Stratford Informer

STRATFORD

FEBRUARY 2024

Celebrating our activity directors

In recognition of National Activity Professionals Day on January 26, we’d like to extend a special thanks to our activity directors. Your expertise, kindness and passion ensure our residents are living their best lives. Thank you Sharon Woods-Bryenton, Annelize Malan, Amanda Shea (on maternity leave), Heather Campbell, Barb Pye and Zeel Barot.

TEAM ACTIVITY Join us for a night at the movies! Details inside. | p. 3

GOLDEN GIRLS (OF SOURIS) Schoolmates reconnect while living at Andrews of Stratford. | p. 7-8

GETTING TO KNOW. . .

Meet Jenny Watson, a valued member of our home-ops team at Andrews of Stratford . | p. 5

A LOT TO BE PROUD OF We did it! Our Accreditation survey is finished.

The past few months, and specifically the past few weeks, have been a lot of work for everyone involved and I want to thank you all for your efforts.

While we don’t have final results yet, the feedback we’ve received from the Accreditation surveyors has been overwhelmingly positive and there is a strong likelihood we will get our Accreditation Primer Award.

Surveyors were impressed with the “extraordinary” level of care delivered to our residents, the cleanliness and comfort of our homes, the quality of experiences provided to our residents as well as our commitment to our core values of Care, Team Work and Experience.

Two notable highlights were our overall diligence in delivering person-centered care, and Summerside’s recent Tim Hortons coffee social initiative.

Residents interviewed by the surveyors were equally positive about their experiences at our homes, with one woman saying “the only thing I can say is...I am home.”

In other words, great job team.

This portion of the Accreditation process was always about highlighting what we do well and you did an excellent job showcasing that to the surveyors.

Looking ahead, we still have work to do to ensure we meet Accreditation standards.

The bulk of this work will be documentation and standardization of processes and practices across all our homes. We will again need to pull together as a team. But, we’ve proved we are more than capable of that to date and I have no doubt we will succeed going forward.

With that said, we have two team events this month that I hope you are all able to take part in. Weather permitting we will be holding our sleigh ride Saturday, Feb. 3 and a night at the movies the evening of Monday, Feb. 19. Details for the sleigh ride have been shared with the DOC’s and on our Rockstars page. Info about the movie night is included in this newsletter and has been shared with the DOC’s as well.

Thank you again and have a wonderful February!

Sincerely,

Mizan 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.

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Movie night!

Andrews team members are invited to join us for a night at the movies featuring the classic 1980's film ‘Back to the Future’.

Premise: Set in 1985, the film follows Marty McFly, a teenager accidentally sent back to 1955 in a time-traveling DeLorean automobile built by his eccentric scientist friend Emmett "Doc" Brown, where he inadvertently prevents his future parents from falling in love – threatening his own existence – and is forced to reconcile them and somehow get back to the future.

When: Monday, Feb. 19 Time: 7 p.m.

Where: City Cinema, 64 King St, Charlottetown Cost: Free We have reserved the theatre for our team. While there is no cost to team members to attend, popcorn and other snacks can be purchased at the concession stand. The theatre can accommodate 70 people, so families are welcome to join us. To ensure a space, please sign up with your home no later than Feb. 14.

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ABOVE & BEYOND JANUARY WINNERS RACHEL MARRIOTT : STRATFORD JOINED IN 2023 Rachel was recognized for going above and beyond.

Our Above and Beyond winner for January is Rachel Marriott.

Rachel is a supportive, hard-working team member who always goes above and beyond for her fellow co-workers. We are fortunate to have her as part of our Stratford family.

Rachel started working with us as an administrative assistant in 2023.

Prior to joining our team, she worked in similar roles in Ontario.

Her experience working with us over the past year has been positive.

“I enjoy seeing the residents every day,” she said. “I like the atmosphere and the team is good.”

Outside of work, Rachel enjoys spending time with family, friends and two dogs as well as exploring P.E.I. beaches.

OUR OTHER HOMES

Esperance Nyirabage : ProTem

Helen Langer : Charlottetown

Rachelle Tac-an : Summerside

Fatoumata Keita : Park West

Zahra Mubashir : Parkhill

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GETTING TO KNOW. . .

JENNY WATSON Jenny has been a valuable member of our home ops team since 2021.

She’s a true crime fan, has three dogs and enjoys spending time exploring P.E.I. beaches and walking the Confederation Trail.

We recently asked her a few questions to help you get to know her better:

WHAT WOULD YOU CONSIDER THE PERFECT MEAL? Roast beef with garlic mashed potatoes and gravy.

COFFEE OR TEA? Coffee, but I wouldn’t refuse tea.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE MOVIE? Anything with Adam Sandler! “Happy Gilmore.”

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE BOOK? I’m not a big reader, but I’ve always enjoyed the “Chicken Soup for the Soul” books.

WHAT TALENT WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO HAVE? The ability to communicate confidently and effectively to large audiences.

WHAT DO YOU ADMIRE MOST IN PEOPLE? Honesty and kindness.

IF YOU COULD LIVE ANYWHERE, WHERE WOULD YOU LIVE? On a farm surrounded by animals.

WHAT MOTTO DO YOU LIVE BY? Opportunities don’t happen, you create them.

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MARKING MILESTONES Every month we will be highlighting team members who've reached significant milestones with us.

Laura MacArthur has been an Andrews of Summerside team member for 17 years.

Prior to joining Andrews, Laura spent 15 years working at Cavendish Farms.

Initially, she worked as a caregiver. After about a decade she became community care supervisor and then, after going back to school for nursing, she started working as an LPN, a role she remains in today.

“I've always enjoyed knowing I am making a difference in someone's life,” she said. “Whether it is the moving in process, as it's not always an easy transition, and ensuring a smooth process for both the resident and family, or making sure the resident feels at home.”

As to why she’s stayed with Andrews for nearly two decades, she said she’s always felt supported by her house team as well as Andrews’ leadership.

“I have always felt supported by the team and organization throughout my years here at Andrews,” she said. “Everyone feels like family. I can't wait to see what the years ahead bring.”

Rose Harpell has been an Andrews of Park West team member since 2005.

Rose started as a caregiver after spending a number of years working in early childhood education.

While initially she was interested in senior care as a short-term change of pace from working in daycares, the experience was so positive she stayed.

“I just found the residents, I get attached to them,” she said. “They feel like my grandparents.”

For Rose, knowing she’s making a difference in the lives of the residents is her primary motiviation.

“It’s rewarding to know I’m helping,” she said. “Being in that role gives me happiness.”

Likewise, the people she’s worked with over the years have had a positive impact.

“A lot of the coworkers I started with,” she said. “It’s just family.”

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Andrews of Stratford residents Anne Kells, Camilla MacPhee, Jane Pierce and Jeanette Pirkey all attended school at Saint Mary’s convent in Souris in the 1950s. Now, decades of living away, they’re back under one roof.

The girls of Saint Mary’s Schoolmates reconnect while living at Andrews of Stratford American author Thomas Wolfe once wrote “you can’t go home again,” and while that may be true in spirit, four Andrews residents have come pretty close.

Souris, P.E.I. natives Camilla MacPhee, Jane Pierce, Anne Kells and Jeanette Pirkey recently reconnected after decades living apart.

The women, who all attended the Saint Mary Convent in Souris as students in the 1950s, now live down the hall from one another at Andrews of Stratford.

RECONNECTING The four have Stratford activity director Sharon Woods-Bryenton to thank for initiating their reunion.

“We always introduce new residents at activities and you know Island connections are made very fast,” she said. “Once we hear someone is from Souris or another Island community, we make sure they connect, or in this case reconnect, quickly.”

“I’m the only one that got old,” Jane said, laughing.

She added after 40 years of living in Boston, being able to sit across from a familiar face and chat about old times has been a positive experience.

“It was a big adjustment coming back. It’s good getting reacquainted with people you knew.”

Jeanette, who also moved to the U.S. to work after graduating, agreed.

“I love to see people that I used to know,” she said.

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7 Whenever the four get together, the conversation tends toward memories of their hometown, about how Jane used to walk by Jeanette’s house every day on her way to school or about town characters they all knew. But the topic they devote the most energy to is the old convent.

THE SCHOOL The convent, founded in 1881, served as one of the primary schools in the community until the construction of the Souris Regional High School in 1955.

“It was the only option we had,” said Anne.

“The boys went to Grade 1 until they made their first communion, then off to the public school they went,” said Jane.

The oroginal Saint Mary’s convent was built in 1881 and served as one of the primary schools in the community until 1955. In 1972 it was demolished.

Life at the convent was typical of Catholic-run schools at that time. The hierarchy was rigid by today’s standards and the style of teaching was certainly more stick than carrot.

Once, Anne accidentally knocked over an inkwell. As punishment, she was marched down to the mother superior’s office and made to kneel before her and kiss the floor.

But the women agree these incidents were rare, at least in their experience. For them, the convent was a place of community and fun and the nuns that ran it were trusted mentors.

“I don’t ever remember anybody getting a whack from one of the nuns,” said Jane. “I just thought they were walking saints.”

“They were wonderful teachers,” said Camilla.

Instead, they recall huddling outside to watch the boarders (children from off-Island who lived and studied at the school) arriving, learning piano and who got to be Queen of the May and place the floral crown on the Blessed Virgin statue during the May Crowning ceremony.

PARTING WAYS By 1956 all four women had graduated and, with the exception of Camilla, moved from Souris. Anne went to Montreal and started a nursing career, Jeanette moved to New York and also worked as a nurse while Jane relocated to Boston. It would be decades before they would all live in P.E.I. again.

Meanwhile, as rural P.E.I. began to grow and new schools were constructed, the student population at the convent shrank. By the mid-1960s the school no longer housed borders and by 1968 it closed. In 1972 the main building was demolished.

“It was one of the worst days of my life,” said Camila. “They came with the big ball and chain. It was awful.”

Jane said it was a shock visiting home one summer after the school closed and seeing the nuns around town.

“They were all in street clothes,” she said. “It was another world.”

A LASTING LEGACY While the building is gone, Saint Mary’s has secured its legacy in other ways.

All four have remained devout Catholics and, in Jane’s case, still practice convent etiquette.

“To this day I still move over to the side of the hallway,” she said. “We were taught you don’t walk in the middle because you may meet somebody. To this day, I’m the same. If I come out of my room and I’m on the other side, I move over. So many things I think of associate me with the convent” “It’s tradition,” said Anne.

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RESOURCES/GAMES

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.

Jessica Gauthier Human Resources Advisor hr@andrewsseniorcare.com 1-902-894-3439 ext 2422

If you have any questions for our HR team about benefits, ADP support, Immigration Program support or any other questions please contact me.

Community Cash 50/50 Weekly 50/50 draw in support of support not for profit groups including Murphy's Pharmacies Community Centre and the Holland College Athletics Department. Anyone can play for just $2/week.

We are pleased to offer a new Referral Program between Provincial Realty and Andrews Senior Care. The Referral Program will work as follows: Each employee that retains a Provincial Realty real estate advisor, or refers a friend or family member who uses their service for selling or purchasing properties over $150,000 will receive a gift card as a token of our appreciation.

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 ​ aid vacation time starting at 4% per year (Approximately 2 weeks) P 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

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