Long-Term Care Nursing Home
Mauno Kaihla Koti (MKK)
723 North St.
Staff at Mauno Kaihla Koti are friendly, helpful and prioritize the health, safety and comfort of all residents.
Mauno Kaihla Koti (MKK) is a fully air conditioned 63-bed nursing home and was opened in 1991 to provide 24-hour nursing and personal care services to individuals no longer able to look after themselves in their own home.
MKK has 36 resident rooms. Of these rooms, 9 are considered private and 27 are considered semi-private. In the semi-private rooms, 27 beds have been assigned “ward” status and 27 beds have been classified as “semi-private.”
This building includes two wings— Puolukka Lane (also known as A-Wing) and the other, Lakka Lane (also known as B-Wing). There are private rooms located on either wing.
Mauno Kaihla Koti strives to provide qualified professional and other skilled personnel to meet the individual physical, social, intellectual, psychological and spiritual needs of its residents. The facility’s environment is designed to accommodate physical and cognitive impairment while providing for personal possessions and socializing. To view all of Mauno Kaihla Koti's amenities, click here.
Service agencies provide on a referral basis in-house services including:
- Dentistry
- Optometry
- Chiropody
- Speech Therapy
- Physiotherapy
- Pastoral care, etc.
Extended care services include:
- Nursing
- Activation
- Nutrition
- Housekeeping & Laundry
- Medical care is provided in the facility by the residents’ own doctor
Services are provided in a milieu of Finnish culture and traditions. Mauno Kaihla Koti, through its management, staff and Residents’ Council promotes and encourages social activities to allow residents to maintain an optimum quality of life. Residents are encouraged to bring personal items to make their room feel more "homey," which may help with adjustment to a new living space.
Families wishing to share a meal with residents can request a table in the Kotitalo dining room by discussing this with the Nursing and Personal Care Supervisor, or calling the Kotitalo front desk. A fee is charged for each non-resident’s meal and can be paid at the administrative office or charged to the resident’s account (if previously approved on the admission contract).
Visits by family pets are also encouraged. Various nostalgia items are used to create a "homey" environment. Families are encouraged to bring pictures, plants, knick-knacks and other familiar objects from home to decorate the resident’s room. A comfortable recliner and favourite dresser are ideal furnishings.
All exit doors are locked and alarmed to protect confused residents from leaving Mauno Kaihla Koti without supervision. Exit doors lock automatically and unlock upon activation of the fire alarm. Call bells are available in all rooms.
For tours or tour information, contact Tania Lavoie, Admission Coordinator at 705-945-9987 Ext 243.
Philosophy of Care
A philosophy of “Gentle Care” guides staff at Mauno Kaihla Koti in their interactions with residents. This philosophy supports the concept that the staff is working in each resident’s home. It recognizes that the resident is a unique individual with needs that may be very different from others and that are influenced by culture and physical, social, spiritual and mental well-being. One-on-one programming is emphasized so that each resident’s unique needs and interests are met. This philosophy also acknowledges the importance of family and friends, and a normal home environment and routines. Visiting hours are open, with the exception during an infectious disease outbreak. Influenza vaccination is required for families and friends wishing to visit during an influenza outbreak.
Residency
Mauno Kaihla Koti is home to individuals with dementia, Alzheimer’s and other cognitive or physical limitations. Most of the individuals are from Sault Ste. Marie or the District of Algoma. Ages generally range from mid 60s to late 90s.
Residents are entitled to various rights and privileges that are protected by legislation. A copy of these rights and responsibilities are posted at Mauno Kaihla Koti. They are also printed on the contract that is signed between Mauno Kaihla Koti and the resident or his/her representative upon the resident’s admission to the facility.
Residents and their families are encouraged to join the Residents’ Council at Mauno Kaihla Koti. This Council meets monthly to discuss concerns or issues affecting residents. Minutes are taken at these meetings and reviewed by the CEO and the Chair of the Board of Directors of OFRA. A response to concerns raised is returned in writing to the elected president of the Council.
Family members are also encouraged to join the Mauno Kaihla Koti Family Council whose purpose is to improve the quality of life of the residents and to give families a voice in decisions that affect them and their loved ones in the home.
Admission Process
All placements for long-term care are done through the North-East Local Health Integration Network: 705-949-1650.
The steps in the process are as follows:
- The client or his/her family contacts the North-East Local Health Integration Network (NE LHIN)
- The NE LHIN assesses the client's needs to determine service requirements
- Client and family complete application
- NE LHIN determines eligibility for Long-Term Care Facility Placement
- Applications forwarded to up to five facilities of client’s choice
- Facility must notify NE LHIN within five business days of decision to approve or not approve the application (if approved, the facility will also designate which unit would be appropriate for admission)
- Once the application is approved, the applicant is placed on a wait list according to priority rating
- The facility notifies NE LHIN in writing whenever there is a bed vacancy
- The bed is offered to the next applicant on the wait list appropriate to requested accommodation and unit designation
- Admission is scheduled
On admission the Nursing and Personal Care Supervisor meets with the new resident. He/She gives a brief tour of the facility, including the resident’s room. He/She introduces the resident to the roommate (where applicable), other residents and staff. He/She completes an admission history and begins the Nursing Care Plan, which is a document that guides the type of care the resident will receive at Mauno Kaihla Koti. The Nursing Care Plan identifies the type of intervention required to meet any physical, social or health care needs as well as the wishes of the resident regarding his/her personal care. The Nursing and Personal Care Supervisor will also ask for a signed “Health Care Directive” in which the resident or his/her Power of Attorney for Care designates the type of intervention requested in the event of the resident’s illness or a witnessed/unwitnessed cardiac arrest. Within the admission process, the Nursing and Personal Care Supervisor will also go over uninsured services, information consent and the Parabus application process.
It is a Ministry of Health standard that the individual having Power of Attorney for Financial Matters sign an Admission Contract, if possible, within five days of admittance. Please call 705-945-9987, Ext. 222, to arrange a meeting with the Accounts Receivable Clerk.
Follow Up
Six weeks after admission, a care conference is booked with the resident and/or Power of Attorney (POA). The Nursing and Personal Care Supervisor and/or Registered Practical Nurse, Food Services Supervisor, Recreation Therapist, Physiotherapist and personal support worker are present to discuss the resident’s care and any concerns raised by the resident and/or POA. The objective of this meeting is to ensure that the quality of care is maintained and the resident’s needs are met. On a routine basis, one care conference is scheduled annually. The resident/POA is notified of the date and time of the care conference by telephone.
Important Contact Information
Chief Executive Officer:
Paul Belair, ext. 238
Director of Nursing and Personal Care:
Helina McGrath, Executive Director of Care, ext. 206
Melissa Healey, Assistant Director of Care, ext. 215
Infection Control Prevention
Kara Simon, Infection Control Lead, ext. 218
Report an urgent complaint
Call the Long-Term Care Family Support and Action Line: Toll-Free
Hours of operation: 8:30 a.m.-7:00 p.m. 7 days a week
MAUNO KAIHLA KOTI RESIDENTS COUNCIL
MKK Residents Council
Residents are given the opportunity and support to establish and maintain an organized residents’ council.
Family members or other individuals from the community may attend residents’ council meetings by invitation of the residents’ council. Suggestions and complaints from the residents’ council shall be documented, investigated and responded to in writing by the CEO of The Ontario Finnish Resthome Association within 10 days.
Residents shall be informed of the results of residents’ council meetings along with feedback from the CEO (i.e. by posting of the responses in a location easily accessible to residents and their representative, with residents’ council consent).
Where residents do not choose to have or are unable to participate in such a council, The Ontario Finnish Resthome Association shall call an annual general meeting for residents and their representatives, to which members of the community are invited to attend. The purpose of the meeting is to provide an opportunity for residents/families/representatives to express suggestions or concerns and for The Ontario Finnish Resthome Association to report to the residents regarding the status of services in the facility.
Want to share? Contact details are posted at MKK Nursing Station, or e-mail the Director of Care at
hmcgrath@theofra.org.
Nearly 11 years ago my dad passed away at the Finnish Nursing Home- Mauno Kaihla Koti. We had to relocate him from Kirkland Lake, away from a town he had lived in for 65 years and yes away from his beloved home. He was one of many of our senior citizens who were unable to live alone. Dad, a World War II veteran was a very proud and independent soul. Dealing with end stage COPD and continuous oxygen, life was not exactly kind.
We were welcomed to Mauno Kaihla Koti (MKK) with most sincerity and kindness. It was most gratifying to see the cleanliness, the meals cooked onsite and most importantly the amazing staff. Dad quickly became one of their own. They made him feel so welcome and cared for. He said to me one day, “I should have done this 5 years ago”. After living alone for a number of years, the various activities and contacts with the friendly staff kept him stimulated and happy; so, MKK became his home for the rest of his life.
Shortly after my dad passed away, my husband came back to his room and found a staff member preparing dad for the funeral home. She was shaving him! As she looked up with sadness in her eyes and in her voice, she said to my husband, “He came to our home with respect and dignity and he will leave our home with respect and dignity”. This made a huge impact on us and was so comforting . Dad’s dignity was maintained to the very end.
Today as a proud volunteer at The Ontario Finnish Resthome the residents have become part of my family. I often sit and talk with them and reminisce. They so enjoy this time together. We share their good and happy times as well as their sad times.
When I walk past my dad’s old room, I am always grateful and remember the care and the kindness that he received. As I look around and watch the staff with the residents, it is heart warming to see that this rich tradition is still very evident today. The residents at MKK have won a lottery - they have been adopted by the caring staff as one of their own. The kindness, the patience and the friendliness found at the MKK with the residents and their families is so heartwarming and so appreciated.
Kiitos / Thank you
Christine Applejohn
