History
Assisted Living, the Mayne Island Way
Pat Gasston, first Chairperson of MIALS with Libbie Bake, present Co-Chair
When you talk about Assisted Living with people who don’t live on Mayne Island they usually think that you are referring to a care facility for elders that is housed in a stand-alone building. But on Mayne Island Assisted Living is different. On Mayne Island Assisted Living is an ideal, a philosophy and a value that is usually home delivered to the residents in need.
In the past, home delivery of services was commonplace. Doctors made house calls, bread, milk and even mail was home delivered. Assisted Living services on Mayne Island are managed and delivered by the Mayne Island Assisted Living Society otherwise known as MIALS. A look back at the history of MIALS will tell us how it all began.
In the Fall of 2002, a group of health professionals, home support workers and other interested people met to talk about their concern that Mayne Islanders with increased health needs were having to leave the island because they could no longer stay in their own homes. With the encouragement of the Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA), and the manager of Home Support Services for the Saanich Peninsula, the group decided to investigate the possibility of providing 24-hour Assisted Living on the island.
In February of 2003, the planning group designed a survey to assess the needs/desires of Mayne Island residents. The survey was distributed throughout the community. The needs assessment indicated that a significant number of people could envision making use of this facility within the next ten years.
In May of 2003 the Mayne Island Assisted Living Society was formed under the provincial Societies Act. This non-profit society was formed with the mission of “Building an Assisted Living facility that would provide a continuum of care to people who would otherwise have to leave the island.”
The group that founded the Mayne Island Assisted Living Society were forward thinking individuals. Jane Harvey, a Health Centre nurse, was very instrumental in converting ideas into action and forming the non-profit society. Sue Couch, a long time Mayne Island resident, was a very enthusiastic volunteer in the early years. Both of these women have now moved off Mayne Island. However, Pat Gasston, the first chairperson of MIALS, continues to be a very active and valued volunteer for the society. Pat provided the information about the early years of Assisted Living on Mayne Island for this history.
After forming MIALS in 2003, the founding group explored possible sites for building an Assisted Living facility on Mayne Island as well as researching options for funding such a project. Reluctantly, the founding group came to realize that Mayne Island did not have the “critical mass” of elderly people to bring in sufficient funds to build a facility and cover the associated operating costs. So as Pat Gasston explains, the founding group had to refocus and research how “to assist people to remain in their homes on Mayne Island for as long as possible.”
In consultation with local Health Care providers and in reviewing options offered in other communities MIALS rebranded itself and sought a “Made on Mayne” solution. This solution involved using the resource of eager Mayne Island volunteers who faithfully perform so many important tasks on Mayne Island.
Through a careful analysis of needs of the elderly on Mayne Island it was determined that MIALS should seek to provide: transportation assistance on and off island, social visits to the elderly, delivery of Meals on Wheels, help with home and garden care on a short term basis, some respite care, access to the Red Cross cupboard for medical aids such as crutches etc., help accessing support services and other ever evolving types of services as needs arise and resources permit.
Funding to set the MIALS home delivered programs in motion were requested from the Supportive Living branch of the Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA). Pat Gasston also obtained a startup grant from the CRD after meeting with CRD director Richard Dalon at the Springwater Inn. Another avenue of revenue for MIALS came after receiving a charity number at Tru-Valu Foods where residents choose to donate 1% of their grocery costs to their favourite charity. In subsequent years MIALS applied to the provincial government for a gaming grant to help cover the society’s on-going expenses. Donations from the public were also gratefully received. Donations over $20 receive a receipt for income tax purposes.
Funds were needed to pay mileage for volunteer drivers and to pay a part time volunteer coordinator. The Coordinator of Volunteers recruits volunteers and arranges training as needed, matches volunteers to clients, assesses on–going client needs, liaisons with island health professionals and publicizes MIALS programs in the community. The Mission Statement of MIALS had to be revised to state: “To assist elders and other Mayne Islanders facing health challenges, to have choices related to their living arrangements and quality of life.”
In September of 2005, May McKenzie was hired on a contract basis to the position of MIALS Coordinator of Volunteers. In the same month, MIALS took over the recruitment of volunteers to deliver Meals on Wheels. MIALS also began to provide volunteers to pick-up Red Cross medical aids from Victoria and to clean and maintain inventory in the Red Cross Cupboard located at the Health Centre. May McKenzie reported on the first six months of the MIALS Volunteer Program at the AGM of the society held in April 2006.
Through the years from 2006 until 2014 the scope of services offered to Mayne Islanders by MIALS has increased and the Mission statement for the MIALS has been revised. A community’s needs change and evolve over time. A healthy and vibrant community welcomes and supports all residents as needs arise and resources permit. The original ideas that the founding group of MIALS formulated have remained intact but more services are now offered.
Mission Statement/Purpose: To assist Mayne Islanders of all ages to maintain and enrich their quality of life.
Vision Statement: MIALS envisions: A community where service providers and the community at large help elders remain in their homes for as long as possible. MIALS also envisions helping all members of the community enhance their quality of life.
New programs and services that are now provided by MIALS include:
MIALS welcomes the help of Mayne Island residents so that the society’s programs can be maintained and enhanced.
In the past, home delivery of services was commonplace. Doctors made house calls, bread, milk and even mail was home delivered. Assisted Living services on Mayne Island are managed and delivered by the Mayne Island Assisted Living Society otherwise known as MIALS. A look back at the history of MIALS will tell us how it all began.
In the Fall of 2002, a group of health professionals, home support workers and other interested people met to talk about their concern that Mayne Islanders with increased health needs were having to leave the island because they could no longer stay in their own homes. With the encouragement of the Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA), and the manager of Home Support Services for the Saanich Peninsula, the group decided to investigate the possibility of providing 24-hour Assisted Living on the island.
In February of 2003, the planning group designed a survey to assess the needs/desires of Mayne Island residents. The survey was distributed throughout the community. The needs assessment indicated that a significant number of people could envision making use of this facility within the next ten years.
In May of 2003 the Mayne Island Assisted Living Society was formed under the provincial Societies Act. This non-profit society was formed with the mission of “Building an Assisted Living facility that would provide a continuum of care to people who would otherwise have to leave the island.”
The group that founded the Mayne Island Assisted Living Society were forward thinking individuals. Jane Harvey, a Health Centre nurse, was very instrumental in converting ideas into action and forming the non-profit society. Sue Couch, a long time Mayne Island resident, was a very enthusiastic volunteer in the early years. Both of these women have now moved off Mayne Island. However, Pat Gasston, the first chairperson of MIALS, continues to be a very active and valued volunteer for the society. Pat provided the information about the early years of Assisted Living on Mayne Island for this history.
After forming MIALS in 2003, the founding group explored possible sites for building an Assisted Living facility on Mayne Island as well as researching options for funding such a project. Reluctantly, the founding group came to realize that Mayne Island did not have the “critical mass” of elderly people to bring in sufficient funds to build a facility and cover the associated operating costs. So as Pat Gasston explains, the founding group had to refocus and research how “to assist people to remain in their homes on Mayne Island for as long as possible.”
In consultation with local Health Care providers and in reviewing options offered in other communities MIALS rebranded itself and sought a “Made on Mayne” solution. This solution involved using the resource of eager Mayne Island volunteers who faithfully perform so many important tasks on Mayne Island.
Through a careful analysis of needs of the elderly on Mayne Island it was determined that MIALS should seek to provide: transportation assistance on and off island, social visits to the elderly, delivery of Meals on Wheels, help with home and garden care on a short term basis, some respite care, access to the Red Cross cupboard for medical aids such as crutches etc., help accessing support services and other ever evolving types of services as needs arise and resources permit.
Funding to set the MIALS home delivered programs in motion were requested from the Supportive Living branch of the Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA). Pat Gasston also obtained a startup grant from the CRD after meeting with CRD director Richard Dalon at the Springwater Inn. Another avenue of revenue for MIALS came after receiving a charity number at Tru-Valu Foods where residents choose to donate 1% of their grocery costs to their favourite charity. In subsequent years MIALS applied to the provincial government for a gaming grant to help cover the society’s on-going expenses. Donations from the public were also gratefully received. Donations over $20 receive a receipt for income tax purposes.
Funds were needed to pay mileage for volunteer drivers and to pay a part time volunteer coordinator. The Coordinator of Volunteers recruits volunteers and arranges training as needed, matches volunteers to clients, assesses on–going client needs, liaisons with island health professionals and publicizes MIALS programs in the community. The Mission Statement of MIALS had to be revised to state: “To assist elders and other Mayne Islanders facing health challenges, to have choices related to their living arrangements and quality of life.”
In September of 2005, May McKenzie was hired on a contract basis to the position of MIALS Coordinator of Volunteers. In the same month, MIALS took over the recruitment of volunteers to deliver Meals on Wheels. MIALS also began to provide volunteers to pick-up Red Cross medical aids from Victoria and to clean and maintain inventory in the Red Cross Cupboard located at the Health Centre. May McKenzie reported on the first six months of the MIALS Volunteer Program at the AGM of the society held in April 2006.
Through the years from 2006 until 2014 the scope of services offered to Mayne Islanders by MIALS has increased and the Mission statement for the MIALS has been revised. A community’s needs change and evolve over time. A healthy and vibrant community welcomes and supports all residents as needs arise and resources permit. The original ideas that the founding group of MIALS formulated have remained intact but more services are now offered.
Mission Statement/Purpose: To assist Mayne Islanders of all ages to maintain and enrich their quality of life.
Vision Statement: MIALS envisions: A community where service providers and the community at large help elders remain in their homes for as long as possible. MIALS also envisions helping all members of the community enhance their quality of life.
New programs and services that are now provided by MIALS include:
- support for Mayne Island residents needing help of a palliative nature provided by volunteers trained in the Circle of Care program
- Grief and Loss Support Group meetings
- updates about MIALS programs and events on the MIALS website, www.mials.org
- the Honour a Life ceremony held in the Japanese Gardens each December
MIALS welcomes the help of Mayne Island residents so that the society’s programs can be maintained and enhanced.
MIALS Fashion Show
You can help by:
This history of MIALS was prepared by Judy Kiyooka, MIALS Secretary, after conversations with Pat Gasston, founding chairperson of MIALS.
October 6, 2014
- attending MIALS Fund Raising events,
- remembering to choose MIALS as your charity of choice, (#40), when shopping at Tru-Valu
- thinking of MIALS when donating to local charities.
- becoming a MIALS volunteer
This history of MIALS was prepared by Judy Kiyooka, MIALS Secretary, after conversations with Pat Gasston, founding chairperson of MIALS.
October 6, 2014
