Walter
Cibischino, who is part of both the publicity committee and the
long-term care committee, has worked at Villa Marconi almost from
the beginning and has seen the management of the facility evolve.
He
explains that the building is separated into two parts: the long-term
care facility and the Marconi Centre, which is used for social gatherings
and community events. Villa Marconi employs a Toronto-based company
called MetCap to come in about three or four times a week to help
run the long-term care facilities.
“My
goal is to create a place where people feel welcome and cared for
– like they were going to their little square in the village
and meeting friends,” says Cibischino. He knows that the job
is done well when the “list of residents waiting to come in
here is never-endingly long.”
“Villa
Marconi is operated on the funding of the Ontario government, by
the local municipalities and the income we get from families for
having their loved ones here,” explains Cibischino. “But
that is not enough and we need to make up the gap.”
“The
province gives us enough money to hire two nurses, but families
tell us that we need four nurses. Where do we get the money for
that?” asks Cibischino. “What people need to know is
that if they help us [through donations] we will give the money
back to them.”
Cibischino
says the challenges of running such a facility – including
overseeing construction, the Marconi Centre and the long-term care
facility – are “not a joke.” But he recognizes
that perhaps the hardest job goes to the fundraising committee.
“They
have to constantly come up with new ideas for fundraising,”
says Cibischino, “like the new Brick-by-Brick Campaign.”
Yet
Villa Marconi continues to grow, despite funding shortages. Cibischino
explains that it is more cost efficient for Villa Marconi to administer
124 beds, rather than just the originally allotted 60 beds. Much
like the amalgamation of the City of Ottawa, says Cibishcino, Villa
Marconi can oversee more beds with one central organizing group.
But
there is another part to this equation of money and facilities.
“If
we don’t take care of these 124 people, mostly of Italian
origin, who will?” asks Cibischnio. He proclaims that Villa
Marconi’s main reason for being is to ensure the well-being
of seniors in the community and to be a service to the public.
In
the future, Cibischino sees plans to revamp the Marconi Centre and
the garden area.
“There
is so much potential on this land,” says Cibischino, “but
it depends on if they can get the help they need.”
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