'Truly thankful': Elmvale church group donates quilts to Barrie facility

NEWS RELEASE
IOOF SENIOR HOMES
*************************
The Elmvale Presbyterian Church Craft Group generously presented the IOOF Seniors Homes with several beautifully crafted and hand-sewn dignity quilts and code dove banners for their Palliative Care Program.

The quilts are an integral part of the IOOF’s palliative care approach to ensure the dignity of residents as they leave the home on their next journey after-life. The Elmvale Presbyterian Church group has contributed quilts in the past and provided the IOOF with newly made quilts, assuring that long-term care and assisted living residents will continue to be treated with dignity in their end-of-life journey.

“We are truly thankful to the Elmvale Presbyterian Church craft group for the tremendous time, skill, and commitment that is required to create these beautifully crafted quilts. Our team is sincerely grateful to receive a heartfelt donation that will allow us to ensure the dignity of our residents as they depart our home,” said Veron Ash, director of resident care, IOOF Seniors Homes.

The IOOF has created a comprehensive interdisciplinary palliative care approach, designed to improve the quality of life, and alleviate suffering for residents. The newly implemented Palliative Care Program is intended to support and sustain excellence in quality of life for residents from the time of admission through to their end-of-life. Residents and families admitted to the Home are introduced to palliative care and assured that the IOOF care team will provide support, comfort, and compassion.

This interdisciplinary committee, co-chaired by the co-ordinator of spiritual and religious care, has initiated a special overhead paging called ‘Code Dove’ which indicates that one of the residents will be leaving the Home. When a Code Dove is announced, staff gather at the front entrance for the opportunity to say goodbye as the resident leaves the Home covered with one of the dignity quilts. Staff and residents line the hallway and entrance while holding candles and the

Code Dove banners. A bouquet of flowers and a mounted picture are placed at the resident’s dining room seat.

This palliative care and end-of-life approach is part of the IOOF’s Resident First philosophy of care that is inclusive and supports the choices of the residents’ physical, spiritual, social, psycho-social, cultural, and emotional dimensions.

Thank you to the Elmvale Presbyterian Church Craft Group for assisting the IOOF Seniors Homes to ensure dignity and compassion for each resident, while offering a poignant way for fellow residents, family members, and the staff who cared for them to express their meaningful goodbyes.

***********************