With the challenges of the weather and our restrictions due to the COVID-19 outbreak that we recently experienced, our team has had the opportunity to spend more intentional time with residents. That truly is the best part of our jobs! We love hearing their stories, learning about their families, and helping support them in every way that we can. Despite the recent limitations we've been living under to ensure everyone's health and safety, our residents are doing exceptionally well! Because of the community we have created here at Wild Rose, everyone truly looks out for one another. 

Residents and their families should be receiving their 2021 Tax Letters from Optima Living very soon! If your email is registered with us, you will be receiving this document via email. Otherwise, it will be mailed to the address we have on file. If you would like to add your email address to our database, please reach out to Wendy at [email protected], and we would be happy to include you. 

We are very excited that our restrictions from this recent outbreak eased up on March 1st, and we look forward to the many exciting events we have going on this month! 

All the best,

Wild Rose Team

From the Management Team 

Lifestyles & Recreation — Erin Keith

February was a challenging month in the world of Recreation with all of the restrictions that we had in place to keep our residents safe. I took the opportunity to freshen up the Social Lounge with a fresh coat of paint, framed some artwork that the residents painted, and added some comfortable seating to make the room feel cozier for various activities. Residents took delight in watching the progress, and many offered their wise advice on doing the job properly!

On Valentine’s Day, love was in the air at Wild Rose. Wendy, Louis, and I all dressed in pink, hand-delivered chocolate-covered strawberries, pink champagne, and personalized love notes and letters to all the residents, all while love songs played throughout the halls. There was lots of dancing, laughter, and even a few tears were shed. It was a sweet and special day for us all.

We had planned to celebrate Robbie Burns Day on January 25th. However, due to the outbreak, we had to postpone—but that hasn’t stopped us from still celebrating! We decided to make all of March a United Kingdom celebration, so we will celebrate Robbie Burns Day, followed by a St. Patrick’s Day party on March 17th. There will be Highland Dancers, Bagpipes, and even haggis to try! And we can promise that there will definitely be some Guinness on St. Patty’s Day.

I want to thank all the families and friends for their continued support as we were under restrictions and want to reassure you that all of your loved ones are doing well.

Dining & Food Services — Scott Piedad

Warm soups and hearty meals are included in the winter menu for the residents, along with a variety of sandwiches and salads for the lunch meals. On February 25th, residents were treated to a delicious dinner of Prime Rib and Yorkshire puddings. We are happy to be out of the outbreak, and we're looking forward to the celebrations that are planned for the month of March! It will be exciting to work with Erin to plan events that will include themed meals for the residents. Hopefully, we can get back to using real silverware again in the dining room!

If you would like to submit feedback on behalf of your loved one, kindly send your suggestions or concerns to [email protected]

Maintenance & Housekeeping 

Things have been quite busy here in the maintenance department! We make sure to spend a lot of time ensuring the parking lot and sidewalks are safe for our staff and residents to walk on! We have also been working closely with the contractors that are installing the new call bell system for the residence which will be a great improvement over the current system.  

Dolly and Joan continue to provide outstanding housekeeping services to our residents on a weekly basis. Many residents often report that having these girls visit them is a great highlight to their week. Many times they can be seen and heard singing and dancing in the rooms while they clean. They definitely brighten a room in more than one way!

Community Leasing Coordinator — Louis Bloom

Life at Wild Rose is never dull! With our signature Artfull Enrichment programs, Readers’ Theatre, Spirit Trolleys, Fine Dining, and impromptu dance parties, you never know what might happen here! Much of the feedback that I receive from those who take a tour of Wild Rose is that it feels so much like a home, alive with joy and happiness. That truly is because the staff, residents, and family members work together to make this a unique and thriving place to call home.  

Keep an eye out for an upcoming Optima Living TV episode that I had the great pleasure of taking part in, where we discussed Steps to Lighten Your Spirit—especially during the winter months and the challenges of the last two years. We will be sure to share the link as soon as it’s available!

I will be at West Edmonton Mall on Wednesday, March 2nd and Wednesday, March 16th from 8 AM to 8 PM to share information with the public about living at Wild Rose, and I encourage you to stop by and say hello! I will be on the 2nd floor just above the Ice Palace, close to Starbucks. Come see why living at Wild Rose is the best choice for your ageing loved one!  

I have truly been blessed to work in this industry and I find so much joy in helping families transition their loved ones into a community that meets their needs and is gracious and accommodating to the needs of the families. If you would like to book a tour to see Wild Rose, please feel free to reach out to me at 780-293-3526 or via email at [email protected]