This year at Ottawa Rotary Home has been marked by significant milestones, achievements, and the successful completion of special projects and initiatives. A key focus has been on creating a sustainable, strong workforce within our organization. We implemented a total compensation framework designed to attract and retain highly qualified staff, recognizing that the heart of our success lies in the hands of our dedicated team. By investing in their development and well-being, we ensure that the supports our community needs are always met with excellence and compassion. Our commitment to building a skilled and resilient team is central to our mission and essential for our long-term success.

Through our innovative programs and unwavering commitment to person-centered planning, we have created opportunities for growth and development. This year, we witnessed individuals reaching their highest potential, blossoming, and achieving their goals. These successes highlight the power of an individual approach, respecting each person’s journey and supporting them to achieve things they once thought unachievable. We saw our clients participate in new activities, overcome personal challenges, and set and achieve ambitious goals, leading to more fulfilled lives. By letting people guide their own journey and supporting their dreams and aspirations, we facilitated remarkable accomplishments and shared in their joy.

This year also marked a significant return to our new normal, with the resumption of all our programs. We embraced this transition with enthusiasm and a renewed sense of purpose. Our respite programs are back in operation, welcoming clients and providing essential support to families. Additionally, we have introduced new programs geared to meet the needs expressed in our community. All our programs are either fully operational or set to be fully operational in the upcoming fiscal year, reflecting our commitment to comprehensive care and community support.

The true highlight of this year has been the fantastic achievements of the individuals we support. From participating in new activities and overcoming personal challenges to setting and achieving ambitious goals, our clients have shown incredible resilience and determination. Their stories of growth and success inspire us to continue our mission with even greater dedication.

As we look ahead, our focus remains on enhancing the lives of those we support through dedicated, person-centered care. We are proud of the progress we’ve made and are excited about the future, inspired by the incredible achievements of our clients and the unwavering commitment of our team.

Impact and Community Involvement

Our goal of achieving greater impact and community involvement has been at the forefront of our efforts over the past two years. Here are the key accomplishments that demonstrate our progress toward this goal:

Increased Children’s Respite Numbers We aimed to increase our children’s respite numbers, both in terms of new individuals and the amount of time offered compared to the previous year. To achieve this, we piloted a children’s day camp in July and August, which successfully attracted new families to our services.

Partnership with CHEO Kids Come First Home and Community Care We partnered with CHEO Kids Come First Home and Community Care to offer our training modules to Service Provider Organizations that place personal support workers in schools. This partnership has expanded the reach and impact of our training programs.

Tracheostomy Training for Nurses In preparation for receiving new children who are medically fragile, several of our nurses participated in tracheostomy training through CHEO’s Center of Excellence. This training ensures that our staff is well-equipped to provide the necessary care for these children.

Launch of ORH Family Advisory Committee We launched an ORH Family Advisory Committee to hear first-hand what families need to know and desire from ORH. This committee provides valuable insights and helps us tailor our services to better meet the needs of the families we serve.

Newsletters to Families We provided families with newsletters containing information on the Journey to Belonging framework. These newsletters are part of our ongoing efforts to keep families informed and engaged with our programs and initiatives.

ODSN Family Forum In conjunction with the Ottawa Developmental Services Network (ODSN), we hosted a full-day ODSN Family Forum for over 250 families in the Ottawa area in November 2023. This event provided a platform for families to connect, share experiences, and learn about available resources and support.

These accomplishments reflect our commitment to making a greater impact and involving the community in meaningful ways. We are proud of the progress we have made and look forward to continuing to enhance our services and community engagement in the coming year.

Ottawa Rotary Home is a leader in our community and within developmental services. We are advocates not only for the individuals and families we support but also for the sector at large. Our ongoing efforts are directed toward systemic change that will better the lives of the individuals we support. 

Our program for medically fragile children and those with complex care needs successfully supported every child enrolled in the Multiple Special Needs Program who requested time. These children often require enhanced supports, and we were happy to be able to provide that, ensuring their participation in community events while managing their unique needs.

Our commitment to providing services that the community needs remains strong. We are excited as the operations in children’s respite ramp up and the new summer day camp enriches the lives of our young clients.

This year, the Adult Respite Program at Ottawa Rotary Home saw significant growth and continued dedication to providing essential support. Increased capacity in the spring, due to bringing on several new staff members to our adult team, enabled us to respond to increasing pressures in the community.

Throughout the entire fiscal year, the program operated beyond full capacity, reflecting the high need of families with adult children. We focused not only on providing essential breaks for families but also on offering enriching experiences for the young adults attending our program. We engaged in many activities directed by the interests of the adults staying with us each week, often including both in-house activities and exciting outings. These activities included arts and crafts, and trips to local attractions like Upper Canada Village. In the fall and winter, we continued to offer engaging experiences and accommodated several emergency visits, enabling families to attend urgent matters out of the country. This program provided many families in our community with a much-needed break and once again highlighted the value of respite.

Requests for respite care from families with adult children now surpass those from families with younger children, making this our most sought-after program. Our commitment to supporting the community through our Adult Respite Program remained strong throughout the year. We look forward to continuing to provide high-quality care and enriching experiences for our clients in the coming year.

This year, the Adult Day Program at Ottawa Rotary Home saw a revitalization and continued growth. In the spring, we joyfully reopened the program, welcoming back long-time participants and introducing new members to our vibrant activities. Although the program did not operate during the summer, we focused on recruitment and planning for potential summer sessions to ensure continued engagement.

The fall season brought a surge in activity, aligning with our goal to return to pre-pandemic levels. We engaged clients in a variety of activities, promoting a sense of community and well-being. The program’s success continued into the winter, providing engaging and enriching experiences for our clients. During this time, we also focused on planning for potential summer sessions and renegotiating staff contracts to support the program’s future growth.

Our commitment to offering a dynamic and supportive environment through the Adult Day Program remains strong. We look forward to building on this year’s successes and continuing to provide valuable experiences for our clients in the coming year.

In January 2024, we said goodbye to one of our original residents at 30 Rochester who joined us from the Rideau Regional Center. We were thankful to have so many years with her and her family, and she will be greatly missed.

This year, we placed a strong emphasis on personal goals, doing everything in our power to make residents’ dreams a reality. We witnessed residents push boundaries and explore new experiences like never before. At Ottawa Rotary Home, we believe in our residents and the philosophy of person-centered care. We are excited to continue supporting our residents as they reach their goals and potential, and we look forward to celebrating their achievements in the coming year.

We have permission to share this wonderful story but have been asked to keep the individual’s identity confidential. Therefore, he will be referred to as AJ throughout the story.

AJ’s favorite activities include sensory experiences that engage his senses of smell, touch, taste, and, although limited, some sound. Exploring the world through these sensory activities allows him to connect deeply with his surroundings and with people. He has a keen interest in animals, a passion for music he can not only hear but feel through the deep bass of drums, and a curiosity for meeting new people and trying new things. With these interests as our starting point, we aimed to broaden AJ’s horizons through a variety of enriching activities. The Ottawa Rotary Home prioritized staffing supports to start with the things we knew he enjoyed to further expand his horizons. What we anticipated to be a monthly calendar of engaging activities blossomed into a world beyond our imagination for AJ.

One of AJ’s favorite new activities is pottery. This activity not only provided him with sensory stimulation and allowed him to connect with his environment, but he also formed friendships and connections with the people who worked there. He was greeted with anticipation each time he attended class, making these sessions a highlight of his schedule. Swimming has also become a treasured part of his week, allowing his body to relax and move freely, providing both physical and emotional benefits. We knew AJ enjoyed connecting with animals, but we never expected him to develop such a deep bond with the horses through his participation in the Therapeutic Riding program.

Watching AJ achieve his dreams has been a powerful reminder of the impact of personalized care and support. At the Ottawa Rotary Home, we are committed to continuing this journey with AJ and all our residents, helping them push boundaries, explore new possibilities, and realize their fullest potential. AJ’s story is a testament to the transformative power of person-centered care and the incredible achievements that can be made when dreams are nurtured and supported.

We believe in the importance of continuous learning and growth, and we will continue to prioritize staff development to maintain the high standards of care that define Ottawa Rotary Home.

Program Development and Enhancements: CSTS has expanded its course catalog significantly. Not only have we updated all of the courses we currently offer to ensure they meet the latest best practices, but we have also relaunched all of our original material in a format that provides an enhanced learner experience with streamlined menus and a more modern feel. In addition, we have added new topics such as Naloxone Training, Bi-Pap & C-Pap Use, Person-Centered Planning, modules on Ozempic and Seizure Disorders/Management, and Dysphagia Training. We have also released new microlearning modules on topics such as professionalism in the workplace.

We have also made several enhancements to the courses themselves, which include the use of new artificial intelligence voiceovers and updated navigational menus, enhancing how the learner interacts with the course. We updated how our courses integrate with the learning management platform to improve the overall success rate of recording quiz marks and providing certificates.

New Compliance Package: A major milestone for CSTS this year was the launch of our comprehensive compliance package. This new service has been highly successful since its introduction, offering agencies a structured and effective way to ensure adherence to regulatory standards. The compliance package includes a range of courses designed to cover critical areas such as medication administration, controlled acts, essential care skills, all ministry-mandated training, and quality assurance. Agencies have the option to add their own policies and procedures that must be reviewed on a yearly basis to remain compliant. This program provides agencies with a streamlined way to manage all of their yearly compliance training requirements in an easy-to-manage platform​.

Practice Labs and Training Kits: We introduced a new format for practice labs and now offer agencies the ability to purchase training kits directly from us. These kits are mailed out, allowing us to conduct virtual practice labs, which have been very well received. This service has provided agencies with a cost-effective and efficient way to conduct hands-on training, ensuring that staff are well-prepared for their roles​.

Community Impact: Our training has equipped agencies to support individuals with growing medical complexities and provided unregulated support staff with the skills and knowledge to deliver high-quality care to those they support. We have seen the impact of our training firsthand. For example, one child who had never been able to attend daycare before was able to do so this year thanks to our specialized training. This child is now successfully being supported in a daycare setting for the first time, demonstrating the profound effect our training can have on individual lives.

Future Directions: CSTS continues to research provincial expansion to meet growing demand from various regions. We are considering new strategies to streamline training kit procurement and delivery, ensuring agencies receive timely and efficient support. Strengthened partnerships with suppliers have been a focus, obtaining training supplies at no cost to enhance our training programs.

Board of Directors Members

• Peggy Gilmour, Chair
• Jane Courtice-Neocleous, Vice Chair
• Andre Bourdon, Co-chair of Audit and Finance
• Gordon Leverton, Treasurer
• Robert Whyte
• Baxter Willis
• Miriam Fraser
• Rod Vanier, Co-chair of Audit and Finance
• Michael Dixon
• Fay Campbell
• Jean Holbert-Leighton
• Susan Hopkinson
• Amanda Telford

Audit and Finance Committee

• Andre Bourdon, Co-chair
• Rod Vanier, Co-chair
• Zul Devji
• Gord Leverton, Treasurer
• Ranya Gabriel (ORH Foundation Representative)
• Susan Hopkinson

Governance Committee

• Jane Courtice-Neocleous, Chair
• Peggy Gilmour
• Miriam Fraser
• Andre Bourdon

Message from the Chair, Ottawa Rotary Home Foundation, John Lark