2 | NORTHWOOD | WINTER 2018
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Message from Peter Wilde, Board Chair Welcome to the third issue of Northwood’s community newspaper. Northwood’s mission is rooted in building meaningful relationships and making positive differences in the communities we serve. This paper is a catalyst in achieving this mission. It’s really about the people who work and volunteer at Northwood. They are committed to ensuring our residents and clients Live More and this newspaper provides us with a means to share their stories. Northwood staff are some of the most dedicated people I have ever met. Did you know, Northwood has employees who have worked here for more than forty years? Each November, Northwood holds a special
recognition event to honour those employees who have served ten years or more. And this year an astonishing 127 staff will be celebrated. That is true dedication and I am honoured to be involved with an organization where the staff go above and beyond each day. On behalf of the Board of Governors, thank you to the many staff who have dedicated their careers to helping others. This is an accomplishment to very proud of. You can read the full list of long service award recipients on page 6. It all started with an idea. A desire to do something better, something new for seniors and those who needed our help the most. Northwood now has a more than fifty year legacy of innovat-
ing, introducing and sharing interesting and inspiring new ideas and first-time concepts into the continuing care industry. This time last year, we were preparing to launch Hi-Tech with Heart, an innovative home support program that puts smart tablets in the hands of respite clients to harness the power of the internet to browse faraway places, listen to music or Skype with loved ones. Innovative projects like these are what Northwood is all about, providing the best care possible and enhancing quality of life. That’s why Northwood is always thinking about what’s next. One of the newest projects at Northwood is our Virtual Reality program. Thanks to a grant from the Department
Peter Wilde, Board Chair – Northwood Board of Governors
of Seniors, Northwood was able to have its own virtual reality content created that showcases Nova Scotia landmarks. Now, residents can use this cutting edge technology and travel to places they may not be able to experience otherwise. The team at Northwood is truly extraordinary. They dream big and work hard to achieve those dreams. I hope you enjoy reading this edition of our community paper and learning about the team and their dreams.
Happy Holidays from Janet Simm The holiday season is upon us. The weather is changing, holiday music is filling the air and we are beginning to cross many things off our to-do lists as we move in to the last phase of our current Strategy to Action Plan - living one of our values: We Can Always Do Better. There is still much to do but it is so exciting to see tangible evidence of our months and years of planning. Thank you to all of our staff and volunteers who assist us in living this value. This is a busy time of year for us here at Northwood but it’s also one of our most
exciting times. Our staff are busy planning numerous festive events and programming, all with the goal of empowering our clients and residents to Live More! Northwood has a longstanding tradition of not only caring for people, but caring about people. It started in the early 1960s when our founder, Edward L. Roach, envisioned a community where individuals would live with dignity, belonging and choice. This was the beginning of Northwood’s person-centred care philosophy and this is the cornerstone of the way we operate today.
We believe everyone has unique values, personal history and personality. We believe that each person has an equal right to dignity, respect and to participate fully in life. At this special time of year we are reminded of the importance of these values. From our beloved neighbourhood parties in long term care, to a special delivery of holiday cards to our home care clients, we are committed to making sure everyone entrusted to our care feels the warmth of the season. Once again this year we are continuing the tradition of our Christmas Card
Janet Simm, Northwood President & CEO
Campaign. Thanks to our Northwood Foundation and Jack 92.9, residents and clients will receive very special holiday cards created by local children and community members. These cards will be delivered to our residents and Continued on page 3
