About Family Council

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.

  • Residents posing with fall table spread
  • Women posing with montessory children dolls
  • Formal band playing music for residents
  • Volunteers enjoying themselves while wrapping presents
  • Residents waiting in bus shelter
  • Residents posing with gift basket
  • Residents posing with gift baskets
  • Gift baskets
  • Residents at raffle
  • Award being presented
  • Parking lot additions
  • Volunteers helping
  • Residents posting with palliative carts
  • Popcorn day at St. Peters!

St. Peter’s Residence Family Council Co-Chairs Receive Recognition Award

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.

What Has The Family Council Achieved?

Interested in what we’re up to?

Check out our latest updates

Results of the Resident and Family Experience Survey

Cups containing delicious looking hot beverages during a coffee break

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

Learning Opportunities: “Take a Break”

Cups containing delicious looking hot beverages during a coffee break

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.

Annual Christmas Gift Wrapping

Volunteers wrapping presents on a long table

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.

Bus Shelter

3 residents standing in a bus shelter

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.

Technology Initiatives

Residents learning to use iPad with assistance from a younger male

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.

E-Readers

Elderly female resident reading book on electronic reader tablet

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.

Montessori Doll Therapy

Women holding montessori dolls of childten

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.

Washers and Dryers on all Terraces

Resident waiting for their laundry cycle to complete

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. 

Palliative Care Carts

Residents standing behind palliative care carts

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.

Ornamental Grasses: Parking Lot Beautification

Exterior photo of parking boulevard with new decorative grass features

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.

Family Council Network 4

Group of people gathered around a table with buzzwords promoting community imposed

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.

Family Council Calendar of Events

2023

Updates coming soon!


Communication is key

A Family Council can make a difference in the quality of life of every resident. We are advocates for quality care, a safe home environment, and the general well-being of residents. We act as a sounding board for new ideas and support partnership in resident care.

Become a proud, participating member of St. Peter’s Residence Family Council.

Communicating

Supporting

Learning

Caring

Communication is Key

A Family Council can make a difference in the quality of life of every resident. We are advocates for quality care, a safe home environment, and the general well-being of residents. We act as a sounding board for new ideas and support partnership in resident care.

One-on-One Support

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.

If you need someone to talk to, one of our experienced Family Council members will sit down with you, one-to-one and talk things through. You are not alone. We will be pleased to share our experiences with you and help guide you if you need to access personnel, services or research that might be of help.

Learning

Your Family Council hosts “Take a Break” education events on long-term care, roles and responsibilities of staff, and day-to-day challenges in our home.

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 an/or in-person formats and the best time of day.

  • Why should I attend a Council Meeting?

    • To meet leadership staff
    • To learn more about plans, projects and programs
    • To give feedback and share concerns
    • To ask questions and get answers
    • To support others and to be supported
  • Code of conduct – Our Family Council will:

    • Respect all opinions and voices
    • Uphold the goals of tolerance and understanding
    • Listen respectfully and allow all voices to be heard
    • Keep in mind the goals of our Family Council at all times

Be Involved

Become a proud, participating member of St. Peter’s Residence Family Council.

Our Family Council provides an opportunity for families and friends of residents to be involved in the care of their loved ones at St. Peter’s Residence at Chedoke. All family caregivers and friends of residents make up our Family Council. Please join us at our events and consider volunteering your time or talents.

Contact Family Council

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.