Hello everyone,

I’m pleased to share the newest edition of Connections with you. Our fall issue is always an opportunity to highlight some of the things we are most grateful for, and this year is no different.

We are grateful for our trusted partners who are doing important work to support residents in our communities. Our Great People are at the heart of these efforts, working alongside individuals and organizations who share our vision of leading the way to better living.

We are constantly inspired by the dedication and compassion that exists all around us, which is why we are proud to announce our new community program, Shannex Cares, a framework designed to provide even more support to our team members and others who, like us, are elder allies with a passion for improving the lives of seniors. To find out more, visit Shannex.com/ShannexCares.

October is Continuing Care Month in Nova Scotia, which includes CCA Week (October 10-15). Our nursing homes in Nova Scotia will recognize these events throughout the month, but I would like to take the opportunity to thank all our front-line workers who demonstrate their steadfast commitment to residents through their compassionate, honest, professional and safe practices.

This year, our “stones” communities are celebrating milestone anniversaries, and recently, I was honoured to attend Cedarstone Enhanced Care’s 20th-anniversary party. It’s hard to capture the spirit of community attendees experienced that day, but I think the photo above does a good job. As we continue on our path to blue, we will be looking to those teams who work together to create an exceptional resident experience and a positive and fulfilling work environment – Cedarstone is just one example of that in action today.

Finally, there is a special story in this issue about a memorial event we held recently for Wayne White, one of our Great People who passed away last year. Wayne was a treasured colleague and friend to many and though he is still missed, we remain grateful for his many contributions to Shannex over the years.
I hope you enjoy this issue, and I encourage you to take time this season to say thank you to those in your life you are grateful for.

Jason Shannon

Welcome to the 45th issue of Connections! We are happy to share with you a special issue that is dedicated to our many trusted partnerships and announce our new community program – Shannex Cares.

Fall is such a special time of year – with beautiful foliage, cooler temperatures, back to school and new routines after the summer. Within our communities, fall is always a busy and exciting time, but it is nice to pause and reflect on all we’ve been up to for the past few months.

This issue celebrates the strong connections we enjoy with community organizations everywhere we operate. This culture of community giving began when our founder, Joseph Shannon, purchased a nursing home in Sydney, Cape Breton, almost 35 years ago. In this issue, you learn about Shannex Cares, our new community program which provides a framework to help us continue our journey of improving the lives of seniors. We also introduce you to a very special group of people – the students and faculty at the Anglophone North School District, who are dedicated to creating meaningful intergenerational relationships with our communities in Miramichi.

On page 3 you can read more about a special visit from the RCMP Musical Ride (also featured on the cover) and on page 9 we also share a story from Parkland Truro about a special donation in memory of two late residents; Jim and Jean Saunders.

We have so much to be thankful for and we hope you enjoy reading these stories as much as we did preparing them.

Pumpkin Spiced Bread Pudding

Ingredients
16 oz loaf of sourdough bread cut into 1” cubes
1.5 cups of pumpkin puree
½ cup of brown sugar (packed tight) ¼ cup of maple syrup
6 eggs
2.5 cups of whole milk
1.5 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
½ teaspoon cloves
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 tablespoons butter

Method
Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Cut bread into 1” cubes and add to large bowl. Mix all remaining ingredients and pour over bread. Mix well, let rest for 10 minutes. Add butter to 8”x 12” pan and coat inside of pan. Pour mixture in pan and bake for 45 minutes.

Pudding should not be wet in the center; knife should come out clean. May require five more minutes if not set.

Can be served with whip cream or ice cream and drizzle with maple syrup.

Parkland at the Gardens

Parkland at the Gardens recently held an art show to showcase more than 35 pieces of art created by our own talented residents. Residents displayed their creative side through several mediums, including painting, rug hooking and needlework. The art was a hit on social media, with people wanting to purchase pieces! Congratulations, everyone. We have many talented residents.

Losier Hall

The RCMP Musical Ride performs in up to 50 communities each year and this summer, Losier Hall in Miramichi was one of those lucky communities. Our team members worked together to get all residents ready for the performance. Recreation Manager, Kiara Lynch, received a phone call from the Napan Agricultural Show asking if Losier Hall would be interested and she jumped at the opportunity. Everyone is so happy she did! As part of this visit, RCMP officers introduced residents to the beautiful horses as they gave them an ear scratch.

When Parkland on Eglinton West first opened its doors in 2020, Jovana Bailey was there to welcome residents to their new home as the community’s Manager of Care. Within six months, she moved into the Director of Care role and has since been promoted to General Manager this past July. Jovana is a registered nurse and has worked in public health and in hospitals since 2009, largely working with families.

While Jovana’s initial focus was on the clinical departments, she found herself wanting to support other departments as much as she could, which is something she really enjoys about her new role. “I cared about every department. I loved being there for the residents and their families,” said Jovana, adding that this is one of the most exciting parts of her role as General Manager.

Jovana says her passion for helping others has guided her in providing service excellence to residents each day. “Before I was a nurse, I worked as a server. I loved it. A lot of different clientele would come through the door, and I just loved creating an awesome experience for everyone. I enjoyed it because I love building relationships,” she said. While walking through the halls of Parkland on Eglinton West, Jovana greets each resident by name with a smile, and you can tell she has continued to build those special relationships in her new role.

“I really do love to be here, and I feel like what I’m doing is meaningful.”

Learn more about a rewarding career at Shannex.

Miramichi Communities

One of our Shannex Excellence Awards recipients for Volunteer Excellence was our trusted partner, the Anglophone North School District (ASD-N) in Miramichi, NB. We presented them with this award in recognition of their acts of kindness and for creating meaningful intergenerational connections with our residents.

Our two licensed nursing homes, Bridgeview Hall and Losier Hall in Miramichi, NB are always delighted to welcome students from ASD-N who bring smiles and laughter to residents. Whether it’s for a co-op placement opportunities or for an on-site event, stopping by on Halloween in their costumes, handing out candy on Valentine’s Day or carolling during the holidays, this important partnership brings so much joy to residents, their families and team members.

Through the “New Horizons for Seniors” program from Employment and Social Development Canada, ASD-N even purchased technology equipment so these intergenerational connections could continue throughout the pandemic. Residents would look forward to these conversations with students and enjoyed sharing their incredible stories and important lessons that they’ve learned over the years.

Parkland on the Glen

This year marks a special occasion for three couples at Parkland on the Glen. The Clarke’s, the Spence’s and the Facciol’s all celebrated their 65th wedding anniversaries this year. Upon learning about the shared milestone, the three couples came together for a celebratory dinner in the retirement community’s private dining room. Team members provided the bubbly as the lovely couples reminisced about their wedding days back in 1957.

Happy Anniversary!

We care about community. It’s what started us on this journey more than 30 years ago, when our founder, Joseph Shannon, purchased a nursing home in Sydney, Cape Breton.

Since then, we’ve seen that strong connections between the people who live and work with us and the greater community create fulfilling experiences for residents, their families and team members.
Through our new Shannex Cares community program, we will continue to proudly make a difference by supporting and developing visible, meaningful opportunities for elders to be seen, heard and valued for their wisdom and talents and seek to dispel myths that seniors are disengaged from the world around them.

“If you’re one of our Great People, a community group, or individual who shares our passion for elder action, Shannex Cares is here to support you in this work.”

– Jason Shannon, President

Visit shannex.com/shannexcares to learn more

Caritas Residence

This summer we held Safety Culture Summits. We want to take this opportunity to highlight Caritas Residence, who exemplifies not only “walking the talk” when it comes to safety but “dancing the talk,” by creating several fun safety videos choreographed to the 1982 hit, “The Safety Dance” by Canadian pop band, “Men Without Hats”.

Seventeen Caritas team members took part to promote safety within their community while going about everyday work. Danielle Mullane, Client Services Coordinator was one of the team members featured. “I wanted to showcase how one small action, such as placing a wet floor sign, can prevent injuries and we are a team that wants to ensure we are all safe,” said Danielle.

See the video here.

Thank you to the participants:

Clinical Team: Danielle Mullane, Brianna Doucette, Evelyn Atienza, Katherine Brennan, Nimy Paul, Jennifer Hillier, Rosalyn Beliah, Jessica Smith, Sitti Exley, Lenora Green; Maintenance Team: Terry Westhaver, Patrick Kennedy; Dietary Team: Darrell Cooling, Colleen Dunn; Reception: Laura Berry and Resident, S. Alice Mailman

Learning & Development

Fall is an exciting time – leaves are changing colour, the weather is getting cooler, and learning is in the air! The Learning and Development team is always thinking of ways to enhance the skills of our team members and deliver first-class learning and development within the organization. Some of
the team’s work includes leadership development, the Continuing Care Assistant Work and Learn program, and lending expertise to other parts of the business.

Since July, Shannex communities have been distributing blue thank-you stars to recognize team members for being compassionate, honest, professional and safe. Team members then placed their star on a wall to create a mural or a “Galaxy of Great People.”

Care at Home provides one-on-one assistance to residents in the comfort of their home. Each year, the Care at Home team surveys clients about the care and service that they provide. They surveyed current clients to get their feedback and for the third year in a row, the team received a perfect score and many clients left comments about how professional, kind and helpful they are. To recognize the team for their hard work and dedication, they were given a letter of appreciation, a pin, chocolates and Care at Home jackets. Well done to everyone at Care at Home!

Nova Scotia Long Term Care Communities

Lisa Horne, a Continuing Care Assistant at Maplestone Enhanced Care in Halifax, has been a CCA for more than 10 years. This summer, Lisa was asked to be part of a video for the Government of Nova Scotia where she shares what it means to her to be a CCA and why she enjoys coming to work every day. Lisa does an excellent job of highlighting the compassion, professionalism and service excellence that CCAs offer each day. Happy Continuing Care Assistant Week!

Watch the video here

Learn more about Healthcare and Clinical careers at Shannex.

Parkland on Eglinton West

As your parents age, you always want the very best for them. Your top priority is ensuring that your loved one is safe, well-cared for and happy – and at Parkland, it’s ours too.

Brenda knew Parkland was the place for her mom, Barbara, the second they stepped in the building. “When we left the building, I said to my mom, this is a no brainer. You have to move here,” says Brenda. The next day, her mother called to say she was going to move in. “She said, ‘let’s go – I’ll take it!’” says Brenda with a smile. Less than a month later, her mom moved in. “I love visiting my mom at Parkland. She can relax and enjoy us and we can relax and enjoy her.”

When family isn’t visiting, Barbara loves taking part in the on-site activities and socializing with her neighbours, turned friends. “She has a lot of friends here. It always amazes me. When I come in to visit her, she will introduce us to everybody and knows everybody by name,” says Brenda.

At Parkland, there is always something going on and the team members are dedicated to ensuring residents are living their best life, all while providing peace of mind for their loved ones. “My mom moving to Parkland has really helped me and my siblings and I feel a sense of relief, a sense of happiness and contentment knowing her quality of life has been maintained if not enhanced.”

Barbara and Brenda are featured in our most recent television commercial. Watch it here.

Nova Scotia Long Term Care Communities

October is Continuing Care Month in Nova Scotia. We are proud to recognize our team members in continuing care for their compassion and ongoing commitment to providing consistent, exceptional care to residents in our communities.

Working in continuing care is a unique experience. Every day our team members make meaningful connections and have a lasting impact on those entrusted to their care. Thank you for your professionalism and dedication to our residents.

“Our Guiding Principles of compassion, honesty, professionalism and safety really help to shape the roles that our team members demonstrate each and every day in their workplaces.”

Dana Power, Vice President Operations, Nova Scotia Enhanced Care.

It was a busy summer for our Human Resources team as they continue to welcome new Great People into our communities. Over the past couple of months, we have hosted job fairs in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Ontario. We are always looking for professionals who take pride
in being compassionate, honest, professional, and safe! If you know someone interested in a rewarding career at Shannex, ask them to contact us!

Visit shannex.com/careers to learn more and see all our current opportunities.

Parkland Ajax

Set to open in early 2023, Parkland Ajax is one step closer to welcoming residents! We are excited to share the progress of the main floor common areas and the beautifully furnished model suites. Learn more at experienceparkland. com/ajax

Faubourg du Mascaret

Pavillon Gallant, which currently has 68 suites, is expanding with the construction of 70 new Lifestyle Apartments. A variety of options are available, including studios, one-bedroom, one-bedroom plus den, two-bedroom and two-bedroom plus den configurations, with areas varying from 740 to 1,336 square feet. The new building is scheduled to open winter 2024.

Saint John Nursing Home

When it came to naming our new 60-bed licensed nursing home that will be connected to Parkland Saint John via our Main Street, we took this opportunity to pay tribute to a past resident of this community. With permission from her family, it is an honour for us to name our new Saint John community “Cohen Hall” in memory of the late Senator Erminie Cohen. Erminie was the first resident to move into Carleton Hall at Parkland Saint John and was also a founding member of our Resident and Family Advisory Council. She was a well-respected Senator from New Brunswick who always had time for others and worked her entire life to create opportunities for people to live better lives. Erminie was truly a special person, a great community leader, friend, confidant and mentor to those around her. We trust that her legacy will go on for many years as residents proudly call Cohen Hall their new home. Cohen Hall is set to open in spring 2023.

Twenty years ago, residents moved from Hillcrest Manor to a new long term care home for the community: Cedarstone Enhanced Care. On September 13, 2022, friends, families, community members and retired team members came together to reminisce and celebrate this impressive milestone. Everyone enjoyed hearing heartfelt stories and watching performances, especially Cedarstone’s own Michael Galera who moved the crowd with his version of the song “Lean on Me.” The day was made complete by the recognition of 25 team members who still work at Cedarstone today. What a special community!

In 2021, Wayne White, a former Shannex team member, unexpectedly passed away. He worked with the organization for over 35 years and was a dear friend and colleague to everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him. Wayne lived our values and loved our residents. He was always incredibly proud of our Great People for the compassion, honesty and professionalism they display every day, especially the many he welcomed with kindness through his recruitment efforts over the years.

On September 29, nearly one year after he passed away, we held a special memorial gathering at our home office, with his immediate family in attendance. At the event, we unveiled “Wayne’s Walk,” a pathway and garden space dedicated in honour of Wayne and his exceptional service and loyalty to Shannex.

Wayne will be greatly missed by all those who knew him, and his legacy will be felt for many years to come.

The voice of residents and families is central to the care we provide and is considered in all our decisions. One of the ways that we ensure this is through our Resident and Family Advisory Committee. After a pause due to the pandemic, the Committee has commenced again and we held our first meetings in September. The Committee is comprised of residents and family members from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Ontario and is split into two groups: one for Retirement Living and another for Long Term Care. With an ultimate goal of uplifting and reflecting residents’ voices, the committee will be instrumental in many key initiatives underway. Members of the Retirement Living group will be focused on overall resident experience, including reviewing results from our annual Quality-of-Life Survey, and our Long Term Care group will play an important role in the preparation of our upcoming Accreditation Canada survey. We look forward to our next Committee meeting in December.

Parkland on Eglinton West

Since the 1930s, Bridge has been one of the most popular card games in the world. As a former president of a Bridge club, Joseph Tillie saw an opportunity to share his passion with the residents of Parkland Eglinton West and start teaching others.

“People can get very lonely, but if you get them together, they start talking and connecting. I saw more people who wanted to play but didn’t know how. I thought I could start Bridge lessons and help those interested with the basics,” explains Joseph.

Joseph has played Bridge for over 30 years, but his card playing was put on hold while he cared for his wife. After Joseph moved to Parkland, his love of the game quickly returned when he saw residents gathered around a table with their cards, inspiring Joseph to create a Bridge club and share a few tips and tricks.

For Joseph, Bridge is more than a card game, it helped him create a connection with his new community,
“I enjoy living in a community with other people. I believe that when you live in a community, you should do something, that is why I try to help and contribute where I can.”

Shannex Sustainability

As an organization, we are committed to protecting the environment by taking a sustainable approach in all our communities. Over the summer months, our Sustainability Manager, Anna Volc, has been visiting with residents and having discussions about our Sustainability Pillars and how this applies to them and their communities.

The four areas that we look at are:

• Waste
• Water
• Consumables
• Energy

Do you have a Green Idea? Submit yours here.

Faubourg du Mascaet

To celebrate Acadian Day on August 15, our Faubourg du Mascaret community held a tintamarre that included a special visit from the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Official Languages and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. She is also the Member of Parliament for Dieppe-Moncton-Riverview.

Residents and team members enjoyed taking part in the all-day festivities on this special day.

Le 15 août marque la Fête nationale de l’Acadie. Pour célébrer, le Faubourg du Mascaret a organisé un tintamarre qui comprenait une visite spéciale de l’honorable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, ministre des Langues officielles et ministre responsable de l’Agence de promotion économique du Canada atlantique. Elle est également la députée de Dieppe-Moncton-Riverview.

Les personnes résidentes et les membres d’équipe ont pris plaisir à participer aux festivités de cette journée spéciale.

PARKSTONE ENHANCED CARE

Naomi Black, Elaine Hawkins and Barbara Cooper, three active residents at Parkstone Enhanced Care, are also known as “The Flamboyance.” It’s a name inspired by a flamingo-themed gift from one of their daughters. Together, they wrote an honest and

insightful story titled Residents’ Voices which is a real-life glimpse into their day-to-day life. The piece was intended to be comical and something to help pass the time, but it quickly developed into an important message, dispelling many myths about life in long term care. In Naomi’s words, “we want to see this story have an impact.”

We are honoured that The Flamboyance shared their message, and we hope to help them reach many others. You can find Residents’ Voices on our websites this fall.

Unfortunately, one member of the Flamboyance, Barbara, passed away earlier this year. We offer our deepest condolences to her loved ones and are grateful for the valuable legacy she left through this piece of work.

Vice President of People & Culture

We are pleased to welcome a new member to our leadership team. Vanessa White is our new Vice President of People and Culture.

Vanessa is focused on the team member experience and is eager to work alongside our Great People to get a better understanding of their experiences.

“The people and culture part of my work is the part I love and am most passionate about,” says Vanessa. “It’s a great opportunity to really focus in and do some great work.”

Vanessa and her family moved back to her home province of Nova Scotia from Ontario. She was immediately drawn to Shannex because it’s a family-owned business. “Everything in this company is about people – when we care for our Great People, they can then provide great care and Service Excellence to our residents. That excites me about this role,” Vanessa says with a smile.

In this role, Vanessa said she is looking forward to supporting team members in every area of the organization and watching them grow. “There’s nothing better than hearing those stories of people who started with us at a frontline job and worked their way up – and there are more and more opportunities for people to do that here – it’s energizing and exciting!”

Welcome, Vanessa!

There’s a new smiling face eager to greet you at Parkland Fredericton; meet General Manager Penny Smith. Penny loves her new role and has already made many connections with residents, helping them live their best lives every day.

With more than 25 years of sales and marketing experience, Penny joined our Parkland family in May 2022. In her short time with us, Penny is known for her active listening and support for residents, families and team members. Penny looks forward to helping residents live their best life at Parkland.

Welcome, Penny!

Parkland at the Lakes

Gill McKee and Frances Waller are from the small town of Peterborough, United Kingdom. They both fell in love with Canada and moved here permanently in the late 1960s. Despite growing up only two miles from one another, they didn’t meet until they became neighbours at Parkland at the Lakes in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.

Frances smiles, recalling meeting Gill for the first time. “I came up to her in the common area, where she was doing a jigsaw puzzle,” she says, laughing. “I said something about the puzzle, and when she replied, I asked where she was from. She said 80 miles north of London, and I asked where that was exactly. She said Peterborough, and I said that’s where I’m from!”

Today, Frances and Gill are great friends and get together every evening to do puzzles – an activity they have both enjoyed since childhood. Gill jokes, “Sometimes we get really into it. Yesterday we spent three hours putting a puzzle together. We usually do 1,000-piece ones, and not to brag, but we are very good at it. There’s none we can’t do,” she chuckles.

Frances and Gill are grateful for a close bond built on a shared love of puzzles and a special connection to their hometown.

Parkland Truro

While living at Parkland Truro, Jim and Jean Saunders would sit in the same spot in the Edinburgh Hall dining room while enjoying a delicious meal and each other’s company. Jim and Jean have since passed away, but their memory lives on within the community.

“They were such a special couple,” said Darlene Walsh, General Manager of Parkland Truro. “Everyone who had the pleasure of knowing them has fond memories of them. We miss them a lot,” she added.
For the couple’s 70th anniversary, their children gifted their parents a painting created by local artist Joanne Hunt who not only has a mother who lives at Parkland but is also married to long-time (and recently retired) Parkland Chauffeur Dave Hunt.

On August 11, nine months after Jean passed away, two of Jim and Jean’s children, Jamie and Catherine, donated the beloved painting to the community. Residents gathered for happy hour and shared memories of Jim and Jean during the painting presentation. “My parents lived in five provinces, 10 homes – this was their last home, and it was one of their favourites,” said Jamie. “We thank you for the friendship, kindness and warm welcome they had at Parkland,” Jamie also proceeded to thank team members and residents for their service, compassion and friendship over the years.

The piece was near and dear to their hearts, and it is now proudly displayed in the dining room, where Jim and Jean would always sit. It is a cherished part of our Parkland Truro community and a special reminder of our dear friends, Jim and Jean.

Experience the Parkland difference.

In the summer, the International and Campus Recruitment Taskforce visited three Shannex communities in New Brunswick: Losier Hall in Miramichi, Embassy Hall in Quispamsis and Tucker Hall in Saint John to meet with Internationally Educated Nurses who recently joined our team.

Explore Healthcare and Clinical careers at Shannex.

Activity and Social
Engagement Helps
Your Health!

Have you ever heard of “Social Prescribing”?

At Shannex, we understand that wellness plays a significant role in helping our residents live their best lives. Each one of our communities offers recreational activities that connects residents’ interests and ambitions with activities.

“Social Prescribing” is when a health professional, who, when appropriate, “prescribes” that their patient participates in activities designed to improve wellbeing.

A great thing about social prescribing is that you don’t have to go to your doctor, you can literally prescribe yourself. It encourages you to really think about what you like to do and take part in many of the activities put on by our Wellness Team.

If you’re interested in sharing your wellness preferences, connect with a Recreation and Wellness team member at your community.

Parkland Saint John

Three years ago, Frank Robinson made the decision to join the community at Parkland Saint John. He was looking for carefree living where he didn’t have to worry about preparing his own meals or doing laundry and cleaning. When his daughter Judy discovered Parkland’s Assisted Living option, Frank was introduced to the perfect option that allowed him to remain independent in his own private suite, with added comforts and peace of mind.

Frank enjoys dining with friends and the delicious meals prepared by the in-house chef, and he appreciates having more time to spend doing his favourite hobbies. Frank takes part in daily exercise classes, goes on regular recreation outings, and loves to take part in art classes. When he’s not participating in various Harmony Wellness activities, Frank can often be found enjoying life. “If it’s a nice day I’ll sit out, and if not, I usually read or talk with friends,” says Frank.

When asked what it’s been like for her now that her dad lives at Parkland, Judy says, “The staff make all the difference. They’re always willing to help in any way possible. Whenever I visit, everyone is very friendly, and they know my dad, which means so much to me. Having him at Parkland has lifted a big worry off my shoulders,” explains Judy.

For Frank, he sees Parkland as a vibrant community where he can do more of what he loves, where the team members are compassionate, and where everyone knows his name.

On July 26, Parkland Riverview resident, Evelyn Roy, celebrated her 100th birthday! The retirement living community celebrated her special milestone with a birthday cake and a visit from Pandora, a pet therapy dog.

On August 28, Ryan Hall resident, Hazel Corkum, celebrated her 102nd birthday! On the occasion, she received flowers and a delicious strawberry tart from team members and visits from fellow residents in the community.

On August 30, Bridgeview Hall resident, Myrtle Murdock, celebrated her 102nd birthday! Myrtle celebrated in style and marked the special occasion with flowers, cake and a certificate of recognition from Jake Stewart, MP for Miramichi-Grand Lake.

Today and every day, we recognize and celebrate seniors for the many contributions they continue to make through their families, the community and society. Their wisdom, dedication, and acts of service make all of our communities stronger, more welcoming and vibrant.

If you ask any member of our team why they do what they do, they will tell you about the many ways they respect, admire and cherish our elders. We all share the belief that age brings wisdom and dimension that is only achieved by life experiences. Our residents care for us as we do them, sharing advice and stories and celebrating life’s biggest milestones. Seniors add value to our life and work experience, which is why we serve them with pride.

Happy Seniors Day!

Vimy Court

In August, a local filmmaker visited Vimy Court to learn about our experience with robotic pets in senior care and dementia care. The project, Helping Paws, aims to raise awareness about how robotic pets can increase the quality of life for seniors in a relatively simple and accessible way, particularly after the events of COVID-19, which increased rates of loneliness and anxiety for many isolated seniors. The documentary is set to hit the big screens in spring 2023.

Last year we launched the Insights Lab, an internal research and analytics hub that is dedicated to leveraging data and insights to ensure residents are living their best life. Recently, because of the work from the Insights Lab, they have launched their first analytical report, which looks at resident behaviours within the first two weeks of living in one of our long term care communities. The information they gather will support our clinical team in helping residents become comfortable in their new homes as quickly as possible. This report is currently being piloted at Cedarstone Enhanced Care in Truro, Parkstone Enhanced Care in Halifax and Harbourstone Enhanced Care in Sydney.