Ocean View Community
1909 Caldwell Rd B3G 1M4 Eastern Passage, NS, Canada

*ASK US ABOUT SIGNING & OTHER WORK RELATED BONUSES FOR THOSE JOINING THE TEAM!* Are you 18+ and looking for an opportunity to make a difference that doesn't require formal education? Find your purpose in this unprecedented time - join the Regional Care Unit team! Our friends at Port City Home Services are seeking In-Home Support Workers to support Ocean View's Regional Care Unit. These real life healthcare heroes will support long term care seniors who are ill with COVID-19,... and will be recognized them with ONE-YEAR TERM POSITIONS, BONUSES AND BENEFITS! What skills can YOU contribute to this team? Visit www.portcityhomeservices.ca/join-our-team to learn more today.

*ASK US ABOUT SIGNING & OTHER WORK RELATED BONUSES FOR THOSE JOINING THE TEAM!* Find your purpose in this unprecedented time - join the Regional Care Unit team at Ocean View! We are seeking real life healthcare heroes to support long term care seniors who are ill with COVID-19, and we're recognizing them with ONE-YEAR TERM POSITIONS, BONUSES AND BENEFITS! What skills can YOU contribute to this team? Visit www.oceanv.ca/careers to learn more today.

The province has recognized the need to support long term care (LTC) homes differently to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Regional Care Units will allow LTC residents who are ill with COVID-19 to be transferred to a space where they can be cared for by teams who are specially focused on COVID-19 infection prevention and care. Ocean View in Eastern Passage has been chosen to manage a Regional Care Unit. This Regional Care Unit (RCU) may care for residents from a number of loca...l nursing homes, should they fall ill with COVID-19. As an organization whose vision is to be the community of choice for Nova Scotian’s needing support, and with values of innovation and collaboration, we feel it’s our duty to be a part of this solution. Through conversation with our team and residents over the past weeks, we have been pleased and proud to hear that they also believe it is our duty to help in this way. The RCU at Ocean View will operate as a stand-alone unit, totally separated from Ocean View resident care areas and accessible only through exterior doors and a secure tunnel. We have worked with Infection Prevention and Control consultants in the planning of the RCU, and are confident in their assessment that it can be operated safely on our property. We continue to care deeply for the safety of our residents, families, staff and community. More information about the RCU, including a detailed FAQ, is available at www.oceanv.ca/RCU

Our friends at Maritime Race Weekend always make an effort to support our residents and our important work. This year has been challenging for them, as with all not-for-profits. Although the 2020 Race Weekend has been postponed, not-for-profits like Maritime Race Weekend have ongoing costs. So they're doing a 50/50 fundraiser! Support them if you can - who knows, you might win! Click below to visit their Facebook post and find more details!

*ASK US ABOUT GREAT SIGNING & OTHER WORK RELATED BONUSES FOR THOSE JOINING THE TEAM!* Find your purpose in this unprecedented time - join the Regional Care Unit team at Ocean View! We are seeking real life healthcare heroes to support long term care seniors who are ill with COVID-19, and we're recognizing them with ONE-YEAR TERM POSITIONS, BONUSES AND BENEFITS! Visit www.oceanv.ca/careers to learn more today.

Members of our community should be sure to check this out! The survey is available at http://surveys.novascotia.ca/SoutheasternCHBsurvey

As cases of COVID-19 grow within Nova Scotia, we want to let you know that we will be moving back to quarantining items that are delivered for residents, as of Tuesday, Nov. 17th. This means: As the holiday season draws closer, families who would like to ensure a present is received by a resident by Dec. 25th should plan ahead and arrange to drop-off the gift by Dec. 18th via the directions below. Keep in mind that any gifts may need to be cleaned/laundered.... At this time, residents will receive delivered items at least 48 hours after they’re delivered. Please keep in mind that weekends may delay the delivery to the resident if the item is delivered later in the week, as we don’t have reception support on weekends. Designated Caregivers and Indoor Visitors will no longer be able to bring items with them for the resident when they enter the facility. Perishable items can no longer be delivered for residents (items requiring refrigeration; treats; homemade baked goods; fresh fruit and vegetables, etc.). To drop-off an item for a resident at this time, call reception in advance at 902-465-6020 ext. 0. Bring non-perishable items at the agreed upon time to our front entrance in a clear bag, labelled with the resident’s name (see below for example)! These deliveries will be made through our front entrance (road-side), Monday Friday, 9 am 12 pm (excluding holidays). You must call reception in advance at 902-465-6020 ext. 0 to schedule your drop-off! We are grateful that we had the period of time when we were comfortable accepting deliveries without quarantine as we are sure you are as well but at this time we believe it’s not safe to continue in this way. We hope that things will change in the community, and we will feel comfortable allowing deliveries without quarantine again soon. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

For many members of our Ocean View community, Remembrance Day is a time for reflection, a time to honour those who have bravely served our country, and a day to share stories of the past. We're lucky to be able to spend time, day-in and day-out, experiencing the richness of the stories our seniors have to share about their own lives. And although today is a bit different than years past, we are still striving today to hear and honour the lives and stories of our veterans. Happy Remembrance Day!

At this time, we have made the difficult decision to suspend Offsite Visits to the Family Home for our residents, due to growing cases of COVID-19 within Nova Scotia. We are grateful that we had the period of time when we were comfortable allowing this - as we are sure you are as well - but at this time we believe it's not safe to continue. We hope that things will change in the community and we will feel comfortable allowing this again soon. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

The government recently announced that we can now facilitate opportunities for residents to leave our facility to visit with family in a family home! We are eager to hear which family members are interested in taking advantage of this opportunity so we can plan accordingly. We are creating a list of those who would be interested in taking their loved one off-site for a visit to their family home. WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED? PLEASE LET US KNOW at 902-465-6020 ext. 2142 or email [email protected]. We're asking that you please express your interest by OCTOBER 9TH, so we can get to work on the logistics needed to move forward with this exciting change! Some things to think about as you're considering this: - Can your loved one be safely transported to your home? Are they able to get in and out of your vehicle or the other transportation you would be able to coordinate? Not sure? We can chat about this when you get in touch! - Is your family home accessible to your loved one? This loosening of restrictions by the government is intended to let folks visit their family at home and DOES NOT include taking your loved one for a leisurely drive or to public spaces to visit at this time. It also doesn't permit overnight trips or visits outside of the Atlantic provinces. - During an Off-Site Visit to the Family Home, residents and their families must follow public health measures and infection prevention measures. We will share a detailed description of these with families who want to move forward with this type of off-site visit! We are creating a list of those who would be interested in taking their loved one off-site for a visit to their family home. WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED? PLEASE LET US KNOW at 902-465-6020 ext. 2142 or email [email protected].

Our community is important to us here at Ocean View, so once a year we like to share our Annual Report to the community to let folks know about our recent accomplishments. We have just shared our 2019-20 Annual Report on our website. Please enjoy it here: https://oceanv.ca//20/09/Final_OV-Annual-Report-201920.pdf

We wanted to let you know that our team is hard at work reviewing the new information communicated by the government on Sept. 23rd regarding offsite visits with family for residents in long term care. The team is discussing what these changes will look like at our facility, and we will have more information for you soon!

As we move forward together through this very unique time, we’re always looking at what changes can be made to balance risk and quality of life for our residents. With this in mind, we think it's time to make some changes to restrictions regarding the deliveries of items for residents at our facility. At this time, items will no longer need to be quarantined when they are delivered for a resident. With this change, there will be a few ways to drop-off gifts and items to resi...dents: - Indoor visitors can hand (non-perishable) items/gifts to the resident during a visit. Please note: At this time government restrictions require the resident to wear a mask throughout the indoor visit, so keep in mind that the item/gift cannot be consumed during the visit, if applicable! - Designated Caregivers can bring (non-perishable) items with them when they enter the facility. - Loved ones can also still set up a drop-off time outside of the above-mentioned visits by calling reception in advance at 902-465-6020 ext. 0 and bringing the item at the agreed upon time to our front entrance in a clear bag, labelled with the resident’s name! (Please note: At this time we are still not able to accept perishable items for residents including items requiring refrigeration; homemade baked goods; fresh fruit and vegetables).

Our friends at Port City Home Services are seeking a Temporary Full Time In-Home Support Worker to work in Musquodoboit Harbour at The Birches Nursing Home. Benefits include $18/hour pay for this position, plus a $25.00 per shift gas allowance (some conditions may apply). The In-Home Support Worker role is perfect for those 18+ years of age who want to help Port City Home Services provide support to local seniors... To find out more and apply today, visit: www.oceanv.ca/careers

On World Patient Safety Day, WHO is calling for collective action to support and promote health worker safety as a priority for patient safety. Speak up for health worker safety!

Ocean View, in partnership with The Birches Nursing Home and Port City Home Services employs approximately 450 employees. The President & CEO is seeking to complement the skills of the leadership team by recruiting a seasoned Occupational Health and Safety Nurse (RN) effective immediately. Reporting to the President & CEO, the OH/S Nurse will manage all types of employee illness and injury that has resulted in leave. The incumbent will identify employee safety and health nee...ds through observation, interviews, medical documentation review, and analyze records and trends. The OH/S Nurse participates in a variety of internal and external initiatives to promote a healthy and safe workplace. S/he may also support individuals whose performance is impacted by the inability to fully engage/perform in their vocation at work. Visit www.oceanv.ca/careers to find out more and apply today! See more

Dear Ocean View families and loved ones, We were thrilled to read that Government is further easing restrictions to long-term care and introducing the option for Designated Caregivers to join us in our facility as an added layer of support for our residents. Designated Caregivers will be welcomed at Ocean View after completing the below process to become designated and trained! Based on government directives, who can be a Designated Caregiver in long term care at this time?...Continue reading

Our President & CEO Dion shares some information for clients, families and the community as of Sept. 1, 2020.

Dear Ocean View families and loved ones: We know as the weather grows colder, many of you have wondered how you will continue to comfortably visit your loved one here at Ocean View. Fortunately, we have heard from the provincial government this week, and they have lifted some further restrictions on long term care. With all of this in mind, we are thrilled to announce that we will be switching to Indoor Visits at Ocean View, beginning Sept. 9th! What do you need to know about... indoor visits? Based on provincial restrictions, only 1 visitor will be permitted to visit a resident at a time from the list of visitors provided by the resident/substitute decision maker. However, there is no limit to the number of family members and friends that can be added to the list. As per provincial restrictions, during the visit, both the visitor and resident will wear a mask; sit at a 6 foot distance; and perform hand hygiene. Visitors will now need to wear a medical mask, which will be provided should you not have your own. During an Indoor Visit, you will still be able to give a quick HUG or a pat on the back, as both parties will be wearing a mask! Visits must happen in a designated area. As per the provincial guidelines, staff will accompany visitors from the entry to the designated area when you arrive. We know family members have very much missed being a part of their loved one’s day-to-day life, but at this time visitors are still not permitted to assist at mealtime on the neighbourhood; help with personal care; attend activities with the resident; etc. To book your Indoor Visit, please call 902-465-6020 ext. 2176 on Mondays or Tuesdays, 9:00 am 3:00 pm. If you leave a voicemail, note that the appointment is not confirmed until you receive a callback. All indoor visitors must remain aware of the possible impacts of COVID-19 in long term care, and the importance of following all safety practices to prevent unknowing transmission of COVID-19 to our vulnerable senior population. Please help keep your loved one safe. If you are unwell, we ask that you stay home and alert us at 902-465-6020 ext. 2176. We will gladly reschedule. We are also happy to continue offering: Skype/Facetime/Zoom visits Window visits Questions? Concerns?: Please reach out to us at [email protected] !

Volunteers add such value and vibrancy to all we do. To the volunteers who support us and have us in their hearts at this time, thank you so much for being part of our community. We miss you! https://www.cbc.ca//nursing-homes-pandemic-recreation-covi

We want to let you know that we are currently reviewing the new information released by the provincial government yesterday regarding long term care restrictions, and reviewing what changes we will be making at our facility! As always, keeping our residents safe from harm continues to be our first priority. We will have more information to share with you soon!

A friendly reminder to outdoor visitors: We know this continues to be a tough time for all, as we strive to keep our seniors safe. We know there is so much to remember when you're coming for a visit! We want to take the quick opportunity to remind outdoor visitors of two restrictions: - Unfortunately, at this time, provincial guidelines permit visitors to only stop for a quick hug. This means stopping to pose for a group photo is not possible at this time. We know you miss do...cumenting memories with your loved one, but for now you'll have to get creative in order to do so without a group photo! - At this time, we can't allow gifts and other items to be passed from a visitor to a resident during a visit. We are still accepting scheduled deliveries of items through our front entrance, and we'll gladly coordinate if you just give us a call! See our previous post about how to schedule, or see our website for details! We greatly appreciate your continued cooperation, understanding and patience! If you have any questions, please reach out at [email protected]

Friendly Reminder to all Family and Friends of our Residents: When we began accepting deliveries of items from families and friends in June, we communicated some restrictions to help residents receive their items safely. Are you planning on dropping off items to a resident? Please ensure you check off all of the boxes below as you prepare your package: Did you call ahead to coordinate the delivery? If no, please call reception in advance at 902-465-6020 ext. 0. ... All deliveries must be scheduled in advance for Mon. Fri., 9 AM 12 PM (excluding holidays). Do you have the items in a clear plastic bag? Is your plastic bag labelled with the resident’s name? Did you ensure your delivery does not contain perishable foods/items? We can not accept these at this time. Reminder: items may be laundered/cleaned & will be quarantined for at least 72 hours*. *Quarantine may be longer should items reach 72 hours of quarantine during the weekend when our admin team is not available. Ex. items dropped off on a Wednesday would not be received by the resident until the following Monday. We love seeing our residents receiving items that make them smile! Working together and following these simple steps, we can make sure they keep receiving these precious items safely and efficiently! Thanks for your cooperation!

An update from Dion on July 21, 2020: https://youtu.be/Me7tljuqQjY

The long-term care (LTC) sector in Nova Scotia, and across Canada, is receiving a lot of attention due to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic. While LTC administrators have been focused on providing the care that they are so proud to deliver in Nova Scotia, many politicians, care advocates and labour groups have offered their advice and recommendations on the critical changes needed to fix the challenges that have been plaguing the sector for years. Now with the NS government ...set to launch two reviews under the Quality Improvement Information Protection Act, members of the NHNSA are putting a face to the realities that exist in nursing homes across the province. While the events of the last three months may have shone a spotlight on the challenges, most LTC administrators in Nova Scotia would tell you that the system has been teetering on the edge for years, with inadequate infrastructure, unacceptable staffing support and a governing piece of legislation that has been outdated for decades. There is much work to be done This excerpt is part of the introduction to a Position Paper recently released by Nursing Homes of Nova Scotia Association. As members of the NHNSA, we invite you to read the full paper here: https://oceanv.ca/enough-talk-position-paper-from-nhnsa/

Dear Ocean View families and loved ones: As you have likely heard, the provincial government has recently announced changes to the restrictions placed on long term care at this time. Each facility must decide what we can safely implement, while continuing to ensure the safety of all. We are thrilled to announce the following changes to our Outdoor Visits based on these new directives from the provincial government:...Continue reading

Learn online and on campus, turning your compassion into a rewarding career that’s in demand across Nova Scotia.

Tomorrow marks the beginning of Halifax Pride Week, and although this is a truly unique kind of year, our local LGBTQ2SIA+ community is resilient in a way that really resonates with us in long-term care! So Halifax Pride will still be a celebration this year, with safety in mind! Check out https://www.halifaxpride.com/ for more details on how you can get involved online or (safely) in person! Diversity is an important topic in long term care, as the senior population we serve... is as wonderfully diverse as our broader community! However, there continues to be much to learn to ensure we support diverse and marginalized groups in our work. "Many LGBTQ2SIA+ folks still experience discrimination in employment and housing, bullying, harassment, and alienation all because of who they are, says our President & CEO Dion Mouland. In 2020, Dion established a formal Diversity In Action Committee for Ocean View and the Birches. The Committee will help ensure both organizations offer a safe and welcoming space for seniors in the LGBTQ2SIA+ community, as well as other marginalized groups who need support living well as they age. Staff who are interested in joining this committee are encouraged to reach out to Dion via the details provided on itacit! And what can we all do this month to celebrate the diversity in our own Ocean View community? I encourage you to reach out during Pride week to your colleagues and neighbours, many of whom are members of the LGBTQ2SIA+ community, says Dion, We will appreciate the support in celebrating our differences, and the important contributions we make to society through our work and neighbourhood activities!" Happy Halifax Pride Week!