Well-being campaign launched for Holy Family Home

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This article was published 15/06/2020 (2255 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Manitoba provincial council of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress is looking to provide Holy Family Home with the best possible defence against COVID-19 and other viruses the facility will have to contend with in the future.

UCC-MPC president Joanne Lewandosky said the group has launched a well-being campaign and that it was compelled to act because of the toll the pandemic has taken on seniors around the world, especially those living in long-term care facilities.

“The Ukrainian community wanted to acknowledge the people, not only from our own community — but all our most vulnerable citizens who are living in Holy Family Home,” Lewandosky said.
 “These are our seniors, our parents, grandparents, and they’ve been our foundation, strength and most of all an inspirational legacy.”

Launched in collaboration with the Lubov SSMI Foundation (which is associated with the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate, an international congregation of sisters for the Ukrainian Catholic Church), the well-being campaign’s goals are to help enhance care.

Specific measures include the purchase of sterilization equipment; supporting essential enhancements to ensure the physical and mental health needs of residents and staff ; as well as cknowledging the efforts of Holy Family staff.

The first task will be to purchase two Nocospray cleaning and disinfecting units. Shaped like kettles or small vacuum cleaners, the units enable high-capacity cleaning of resident rooms and common areas and can also disinfect multiple pieces of equipment at the same time, according to Lubov SSMI Foundation CEO Lesia Sianchuk.

The equipment will help staff maintain the increased cleaning protocols in place since the COVID-19 pandemic’s early days, Sianchuk said.

“The pandemic has increased the needs of healthcare facilities and long-term care facilities,” Sianchuk said.

“Since the middle of March, Holy Family Home has stepped up and implemented screening processes, which include increased cleaning processes and screening processes for staff and personal protective equipment before they begin their shift.”

Sianchuk said Holy Family Home will be the first long-term care facility in Manitoba to use the sterilization equipment, which can sterilize up to 30 intravenous poles at a time.

The well-being campaign also seeks to improve daily life at Holy Family by contributing items as tablet computers to be used to connect residents with loved ones

Additional recreational equipment will be purchased dependent on the campaign’s success. Plans are also in the works to find ways to show the staff how much their work during the pandemic means to the UCC-MPC, Sianchuk said, adding that she is grateful for the UCC-MPC’s support.

“They really wanted to support this home because, as we’ve seen with this pandemic, the seniors are most vulnerable. Holy Family Home is known for its compassionate care and now that ability has been enhanced.”

To support the campaign, visit www.uccmb.ca, call 204-942-0443 or mail a cheque payable to the Lubov SSMI Foundation to 1085 Main St. Winnipeg, MB , R2W 3S1.