On November 11th, we remember all veterans who fought for our country, some of whom live at Optima Living communities.

We are honoured they call our communities their home and to care for them after they cared for all Canadians.

I hope you and your families are continuing to enjoy the beautiful autumn weather we’ve been experiencing.

It is encouraging to see the positive downward trend of COVID-19 cases across the province in the last week. I can assure you we continue to remain cautious and are thoroughly following all infection prevention measures in place at our community for everyone’s continued safety.

I would also like to share important news with you! Patrick Garcia, our Health & Wellness Manager, has accepted a new position with another company. Patrick has been an instrumental member of the Wild Rose family and we wish him all the best in his new role. His last day will be on November 1st and we are actively recruiting to fill this position of Health & Wellness Manager. 

Stay safe and well!

Webinar 
Sex and Seniors—Debunking the Myths Part II

From the Management Team 

News from the Office Manager – Wendy Brown

I am excited to announce that I have returned from my personal leave of absence and am back working at the front reception desk! 

I was so happy to see all of the residents, families, and co-workers that I have missed over the last three months. I could not believe how much the home has grown and I was never more happy to jump right in with the leadership team and resume providing you and your loved ones with the customer service they have come to depend on. I’d like to thank Cindy Landreville for stepping in while I was away and covering the role in such an exemplary fashion! I know the residents were definitely well looked after.

I am working with the team to ensure that our activity calendar and weekly menu are printed and provided to our residents for the upcoming week, so that everyone is kept informed. If your are unsure as to whether or not you are on the email distribution list from me, kindly send an email to [email protected] and I will ensure that you are added to the database and don’t miss any future updates!

I look forward to the weeks ahead as Wild Rose continues to be a whirlwind of activity and fun!

Dining & Food Services – Scott Piedad

We had a wonderful month so far in the Dining Room. Our residents thoroughly enjoyed the Thanksgiving Feast that was prepared on Sunday, October 10th. It was a wonderful meal where we expressed our gratitude: to be sharing a meal in the company of others and not alone, to be in a warm and safe environment, and to have people in our lives that love and care for us. The moment was not lost on many residents and staff! Meals are often a cornerstone in creating memorable experiences and community, and our Thanksgiving Meal was no exception. 

We are planning to host a Food for Thought meeting on October 19th, where residents and the kitchen staff will come together to sample upcoming foods, discuss menu options, and work collaboratively to ensure that the dietary needs and the culinary experience are not only being met, but exceeded. We take great pride in the delicious meals and variety of options we provide to our residents and their opinions are crucial in ensuring resident satisfaction. 

We are looking forward to the events ahead which include Halloween, Remembrance Day, and Seasonal Event Planning. It’s never a dull moment at Wild Rose and the food must always match the mood!

Maintenance & Housekeeping – Alex Hil

Although many of you may not see me often, I am here behind the scenes, ensuring that the building operates smoothly and that the maintenance needs are being met. We have secured our contract for snow and ice clearing services for the upcoming winter months. I would also like to reassure families and residents that their safety is of the utmost priority and we will always ensure that the walkways and entrances are cleared swiftly of snow and ice. Parking lots will be done on an as-needed basis and individual parking stalls are the responsibility of the resident for snow removal. Please contact the office if you need assistance with these services.

If you have any maintenance concerns, please ensure that you let the office or the nursing team know as soon as possible so that the information can be passed along to myself in a timely manner. I am thoroughly enjoying working with all of the families and residents who call Wild Rose home and look forward to meeting many more of you.

Lifestyles & Recreation – Erin Keith

Life at Wild Rose has been busy and exciting! We hosted a Hoedown this past month and residents continue to find their artistic passion in participating in our Artfully Aging program each week. They have been working on collaborative collages that showcase their uniqueness that sets them apart, yet creates the vivid community we are building here at Wild Rose. Our next project will be creating a wall full of colourful poppies to line our main floor for the upcoming Remembrance Day Ceremony. Residents are quite excited about this project!

Resident-run programming is taking off as well! A delightful card game has seen up to eight residents participate each evening and the last Cribbage night had ten residents show up for a lively night of chat and friendship—and some friendly competition, no doubt. Residents have also expressed an interest in creating a knitting club with a purpose! So, we will be collecting donated yarn and knitting needles to spend time creating hats and scarves for the homeless in Edmonton as their way of giving back to the less fortunate. Residents are very excited about this and we could not be more proud to help facilitate such a meaningful program! 

We are busy decorating and planning for a Classic Spooky Halloween theme this year. We will be transforming the lobby into a dark and spooky world, sure to thrill our residents as we encourage them and the staff to dress up for our Halloween Party on October 29th. It’s sure to be an afternoon of fun for all.

And finally, we will be establishing a new Walking Club! It will see residents transported to West Edmonton Mall once a week to participate in a group walking activity with other mall walkers. Participants will be tracking their steps, participating in group challenges and celebrations, and getting the opportunity to get out into the community and socialize with other seniors. Stay tuned for more details!

We are thriving here at Wild Rose and are continuously in the minds of many considering a move to a seniors' living community. That is primarily because of the the caring community that we have all created here, including the team of dedicated staff who have the privilege of providing support. I get feedback from almost every tour that people feel welcome, at home here, and that everyone is so kind and genuine. That is the culture that I am so proud to be a part of and why so many people are now wanting to call Wild Rose their home.

I want to express my sincere gratitude to all of the families, residents, and staff who strive to continuously showcase Wild Rose as the absolute jewel it is!

A Wild Rose Hoedown

Our residents enjoyed a Hoedown on Friday, October 8th, that saw entertainer Larry Renn perform classic country songs that had everyone singing along. Staff and residents helped set the mood with costumes and character play. We turned Wild Rose into a country harvest barnyard for the day.

Spirits were high and the energy was contagious! It was incredible to see such life and vibrancy lighting up our community. 

Be Agile, Not Fragile: Are You At Risk of Breaking a Bone?

Did you know that up to 73% of seniors have a fear of falling? Many of those people restrict their activities as a result. The best way to protect yourself from a fall is to ensure that you have the strength to overcome it! And that comes from strong bones.

Our team wants to help ensure everyone in our community can continue to live without fear at any age. In this Wellness Moment, Dr. Adrian Wagg—the Alberta Health Services Chair in Healthy Ageing—discussed the best ways to make sure your bones are healthy so you can live your best life.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see it!