The board for Altona’s The Gardens on Tenth held their annual general meeting last week to update supporters and tenants on the ongoing progress and policies at the facility.
The non-profit charitable organization has been in operation since 1962. It provides housing and services for the seniors in four buildings, ranging from independent living suites to assisted living to supportive housing.
In his financial report, board member Bill Penner noted that while the cash flow has allowed them to meet their operating costs, occupancy was a challenge in several of their buildings last year.
“We had empty suites in most buildings, which obviously impacted the revenue stream. We are however pleased that at present, all suites that are rentable are now occupied.”
David Wiebe of the spiritual care committee said it’s been a year of stability for the residents of the Eastview Personal Care Home, The Apartments at The Gardens, and the patients at the Altona Hospital. He also noted that Ray and Marilyn Hamm have extended their commitment as Spiritual Care Providers well into 2024. “They are certainly the right people in the right place at the right time.”
The not-so-good news, he said, is that church funding continues to be a challenge.
“We realize that budgets are a challenge for many churches and with changes in board members and ministers, it is sometimes easy to forget the history and the fact that the spiritual care provider position, while facilitated at The Gardens on Tenth, is 100 per cent funded by local area churches.”
The other challenge is that 50 per cent of the people in the community and area do not attend church regularly or do not have a home church.
“Our challenge is how do we tap into their support?” noted Wiebe.
Wiebe said the board hopes to raise additional funds outside of just the area churches to ensure this much-needed service continues.
In her report, managing director Lisa Smiley said they are thankful that things have finally returned to normal following the pandemic, and that the facility is once again open to the community and the many volunteers who assist in enriching the lives of their tenants.
Last year’s event and activity highlights included Irish dancers, a Ukrainian fundraiser, a Valentine’s evening with Elvis, Mother’s and Father’s Day celebrations, and a summer kick-off barbecue for tenants and staff. In-person church services were also able to resume.
Their activity coordinator has started up a number of programs for the tenants in the Apartments. They are enjoying exercise classes and ball drumming, crafting, baking, and the by-weekly visits from baby Noah, who inspires tenants to discuss their own experiences of bringing up their own children.
“In January,we started our Pathways program, with the intent to provide quality and consistent care to our tenants in the 24/7 supervised living program,” Smiley shared. “As we have hoped, it has reduced the out-of-pocket costs that tenants pay for services.”
Families now utilize the Self and Family Managed Home Care option to pay for the support fees in the Apartments.
“This is a program available to all Manitobans who may require home care services. Our staff provide adult living care, support, safety, security, and assistance with medications.”
Last April, The Gardens on Tenth also received an increase in their funding from the regional health authority for their Life Enrichment and Supportive Housing programs.
“This increase enables us to pay our staff a living wage and retain the hardworking and dedicated staff that we have,” Smiley said.
Board chair John Falk said they continue to uphold their commitment to serve the evolving needs of their tenants through facilities, programs, and services, designed to address the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of those in their care.
“Last year we also celebrated 60 years of serving seniors in our community and area. At the same time, we were discussing how we could renovate the Manor to continue meeting the needs of seniors for years to come.”
The goal for the renovation, Falk explained, is to assist seniors to age in place with respect and dignity, and to provide them with a home that will meet the new standards for accessibility. “This means washrooms with 36-inch doors, raised toilets, walk-in/wheelchair-accessible showers with safety/grab bars, as well as enlarging the bathrooms in order to have enough room for caregivers to assist tenants as needed.”
They also removed walls and installed new flooring and lighting. Cabinets were lowered and made wheelchair accessible, and in the bachelor suites, stoves were replaced with convection hot plates for safety.
To date six suites have been completed, and four more will be ready shortly.
“In the next year, we hope to complete the remaining suites. All renovations have been completed with very generous financial support from the businesses and individuals in our community,” Falk said. “We are also hoping to have some funds left to do some upgrades at the Units.”
So far $333,000 has been raised for these upgrades, and Falk said they hope to meet their fundraising goal of $500,000 in the coming year.
Falk concluded the AGM by thanking the staff and volunteers at The Gardens on Tenth.
“Without them, we cannot make this a facility to make our tenants feel like this is their home.”
