Letter from Dania Executive Director Lui Franciosi — December 2022

Dear Residents and Families of Dania,

I hope you are all doing well.  I would like to provide you with important updates from our campus of care.

I am pleased to report that we continue to be COVID-19 free with residents and staff at all sites.  I would like to thank all of you, including our staff, for properly wearing masks and washing hands especially when we had COVID cases and needed to follow enhanced monitoring protocols.  We are pleased with our progress and we look forward to the end of this pandemic hopefully next year.

Another important update is that the number of influenza cases in British Columbia is currently rising and above the normal average expected for this time of year. Therefore, as the holiday season brings larger groups of people together, we would recommend that all family members continue to wear masks at indoor events and more importantly get a flu shot.   Vaccination reduces both the severity of symptoms and the rate of hospitalization, particularly for our immunocompromised residents at Dania.  Thank you for taking these actions to protect our community.

In November, Accreditation Canada completed their survey of Dania processes and I am happy to report that we met 99.6% of the 670 standards checked.  (This organization assesses senior care communities like Dania Home and Dania Manor against world-class standards for providing quality care). Their surveyors indicated that Dania achieved one of the highest percentages ever seen in Canada, especially during the COVID pandemic, and that we should be extremely proud of the great care provided at Dania.  Hence, I am thankful to our Dania Board, Leadership Team and staff who make this happen on a daily basis.  I am also grateful to the residents and families who were available to tell their stories during the survey.  Congratulations to all on this remarkable achievement!

Also, I would like to invite all families to attend our next Family Council meeting on Monday, January 16, 2023, at 6:30pm.  (A reminder will be mailed out next month).  This past year, these meetings have been fruitful with great ideas and suggestions from family members to improve the lives of all our residents on a daily basis.

Lastly, I would like to invite everyone to visit Dania these next two weeks and enjoy the beautiful Christmas displays with their loved ones.  Our staff have beautifully decorated the front entrances of our buildings, including all of the Dania Home neighborhoods.  I am very thankful for their passion and devotion; the Christmas spirit is truly alive and well at Dania.

I want to wish you all a wonderful Holiday Season and a Happy New Year.  If you have any further questions, please contact me anytime. I am always available to you by phone or email.  Thank you and stay safe.