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ORCA Express – January 2019


New Year, New Beginnings, New Express

Dear ORCA Members,

Happy New Year! At the close of another whirlwind holiday season, I hope you all found time to spend with loved ones and rejuvenate for the coming year. As we turn over the calendar and say goodbye to 2018, I can’t help but get excited for all the fantastic things happening at ORCA this year.

In 2019, ORCA will continue to deliver sector leading events, educational resources, and strong advocacy on behalf of our members. In addition to the member offerings you’ve come to expect, we will be making several improvements to better serve you, including enhancements to The Learning Centre for Senior Living; a province-wide rollout of our Dementia-Inclusive Initiative; a revamped Commercial Partners directory; and perhaps most apparent, a new design for the ORCA Express Newsletter. The new Express incorporates improved engagement tracking and formatting aimed to provide easy access to information ORCA members want. In short, these changes help us better understand what members value most so that we can better facilitate your needs.

As always, we are looking for feedback regarding all our services, new and old. Feel free to call our offices, or if you prefer, email me at askcathy@orcaretirement.com with any questions you have.

Even with a variety of new items slated for 2019, rest assured that ORCA will continue to provide support services to help our members remain compliant and provide high-quality living options for seniors, into the new year and beyond.

Best regards,

Cathy Hecimovich

SPRINKLERS

Changes to the Fire Code mandate that all retirement homes be sprinklered as of January 1, 2019. For those who are not in compliance, alternative options are available. If you have recently installed sprinklers but have not informed the RHRA, please be sure to fill out a Notice for Changes Form to ensure that your license is up-to-date. It will be important for you to engage with your local fire departments on steps going forward.  Full details can be found in ORCA’s bulletin here.

TOGETHER WE CARE

Mark your calendars for April 1-3, 2019!

Registration is now open for the Together We Care Convention. Register today and get ready to engage with more than 1,200 retirement home and long-term care professionals!

Early bird pricing ends February 14.

For more details on programming, keynote speakers and accommodation, please click here.

2019 TLC FOCUS GROUPS

ORCA is planning dates in spring 2019 to conduct focus groups to gather feedback on The Learning Centre for Senior Living (TLC), and we want you! ORCA values member feedback and is hopeful to gather staff and managers from communities and regional managers to gain insights into TLC usability in member homes. Learn More

Bill 57 Passes

On December 6, 2018, Bill 57, Restoring Trust, Transparency and Accountability Act, 2018 passed the Ontario Legislature. This Bill made amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, the Pay Transparency Act, 2018 and the Election Finances Act. Full details can be found in ORCA’s bulletin here.

Vulnerable Sector Check Letter

ORCA and the Ontario Long Term Care Association (OLTCA) sent a letter to the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services, calling on the Ontario Government to introduce mandatory response times for staff in retirement and long-term care homes to receive a vulnerable sector check from their local police force. Read the letter here.

Sprinklers

Changes to the Fire Code mandate that all retirement homes be sprinklered as of January 1, 2019. In December, the Ontario Fire Marshal issued a communiqué on how to achieve compliance for sprinklers installations in retirement homes. For those who are not in compliance, alternative options are available. If you have recently installed sprinklers but have not informed the RHRA, please be sure to fill out a Notice for Changes Form to ensure that your license is up-to-date. It will be important for you to engage with your local fire departments on steps going forward.  Full details can be found in ORCA’s bulletin here.

TWC Banner

Together We Care

Registration is now open! Don’t miss out on Canada’s largest gathering of retirement home and long-term care professionals! Early bird pricing ends February 14, 2019. For more information and to register, please click here.

Accommodation is now available at the Delta Hotels by Marriott Toronto Airport & Conference Centre and the Raddison Suite Hotel Toronto Airport. For more information, please click here.

Check out our Opening Keynote, Arlene Dickinson, our Wednesday Morning Keynote, Michael Landsberg, and our Closing Keynote, Jody Urquhart here!

Look out for ORCA’s retirement-specific Together We Care programming, available mid-January 2019!

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Spring Road Shows

Registration opening soon. Mark your calendars! Join us on the road at one of our four Spring Road Show locations:

June 4 – Mississauga
June 6 – Ottawa
June 11 – London
June 13 – Vaughan

The Ritz-Carlton Leadership Center returns to Ontario at the ORCA Spring Road Shows in 2019 to deliver a full Enrichment Course on Memorable Customer Service. Led by a Ritz-Carlton Advisor, this leadership training course will inspire greatness in your whole management team! In addition, the road show addresses the latest information from regulatory authorities, best operational practices, trends, and topics of interest to retirement home operators. Registration details to follow soon. For more information, please click here.

Upcoming Webinars

Click the webinar titles and register today!

New Member Webinar
Jan 16, 2019 – 2:00 – 3:00 pm
This session is for new/current members and new managers to find out about the programs and services that the ORCA membership has to offer.

Employee Engagement
Feb 13, 2019 – 2:00 – 3:00 pm
Learn the Economics of Engagement Framework which explains the relationship between complacency and entitlement, engagement and of course, gratitude. You’ll walk away with techniques you can immediately begin using to generate greater engagement amongst your employees.

Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA)
Feb 27, 2019 2:00 – 3:00 pm
Updates to ORCA Resources – We will explore the updated ORCA Tutorials which focus on Promoting Accessibility in Customer Service and Building Design, and introduce the AODA Toolkit available on The Learning Centre for Senior Living (TLC).

AODA Tutorials Update

In 2018, ORCA received grant funding to revamp the two Accessibility Tutorials currently available on The Learning Centre for Senior Living (TLC). The project included revamping the tutorials to include promoting accessibility compliance in Customer Service, Building Design and Employment Standards. Information regarding Human Rights and Customer Service have been retained in the new tutorials.

Retraining is required as there is a tremendous amount of new information to share with ORCA Members. These tutorials will be available as of February 27, 2019. It is recommended that you schedule AODA training as soon as possible. A brief overview of the two tutorials will be announced in the webinar scheduled for February 27, 2019, where ORCA will also introduce the new AODA Toolkit. If you have any questions, please email training@orcaretirement.com.

New Optional Template For CrossTab Reports

On January 3, 2019, ORCA implemented updates to The Learning Centre for Senior Living (TLC) which included a newly formatted CrossTab Report. This report is printable directly from the download, but does not include the optional ‘green’ for completed and/or ‘red’ for not completed. If this format is still of interest, there is an updated template you can download and use as per the instructions located on the first tab of the excel template file. For a copy of the Optional CrossTab Report Template, please click here.

Web Accessibility Audit (WCAG 2.0) Update

The 2021 deadline for websites to be accessible is fast approaching. The Learning Centre for Senior Living (TLC) is currently going through an audit to determine updates that may be needed to ensure compliance. As ORCA works through this audit, we will provide members with an overview and other important resources to ensure our members are aware of compliance guidelines. Here are some important links regarding Accessibility Compliance:

2019 TLC Focus Groups

ORCA is planning to conduct focus groups to gather feedback on The Learning Centre for Senior Living (TLC) in spring 2019. ORCA values member feedback and is hopeful that we can gather staff and managers from communities and regional managers (if applicable) to gain insights into TLC usability in member homes. If your organization is interested in participating by providing feedback and suggestions to improve TLC, please email training@orcaretirement.com for further details.

Is your community using TLC?

If you are not one of ORCA’s members currently on The Learning Centre for Senior Living (TLC), contact us to find out how TLC can improve compliance and save time for your staff!  TLC not only offers compliance training, but it is a one-stop-shop that provides a secure platform for all members to upload site-specific information. It also provides easy access to webinar registration and previously recorded webinars, ORCA Operations Manual (Managers only), Dementia-Inclusive Initiative Resources and much more!  Best of all, it’s free with membership! Email training@orcaretirement.com to book your online overview of TLC and see how TLC can be an invaluable part of your operation.

Proud Champion of The Learning Centre for Senior Living

New and Updated ORCA Resources

All ORCA policy and toolkit resources are available in the Operations Manual, accessible from the home page of the Learning Centre.

Revised Resource:

  • RS 5.11 Public Pools and Spas (Available in the ORCA Operations Manual)

Coming Soon:

  • A full review of the Operations Manual sections Infection Control, Human Resources and Resident Care is underway. These revised sections will be made available in early 2019. The additional sections of the manual (Administration, Resident Services, and Safety) will be reviewed by mid-2019.
  • AODA Toolkit – A toolkit focused on the AODA’s Employment, Design of Public Spaces and Customer Service standards will be released as part of a webinar on February 27th at 2 pm. The toolkit will highlight legislated requirements with helpful checklists to gauge your compliance.

In Case You Missed It

Watch the December 12th Admissions and Re-Admissions webinar here – and download the Resident Admissions and Transitions from Hospital Guide from the Operations Manual under ‘Toolkits’ today.

Future Forward Initiative – Toolkit Coming Soon!

Watch for ORCA’s Recruitment Toolkit coming early 2019. It will offer great resources to assist homes in staff recruitment, including checklists to prepare for job fairs, handouts for prospective staff and more!

Fanshawe College Winter Career Fair – Register Now!

Fanshawe’s Career Fairs routinely provide a great opportunity for employers to meet potential employees, and also to build brand awareness with the next generation of clients and consumers. The fair will be at Fanshawe’s London campus on February 6, 2019, from 10 am – 2 pm. Registration is now open, but spaces are limited. For cost and registration, please click here. Registration forms should be completed no later than January 31, 2019. If you have any questions, please contact Brigitte MacKinnon, Career Services Representative, at 519-452-4430 Ext.3911 or bmackinnon@fanshawec.ca.

Dementia-Inclusive Initiative Toolkit and Resources Coming Soon!

Following a pilot of the resources in 2018, ORCA’s Dementia-Inclusive Guide, Self-Reflection Checklist, and two tutorials (Introducing the Dementia Inclusive Initiative & Breaking Barriers and Building Relationships) will soon be available to all members under the “Dementia-Inclusive Initiative” tab on The Learning Centre. Additionally, several webinars will be scheduled for this year to introduce and walk through the resources. Watch for more information coming soon! For further information about ORCA’s Dementia-Inclusive Initiative, please contact JoAnn Prior at joann@orcaretirement.com.

Proud Champion of ORCA’s Dementia-Inclusive Initiative

ORCA Membership Invoice Reminder

Please note that ORCA membership renewal invoices are due by January 31, 2019. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Maureen Milligan, Member Services Manager, at maureen@orcaretirement.com or 905-403-0500 ext. 231.

Welcome new Operator Members and Commercial Partners! We look forward to working with you!

Operator Members
Bolton Mills Retirement Community
, Bolton, ON

Bolton Mills Retirement Community offers 112 suites and a variety of lifestyle options including independent living and assisted living ensuring you can live your lifestyle your way.  In addition to programs promoting an active lifestyle, Bolton Mills offers a variety of social experiences from playing board games, participating in dances, and live music. Residents can also enjoy excursions from shopping, dining and day trips to the theatre and sporting events.

Commercial Partners
Altro Americas
Contact: Susan Drew
Email: sdrew@altro.com

Altro is a world-leading manufacturer and innovator in commercial floors and walls.  With an impressive selection of safe, durable and hygienic design options, we provide end users with a complete interior solution for senior living facilities.

BalancePro
Contact: Candice Yun
Email: candice.yun@balancepro.ca

Focusing on delivering practical and affordable solutions, BalancePro has a simple vision to achieve: a world with no falls that are preventable.  The company’s signature product, BalancePro insole, backed by several healthcare research institutions, is a passive, discreet and economic balance enhancing and fall prevention technology that has been clinically proven to reduce the fall by 44%.

Carmichael Engineering Ltd
Contact: Daniel Gardiman
Email: dgardiman@carmichael-eng.ca

Whether your needs are for commercial air-conditioning and heating, industrial refrigeration, building automation or scientific equipment services, Carmichael has more than 90 years of proven expertise and innovation in thermal systems to properly serve your needs.  Our invaluable depth of knowledge has been passed down between three generations and is the underlying reason for our outstanding reputation across Canada.

Facility Plus
Contact: Barry O’Neill
Email: barry@facilityplus.com

Facility Plus is a Canadian owned and operated Facility Maintenance Company in business since 1987.  The company currently has over 1.300 commercial clients in the Retail, Manufacturing, Health Care, Legal and Pharmaceutical areas.  The company provides a wide range of Maintenance Services.

Georgian College
Contact: Jenny Wilcox
Email: jenny.wilcox@georgiancollege.ca

Georgian College is a recognized leader in student work experience, with the support of 6.200 employers.  We produce graduates who are fully connected – to their potential, their industry, their community and the world. Our students believe they can make a positive difference, ad we do too.  Georgian is the first and only college in Canada designated a changemaker college by Ashoka U for our leadership in social innovation and changemaking in higher education. Georgian is a unique and transformative experience that connects students to the skills they need, the mindset to succeed, and the confidence to thrive.  See for yourself why being here can lead to amazing things!

ObusForme
Contact: Vivien Chang
Email: vivien.chang@homedics.com

ObusForme brand is a global leader in ergonomics with a passion for developing innovative products that maximize comfort, improve posture, help prevent injury and aid in recovery.  From our original, award-winning ObusForme ® Lowback Backrest Support to the latest in pillows, mattresses and massage products, ObusForme is committed to creating products that have been “Engineered for The Human Body”.

The Year Ahead

Read a message from Chris Brockington, ORCA Commercial Committee Chair.

ORCA Membership Invoice Reminder

Please note that ORCA membership renewal invoices are due by January 31, 2019. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Maureen Milligan, Member Services Manager, at maureen@orcaretirement.com or 905-403-0500 ext. 231.

Together We Care – Sponsorship Now Available!

The Together We Care (TWC) Convention is Canada’s largest gathering of retirement and long-term care professionals! Sponsorship is the most effective way to engage with TWC attendees in advance and on-site. Available opportunities include sponsoring the Delegate Breakfast, the TWC Mobile App and more! Learn More

Together We Care – Exhibit Hall Sales are 85% Sold Out! 

Secure your trade show booth today before it’s too late! Participating in the TWC Exhibit Hall is a fantastic way to gain exposure for your business, and it’s also the best networking opportunity of the year in this rapidly growing sector. Learn More