December 2024
Hello Villa Colombo Vaughan Community,
As we approach the end of 2024, I would like to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude for the incredible support from our community throughout this year. Your continued dedication has allowed us to preserve and celebrate our Italian Canadian culture and traditions, enriching the lives of all those who call Villa Colombo Vaughan home. A special thank you to our generous donors and dedicated volunteers—your unwavering support and commitment are what make Villa Colombo Vaughan such a special place for our residents and their families.
Programs at VCV
Here at Villa Colombo Vaughan, we strive to make everyone feel right at home by encompassing the Italian heritage in our day-to-day programming. Meaningful programs are designed to meet our resident’s physical, social, emotional, intellectual & spiritual needs. These programs are imbedded in our resident’s daily living, providing activities seven days a week, including holidays. From Espresso Hour to Gardening, our team ensures to cater to what our residents’ needs are & what they enjoy. Stay tuned each month to join in on the Italian Heritage based programming that brings the Villa Colombo Vaughan Community of residents, families, staff & volunteers together!
Looking back
On October 25th, Villa Colombo Vaughan had the privilege of hosting the Honourable Minister of Long-Term Care, Natalia Kusendova-Bashta, along with Minister Stephen Lecce and Senator Consiglio Di Nino. They were joined by Marco DeVuono, President and CEO of Villa Charities, Anthony J. Messina, Chair of the Villa Colombo Vaughan Board, and Joseph Gulizia, President and CEO of UniversalCare. We’re honoured to have them tour our home and showcase the great work our staff provide to our residents. We are thankful for the continued support and engagement from our community leaders!
On November 11th, we held a moment of silence followed by a Poppy making arts and crafts program for our residents to show solidarity and remember those who fought for Canada on Remembrance Day.
On Saturday, November 16th, 2024, we gathered for a heartfelt Memorial Mass led by Father John to celebrate the lives of our beloved residents who we have sadly lost this year. It was a beautiful and moving service, where we honored their legacies with flowers, each representing a cherished soul. The mass provided a moment of reflection and gratitude for the memories shared, followed by a time of fellowship with refreshments. This gathering allowed our community to come together, share stories, and reminisce, finding comfort in one another’s presence as we remembered those who will forever hold a special place in our hearts.
On November 21st, RC Ferri hosted a special ceremony to honor and congratulate our incredible volunteers. These dedicated individuals are the backbone of our Villa Colombo Vaughan community, selflessly giving their time to help others. Their commitment and hard work are integral to the support and care we provide, and we truly could not have the vibrant, compassionate community we have today without their invaluable contributions. We are deeply grateful for each and every volunteer, and their dedication continues to inspire us all.
On Saturday, December 7th, Villa Colombo Vaughan hosted a festive Christmas fundraiser and tree lighting ceremony! The event was filled with music, laughter, delicious holiday treats, and an overwhelming sense of joy. We were thrilled to welcome over 100 guests to our home. Our beautifully donated ornaments were on display for families, residents, and the community to enjoy. Thank you to everyone who joined us and generously donated, helping to make this event an unforgettable experience!
Nursing Restorative and Rehabilitation Program
Our Restorative Care program began on October 1, 2024, and is aimed to Maximize and maintain individual levels of function for residents, Enable residents to retain their skills and level of independence, Focus on quality of life, and Prevent declines that impact well-being and quality of life. The plan of action for this program includes Setting personalized goals, Establish review dates, and Achieve final outcomes within 4-6 weeks of beginning the program.
Infection, Prevention and Control Measures
Our ongoing commitment to you is that Villa Colombo Vaughan will be working with York Region Public Health and UniversalCare to ensure that we are doing all that we can to keep our residents, team members, and visitors safe.
To ensure we are keeping our residents, staff and visitors safe, we ask that if you are experiencing any symptoms, to please stay home. Symptoms include fever, chills, trouble breathing, cough, runny nose, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle aches/joint paints or decrease or loss of taste/smell. We ask that you stay home until you have no fever and that your symptoms (including those not listed), are improving for at least 24 hours or 48 hours if nausea/vomiting/diarrhea.
For extra measures (10 days after the start of symptoms) wear a well-fitted mask in all public settings, avoid non-essential activities where you take off your mask, and do not visit people or settings at high risk. Should you have any infection, prevention and control questions, please reach out to Ramandeep, acting IPAC Manager at vcvipacmanager@universalcareinc.ca.
Heating and Room Temperature
During the winter months, we prioritize maintaining a comfortable and warm environment for all residents. Each room is equipped with adjustable heating controls, allowing temperatures to be set according to individual preferences.
We kindly ask that everyone seek assistance from the casa nurse or the charge nurse when wanting to adjust the room temperatures as the system can be sensitive at times and can reach unintentional temperatures if not careful with the operation of the thermostat.
Winter Menu
When designing a winter menu for long-term care, it’s essential to consider residents’ dietary restrictions, preferences, and any special needs they may have. At Villa Colombo Vaughan, we are offering a variety of options that ensures that everyone can enjoy fresh, flavorful meals that contribute to their overall health and well-being while being seasonal favorites. The winter menu underwent an approval process and was taste-tested by our Resident’s Council. Their valuable feedback and insightful suggestions were instrumental in refining the menu to perfection before its official launch. We are thrilled to report an overwhelmingly positive response from both our residents and their families, who have enthusiastically embraced the exciting additions and delectable offerings of our new culinary lineup.
Volunteering
Volunteering is a wonderful way to make a meaningful difference in someone’s life. If you’re looking to brighten up the day of one of our residents, consider becoming a volunteer!
Volunteers have the opportunity to assist with programs such as: Bingo, Music Socials, Special Events, Baking, Outings, and friendly visiting! Your time, kindness, and compassion can have a lasting impact. To get involved, please contact Daniella, our volunteer coordinator, who will be happy to guide you through the process and help you make a positive contribution.
(289)202-2222 ext. 309 | vcvvolunteercoord@universalcareinc.ca
Sincerely,
Sam Parisi
Acting Administrator
Villa Colombo Vaughan
