO Rakuten plus $1,000 in gift cards for e-book purchases
• Raised $1135 for Montessori Doll Therapy
• Raised $6,000 from Realtors Care Foundation for New Washers and Dryers on all Terraces
• Raised $1500 for two Palliative Care Carts
• Raised $450 to install a parking lot hedge of Ornamental Grasses
• Member of Family Council Network 4

Hello Family Caregivers,

Mark your calendars for the final event of the season. Join us for a presentation by our Administrator, Jenn Lavigne on RESULTS OF THE RESIDENT AND FAMILY EXPERIENCE SURVEY.

We’ll be online on ZOOM from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m., Thursday, June 23rd. Please see the attachment for registration details.

An events calendar for 2022/23 will arrive in your email after the summer break, by early September. If you have suggestions for topics, please let us know through Kathryn at [email protected].

See you online!

Louise Harmsma and Kathryn Hazlewood, Co-Chairs, Family Council

From September to June, Family Council provides learning opportunities through its “Take a Break” programs. We strive to provide experts on topics that family members and friends tell us are important to them.

Throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic, we have held our events online using ZOOM technology. Participation has been very rewarding. We will continue to monitor and seek the opinions of family caregivers about meeting formats in the Fall, including online and/or in-person formats and the best time of day.

Every year, in early December, family members and friends volunteer to wrap a Christmas Gift for every resident. That’s 221 presents. The gifts and supplies are purchased by the Program Area staff and funded by our home’s Administration. Each resident will find a Christmas Gift by their bedside on Christmas morning.

Your Family Council Co-Chairs submitted a letter to the City of Hamilton with rationale for a much-needed Bus Shelter outside our home on Redfern Avenue. The City approved our request and installed the shelter in 2014. Here are Co-Chairs Louise Harmsma (l.) and Kathryn Hazlewood (r.) with a former staff member as she awaits a city bus.

Family Council sent out a letter to all families of residents requesting donations for the purchase of iPods and iPads for use with residents with dementia. These devices have been allocated across the home to each Terrace for family and staff use with residents to help with memory loss.

St. Peter’s Residence Family Council was selected by Family Councils of Ontario to participate in a project to test the use of E-Readers with residents of long-term care homes. Twenty brand-new E-Readers were donated to us by KOBO Rakuten along with $1,000 in gift cards for the purchase of electronic books for the E-Readers. Although the project demonstrated that a fairy high level of skill was needed to use these readers, some residents were successful in their use. The E-Readers are available for residents, family members and friends by contacting the Program area.  Here is Connie, one of our residents, enjoying her e-reader.

Our home was able to purchase 25 fully-outfitted baby dolls and extra clothing as well to support Doll Therapy in the Program area. Research has shown that having a baby doll to hold can be a calming influence on those with dementia and can have additional benefits like reduction in wandering, more communication, nurturing feelings, and relief from hurt.

A Family Council member, in collaboration with our Administration, submitted a proposal to the Realtors Care Foundation of Hamilton and Burlington, for funding for new, heavy-duty washers and dryers for the use of family members and residents. All of the laundry rooms were re-decorated, and the new appliances installed with doors opening outward so Betty, a resident in a wheelchair, can take wash out and put it into the dryer without having to change the position of her wheelchair.  Maintenance staff sourced appliances at excellent prices so all four laundry rooms could be updated. 

A raffle was held and we raised enough money to purchase two palliative Care Carts. A cart will be placed in the room of a resident who is nearing the end of their life. Carts are supplied with items that a grieving family may need as they sit in vigil with their loved one.  Supplies include inspirational books, a lamp with soft light, a reference guide to understand the dying process, music player, snack foods, a blanket, toilet articles, and more. The home will be responsible for the upkeep and re-stocking of the carts as needed.

Family Council members approached Administration to suggest that a long row of Ornamental Grasses be planted at the front of the building in the strip of land that divides the parking area from the driveway. Connon Nurseries offered us a generous discount for the purchase of the grasses which, as they mature, are filling in nicely. Family members who sit outdoors at the building’s entrance have commented that the waving motion of the grasses in the wind is very calming to their loved ones.

Members of St. Peter’s Residence Family Council attend meetings of Family Council Network 4 which represents the 86 homes in the LHIN 4 Region (Hamilton, Niagara, Haldimand, Brant). We meet in the Fall and Spring to learn about new legislation and developments in Long-Term Care. We also share ideas for innovative activities and projects with other Councils.

At Family Council events we help each other, through staff representatives, to understand long-term care, the roles and responsibilities of staff members, and the day to day challenges at our Home. If you would like more information or would like to speak with one of our Family Council Representatives, please email [email protected] with your inquiry.