Thank you Olive Toews, Melanie’s mother, for sharing your family’s story.
To know Melanie, is to know a beautiful, cheerful, affectionate, placid yet determined young woman.
She has a smile for everyone and always knows when people like her. One of her favourite activities is going on a road trip and listening to the radio. What makes that road trip even better for Melanie is if it ends at the pool!
Melanie was diagnosed with Atypical Rett Syndrome, Scoliosis, Epilepsy, is visually impaired, has a gastrostomy tube for medication and requires 24/7 support.
A Family Decision
It wasn’t just Melanie’s parents and siblings that were involved in the decision to have Melanie move into a home with 24/7 support, so was the extended family.
In fact, it was one of the largest ‘meet and greets’ in the agency’s history! Melanie’s family had set the bar high for housing and care requirements. Olive says Care (ASLS at the time) met those requirements. She adds that, staff were kind, honest and caring.
What comforted and impressed Olive and the rest of Melanie’s family was Care’s knowledge of the rare Rett Syndrome. The organization was already supporting an Individual diagnosed with the syndrome – the then CEO’s daughter and current CEO’s sister.
But Melanie couldn’t move in – yet. The home, named Wilcox, was not accredited to house children. What took place next was months of paperwork. Melanie’s family had to apply to have the costs covered by Child and Family Services Authority and Care (ASLS) worked to get accredited so Melanie could move in.
During that time there were many respite visits to help Melanie and her family transition. Then in August of 2009, Melanie moved into her new home and was enrolled in school.
Stone Brook – A Place to Call Home
When Stone Brook opened in 2015, Melanie moved in and started the next chapter of her life.
The Designated Living Facility was spacious with more living and recreation space, specialized equipment as well as opportunities for socializing.
Over the years she has celebrated holidays, birthdays and special occasions at Stone Brook including hosting a baby shower for her nephew, with the help of Krista, the supervisor at the time.
Being Cared For
“Care has taken good care of Melanie. It was often hard to meet her needs at home as Melanie requires a high level of care.
Handing over the care of Melanie was a painful decision to make, but it helped that everyone was so caring. It was hard to let go, but letting go alleviated some of the stress we felt. Although we wish that we could still care for Melanie ourselves, we are confident that she is getting the care and attention she needs.”
– Olive Toews
Wilcox through the eyes of a Support Worker – Kaitlyn Armstrong
Wilcox is a residential care facility that has a wide range of differently abled Individuals that require 24 hour direct support. Staff work around the clock to make sure that each Individual’s daily needs are being met. We tend to make sure that the Cottage looks more like a home as it is where they reside.
The Wilcox Cottage in Stone Brook is a modern facility that is comforting with large bedrooms and with private bathrooms in each room. It has a common area with a fireplace. Next to that, you have a large dining area where Individuals gather for meals. The hallways are very wide which makes it very accommodating for individuals that require lifts and wheelchairs. The Cottage itself has good lighting and tall ceilings.
The best part about the Cottage is that it has a state-of-the art spa tub to accommodate each Individual. It adjusts to staff’s height as well so they are not continuously bending their back. Each Individual has a shower chair as well that can be used if preferred.
The specialised equipment fits each Individual to the best of its capabilities such as adjustable beds, customized wheelchairs and lifts built into bedrooms. Personal care and hygiene is different for each person. Some people may prefer baths, others may need to shower twice a day. Providing Individuals with the opportunity and support to continue this routine is an essential part of their daily living needs.
The Recreation Department offers a lot of activities for the Individuals. We recently had to do a lot of modifying due to COVID-19, but we are making the best out of it. We are only allowed to hold 15 people in the Rec room, which safely allows us to keep the proper amount of distance between everyone. It’s spacious enough for Individuals that have motorized wheelchairs. We do chair exercises, bingo, movie night, music night (amazing for high sensory Individuals).
The Care team is prepared to provide quality services to their best ability by providing practical support, emotional encouragement, and compassionate care. To the best of their ability, they help each Individual achieve an improved Quality of Life and a safe and secure living environment.
Developing and maintaining good relationships is central to improving outcomes for Individuals. Our role is to create an environment in which Individuals feel their needs and goals are being heard and understood. This requires integrity, honesty and skill. A good rapport creates a close and harmonious relationship with every Individual within Care. It allows us to understand the individual’s feelings and communicate well with them. It connects the staff and the Individuals and improves their care. We are caring and attentive, aware of their needs and try to accommodate to their best ability.
Each and every Individual within Care is valued. There are daily interactions between the staff and the Individuals resulting in a lot of fun!