The Housekeeping Department is responsible for general cleanliness of Harbour View Haven. Our staff ensures residents' rooms are cleaned daily, and house cleaned on a rotation schedule.

Lost and Found

If an article of clothing or personal item is missing, please check with the Personal Clothing Department, they will check the lost and found boxes.

Laundry Department

Our dedicated team is responsible for insuring that all resident's clothing and linen is cleaned and returned to the residents as promptly as possible. We have on-site laundry services seven days a week.  To assist us in the preservation of clothing, we request that only machine washable items be brought to Harbour View Haven. Material should be polyester, cotton or polyester/cotton blend. We strongly recommend that woollen articles not be laundered at Harbour View Haven, as shrinkage will occur during the laundry cycle.  Dry cleaning can be arranged through the Administration Department at the resident's expense; however, all other laundry services are provided by Harbour View Haven. Residents also have the option of having clothing laundered at home if the family prefers to do so.

Maintenance Department

Our team aims to provide services that maintain a safe, functional, attractive, and comfortable environment for all our residents to enjoy. Repair requests may be submitted to the maintenance department by each unit or department as required for the safety of everyone at Harbour View, residents are prohibited to have appliances such as clothes irons, electric kettles, hot plates, electric blankets, or any type of space heaters (electric, gas, or kerosene) as these types of appliances pose a potential fire hazard. If you have any concerns about an appliance contact the maintenance department.  The maintenance department must check all electrical items before they are used in the facility.  The maintenance supervisor and staff are responsible for ensuring that the building grounds and equipment are well maintained and meet all applicable building and safety codes.  Maintenance staff are available to help you with maintenance concerns from 7:30am to 4:00pm, 7 days week, and 24 hour for emergency services.

Food & Nutrition Services Department

Our committed and professional staff strives to provide high quality food for the residents. We have a 4 week seasonal menu which includes traditional Lunenburg fare. Snacks are offered in the afternoon and evenings daily. We try hard to support residents individual likes and dislikes by providing alternatives. Residents are encouraged to give comments about the meals individually and through the Resident and Family Council.  

The Dietitian is a member of the care team and will assess and monitor residents' nutrition needs such as therapeutic diets, weight changes, texture changes and need for special snacks or supplements.  Families and friends are welcome to come for a meal. Tickets are purchased for a small price at the Administration Office. It is recommended that the kitchen be notified by 10:30 am for dinner and 3:00 pm for supper whenever possible. Reservations are recommended for special holiday meals such as Christmas, Easter, Mother's Day or Thanksgiving Day. Notices will be posted through out the building and in the monthly newsletter as friendly reminders of upcoming dinners.  

If bringing in special food items, please check with the Dietitian or RN supervisor for special diets. This also helps us make sure the resident receives the food you bring in.  If possible food should be placed in a disposable re-sealable container with the resident's name, the name of the food and date clearly labeled.

Therapeutic Services Department

Our caring team believes in the holistic approach to programming for our residents. We recognize the need of each resident to be treated as a unique individual with specific needs, interests and desires.  Therefore our programs are designed to offer residents a broad range of group and individual activities to enhance their physical, emotional, social, spiritual and intellectual quality of life. Programs are provided for all levels of care on a regular basis.

Resident Profiles

For each resident who joins us at Harbour View Haven we complete a resident profile as a source of information about the preferences and lifestyles to better meet the individual needs of our residents.

Therapeutic Programs

Some of the programs we provide to our residents include: pet therapy, library services, pastoral care, exercise programs, bingo, reminiscence groups, bake groups, musical entertainment, music therapy, garden club, resident council, snoezelen, van outings, resident shopping, etc.  Please refer to the Monthly Calendar for programming details.

Community Involvement

Harbour View Haven promotes the involvement of various community organizations and individuals to provide programs in conjunction with the Therapeutic Services Department.

St. John Ambulance Dog Therapy teams visit all areas of the home on a regular basis.

Garden Club involves volunteers who plan, plant and maintain the Garden Park involving and supporting resident participation throughout the year.

Various religious organizations provide regular services at Harbour View Haven and are available to meet the spiritual needs of our residents.

Local musicians offer musical entertainment on a regular basis.

Van trips provide opportunity to access community luncheons, shopping at the local mall, scenic drives, etc.

Resident Shopping 

Requests for sundry purchases such as specific groceries and other personal items are directed to the Therapeutic Services Department. Requests are filled on scheduled days, sorted and then distributed to residents. Payment of such items is arranged through the Administration Office.

Administrative Office

The Administration Office is located inside the main entrance. The Administration Office manages the billing for long-term care service. For security reasons we recommend that all personal money be put into the Administration Office safe and no more than $20.00 be held in the resident's room.

Billing

Billing will be at the first of each month. Payment will be for two months in advance of the resident's current accommodation rate and will be effective the date of admission or the date the room is provided unless other arrangements have been made.

Pharmacare Program

Pharmacare is a provincial drug insurance program to help seniors manage their prescription medication costs. Participation is optional, contact NS Pharmacare at 1-800-544-6191 to apply for coverage. Please note that certain medications are not necessarily covered. Residents are required to pay a percentage of their prescriptions, which is added to their monthly statement.

Power of Attorney/Guardian/Proxy

It is important for us to have the name of a resident's Power of Attorney, Guardian or Proxy (under the Medical Consent Act). The Proxy or Guardian is authorized to make decisions for medical treatment when the resident is no longer capable of giving consent herself/himself. Not all Power of Attorney documents include reference to the Medical Consent Act. This means that the decision making may be restricted to financial matters.  Potential residents of Harbour View Haven are strongly urged to ensure that someone has been appointed Proxy under the Medical Consent Act prior to admission. Harbour View Haven requires that a copy of the Power of Attorney/Guardian or Proxy be provided upon admission to be kept in the resident's file.

Legal Consultation/Issues

Certain legal document may require signatures. Please contact the Administration Office for assistance. Staff are not permitted to act as a witness on personal documents.

Income Tax

The Administration staff will assist residents only with their income tax. Residents are strongly encouraged to apply for the Disability Tax Credit for income tax purposes. It is to the resident's advantage to claim this deduction, which will lower or eliminate the amount of income taxes payable by the resident.

Funeral Arrangements

Any costs associated with the funeral of a resident are the responsibility of the resident or his/her estate. Harbour View Haven must be advised of any prearranged funeral arrangements.

Memoriam, Donations and Gifts

Income tax deductible receipts are given for donations made to Harbour View Haven. A plaque may recognize significant donations. These funds are used towards the purchase of special items and equipment for the use of our residents. Examples of such equipment purchases are whirlpool baths, Garden Park, wheelchair accessible vehicles, Palliative Care room, etc. Please note that the provincial government does not allow for these items in our budget. This is an excellent way to remember loved ones and to continue giving support to others.

General Financial Services

The Administration Office staff are available to discuss financial matters related to billing issues or resident purchases any weekday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm. If you are unable to visit in person, please telephone (902) 634-8836 Ext 0.

Hair care is provided by a licensed hairdresser. Each resident is responsible for the normal charge for this service, which will be paid through the resident’s trust account.

Snoezelen is a revolutionary approach to a familiar challenge in Homes for Special Care. The later stages of Dementia and Alzheimer Disease can deprive the individual of the ability to experience a sense of achievement or enjoyment from life. This can also cause staff difficulty developing programming for valuable sources of stimulation. Harbour View Haven has a Snoezelen room in Back Harbour Square. Snoezelen rooms provide unique experiences that often have a calming effect by drawing upon senses that residents may no longer use every day.

The seasonal sensory garden area is located in the main garden park off of floor one and available to all residents, family, staff, and volunteers. The garden includes two wheelchair accessible beds, a variety of herbs, flowers, visual aids, and tactical items all meant to stimulate the 5 senses. Sensory spaces provide opportunities for social participation, relaxation, and promotion of overall well-being. Sensory garden programming is run by our Therapeutics Department during the summer months.