Strategic Directions
I’m pleased to share our 2024–25 Report to Community — a reflection of the progress we’ve made toward the strategic goals set out in our five-year plan. This plan continues to guide our efforts as we work to build stronger, healthier communities for people at every stage of life.
We envision a future where aging is embraced — where people of all ages can access the support, spaces, and services they need to live long, healthy, and fulfilling lives. Through innovation in design, care, and service delivery, we’re creating environments that are welcoming, flexible, and inclusive. From inviting community spaces to wellness-focused programs and supports for all abilities, we are making it easier to live well, together.
Jason Shannon
Highlights from the past year
Resident Wellbeing
- NEW COHORTS for Resident and Family Advisory Committees for long term care and retirement living
- MORE Quality of Life Surveys completed than ever before
- IMPROVED Quality of Life Survey overall results
- NEW Clinical Leadership program
- ALL licenced long term care communities in N.B. and N.S. reporting to Canadian Institute for Health Information
Employee Experience
- CERTIFIED as a Great Place to Work
- INCREASED Safety Profile Score
- 2,029 N.S. and N.B. student placements (RN, LPN, CCA, PSW)
- 6,368 Caught You Being Great/Safe/Green nominations
- NEW work and learn programs for 56 LPNs and 64 CCAs
Service Excellence
- INNOVATIVE model of care opens: West Bedford Transitional Health
- SERVICE EXCELLENCE standards introduced for all long term care communities
- 100% of all communities have introduced a resident move-in survey
- ENHANCED Volunteer Program
- NEW General Manager Mentor Program
- TRUST measure established
Healthy Business
- 68 transitional health suites in partnership with Nova Scotia Health
- $3.5 MILLION to three universities to support healthy aging research
- EXPANDED provincial home care in retirement living throughout N.S.
- 125 new long term care beds in N.S. (Kiknu, Moody Hall)
- 120 new long term care beds in N.B. (Neill Hall, Garraway Hall)
- 17 Shannex Cares Community Spirit Grants awarded
Environmental Stewardship
- NEW sustainable procurement policy
- RECERTIFIED in ISO 50001
- INCREASED number of Green Teams in N.S., N.B. and ON.
- NEW BUILDS feature environmentally friendly heating and cooling systems
Strategic Directions
Resident Wellbeing
The wellbeing of our residents encompasses all aspects of their lives. Wellbeing includes physical, social, intellectual, professional, spiritual and emotional dimensions so that residents are living their best lives with us. It also means residents are safe in their environment and in the care and service we provide.
We will elevate the voice of the resident; we will treat them with respect, protect their dignity, see them, hear them and continually improve upon our delivery of resident-directed care and service.
Strategic Expectations and Five-Year Goals
Resident quality of life is upheld and enriched by living with us
Residents are meaningfully engaged and enjoy their community through recreation and social activities
Resident clinical and safety outcomes meet or exceed national standards
Our services positively impact resident wellbeing
Residents have an exceptional food and dining experience
Progress Report 2024-25
We continue to make strides in overall resident quality of life as reported in our annual survey. Data and innovation are driving new approaches to individualized care and service, and we are investing in research to help guide us on this path.
Accomplishments
- Increased overall Quality of Life average positive response rate
- Increased Quality of Life average positive response rate in both Engaged Social Life and Food categories
- Introduced the Clinical Frailty assessment into Retirement Living communities
- Reduced worsened pressure injuries
- Added four new Wound Care Champions
- Four N.S. Enhanced Care nurses completed nurse prescribing program
Advancing Practice
Four registered nurses in Nova Scotia can now prescribe medications and treatments under physician supervision after completing Dalhousie University’s inaugural Certificate in Registered Nurse Prescribing course.
Smart Care
More Shannex licensed long term care communities in Nova Scotia now use Tenera Beyond Care, a smart nurse call system that enhances resident safety and emergency response times.
Strategic Directions
Employee Experience
The health and happiness of our team members matters to us. We are focused on creating fulfilling experiences for our Great People throughout all stages of their work life with us.
Safe, supportive, inclusive and respectful environments that prioritize the wellbeing of every team member make us an employer of choice everywhere we operate.
Strategic Expectations and Five-Year Goals
Employees are safe and well
Employees feel included, respected, valued, and appreciated
Employees stay and grow their career with us
Our employees speak highly of us
We attract great people who want to work with us
Progress Report 2024-25
We are making great strides toward creating the best possible experience for our Great People – and we’re hearing this directly from them. We achieved Great Place to Work certification in our first year participating in a new independent survey and retention rates continue to increase for all employees, including new hires.
Accomplishments
- Increased the Safety Profile Score to 85%
- Achieved Great Place to Work certification
- Exceeded five-year retention target in year two; achieving 85.2%
- Exceeded five-year new hire target (posting to accepted offer); achieving 85.42%
Flexible Pathways
To date, 72 internationally educated nurses have joined the Shannex IEN to LPN Transition to Practice Program, supporting confident entry into Canadian nursing practice.
Building Belonging
At Shannex, we strive to create a workplace culture where everyone can belong and grow. Last year, more than 625 team members participated in five workshops and training modules led by our Learning and Development team.
Strategic Directions
Service Excellence
Residents, families, employees, volunteers, partners, and the greater community must have trust in us to deliver on our responsibilities with compassion, honesty and professionalism while maintaining the highest safety standards.
We earn this trust by consistently delivering exceptional experiences with service excellence that is inspired by our commitment to placing residents first.
Strategic Expectations and Five-Year Goals
People want to live with us
Residents have an exceptional experience during move-in and throughout the continuum
Service delivery standards are consistently upheld by all sites
Shannex is a trusted organization and partner
Shannex’s Great People uphold the Guiding Principles
Progress Report 2024-25
We are passionate about creating positive experiences for every person who lives and works with us. This begins with consistency and care. Brand standards are created for all operating divisions and we are introducing more ways to measure trust and satisfaction.
Accomplishments
- Move-in surveys implemented at all communities
- Service Excellence Standards continue to be implemented and measured
- Trust measure established with benchmark of 90%
- Met five-year Quality of Life measurement for positive relationships between residents and employees in year two; achieving 75%
Meet us at Moody Hall
Opened in November 2024, Moody Hall in Bedford, N.S. is our first standalone long term care home in 15 years and features Nova Scotia’s first Main Street concept.
Culinary Excellence
We regularly update menus and gather feedback to ensure high quality, varied meals that create an exceptional dining experience for residents.
Strategic Directions
Healthy Business
Ensuring we run a healthy business means we are here for the future. We are committed to growing, adapting, evolving, innovating, and improving. It means we will invest in our company, and we will be fiscally responsible so that we can deliver what our residents, team members and communities need to thrive.
Strategic Expectations and Five-Year Goals
We are financially stable and we meet our obligations
We meet the increased demand for accommodations and services for elders
We are responsible to our community, give back through Great People, sector leadership, partnerships and the Shannex Cares Foundation
We have a culture of innovation that improves the lives of residents and team members
Our properties and assets are consistently well maintained
Progress Report 2024-25
We recognize the opportunity to shape healthy aging at every stage of life. That’s why we’re developing new living options, partnering with like-minded community organizations, and investing in research and innovation focused on supporting well-being across the lifespan for every person who lives and works with us.
Accomplishments
- Met financial targets
- Opened West Bedford Transitional Health – first in N.S.
- Opened three new long term care communities (245 new nursing home suites in N.B. and N.S. combined)
- Invested $3.5 million in healthy aging research
- Met Shannex Cares community giving targets; awarded 17 grants
Healthy Aging Starts Now
Shannex is leading the way to a healthier future for aging adults with total donations of $3.5 million to three universities in Atlantic Canada to support research, education, and programs for healthier futures.
More Than Meals
Debby Manual, Miramichi Outreach Services volunteer, received the Shannex Cares Award for Community Impact at the annual Shannex Service Excellence Awards, honouring her exceptional service and commitment to the community.
Strategic Directions
Environmental Stewardship
We recognize we must take steps to increase our commitment to protecting the environment with an action plan that transforms the way we prioritize sustainability.
We will create organizational policies and practices and invest in resources that engage every person who lives and works with us, empowering them to make a difference toward protecting our planet.
Strategic Expectations and Five-Year Goals
We reduce our greenhouse gas emission and are energy efficient
We divert waste from landfills
We manage our water consumption using best practices
We source materials and purchase goods responsibly and sustainably
Our building designs and standards are environmentally conscious
We grow and support a community of team members and residents who are environmental stewards
Progress Report 2024-25
Rooted in the philosophy that it takes the efforts of every person to make real change, we are making steady progress toward achieving our sustainability goals. Through ongoing initiatives, continuous improvement, and ongoing encouragement and support from residents and team members, we are actively reducing our environmental footprint and building a more sustainable future.
Accomplishments
- Implemented sustainable procurement policy
- Recertified – ISO 50001
- Increased number of Green Teams in N.S., N.B. and ON.
- Made progress toward energy reduction, diversion and water consumption targets
Sustainable by Design
Three new licensed long term care communities opened in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, each designed with environmentally friendly features including full building energy recovery and individual heat pump controls.
Growing Green
Nearly 6,000 trees were planted across three Nova Scotia locations through our participation in the Clean Foundation Thriving Forests Program.
A Look Forward
This year, we are focused on better living for all. We continue to embrace the possibilities that come with an aging population –matching health span to life span. We’ll do this by elevating standards, building strong partnerships, innovating, and growing. We’ll introduce new communities, services and programs that celebrate the long, engaged, and contributing life.
Opening this year are two new licensed long term care homes (N.S.) that feature our innovative Main Street concept, two new Parkland Lifestyle Residences (N.S. and ON.), and our first Allbright Residence (N.S.), which is the inaugural offering within Bloomsbury, a groundbreaking, longevity-focused community in Bedford, N.S. We’ll also introduce new services through our home care division to support older adults access the services they need to thrive—at home and in their community.
In partnership with Nova Scotia Health, we will open Phase 2 of West Bedford Transitional Health, which provides a new model of care designed to support patients who no longer require acute care but need assistance in transitioning back home or to other forms of care in the community.
Everything we do is inspired by those we serve, and our commitment to making aging synonymous with vitality, purpose, and joy. We look forward to another year of growth, wellness, and shared success.
Measurement and Reporting
The success of our strategic plan will be rooted in the awareness and support of our Great People. That’s why, we’ve clearly articulated and communicated each of our five strategic directions, associated expectations and five-year SMART goals. Executive leaders assigned to each direction will oversee annual priority and goal-setting processes. Progress toward these goals through quality improvement initiatives, projects and operational work plans will be monitored through quarterly scorecard reporting. Teams will also have access to quality improvement, project and change management expertise and structures to support their work.
Along the way, we’ll share results annually through a report to community that will track our progress against the strategic directions and to reflect our environmental, social and governance impacts.
Recognizing that many things can change over the course of five years, we’ll use a quality management and accountability framework that assesses progress through regular analysis and reporting and considers external factors and other influences. This way, we can make adjustments as needed during our annual planning cycle to keep us appropriately focused.
Shannex Cares
Our Shannex Cares community program seeks to strengthen the strong interconnectedness between the people who live and work with us with the greater communities through partnerships, access to funding and the sharing of knowledge and resources. Specifically, we prioritize support in areas that reflect the values of residents and team members.
