Quest: A Society for Adult Support and Rehabilitation

03/14/2022

The Tattoo Studio is now OPEN! Today we had temporary tattoos and mocktail pina coladas

02/02/2022

First Wacky Wednesday of the month is CREATIVE ART DAY! We made masks and a sign for our upcoming Super Bowl Party!!

01/31/2022

All ready for Recreation Therapy Month tomorrow!

10/27/2021

The pumpkins are ready for our big Halloween Party tomorrow!

11/27/2020

Check out this great local holiday gift idea! Made by Quest clients. Contact Erin to place an order or for more information

09/17/2020

A new study found that managerialism (a business-oriented model) in human service agencies profoundly affects service delivery and the well-being of workers.

09/09/2020

The most powerful, simple and trusted way to gather experience data. Start your journey to experience management and try a free account today.

08/10/2020

And a new BC company has just formed to produce it. It’s up to the province now.

08/06/2020

https://bouncebackbc.ca/

05/26/2020

We’re excited to announce that in conjunction with National AccessAbility Week and Independent Living Across Canada Day (ILACD), we've partnered with Empower, The Disability Resource Centre, to virtually celebrate on Wednesday, June 3, 2020. Please see below our full line-up of events and join us either by Zoom or Facebook (registration not required) as we recognize the barriers that have been removed so persons with disabilities can live independently and the work that continues to be accomplished for Independent Living.

If you need disability-related accommodations, please contact Kaitlyn at kaitlyn@ilns.ca.

ILACD Skills Showcase
Nova Scotia: 10:00 - 11:00 A.M.
NFLD: 10:30 - 11:30 A.m.

We’re opening Independent Living Across Canada Day with a Skills Showcase that you don’t want to miss!

Zoom link: https://bit.ly/3gezyPz

Webinar #1: Disclosing Your Disability & Employment
Nova Scotia: 1:00 - 1:30 P.M.
NFLD: 1:30 - 2:00 P.M.

Join Stephen Quinn from Empower, the Disability Resource Centre where he will talk about strategies and rights for job seekers and employees with disabilities.

Zoom link: https://bit.ly/2TtuX2j

Webinar #2: Disability as Diversity
Nova Scotia: 2:00 - 2:30 P.M.
NFLD: 2:30 - 3:00 P.M.

Sean McEwen owner of Real Eyes Capacity Consultants and speaking as a Diversity and Inclusion consultant from HIRE for TALENT / OPTEZ pour le TALENT will discuss the role service providers can play in helping employers develop a sustainable workforce.

Zoom link: https://bit.ly/2ATVrU7

Webinar #3: How the Human Rights & OHS Acts ensure an inclusive & safe workplace
Nova Scotia: 3:00 - 3:30 P.M.
NFLD: 3:30 - 4:00 P.M.

Join Andrea MacNevin owner of MacNevin Law & Mediation, as she talks about employer’s and employee’s rights and obligations in accommodating disability in the workplace, and how Nova Scotia's Occupational Health & Safety legislation help employees get back to work safely.

Zoom link: https://bit.ly/2WVp6oq

Webinar #4: Supported Employment - A story of Disability to (Dis)Ability
Nova Scotia: 4:00 - 4:30 P.M.
NFLD: 4:30 - 5:00 P.M.

Join Hannah Helfer from TEAMWork Cooperative as she tells Tyler White’s story and how he found his way to his first dream job through supported employment.

Zoom link: https://bit.ly/2XzQibF

Delivered in partnership between Independent Living Nova Scotia and Empower, the Disability Resource Centre.

05/26/2020

25 May 2020

Dear Family Members:

Quest continues to strive to keep our clients and staff protected during the CoVid-19 pandemic. We continue to work in close collaboration with our colleagues across the province as well as government bodies. We are following the directives issued by the NS Chief Medical Officer of Health as well as by the Department of Community Services. To date no Quest clients have tested positive for CoVid-19 and all staff who presented with symptoms have tested negative.

The Quest CoVid-19 Management Group meets three days per week to discuss the rapidly evolving situation and make changes necessary to our procedures and services. All our staff continue to be diligent in meeting the care needs of our clients. In addition, Quest continues to employ an additional cleaner who is focused on sanitizing high use areas and surfaces. We also continue to provide our clients with the information and tools they need to engage in precautionary practices such as proper hand washing, use of hand sanitizer and the importance of social distancing.

As per the provincial government directives, our clients continue to be restricted from leaving Quest property with some exceptions for extenuating circumstances. In response to these restrictions, Quest continues to strive to mitigate the impact of these restrictions on our clients.

Clients continue to go on outings with our dedicated driver as well as our regular staff. However, the clients continue to be unable to leave the vehicle during these outings. The two Programmers have been actively engaging clients in various activities. The new computer systems, iPads and smart TVs are in almost constant use. The clients area also enjoying our canteen as well as our new coffee machine.

The Sensory Room at the QRRC has received a fresh coat of paint and the new sensory equipment has been arriving at the RRC as well as Albyn and Roywell. This equipment is intended to enhance our residents’ everyday living.

The large cabinets in the Town Square area of the QRRC to house larger TV have been completed and the smart television has been installed. This will be utilized for movie and gaming events for the clients.

Quest has sufficient PPE to meet not only our current needs. In addition, we are preparing in the event we have a client with a suspected or confirmed test at QRRC. All the necessary supplies and equipment are available to staff to ensure that the best possible care is provided to any client who is positive for CoVid-19. Work continues to finalize the transformation of the Skyview Day Room to a quarantine / isolation area.

Unfortunately, due to the restrictions put in place by the Province our buildings continue to be closed to visitors. However, family members are now permitted to come to Quest facilities to visit with clients. The visits must take place outside of the buildings and social distancing must be maintained. At QRRC the visits can occur through the fence in the Courtyard. At the Albyn and Roywell sites options to visit and the location of the visit will be determined on a client by client basis in order to ensure the safety of the client and staff.

As always, we thank our clients, client’s families, our partners in care, our staff, suppliers, other stakeholders, and the community for their continued support and understanding through this crisis.

Respectfully,

Ian ‘Tay’ Landry, MA MSW RSW
Manager of Clinical Programming

05/21/2020

04/29/2020

29 April 2020

Dear Family Members:

Quest continues to make every effort to keep our clients and staff protected during the CoVid-19 pandemic. We continue to work in close collaboration with our colleagues across the province as well as government bodies. We remain committed to following the directives from the NS Chief Medical Offices of Health. Our CoVid-19 Management Group meets every morning to discuss the rapidly evolving situation and make changes necessary to our procedures and services. Our staff are diligently providing care to our clients. In addition, we have hired an additional cleaner who is focused on sanitizing high use areas and surfaces. We are also continually providing our clients with the information and tools they need to engage in precautionary practices such as proper hand washing, use of hand sanitizer and the importance of social distancing.

Unfortunately, due to the restrictions put in place by the Province our facilities continue to be closed to visitors. In addition, our clients continue to be restricted from leaving Quest property with some exceptions for extenuating circumstances. In response to these restrictions, Quest has responded by taking actions to mitigate the impact of these restrictions on our clients.

Quest continues to rent an SUV as our supplement to our two vans. We also hired a dedicated driver. This combination allows us to maximize our ability to take clients out for drives. However, the clients are not able to leave the vehicle during these outings.

Quest has hired two Programmers who are engaging clients in various activities. We have installed three new computer systems and have two new iPads. Clients have been using these devices to maintain their relationships with family members and other people who are important to them. The clients are also using the computer systems and iPads to engage in entertainment via the internet. We have purchased a gaming system and games for the use of clients. Each client has been provided with an individual headset that they can use for playing video games or on the computers. We have purchased three new smart televisions to replace the older televisions in the Dayrooms and Atrium. We have also purchased a larger smart television for the Town Square to use for special events such as movie nights, sporting events, gaming nights, etc. A cabinet is currently being constructed to house this television. All the televisions are connected to Netflix and Disney+. We have upgraded our cable television subscription to include additional channels that our clients have requested but are waiting for Eastlink to come and upgrade our systems. The clients have been utilizing our canteen, obtaining the snacks they usually purchased on outings. The clients are also enjoying our new coffee machine.

To date no clients have presented with CoVid-19 symptoms and all staff who presented with symptoms have tested negative. We will continue to do everything possible to prevent clients from being exposed to CoVid-19. However, we are preparing in case one or more clients do catch the virus. The Skyview Dayroom has been converted to an isolation room. Meals and snacks are now being served in the Multi-Purpose Room. All the necessary supplies and equipment will be available to staff to ensure that the best possible care is provided to any client who is positive for CoVid-19.

We again want to thank our clients, client’s families, our partners in care, our staff, suppliers, other stakeholders, and the community for their continued support and understanding through this crisis.

Respectfully,

Ian ‘Tay’ Landry, MA MSW RSW
Manager of Clinical Programming

04/20/2020

We invite artists with disabilities within Nova Scotia to design a logo for our Art of Disability Festival! The contest closes on April 30 at 6 P.M., so be sure to get your creative energies flowing and feel inspired. Please check out the contest rules, guidelines, and submission details on our website at ilns.ca

[Image description: A white background with a blue border. Text inside reads "Art of Disability Festival Logo Contest. 2 weeks until the contest closes. April 1-30th, 2020. Want to win $250? Want to flex your creative muscles? More info at ilns.ca" End image description.]

04/19/2020

04/18/2020

From halifaxtoday.ca — Nova Scotia's state of emergency extended another two weeks
HalifaxToday Staff 3 minutes ago
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(stock image)
NEWS RELEASE
PREMIER'S OFFICE
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The province is renewing the state of emergency under the authority of the Emergency Management Act for the protection of the health and safety of Nova Scotians.

Cabinet met Thursday, April 16 by teleconference and agreed to ask the lieutenant governor to extend the state of emergency for another two weeks. The order will take effect at noon Sunday, April 19 and extend to noon Sunday, May 3, unless government terminates or extends it.

Quick Facts:
-- a state of emergency was declared on March 22
-- a copy of the renewed order will be available at: https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/alerts-notices/ -state-emergency