Merger opens door to greater support for long-term care in Mundare
Rich history describes a journey made by the Four Sisters Servants from Western Ukraine to Edmonton in 1902 which led to founding a Convent on a homestead in Mundare to begin a school, an orphanage, and caring for the ill. Today, Covenant Health's 30-bed Mary Immaculate Care Centre in Mundare continues the tradition of providing compassionate care to residents, with services including long-term and palliative care, occupational, physical and recreation therapy, a mental health adult day program, and spiritual care to residents and their families regardless of faith, background or tradition.
The Mary Immaculate Hospital Foundation and its volunteer board members have worked with the community since 2005, raising nearly three-quarters of a million dollars for vital investments at the Mary Immaculate Care Centre – from small items such as a TV or chairs to large projects such as the refurbished chapel, three-seasons room, state-of-the-art beds, and a minivan, 20-passenger bus and garage. Sylvia Zacharkiw, Board Chair, is grateful for the volunteers who have generously given their time and talent over the years to make a positive impact in their community, and she’s optimistic about what the next step – a merger with the Covenant Foundation – will mean for Mundare.
“We are excited to merge with the Covenant Foundation,” says Sylvia, “and for our community to benefit from the foundation’s greater capacity to increase awareness of fundraising and partnership opportunities that will make a tremendous difference for long-term care residents in Mundare.”
Since 2016, Covenant Foundation has committed nearly $7 million to drive health innovation, enhance specialized care and improve the quality of life of residents and their families at Covenant continuing care centres in rural and urban communities across Alberta.
We are proud to continue the outstanding work started by the Mary Immaculate Hospital Foundation and its dedicated volunteer board,” says Lisa Munro, president & CEO of the Covenant Foundation. “The dedication and hours they’ve contributed have helped transform care in Mundare, and we are excited to continue their work with the community and build upon their legacy to help provide the best care possible for residents and families who rely on the Mary Immaculate Care Centre.”
With the merger effective as of April 1, 2024, all funds raised locally and designated to the Mary Immaculate Care Centre through the Covenant Foundation will stay local to help advance and innovate care for seniors and other continuing care residents at Covenant Health’s facility in Mundare.
The Donor Difference
Donor-supported specialized equipment such as an “ABBY” Ambient Activity unit at the Mary Immaculate Care Centre, which cost just over $10,000, has been instrumental to providing sensory and cognitive respite to residents at the centre, day and night. The “ABBY” offers a touchscreen and tactile activities for independent engagement while triggering positive memories and providing emotional well-being.
Residents such as Laurie Kadatz says, that "The ABBY is the best thing that ever graced this place. If I can’t sleep at 3 a.m., I’m playing with it. Others are excited about it too.”
Luanne Tiedemann, the daughter of resident Jim Walker, also spoke about how wonderful the ABBY unit is as she has witnessed her dad using the driving game on the unit and immediately becoming calm and relaxed. As a former truck driver, Jim had a stroke and now lives with dementia. Luanne was worried about finding a suitable home for her dad, who is unable to communicate, and she is relieved that he is settling in and being well taken care of - thanks in part to the generosity of donor support for enhancements such as the ABBY. “He’s in a safe place, says Luanne, and the staff are providing great care."
Thomas Metlin, site administrator at the Mary Immaculate Care Centre, explains donor support is critical to better equipping staff and providing innovative technologies and specialized programs that advance care for residents, 90 per cent of whom are seniors.
“Donor funds go beyond the standard of care the government provides to make an even greater impact on continuing care at our site in Mundare,” says Thomas.
Donor-supported initiatives such as recreation and music therapy, and the gardening program help reduce social isolation, provide a greater sense of purpose, improve residents’ quality of life, and can improve their long-term health outcomes. Social isolation and loneliness, particularly amongst seniors, is associated with a greater risk of dementia, stroke, cardiovascular disease, depression, anxiety and premature death.
The April 1 merger is great timing aligning with the start of springtime activities, as the centre is getting ready for a new start to the growing season and the gardening program enjoyed by many residents and made possible with the support of donors in the community.
Growing Care and Connection
Those who love to garden would enjoy this quote by Claude Monet: “My garden is my most beautiful masterpiece.” This is mirrored by the enthusiasm shared by the Homenuk family in making a $4,000 donation in memory of former resident Mary Homenuk. Mary was a resident at the centre for 10 years until she passed away at the age of 107. Her daughter, Eileen Leffler says, “My mom always looked forward to spring. Life wasn’t just standing still. My mom received great care at the Mary Immaculate Care Centre and programs such as gardening really gave her something to look forward to.”
Memorial donations from grateful loved ones, friends and neighbours provide much-needed support for specialized programs such as the gardening initiative, which offers many benefits including the enjoyment of the outdoors, the joy of working together, and the beauty that is created just in the natural growth that takes place with tender loving care.
As attested by current resident Laurie Kadatz, she is eagerly awaiting the chance to start gardening outside again. Laurie says, “I’m honoured to do it and it’s a pleasure. It’s nice to see the resident’s faces brighten up when they see everything growing outside. I love that!"
The force of nature that lives on, thanks in part to the Homenuk family and the community’s support, also provides nourishment in the form of fresh garden vegetables that add a special flair to dinners that are greatly appreciated by residents.
Site Administrator Thomas Metlin
“Getting to know the residents, their families and what matters most to them is an absolute joy,” says site administrator Thomas Metlin. “As a former intensive care nurse, I rarely ever had the chance to speak to patients and I certainly didn’t envision this would be my career now. But honestly, it’s such a fulfilling job and I love what I do. I’m so grateful to the Mary Immaculate Hospital Foundation for their legacy of support, and I’m happy to see this next step in our journey together with the community and the Covenant Foundation because I know it will enable us to expand our work to enhance and innovate care in Mundare. It makes a difference to residents and their families, truly.” |