Thursday, April 10,
More photos on pages 5-6
BURGERS, GAMES AND EASTER FUN
ABOVE & BEYOND
Check out this month's Above and Beyond winner | p. 10
Check out our photos of burger feasts, Easter celebrations and our men’s groups. | p. 7-10
members
members from Andrews of
MED STUDENT VISIT
RESIDENT RECIPES
Memorial University medical student Donovan Wyand spent a day at Andrews of Summerside | p 11
This month we feature a decadent butter tart recipe from resident Evelyn Rafuse | p. 4-5
dance during a performance at Three
were invited to perform a cultural dance at the school's
PET THERAPY
‘IF YOU CAN GIVE, IT’S WONDERFUL’
Spending time with animals proven to benefit seniors and people living with dementia | p. 6-7
Andrews Senior Care again raising money for the IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer’s | p 12-13
Kiran, Komalpreet Kaur Virk, Manjeet Kaur and Shehnaz Thind, team
at Andrews of Summerside,
Oaks Senior High School on
2025. Staff
Summerside
Relay for Life pep rally.
A LOT TO LOOK FORWARD TO
I want to take a moment to reflect on the many positive developments we ’ ve seen and also take the opportunity to address a few important reminders that are crucial to our ongoing success as a team
Team Appreciation Week
We are excited to announce that our annual Team Appreciation Week will be held from May 5th to 9th This is our time to recognize and celebrate YOU the dedicated, compassionate, and hardworking individuals who make Andrews Senior Care the remarkable organization it is Thank you for all that you do each and every day
Alzheimer Walk – Leading with Purpose
The upcoming Alzheimer Walk is another opportunity for us to come together as a team to support a cause close to our hearts Andrews has consistently been one of the top contributors in the province, and we intend to keep that legacy going strong Let's rally together once again to make a meaningful impact
Exciting News! Andrews of Charlottetown Expansion
We’re thrilled to share that the expansion project for Andrews of Charlottetown is officially underway! The groundbreaking ceremony took place in April, and this marks a significant step forward for our organization This expansion reflects not only our growth but also our commitment to enhancing care and services for our residents
While we have much to celebrate, it’s equally important to take time to reflect on areas that require our attention and collective accountability
Professionalism in the Workplace
Professionalism is the foundation of our workplace culture Some may define it as respect, others as attitude, approach, or simply how we carry ourselves regardless of the term, the essence is the same Every team member is expected to uphold the Andrews Code of Conduct at all times
We are proud of the supportive culture we ’ ve built together, but it only takes one instance of negativity to undermine that effort As leaders, colleagues, and professionals, we must all take responsibility for curbing toxicity, gossip, and office politics Andrews Senior Care has zero tolerance for such behavior whether from a new hire or a long-standing team member
This message is not meant to be the final word on the topic, but rather to create awareness, foster open dialogue, and encourage all of us to stand together in protecting the integrity of our culture If you witness or experience anything that concerns you, please report it Don’t let assumptions or rumors go unchecked seek clarity and facts from reliable sources
Inclusive Language Use
Lastly, I want to address a sensitive yet significant topic: language in the workplace Many of us including myself have first languages other than English, and we are proud of our diverse backgrounds However, when we speak in languages not understood by others in professional settings, it can unintentionally create exclusion, mistrust, and communication barriers
This isn’t about limiting culture or expression it's about being respectful, inclusive, and mindful of our environment While this may not be a concern in every home, we have a responsibility to learn from others’ experiences and ensure clear, open communication across our teams
Thank you for taking the time to reflect on these points Together, let's continue to celebrate our successes and nurture a workplace that reflects our shared values of respect, compassion, professionalism, and unity
Sincerely,
MISSION STATEMENT
It is Andrews Senior Care's goal to respect the dignity and autonomy of our residents; to provide a safe and secure environment; to promote involvement of residents and their family by inviting input and feedback related to the care and services we provide; to value the leadership, expertise and contributions of our staff through empowerment that will lead to excellence in service
E A S T E R F U N
Residents at all our homes celebrated Easter with parties, meals and crafts.
M E D S T U D E N T V I S I T S
Donovan Wyand, a first-year medical student at Memorial University, spent a day at Andrews of Summerside recently as part of his community engagement placement.
His day started with doing rounds with Dr. Phelan and went on to include shadowing our own RN Melissa Butler, taking part in a demonstration on P.E.I.’s new portable x-ray machine and spending time with the occupation therapist during wheelchair fittings. We wish Donovan all the best in his education and future career!
‘If you can give, it’s wonderful’
Andrews Senior Care again raising money for the IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer’s
If you can help, help
That’s Andrews of Park West resident Bill William’s message to people this month as Andrews Senior Care gears up for the annual IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer’s
“Say you make a donation,” Bill said. “You’re giving that donation to a very good cause. We need to get something that can help people out there, that can help their partner.”
For Bill, the fundraiser bears a special significance.
Bill’s common-law partner of 27 years, Mary, was diagnosed with dementia in 2023. The experience left a mark.
“That was so hard on her it was unbelievable,” said Bill “She wasn’t herself anymore She was another person It wasn’t Mary ”
Mary’s cognitive decline included jarring personality shifts, where she would lash out at Bill inexplicably His own health issue of chronically low blood pressure made caring for her even more difficult
“I cried all day because there was nothing I could do,” he said
Eventually, it became too much and Mary was moved into a care home
CONTINUED ON PAGE 13
Bill Williams is pictured inside his room at Andrews of Park West.
Sharon Woods-Bryenton, activity director at Andrews of Stratford, leads residents during an in-house fundraising walk in 2024.
Bill’s experience is common among spouses and partners of people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, as well as other forms of dementia
The day Bert Wilcox’s wife Mary was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s his “whole world” was turned upside down
“I can’t describe it,” Bert said “It was sad ”
It was 2023 and Bert and Mary had been married more than 60 years The couple met in high school and had built their lives around each other Bert served in the Royal Canadian Air Force and Mary devoted her time to her community, volunteering with organizations like Brownies, The Lion’s Club and their church
In the months and weeks leading up to Mary’s diagnosis, her behavior changed She wasn’t cleaning or cooking the way she normally did Then she struggled to recognize people she’d known for years After a conversation with his daughter during one of her visits home from Halifax, Bert decided to have Mary assessed by a doctor
“She had three appointments (with a geriatric specialist) until it was decided she had Alzheimer’s and it was advanced,” Bert said
In the aftermath of the diagnosis Bert worked hard to manage Mary’s care at home As her condition deteriorated and she required more care, he brought in additional support
“We brought in some day care, ” he said. “A couple hours a day on different days. Some respite time for me. But I’d go for an hour then I’d have to go back home. I felt I could do more by being home.”
Eventually, she needed full-time care and moved into Andrews of Summerside. Bert visits her twice a day, every day. Despite the comfort of knowing Mary is well taken care of, Bert still struggles with the gravity of the situation.
“(It feels like) the end,” Bert said. “There’s no cure for this disease. And you don’t know, it could be a year, it could be 10 years. It’s the unknown.”
Despite this, Bill remains hopeful and is leading the fundraising charge at Andrews of Park West this year
“Whatever you ’ re doing, stop and think,” Bill said “Would you want that happening to you? Of course not, not your loved ones So, what you do is you turn around and if you can give, it’s wonderful ”
Each Andrews Senior Care home will be raising money in-house, which will be added to the total raised by the Andrews Rockstars team walking in the IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer’s on Saturday, May 24 All funds raised by the team will be matched dollar-for-dollar by Andrews Senior Care To donate to The Andrews Rockstars, click here
Are You Feeling Stressed or Overwhelmed?
Take advantage of our Employee Assistance Program through Lifeworks
This program is available 24/7 online or over the phone and services to help you with work, family, health, money, and life The following is information on how you can access the program:
Toll-free support line: 1-877-207-8833
TTY: 1-877-371-9978
Through their website login lifeworks com
Username: murphy
Password: eap
Are you, a friend or family member looking to buy or sell a property?
You could earn up to $250. Read below to learn how.
We are pleased to offer a new Referral Program between Provincial Realty and Andrews Senior Care The Referral Program will work as follows:
Jessica Gauthier Human Resources Advisor hr@andrewsseniorcare com 902-368-8520
If you have any questions for our HR team about benefits, ADP support, Immigration Program support or any other questions please contact me
For more information, please contact Provincial Realty at 902.892.2266 or email us directly office@provincialrealty.ca.
DON'T MISS OUT ON THESE BENEFITS
Paid vacation time starting at 4% per year (Approximately 2 weeks)
Health and dental coverage, of which we cover 50% of the costs
A pension plan where we match your contributions of up to 4% of your salary annually
A fitness subsidy of up to $250 annually
Discounts with local companies, including pharmacies, home heating oil providers and restaurants
