COMMUNITY LIFE - Initatives

Sherbrooke has been a leader in long term care and has brought many new initiatives to long term care in the Saskatoon Health Region, Saskatchewan and Canada. Sherbrooke's initiatives include:

In the Saskatoon Health Region:

  • The first Aboriginal representation on a Board of Trustees
  • The first long term care facility voluntarily affiliated with SHR
  • Partnership Agreement with Saskatchewan Indian and Metis Affairs Secretariat and Saskatoon Health Region signed February 21, 1995

In Saskatchewan:

  • The first Adult Community Day Program
  • The first Respite Care Program
  • The first facility to offer Physical, Occupational and Music therapy to residents
  • The first therapeutic pool (1987)
  • Specialized unit for the cognitively impaired
  • The first long term care facility to admit residents with AIDS
  • The first licensed child day care in a long term care home; Oak Trees and Acorns Child Care Centre opened January 2000
  • The first aviary in long term care - home to budgies, lovebirds, cockatiels, parakeets and canaries opened in 2002 
  • The first radio station in long term care operated by residents, volunteers and staff opened in June 2002
  • The first wheelchair accessible playground for children in long term care opened in 2002

In Canada:

  • The first Resident's Council
  • The first residents as voting Board members
  • Creation of a new model of care in the Sherbrooke/Veterans Villages
  • The first facility in Western Canada to register as an Eden Alternative™ Home

Other:

  • Contract management - Cheshire Homes ( May 1994-April 1997)
  • Wicihitowin Place - community based home for Aboriginal clients with acquired brain injuries (May 1995-June 1999)
  • Veterans Home - Transfer Agreement from Veterans Affairs Canada to Saskatoon Health Region/Sherbrooke (March 1996)
  • Implemented numerous innovative concepts, policies and programs
    • Principles of Care
    • CARE2000 - an empowerment model for staff
    • Degrees of Intervention
    • Least Restraint Policy
    • Respect and Dignity Policy
    • Critical Incident Stress Debriefing
    • Eden Alternative™ Philosophy
  • Winner of the Stellar Award for Quality from the Saskatchewan  Health Quality Council for Quality Improvement in the Environment category in 2004.
  • Sherbrooke's CEO, Suellen Beatty, was awarded a meritorious service decoration by Gov. Gen. Adrienne Clarkson for her instrumental role in developing "The Sherbrooke Village Model" in 2004. 
  • Winner of a Saskatchewan Healthcare Excellence Award from the Group Medical Services for demonstrating excellence in the Client-Centred/Client Satisfaction category in 2005.