History & Team

Dementia Care Home Richmond Hill, ON

Memory Lane Home Living Inc. was intended to house my mother, who passed away before its completion. Our dementia journey was an inspiration for this home. Mom would have flourished in a small home environment that promoted purposeful living in a socially connected community setting. When I asked our Community Care Access Centre (CCAC) worker about such a home she said, “You are ahead of your time.”

We experienced the frustrations that come with institutional settings. It began with the “premature” entry into assisted living or a retirement residence—because there were no smaller scale options.

Mom endured the feelings of disconnect and loneliness that come with a large, impersonal setting where person centred care was not part of the culture of care. A setting where dementia care was integrated with seniors who were uncomfortable around people with dementia. Although Mom had mild dementia, she could certainly feel when she was being judged by others.

The message I clearly got from the staff in the institutional settings, from the beginning through to Mom’s passing, was that they did not have the time or organizational capacity for family input.

Another frustrating aspect of large institutional settings was the lack of understanding about the importance of relationship and purposeful activity in dementia care. Our mother loved to go for outdoor walks, yet the staff were too busy with task-based care to support Mom’s need to enjoy the beauty of nature. Outings were limited and activities in the facility were crowded and chaotic. Too many residents congregated in a very small space and we found that thse moments were stressful rather than enjoyable for her.

We are grateful for the guidance and support from friends, family, knowledgeable individuals in this field, and especially the Alzheimer Society of York Region, Seneca Social Service Worker Gerontology Program (King Campus). Memory Lane Home Living was designed to address the issues that many of us encounter on the dementia journey.

MONA LANCASTER

Founder

 

The Care Team

MONA LANCASTER

MONA LANCASTER (PRESIDENT)

BA, B Comm. Founding member of Memory Lane Home Living, Mona has a background in Psychology / Sociology and the mental health field. Banking experience followed. While in university, she worked as a Nurse’s Aide in a long-term care facility. Mona is currently completing a Geriatric Certificate from McMaster University. She also completed a year-long course in 2019 with Dementia Care Matters, to guide and implement important aspects of the ‘Butterfly Model of Care’ into Memory Lane Home Living Inc. Mona’s related work experience in long-term care, her education, and lived dementia experience with her mother, three aunts and one uncle were the motivation to implement evidence-based models of care that would provide a cost-effective way of improving the ‘quality of life’ for families and their loved ones with a dementia diagnosis.
DR. ELIZABETH KELSON (BOARD MEMBER)

DR. ELIZABETH KELSON (BOARD MEMBER)

Is a Social Gerontologist whose research interests include health and aging, dementia, relational care, health and social care policy, technology and aging, critical, and environmental gerontology. Elizabeth has a passion for positively impacting how we age and finding ways to foster health and well-being in later life. She has studied, taught, and worked across a range of settings—hospital, long-term care and in the community. These experiences provide a strong basis for her ongoing commitment to social care approaches that focus on abilities and create opportunities for innovation and growth. Her work seeks to support and build more inclusive communities that enable all members, including older adults and those who live with dementia, to thrive. Currently, Elizabeth is an Instructor in Aging and Gerontology at The Chang School, Ryerson University and a researcher and consultant for projects on environments of aging and health care education.
KAREN WALTER

KAREN WALTER (BOARD MEMBER)

Has spent most of her working life formalizing policies and procedures for a wide variety of organizations. She has a degree from the University of Alberta, Edmonton. She is pleased to be playing an active role in policy with MLHL. Karen has undertaken some dementia training and volunteered with Memory Lane for the previous three years and is now stepping up to a Board Director position. The creation of a collaborative living environment for women with dementia is what she wanted for her mother in Alberta. 

MINA SHIRVANI

MINA SHIRVANI (BOARD MEMBER)

Has extensive working experience in the domestic and international banking industry. Over 30 years working in financial institutions has equipped her with broad knowledge of banking , financial planning and budgeting. She has been awarded numerous times for her performance and community involvement, such as being honoured to be one of the Canadian Winter Olympic Games’ torch bearers in 2010. Mina received her bachelor’s in finance and master’s degree in Economics from Central Missouri State University. She migrated to Canada in 1997 and completed her CSC (Canadian Security Course) and PFP ( Personal Financial Planning ) with honour. Mina is an executive member (Treasurer) of Golden Gavel Toastmaster Club, Richmond Hill. She also acted as the President and Vice President of Public Relation of the club. Mina has been recognized as President Distinguished and received the Toastmaster of the year and President’s Choice Awards.
Mina believes in the motto ‘we rise by lifting others.’
CHLOE TAM

CHLOE TAM (BOARD MEMBER)

Has a background in Public Health from the University of Waterloo and a Post Graduate Certificate in Non-Profit and Social Sector Management. Chloe brings a wealth of knowledge in the areas of public health and the not-for-profit sector. Chloe is currently working in a not-for-profit organization creating community engagement and fundraising activities. She hopes that members of the community can create valuable relationships amongst themselves and better the quality of lives for all residents. Chloe has lived experience in dementia with her grandmother.
JENNIFER TRAN

JENNIFER TRAN (BOARD MEMBER)

Has a Bachelor of Applied Social Science degree from University of Guelph. Jennifer majored in Adult Development and minored in Family and Child Studies. She is currently a Program Assistant for senior services serving the community of North York. Jennifer has a background in Social Gerontology and has worked with the vulnerable population in the non-profit sector for many years. She continues to work with adults from all walks of life and is passionate about the efforts being put in place for women to live well with dementia. 

Advisors to Memory Lane Home Living Board of Directors:

REBEKAH CHURCHYARD

REBEKAH CHURCHYARD

Rebekah Churchyard is a Gerontological Social Worker (MSW, RSW) currently based in Waterloo Ontario working with Telehealth and the Regional Municipality of Waterloo. Her previous work experience in Toronto was as a Project Manager with The Neighbourhood Group (TNG) in the Neighbour 2 Neighbour (N2N) 2.0 Program, Rebekah is committed to supporting older adults and countering ageism and age-related stigma in our culture. N2N 2.0 is a project funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation to enhance volunteer-based Friendly Visiting programs for isolated seniors in the Toronto core. Rebekah also volunteered as Vice-President of Toronto Council on Aging. Rebekah was a founding member of the World Young Leaders in Dementia and in policy development with the Toronto Seniors Strategy 2.0 Accountability Table. Rebekah has worked with a diversity of community efforts including community-based research, older adult well-being, stigmas surrounding dementia and housing alternatives for seniors. Rebekah believes in transformative social work and values keeping seniors seen, engaged, and connected.

KLAUS PAWLETKO

KLAUS PAWLETKO

Klaus Pawletko, Sociologist, Dementia Specialist and an advocate for change, Mr. Pawletko is Managing Director of a housing project called ‘Friends of the Elderly.’ He helped develop the framework on how to create and coordinate the first co-housing social model of care for those with dementia over 20 years ago. Klaus was instrumental in advocating to have between 6-8 individuals with dementia living together in a house rather than an institutional setting. Today, there are over 5,000 of these houses throughout Germany. The success of these homes is a result of purposeful living for those with dementia, and the training of the in-home support with a unique skill set for person-centered care.
luba rascheff

luba rascheff

Luba Rascheff holds a Master of Divinity from Harvard University and is a part-time Chaplain in a retirement / long-term care facility in Toronto, Ontario. A member of the Canadian Association for Spiritual Care (CASC), Luba is concomitantly pursuing a Master of Pastoral Studies (MPS) at the University of Toronto as she prepares to become a Spiritually-integrated Psychotherapist with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO). Luba completed her three-year term as a Board Director on Memory Lane Home Living’s (MLHL) BoD, during which time she used her foreign language ability, communication skills, and experience gained in social media marketing as an author of spiritual books to court influencers, build partnerships, actively promote—and thrust—a yet unknown MLHL into the public eye. Luba’s experience as a Chaplain brings immense insight into spirituality on the dementia journey. Luba was invited to transition to MLHL Advisor to the Board. In this new role, Luba brings wisdom gained from chaplaincy and previous directorship, as she aims to propel MLHL forward, and guide our province in becoming more dementia- and senior-friendly.
INA WEISZ

INA WEISZ

Ina Weisz is a retired geriatric nurse with Baycrest Hospital where she worked for 29 years. Ina is a knowledgeable source in the field of dementia. She was a nursing supervisor in the palliative unit during her last 10 years at Baycrest. Ina has provided hands-on knowledge, skill and direction to the medical needs of dementia—she is the author of our ‘Fast Facts from the Nurse’s Desk’—and our weekly programs. Having completed her term as Board Director, Ina has agreed to transition to Advisor to the Board, to provide wisdom from both her directorship experience and nursing background.

Consult Memory Lane Home Living Inc. to attend one of our information sessions and find out why we are different.