www.northwood.care
A Community Paper sharing the stories of the largest not-for-profit continuing care organization in Atlantic Canada FALL, 2020
Volume 02, Issue 05
Celebrating our frontline hero’s for Continuing Care Month October is Continuing Care Month! This year’s theme is Continuing Care: Your Home, Our Passion. This theme reflects the underlying message that every day in Nova Scotia, the people who work and volunteer in continuing care are making a remarkable difference in the lives of people of all ages who need care and support in their homes and communities. Despite all the challenges presented in 2020, these heroes consistently go above and beyond to meet the unique needs of their clients, and ensure their highest quality of care. This month, we are celebrating those who work in continuing care and our dedicated staff who make everything we do here at Northwood possible. This month and every month, we
Raising Funds with Some Holiday Magic Page 3
are saying thank you for all you do and all you continue to do. In a way to say thank you, please be
on the look out of an extra casual day, pizza parties and more!
Working at Northwood Family Style Page 4
Live More Park & Community Garden Page 6
Northwood Honours Long Service Recipients Page 8
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A Message from Janet Simm, President & CEO Thank you everyone for helping Nova Scotia continue to be successful in keeping COVID-19 in check in the community. This is a perfect example of Northwood’s value- Everyone plays a part. Preventing the spread of COVID-19 in our community by being diligent and adhering to the Public Health Orders is the best defense against COVID - 19. We recognize that the past six months have been extremely difficult for our Northwood community. I want to thank our staff. You have continued to amaze our community with your courage, compassion, and dedication. We continue to follow the direction of public health and have taken steps to make sure we’re ready for a possible second wave of COVID-19. We know it hasn’t been easy. We’ve lost friends, family, and loved ones to this terrible disease. We have learned
a lot from this pandemic, and we are applying these learnings to help keep you safe and well. In the coming weeks and months, we will continue to do everything we can to protect your health and safety. We will take what we have learned to ensure Northwood remains a safe and welcoming place for all. We will continue to communicate with you in an open and timely way and
provide regular updates on the Northwood website. I want to assure our residents and community that Northwood remains committed to providing the quality care you expect and deserve. Your safety and well-being is important to us and at the heart of our plans. We are working to understand our new world, particularly balancing the risk associated with COVID-19 and remain-
ing true to our values and our LIVE MORE Philosophy. We are always looking for ways to serve you better and are committed to ensuring we live up to our values. It warms my heart to see our Northwood Community and our Main Street coming back to life. In this issue of the Northwood Live More newspaper, we have compiled some interesting and encouraging stories and content. We know that COVID is still out there but we also know that life must go on. We hope that in some small way our community paper will help uplift spirits, inform, and bring us all together. We look forward to reaching a new normal- one where we have a balance between managing the risk associated with COVID-19 while living up to our LIVE MORE Philosophy! Thank you for your continued support and patience.
join our team in health services or home care! We are looking for dynamic individuals to join our Health Services and Home Care teams! Review the pros for each team and find the right spot for you!
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Our team is always ready to answer any questions you may have and to help you begin your new career! Contact us today to get started.
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www.northwood.care
Raising funds with some Holiday Magic The Northwood Foundation is gearing up to kick off the 2020 holiday season with a special Holiday Magic virtual show! Holiday Magic is a holiday-themed, stage production created by VanWart Productions and will feature Northwood talent! It will have dancing, drama, cirque and much, much, more to keep viewers entertained throughout the
whole show. This is definitely something you won’t want to miss! The production will be broadcast on December 5, 2020 and will be raising funds for the programs we support at Northwood. Be sure to watch the production and cheer on Northwood talent as they take the stage!
Give a gift through the Giving Tree The Giving Tree is a yearly holiday campaign that supports our Care & Share program, ensuring that our residents are remembered on Christmas morning. The Northwood Foundation collects donations of gifts from the community and gives those items to our Northwood residents. For those living in long-term care, life can be lonely and this is our way to make the holiday season just a little better. At each Northwood location (Bedford, Halifax, Dartmouth), a tree will be displayed with different tags. You can choose a tag, purchase the item on the tag, or you can also choose a monetary tag to make a donation.
All donations will go to our Care & Share program, and will receive an income-tax receipt. Keep an eye out for the Giving Trees that will pop up at the end of November! If you would like to donate a gift, come and find a tag off the tree! You can drop off your donations at any of our locations, or contact us to arrange a pick up. Together we can brighten someone’s Christmas. There are also many organizations in the community that have Giving Trees in support of Northwood. For more information on how your business can be part of this giving program, please contact Faye at 902-454-3378.
Want to stay up-to-date on Northwood? Join our online mailing list and get the latest Northwood news! To join, send your name and email to: communications@nwood.ns.ca
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Working at Northwood Family Style No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior written consent of the publisher.
PUBLISHER Northwood Communications EDITOR Mary Long COMMUNICATIONS AND DESKTOP PUBLISHING ASSISTANT Mary Long 902-454-3342 mary.long@nwood.ns.ca Daniel Snow 902-790-9069 daniel.snow@nwood.ns.ca PRINTING Advocate Printing & Publishing
It’s not every day you the great things my sisters were saying,” Janine find three siblings who said. “It is a great comall work at the same pany to work for and I feel organization, let alone very proud to be helping the same department. clients and giving them But that’s the case for ability to live at home for three sisters in our as long as they can.” Home Care division. The sisters have made a Originally from Cape big impact on the NorthSable Island, Janaia wood community and (Anghelescu), Jarica colleagues have told them and Janine Donaldson several times how clients moved to Halifax together and would evenmention how much they tually all end up being enjoy the three sisters. CCAs and working for “I have had several Northwood. co-workers mention the Sisters Janaia, Jarica and Janine “We grew up in a clients talking about us,” Donaldson who all work for Northwood. Janine laughed. “I guess small town and knew that we wanted bigger you could say we are very opportunities than it followed by obtaining her well known and the clients really like us!” could provide. None of us CCA and also taking a position with Northwood. Janine, Today, Janaia has been had kids at the time, so we with Northwood for eight packed up and moved togeth- not to be left out, decided er to Halifax to improve our she too would become a CCA years, Jarica six years and job prospects,” said Janine. after hearing the positives Janine five years. All three “We even rented an apartof Northwood and joined are well loved members of ment all together!” her sisters in the Home Care the Northwood staff and continue to work in the Home Janaia was the first sister division. Care division. to become a CCA and work “What made me want to for Northwood. Jarica soon work with Northwood was all
SUDOKU FOR ADVERTISING SALES CONTACT: publishers@metroguide.ca Tel. 902-420-9943
Here’s How It Works: Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!
For more information, please contact Northwood Corporate Office, Suite 1 South, 130 Eileen Stubbs Ave., Dartmouth, NS B3B 2C4 902-425-2273 information@nwood.ns.ca www.northwood.care
ANSWER:
www.northwood.care
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Lynn Eyland studied art in Edmonton and then went on to enjoy a successful artistic career. She was 17 years old when she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Despite the difficulties and limitations this disease has imposed on Lynn, her enjoyment and desire to share her art continues. Lynn lives in Northwood Manor, and we’re proud to display her art to our community.
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www.northwood.care
William E. Frank Live More Park & Community Garden Blooming garden beds at the Bedford Campus.
Our fall alert buttons and other technologies give you the confidence to live in your home. Enjoy independence knowing help is on the way when you need it!
What sets us apart? • A Nova Scotia based not-for-profit • Revenues go back into community programs • Installed by local volunteers • No minimum contracts
Mention this ad for free installation 902-492-3346 or 1-800-461-3346 northwoodintouch.ca
Northwood believes in vibrant communities and giving the ability to live more. The William E. Frank Live More Park & Community Garden, located at our Bedford campus, helps do just that. The park and garden provide enhanced community recreation opportunities, a beautiful comforting space where everyone, regardless of age or ability, can have fun while producing high quality, organic food and enjoy a sense of belonging that comes from neighbourly connections. Boasting 42 garden beds and a wheelchair and dementia friendly space, the park and garden is normally a wellused asset to the community. The garden beds always sell out, and the fully accessible walkways are usually busy with residents on an afternoon stroll, parents teaching their kids how to ride a bike, and everything in between. The space is used by many people for many different reasons. Some use the garden plots for producing food, others use them for recreational gardening to spend some quality time with friends or family. Northwood residents and people in the community also rely on the park as a venue for workshops, birthday parties, walks or a place
to exercise and just to get some air. Some daycares even use the space to help get kids involved with nature. Jessica Titchmarsh, Community Programmer at Northwood’s Bedford location, has been very active in the park for years and works to make it a safe and accessible space for everyone. She has made it her personal goal to meet each individual need through the parks program, which is also the purpose of the park – to provide a community green space that cultivates positive shared experience among intergenerational people in the community. This year, however, looked much different for the park and garden because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The May long weekend opening was postponed to the end of June, and when the park did open many restrictions were set in place to keep people safe. Despite these setbacks, the garden still offered many benefits for the community during uncertain times caused by the pandemic and was still used regularly by many members. “Besides the benefits of the produce grown, it felt good to get out to what we consider to be a safe area and do something productive,” said
Cindy Blanchette, a returning garden member who rents a plot in the park. “Our daughter’s bed was next to ours and it was fun to compete to see whose beans grew better. It was also important for our granddaughter to participate in weeding and watering… although sometimes I got watered almost as much as the plants.” Cindy’s experience is reflective of the experiences of many people who utilized the garden as something more than a means of producing food this summer; as a way to safely escape the tensions of real life and unwind. At the height of the pandemic, when Northwood residents could not roam around the park or grow in the garden, Titchmarsh and her students went the extra mile to include them in the community garden. They communicated with interested residents on what they would like to grow and every few weeks Titchmarsh would bring them flowers or produce the garden yielded. A small gesture that went a long way for the residents. Although what the summer season would bring for the park was uncertain in the spring – the park and garden has flourished. It was
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www.northwood.care by no means a traditional season for garden members, Northwood residents, and members of the commu-
nity. However, the space still served its purpose, possibly this year more than ever by bringing the community
together in support of common interests. The results and impact are seen not just in people who spend time
there, but in the look of the park itself; a stunning community garden.
Two of the Northwood Board of Govenors have stepped down this year. We would like to thank Linda Carvery for her years of dedicated service to Northwood. We also want to extend a huge thank you to Peter Wilde, who served as Chair of the Northwood Board of Govenors for four years. Their dedication and commitment to Northwoods Mission, Vision and Values has had a positive impact on the lives of Northwood’s residents and clients. Their contribution is very much appreciated and they will be dearly missed on the board.
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Here to listen. Here to help.
Claudia Chender
MLA Dartmouth South 902-406-2301
Gary Burrill
MLA Halifax Chebucto 902-454-8365
Susan Leblanc
MLA Dartmouth North 902-463-6670
Lisa Roberts
MLA Halifax Needham 902-455-7300
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www.northwood.care
Northwood honours long service recipients Northwood is a proud organization guided by founder Ed Roach’s vision to be a voice for seniors and lift them out of isolation and loneliness. Today, his legacy lives on through Northwood’s values and staff who continue to focus on people and their needs. Every October, as part of Continuing Care Month,
Northwood honours staff who have dedicated their
careers to serve those in our community and fulfill the
From Northwood to our long service staff:
thank you
Northwood promise to support those looking to us for help. Thank you for all that you do, everyday, for Northwood residents and clients. Thank you for your long service and for going above and beyond in supporting others and taking pleasure in helping improve the lives of others.
Northwood Long Service Awards 2020 Recipients LONG-TERM CARE Nursing Services – Halifax Campus 10 Years Maria (Hannah) Imperial Modupe Rachael Akinwale Terise Crawley Adam Armsworthy Jennifer Smith Juanita Johnson Gentil Chamukenge Junaida MagsayoLandingin Gordon Lucas-Wilson
Patricia Beals Ruwu Xu Brian Orana Roger Currie Pamela MacDonald
Beth Clamp Bekithemba Moyo Craig Shaw Catherine Simmonds Brenda Slattery
15 Years Tammy Harris Gorden MacDonald Sharon Patterson Dale Stoodley Kiloran Williams Catherine Young Mary Danquah
25 Years Teresita Bedoa Gorski Denise Downey Leanne Saunders
20 Years Cynthia Bolhuis Crystal Boutilier Nancy Brown
Belinda McMullen
Simon Oakey
40 Years Russell Martin
Recreation Therapy – Halifax Campus
Client Services – Halifax Campus
15 Years Shannon Mahar
15 Years Patricia Howe
Staffing Resources – Halifax Campus
30 Years Lisa Billard Paula Hopkins Ann Munro Doris Shea
35 Years Pamela Hartling
15 Years Bonnie LaQuant Sheldon Leuck
35 Years Anna MacNeil
15 Years Christopher Morse
Restorative Care – Halifax Campus
30 Years Darlene MacDonald
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www.northwood.care
10 Years Amos Farmer Amy Deagle
Carmelita Leightizer Marilyn Cvitkovich Jeannine Comeau Tessa Gill Claudette Noble Sharon Dacey Sherry-Ann Phillips Brenda MacKenzie Alison Fairbairn Jennifer Hurshman Sabrina Paulin Marcy Rumble Leslie Davidson Tina Nordin Jessica Hubley Cheryl Westhaver Magdalena Pilapil Tracey Crane Nadine Boutillier Stephanie MacDow Danielle Dyke Lori LaChance Valerie Scott Constance Comeau Shelley Dunn-Callaghan Joy Knechtel Leanne Dubray Donna Norman Kimberly Mombourquette Tracy Monk Sara Sanford M. Arlene MacDonald Kathleen Boyce (Retiree) Deborah McKinley (Retiree)
15 Years John Warren
Support Services – Bedford Campus
20 Years Donald Beals Paul Gardiner
10 Years Darcy Arsenault James Graves Laurie Martin Louis Berube Christopher Parsons Paula Page Janet Percival Jane Power Lori MacDougall Josephine Muise Wiliam MacLeod Leo DeWolfe Emma Bigelow Sandra Collier Breanna Murphy Cassie Philpitt
Food & Nutrition Services – Halifax Campus 10 Years Nikkole Eltvik Janeese Farmer Janet Hemming Ting Zhou Patrick Norwood Gunda Karchava Brandi Awalt 20 Years Natashia Clayton Kevin Isnor 25 Years Julia Osmond 30 Years Darrell Oxner (Retiree) 35 Years Lynn David Jeanene Harnett 40 Years Sherma Howe Environmental Services – Halifax Campus
25 Years Donna Fraser Carolyn Evans Stephanie Michalko Nursing Services - Bedford Campus 10 Years Julia McMullin Meghan Herman Janice Whalen Sherri Asante-Boateng
Travis Morash Rachel Hallett Tyrone Murray Jennifer Carroll Restorative Care – Bedford Campus 10 years Krista Smith
PROGRAM SUPPORT
20 Years Dwayne Doucette
25 Years Tammi Robertston
25 Years Sandra Pyne
Home Support
40 Years George Borden Building Maintenance – Bedford Campus
Financial Services – Bedford Campus
10 Years Stephen Fisher Brent Perry Ken Newman (Retiree)
10 Years Bill Ryan
Business Development
Financial Services Homecare
10 Years Margaret Szabo
25 Years Christine Bowman Gillian Norton-Byce
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Payroll Services 20 Years Shelley Hartley
Community Recreation & Wellness 15 Years Sharon MacVicar
Organizational Health & Safety HOMECARE 25 Years Kathleen Gentile Administration 10 Years Angela MacDonald Laura Morrison Pauline Potter Health Centre 10 Years Alex Poirier
Adult Day Program 10 Years Ashley Dempsey Amie Benoit 25 Years Douglas Doyle Lisa Field 35 Years Mary Ellen Eyland Client Care
Materiel Management
25 Years Barbara Cross
10 Years Amanda Driscoll
Staffing & Administrative Support
Physical Plant – Halifax Campus
10 Years Kellie Boucher
10 Years Tanya Barker Terryl Boudreau Russell Stewart Sandra Acheson Roy Everson Tiffiney Lee Evelyn DeCoste Andrea Meagher Nadine Watson Kathleen Richardson Cathy Hicks Lynda M. MacDonald Kelly Sebastian Carol Bonney Nicole Lunn Judith Turner Barbara Burris Cindy Hynes Terence Goldsmith Michele Tucker (Retiree) Margaret Letterick 15 Years Stephanie Cochrane Susan Euler Catherine Power 20 Years Anne Brothers Tracey Gough Joyce Linfield 25 Years Jeanine Doucet Wanda Fillier Sherry Godfrey Beverly McNeil Rosemary Pye Gloria Groves Eric Thompson Marcia Wambolt 30 Years Colleen Hubley
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Long Service Staff Profiles Wanda Fillier – Home Support 25 Years Wanda first began her journey in home support over 25 years ago in Newfoundland, when she took on a part-time roll in home support as a favour for a friend. It wasn’t until a few years later when she moved to Halifax that she realized home support with Northwood could be a full time job. “This whole career honestly started because of
a favour I was doing for a friend!” Said Wanda. “I had no clue it was a career or that it would be my career with Northwood for the next 25 years.” Wanda loves her job and enjoys working at Northwood but credits her clients for making her move to full time and stay in home support. “Northwood is a great company to work for and
I love my job. But it is the clients that make what I do special and they are the reason I am still here 25 years later. I don’t think there will ever be anything that beats my clients.” One of the most interesting things she has learned from her clients is what they did when they were in the work force. “It is fascinating to know what they
did and what the description was. It’s incredible to see the changes for what the job was then to what it would be today. Everyone has a story and I just really love listening.” Wanda is happily married with eleven grandkids. When she is not at Northwood, she enjoys reading books and spending time with her growing family.
Donald Beals - Halifax Campus Environmental Services 20 years Donald always knew working with seniors would be the career for him and twenty years ago made it a reality with Northwood. He discovered his passion for working with seniors while caring for his beloved grandmother. “Caring for my grandmother opened my eyes to the fact that I wanted to help seniors in my community,” Donald said. “I knew they needed help and I wanted to help. It just fit,
and felt like the right path.” Twenty years have flown by and Donald is still sure of his decision to work with seniors at Northwood. “Walking down the hall and seeing all the residents makes my heart happy,” Donald says. “I love seeing how they react when they see me coming. Their smiles bring a smile to my face and I feel so good that I made their day just that much better.” Anyone who knows Donald
knows his passion for helping those in need has only grown over the past twenty years with no plans to slow. “I have stayed with Northwood for two decades because they are a great company to work for and because of my passion for helping people,” Donald said. “Helping seniors is my calling and why I do what I do.” Donald also had a calling for design and when he is not at Northwood he moonlights as a tailor by
trade creating clothing and wedding dresses. Donald was once Costume Designer Assistant on the set of Book of Negros fueling his love for design. Today, Donald can be found gardening, and entertaining his family.
James Graves - Bedford Campus Support Services 10 years James began his career with Northwood 10 short years ago after his mother became a resident at Northwood. “I needed a job. I had worked for the Chronicle Herald for 30 years prior
but they paid me out,” said James. “I put in my resume and bam! I got hired and here I am 10 years later!” Working at Northwood has been a fun ride for James. Mingling with coworkers and getting to
chat with residents are just a few things he loves about his job. To top things off, his wife also works at Northwood as a nurse at the Halifax Campus. “Getting to chat with the residents is great,” he said.
“I like getting to say good morning and getting to know people.” When James is not at Northwood he can be found shopping or having a coffee with his brother.
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Jeanene Harnett – Food Services 35 years Jeanene began working for Northwood in 1984 when she was hired as a RN nurse, but her connection started long before. “I remember growing up in this area and playing in the courtyard before the Centre was built,” Jeanene recalled. “I also visited Northwood in my last year of high school to ask the residents questions about ghost stories in the community.”
Jeanene’s special bond with Northwood grew, and is still growing today. Northwood has given Jeanene the ability to go back to school and change her roles in order to explore other avenues. Jeanene tried her hand at nursing, organic health, the Community Centre, Shoreham, and Bedford before settling on Food Services for the past seven years. Today, she
has committed 35 years to Northwood. “I have always enjoyed how close to home Northwood was,” Jeanene said. “As my family grew I needed a steady job and Northwood became my second home.” Outside of Northwood, Jeanene is very active in the Cooperative Housing world where she served as the Regional Director of NS. In her downtime she
can be found playing darts, washer toss or simply enjoying life at her campground.
Happening at Northwood
WM Fares Group Embraces the New Northwood Internet Café Northwood is happy to introduce a new six booth internet café in Halifax’s Harborview Lounge to help tenants and residents learn new technical skills. The Northwood Foundation is grateful to the WM Fares Group for embracing this special project so residents can reach out to families and friends during these unprecedented times. “It is the least we can do considering what Northwood, in particular, and all of us are going through. We are here for each other,” said Wadih Fares, President of WM Fares Group, who was grateful to have an opportunity to help our Northwood community. This is one of many moves made by Northwood to aid in adapting to life during COVID-19, and to combat effects of restrictions such as feelings of social isolation.
Each booth is sectioned off into cubicles which are each equipped with computers and internet access. For an allotted time limit of 30 minutes (when others are waiting), people can use the computers for entertainment, games, movies – as well as to connect with loved ones through social media or email. “It is important that we prioritize our resident’s ability to access computers and
the internet,” said Murray Stenton, Communications Specialist at Northwood. “Internet is a necessity for staying socially connected these days, and many residents do not have steady access to computers, nor have they developed the skills needed to benefit from them.” Tenants and residents will receive priority over staff and visitors. Currently, the Harborview is only open to long term care residents and not tenants or the community. However, plans are in works to offer beginner lessons and workshops to help familiarize tenants and residents who are not as comfortable using computers once the space is opened back up to everyone. The internet café is one of many projects being set in motion led by Brandon Meisner, Corporate Director of
Infrastructure Services in an attempt to revitalize the looks and purpose of the main floor (otherwise known to Northwood regulars as Main Street). Last year, a section of the Harborview lounge was renovated with a new bar and seating area. A decorative wall outlining Northwood’s values was also added to offer a colourful new look. With a focus on sprucing the atmosphere of the area up, Meisner hopes it will translate to the residents and make them feel at home in these challenging times. Northwood thanks the gracious generosity of sponsors like WM Fares Group. It is through their support that this special project could be implemented directly resulting in a positive impact on the lives of the Northwood community.
