Spiritual care is an essential part of our Home’s values and history, and is a vital factor in the health and wellbeing of residents. At St. Pat’s, we provide regular opportunities for worship, prayer and reflection, as well as pastoral visits, counselling, and palliative care support for residents and their loved ones.
“Spiritual care is a significant part of daily life at St. Pat’s. From the daily Mass, pastoral and friendly visits, to pastoral care, the staff and volunteers seek to reach out to the residents. For many of whom, spiritual and religious care is not only appreciated, but deeply enriches their lives.” said Stephen Savel, Manager of Spiritual and Religious Care.
“The generosity of the benefactors of the St. Patrick’s Home of Ottawa, allow us to continue this work which aims to follow in the footsteps of the Grey Sisters of the Immaculate Conception who served at St. Pat’s for so many years.”
Maintaining connections to the community-at-large, and participating in favourite activities outside of the home, are key aspects of healthy living. St. Pat’s organizes a variety of outings and adventures to sporting games, shopping malls, theatre productions and exhibitions, treat days at Tim Horton’s or Dairy Queen, as well as bus trips for special occasions including in 2025 when two buses of residents and staff made a pilgrimage to the Ste-Marguerite d’Youville Shrine in Varennes, Quebec.
Providing residents with the opportunity to stay engaged with their community is a top priority and would not be possible without your continued support.
Ongoing education and training equips staff with the information, tools and practical experience they need to effectively support residents, and St. Pat’s is dedicated to continuing to find new opportunities that enrich the lives of those in our care. DementiAbility Methods prepare staff to think differently about dementia and embrace a person-centred approach.
Developed by Gail Elliot, a Canadian gerontologist and dementia specialist, this training challenges staff to:
This means seeing the person behind the dementia, and learning about their life, family, career, interests, and preferences. This personal information, combined with observations of behaviour, helps staff ask: “How can we change our approach, or adapt this resident’s environment to create a better outcome?”
Capital improvement projects preserve our Home and help create a warm, comfortable environment for residents, guests and staff. Some past projects include:
The Garden Refurbishment Project: The Larry Kelly Family Garden fills throughout spring and summer with people seeking a restorative or social space to read, visit, tend to the gardens or enjoy the fresh air. When weather permits, the patio hosts Paddy’s Pub, barbecues for each Resident Home Area, and musical performances.
The Donegal Project: Donegal is a home area at St. Pat’s for 32 residents with advanced dementia. Many of these residents have limited ability to participate in music, recreation and spiritual care programs, and because Donegal is secure, residents spend more time inside their home area. St. Pat’s undertook a project to paint with purpose, install two murals, sew and hang valances, and replace worn carpeting with laminate flooring.
The purchase of medical equipment is critical in improving quality of life and care for the home. Funding through this stream goes to various technologies and equipment including:
In 2025 St. Pat’s launched a trial with Esprit-ai Sense™, a local start-up company that is developing AI technologies to monitor residents in LTC and predict their care needs before they arise. Their smart sensors (i.e., wall-mounted sensors and bed alarms) connect to a software platform that automatically sends an alert to the nursing call system, whenever an at-risk behavior is detected. The use of this equipment has been extended into 2026 and St. Pat’s continue to monitor how these technologies are improving the lives and safety of the residents who utilize them.
