Business View Magazine - September 2015

96 Business View - September 2015 Business View - September 2015 97 Montreal, the original four Sisters had already taken orphans into their care, visited sick people in their homes, and soon began to visit female convicts in the penitentiary. The Sisters’ first home and “House of Providence” was at the corner of Ordnance and Mon- treal Streets. Ten years after their arrival, their succes- sors began work expanding the House of Providence to provide more space for the ill, elderly, and orphans. Over the following years, many new additions were made to the Home. Today, the first House of Provi- dence is known as Providence Manor and provides end-of-life care, and long-term care. Residents come to live at Providence Manor after being assessed by their local CCAC (Community Care Access Center). Nowlan describes Providence Manor and its typical residents: “The average age of our resident popula- tion is 87 years. We have two “short-stay,” or “respite” beds - which means people from the community whose caregivers need relief can come into our Home for up to 90 days a year. Eighty-percent of our people living at Providence Manor are female; seventy-five-percent of the residents have moderate to severe cognitive im- pairment. Many require assistive devices like wheel- chairs, assistance with bathing, and mechanical lifts to help them in and out of bed.” Providence Manor Enhancing quality of life for frail seniors in southeastern Ontario Providence Manor is a long-term care home located in the heart of downtown, Kingston, Ontario. It was founded by the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul, who- according to their Mission statement, is an apostolic congregation of vowed women religious who are called upon to be “channels of God’s Providence.” “A heart consecrated to charity,” is the Sisters’ motto. Shelagh Nowlan, Providence Manor’s Vice-President of Long-term Care, describes how the Manor was estab- lished 150 years ago. “The Sisters arrived in Kingston to begin their mission of caring for the vulnerable in our society in Kingston, and they started their ministry here at Providence Manor. Today, Providence Manor is a 243-bed, faith-based, long-term care home. We are part of a larger organization called Providence Care, which also operates two hospitals and several com- munity services focused on enhancing quality of life. Following in the footsteps of the Sisters, we have been in this business since 1861.” According to Nowlan, “The Sisters worked in the pris- ons, in the orphanages, with people with disabilities and the vulnerable elderly. They used to go around the city and area to collect donations to feed people.” In fact, within days of their arrival in Kingston from AT A GLANCE WHO: Providence Manor WHAT: Long-term care home WHERE: Kingston, Ontario WEBSITE : www.providencecare.ca Healthcare Healthcare