News and Updates for June 2024 | |
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Welcome to the June edition of the Community Care newsletter! In this issue we celebrate a dedicated Hospice volunteer, share a recap from our Annual General Meeting, and much more!
View the newsletter on our website
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CCCKL Hospice Volunteer Wins June Callwood Award | |
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Congratulations to our long time volunteer Ralph Stokes for receiving the June Callwood Circle of Outstanding Volunteers Award at the 2024 Hospice Palliative Care Ontario Annual Conference.
Ralph’s dedication, caring and understanding of how grief affects our lives has brought comfort and validation to those walking the journey of grief. Ralph has facilitated numerous grief programs during his 19 years of volunteering with Community Care City of Kawartha Lakes Hospice Services.
Ralph’s generosity of spirit and willingness to go the extra mile have touched the hearts of everyone he’s encountered. He has become an invaluable member of our team, giving up evenings during his week in order to support clients and to create a safe space for them to share their stories.
This Award is a testament to his exceptional dedication and his hospice heart. Ralph is an inspiration to us all, and we are grateful to have him as part of our hospice family.
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Volunteer with Community Care!
Are you interested in joining our fantastic volunteers and making a difference in your community? We have a number of available volunteer opportunities including:
- Volunteer drivers
- Meals on Wheels volunteers
- Friendly visiting volunteers
- Diners Club volunteers
- Hospice volunteers
- Wellness program volunteers
- And more!
Even if you only have an hour to spare a week, you can still make a difference in your community!
Visit our website at www.ccckl.ca/volunteer to learn more about becoming a CCCKL volunteer!
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The Adult Day Program Impact | |
Letter submitted by Kim & George, ADP Caregiver and Client | |
“As a dedicated caregiver for the last 4 ½ years to a stroke survivor, I have experienced the profound and relentless challenges that come with this note. When my spouse suffered three strokes curing COVID, we were left without assistance and my life was turned upside down in unimaginable ways. The person I know and loved transformed drastically, and I found myself caring for someone who had become childlike due to the strokes and vascular dementia.
With the demands of 24-hour care, I made the difficult decision to take early retirement with a reduced pension to provide the necessary support for my spouse. Every day I wash sheets, shower him, administer his medications, dress him, prepare his meals to manage his diabetes. These tasks often need repeating multiple times a day, leaving me little time for personal enjoyment or connecting with family, friends and grandchildren – activities that once filled our lives with joy.
It was only after a caseworker enlightened me about the Adult Day Program that I realized there was help available. Enrolling my spouse in the program has been nothing short of transformative. A tremendous burden has been lifted from my shoulders, allowing me to reclaim my life and mental wellbeing. With this newfound support, I am a better caregiver and have precious time for myself.
The positive impact on my spouse has been equally remarkable. He is thriving, actively participating in various activities, and finding joy in creating crafts for me on special occasions. The Adult Day Program has instilled a renewed sense of purpose in him, giving him something meaningful to share with me. The staff are extraordinary, showing exceptional care not only for their clients but also for us caregivers. We all matter.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be myself again and for helping my spouse express a part of himself that remains. The support provided is invaluable and deeply appreciated.
With heartfelt gratitude. Thank you for all that you do.”
-Kim & George
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Learn more about the Adult Day Program on our website. | |
CCCKL’s Annual General Meeting | |
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On June 26th, Community Care City of Kawartha Lakes and the Community Care Foundation held our Annual General Meeting (AGM). This AGM provided an opportunity for us to reflect on our program milestones and financial achievements from the previous year and to hear from our 2023-2024 Board Chairs. We also presented our Annual Report at this meeting, which celebrates the successes of our programs and services and provides detailed financial highlights for both Community Care and our Foundation.
We also have some changes to our Boards of Directors. We are pleased to announce that Janie Alexander, Hamid Asrar and Martha Hancock have joined our Community Care Board.
Please join us in welcoming all new members to our Boards of Directors!
With these changes, we also said goodbye to three Board Members.
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Cathy Burke, who has been with Community Care since 2016, was an important contributor on our board and more recently supported the Capital Building Committee through the course of our building project.
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Diane Cairns started with the Foundation board back in 2016 and joined the Community Care Board in 2020. She chaired the Foundation board from 2020-2023 and has been an important conduit between our two boards. | |
Brad Sinclair joined the Community Care board in 2016 and also served in a dual capacity with the Foundation board until 2022. Brad chaired the Foundation board from 2017-2020 and had lent his industry knowledge to various projects, such as a Risk and Scenarios Committee in 2021-2022. | |
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They have all helped shaped the vision of CCCKL and have been key in supporting the sustainability of our programs and services. Please join us in thanking Cathy, Diane and Brad for their many years of dedication and service to CCCKL!
Our current Board of Directors list for CCCKL and our Foundation is available on our website. You can also view and download our 2023/24 Annual Report at www.ccckl.ca/about/accountability/
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Riverwalk Returns for 2024 | |
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We are pleased to announce that our Riverwalk program has resumed for the summer.
Riverwalk will run over the summer months every Thursday morning from 9:30-10:30am, weather permitting. The walks will start from the Old Mill Park in Lindsay.
Riverwalk is a grief walk designed to invite participants to engage with others who have experienced a loss of a loved one. You are invited to deal with the reality of life changes through walking in community. Knowing that grief affects you on all levels – physically, mentally, emotionally, socially and spiritually – exercise offers a coping strategy and safety-net while grieving your loss. Trained Grief Guides are available to walk alongside you and others who are also grieving.
Contact Hospice at 705-324-7323 ext. 550 or email hospiceinfo@ccckl.ca for more information.
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Adapted from Champlain Palliative Care and shared by RoseMary Wright, Nurse Navigator for Hospice Services | |
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Attention All Caregivers! Self-Care is Not Selfish.
As caregivers, we often get caught up in completing tasks. We strive to be the best caregivers, doing everything we can. However, this often comes at a cost to ourselves. The saying holds true: “You can’t pour from an empty cup.” If we become unable to perform our tasks or care for our loved ones because we are unwell, what then?
We encourage you to take time for yourself and find something that brings you peace, energy, and happiness. Spend time reminiscing, create new memories, and do things together. As the saying goes, "Taking care of yourself doesn't mean 'me first,' it means 'me too.'"
Ask for help and accept it when offered. Keep a list of small tasks you need done so that when someone asks how they can help, you’re ready. Remember, delegating tasks isn’t just a good idea —it's a survival tactic.
The S.T.O.P. acronym may be helpful when feeling overwhelmed:
- STOP what you are doing
- TAKE a few deep breaths
- OBSERVE what’s going on with your body, thoughts, and emotions
- PROCEED with something that will support you in the moment
We are all caregivers in some capacity. Take care of yourselves and be kind to yourself.
If you are looking for support as a caregiver, we are here to help. Visit our website at ccckl.ca/senior-and-caregiver-support or call us at 705-324-7323 to learn more.
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June marks Seniors Month! The theme of this month is “Working for Seniors”, which recognizes the hard work seniors have done all their lives to make Ontario the great place it is today.
At Community Care we recognize the work and efforts of seniors in our community and thank them for their contributions in making Kawartha Lakes a vibrant and welcoming place to be. We believe in helping seniors maintain their health and independence at home and provide programs and services to stay connected to the community.
Please join us in recognizing Seniors Month this June!
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World Elder Abuse Awareness Day | |
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June 15 was World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. It is an official UN day acknowledging the significance of elder abuse as a public health and a human rights issue.
Elder Abuse can happen in many forms, whether physical, emotional, financial or neglect. At Community Care, education, advocacy and assistance in accessing available community services and resources dedicated to elder abuse prevention are provided through our Elder Abuse Awareness & Education program.
For more information and resources on elder abuse prevention and awareness, please visit our website. If you are concerned about yourself, a friend or loved one, please contact our Elder Advocate Tammy Brydon at tbrydon@ccckl.ca or call 705-324-7323 ext. 578.
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Julie St. Hiliare
Wellness Program Coordinator
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Tell us a bit about your role at CCCKL:
The purpose of my job is to plan and deliver wellness programs at the Community Health Centre that focus on physical activity, food security, nutrition, and social connection.
How long have you worked for CCCKL?
Since June 2024.
What is your favourite part about working for CCCKL?
So far, my work at CCCKL has been very enjoyable and rewarding. It’s very nice to be working in a beautiful, brand new facility. The team has been amazing in welcoming me, and offering guidance and support as I get settled into my new role as the Wellness Coordinator. It’s been really fun co-facilitating our cooking programs with Erin our Dietician, and our exercise programs with Karla the Health Promotor. I've been able to witness first hand the positive impacts on that our programs offer, and the difference it makes in the lives of our community members who participate.
What hobbies do you enjoy outside of work?
Some hobbies I enjoy include nature trail walking with my rescue dog Sky and aiming to reach my goal of 10,000 steps daily, playing volleyball with my husband one evening a week, attending horse riding lessons with my daughter, cooking with family, kayaking in our canal, gardening, interior decorating, sketching pencil art, event planning, soaking in the hot tub, yoga, dancing singing, and attending women's circles and spiritual retreats.
Is there anything else you'd like people to know?
I'm excited for the future development of our programs to see how we can best serve our beloved CHC clients and community.
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Want to join Julie and work for Community Care? Visit our website to see our current job openings and apply today! | |
Come Work for Community Care! | |
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We're hiring! A job with Community Care offers an opportunity for you to make a difference in your community.
We are looking for Personal Support Workers to join our team. PSWs support, encourage and provide independence for patients in their homes and community settings by assisting with activities of daily living. The work of the Personal Support Worker supports independence, well-being and community connections to services.
We are also looking for a Palliative Care Clinical Coach to provide palliative care coaching and mentoring to staff and clinicians in participating community organizations.
Visit www.ccckl.ca/careers to see all our current job openings and apply.
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Upcoming Programs and Events | |
Check out our upcoming events and wellness programs below! | | |
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Community Based Exercise Classes
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Building Healthy Communities Through Care and Support | | | | |
