Human Forever: A New Chapter at Salem Home

In May of this year, 23 Salem Home staff members, representing every department, attended the very first Canadian screening of the documentary “Human Forever”.  This was a milestone moment for us at Salem. It was especially important that not only leadership attended, but also those working on the front lines every day. These staff members are the first to respond to residents’ needs, the ones who notice the little changes, and the ones who help shape daily life in our home. Their voices and perspectives are essential in bringing about meaningful change, and we wanted them to experience this film firsthand.

Human Forever follows a nursing student who moves into a personal care home to live alongside the residents. Through his eyes, we see aging in a new light, not as the end of identity or purpose, but as a stage of life where dignity, value, and humanity remain central. The message is clear: no matter the limitations that come with aging, every individual is still a person, still human, forever.  Click here to watch a preview of this documentary

For those of us at Salem, this message resonates deeply. It affirms the work we are already doing through our relationship-centered model of care, and it challenges us to go further. By ensuring that our front line staff were part of this experience, we are building a shared vision of care, one where every interaction begins with seeing the person first. Their buy-in is vital, because they are the ones who carry these values into every conversation, every meal shared, every moment of care.

The documentary also broadens our perspective by showing how different countries and cultures approach elder care. It invites us to ask bold questions:

• How can we create an environment where residents truly feel at home?
• How can we empower our staff to see and nurture the person before the task?
• How can we make sure every resident is seen, valued, and respected?

Human Forever marks the beginning of an exciting new journey for Salem Home, as we join with other care facilities in Manitoba to explore Person Directed Living (for more information about Person Directed Living click here). This approach builds on our foundation of relationship-centered care, encouraging us to give residents greater choice, autonomy, and dignity in their daily lives.

We are excited to share this journey with the whole Salem community, residents, families, staff, and volunteers. In the coming days, we will host our own screenings of Human Forever here at Salem, followed by conversations where everyone can reflect on what this new way of providing care means for us.  Please see Alana Thiessen – Director of Community Engagement for more information.

Because at Salem, we believe that every person matters. Every story matters. And every individual is — and always will be — human forever.