TESTIMONIALS

From Friends and Family

Debbie Symonds, April 8, 2023

Yes, the downside is that she’s sharing her room which means her space is very limited (same size as the hospital room), but there are lots of wide-open spaces in other parts of the facility where she can look out windows and gather with others. A weight has been lifted from my shoulders. That’s not to say that tomorrow (Easter) isn’t going to be difficult without her at the turkey table, but at least I know that she’s eating well in Windsor and she isn’t alone. Dad and I are going down to see her this morning. Fingers crossed that he likes Dykeland Lodge because we hope he can join her there sooner rather than later.

From Our Staff

Julie Dort, LPN

I am so humbled and honored to be writing this Employee Testimonial for Dykeland Lodge today. I have been an employee at Dykeland Lodge for 7 years now. I take great pride in my work, as a Nurse. I feel valued and appreciated by the Administration and all Department personnel, Nursing Staff and, of course, our lovely residents. When the Pandemic hit this beautiful Country of ours, I was reminded of one particular resident who missed their family dearly. I remember saying to her, “ Don’t worry. You will see your family again. But for now, we are your family.” She smiled and said “yes, we are family”. So now that the Pandemic is now declared over, I will always remember how closely, we as Dykeland have become and will continue to grow, as a family. I feel so proud and blessed to be part of this lovely family and having the best Nursing care we give to our residents. I love each and every one of them. And for that I will always be grateful for each and every heart I touch with loving care. When you smile. The world smiles back at you. (2023)

Leona Atwell, EVS

I have worked at Dykeland Lodge for 9 years. Throughout those 9 years the residents have become more like family. I look forward to coming to work every day and getting to know the different personalities of each resident. I take great pride in ensuring I greet every individual when they come into the Lodge. I want everyone to feel as happy to be here as I do. As an Environmental Service Worker, I enjoy helping the residents make each space their own. Here at Dykeland we love having fun, you can always find me joining along with recreation and participating in all the festivities. It doesn’t matter the Holiday; you can bet I will be dressed up. I often think of a time 3 years ago a resident who came to us, she was from Dartmouth. She was very upset she had to move. I remember welcoming her and making her feel at home. Which isn’t hard to do at Dykeland. Memories such as that are what make this job so worth it. Since day one, I have found this to be a great place to work. The staff here at Dykeland go above and beyond and always work as a team. It doesn’t matter what the task. If I have more years in me, I look forward to growing with the new building. (2023)

Kailee Salter – CCA

I started at Dykeland as a student / PCW taking the progressive learning online course in November 2021. From the very first day I walked into the building I was greeted with many smiling faces of the residents and of all the other staff that were coming and going to and from their shifts. It did not matter which department; they all greeted you with kindness. Each one of us plays a major role in achieving the best quality of life for each resident that we love and care for. We all work together as a team, collaborating our ideas, passions, and goals for our community of residents. What I love about working here is that we all support and work together communicating and advocating for our residents and to provide patient centered care for each resident. I was able to go from being mentored by some amazing CCAs to also mentoring new students and new hires. I love that there is so much room to grow. Dykeland provides ample opportunities for their staff. I value and appreciate all my coworkers here at Dykeland and feel valued and appreciated not only by management but by our residents here at Dykeland as well. I truly feel grateful and proud to be part of the Dykeland team! (2023)

Debbie Symonds, Family Member

For a change, I’ve got a positive update about Mum today. On Monday, she was moved to a Long-Term Care Facility called Dykeland Lodge, which is located in Windsor. My heart dropped. I won’t be able to visit her as often as I used to, but after seeing the facility and meeting her caregivers and smelling the aromas wafting from the dining hall, I am so relieved. The difference in her is already noticeable after only a few days. She’s smiling again, she’s walking with her walker, she’s not drowning in filth and contagious diseases, she’s making shopping lists for me, she’s socializing with others in the dining hall, she has an air mattress which isn’t taped together with duct tape, she’s being fussed over by nurses, and she’s asking for little personal things to put in her half-room. Yes, the downside is that she’s sharing her room which means her space is very limited (same size as the hospital room), but there are lots of wide-open spaces in other parts of the facility where she can look out windows and gather with others. A weight has been lifted from my shoulders. That’s not to say that tomorrow (Easter) isn’t going to be difficult without her at the turkey table, but at least I know that she’s eating well in Windsor and she isn’t alone. Dad and I are going down to see her this morning. Fingers crossed that he likes Dykeland Lodge because we hope he can join her there sooner rather than later. (2023)

From Our Partners

Mary Donovan, Health Association Nova Scotia

Scotia and we greatly appreciate their ongoing support and involvement in core association activities; notably, their active engagement in our efforts to promote positive change in Nova Scotia’s continuing care system through collaborative action and knowledge leadership.

These efforts have most recently been evident in the work of the Central Zone LTC Facility Leadership Committee and I would like to acknowledge and thank Krista Beeler for the leadership she has provided to this group during such an unprecedented time arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the past year, the meetings of the CZ LTC group have provided a platform to share experiences, discuss challenges, and arrive at solutions as providers worked together to respond to the first wave of the pandemic and plan for the second. This included spearheading such initiatives as creating a LTC Sharepoint site to share best practice polices, procedures and other resources; contributing feedback to inform the HANS Continuing Care Council COVID-19 Pandemic Debrief (identifying successes and opportunities for improvement to inform 2nd wave planning); development of a consistent orientation program for redeployed staff; facilitating discussions with other key health system partners, such as the Care by Design team and the NSH Central Zone Continuing Care Response Team; and so much more.

Towards the end of the year, the meeting agendas started to be reshaped, focusing on longstanding system issues, such as recruitment and retention, with the goal of identifying opportunities for collective solutions and action. Again, thank you to Krista and her team for your leadership and contributions. (2022)

Michele Lowe, Executive Director, NHNSA

This past year has tested our resolve in long term care. We have witnessed unprecedented challenges and heartache for residents and families as COVID tried to make its way into nursing homes throughout the province. We learned from each other; shared practices and implemented strategies to keep residents and staff safe. During that time, innovative approaches emerged to ensure families remained connected to their loved ones. Dykeland Lodge demonstrated just how creative they could be! Staff used technology to create meaningful virtual visits; constructed a plex-glass visit cube to keep residents safe outside and enhanced their recreational activities to offer endless fun inside.

We are proud of the contributions Dykeland Lodge makes to their community and the Nursing Homes of Nova Scotia Association.

Testimonials