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DECEMBER 2023

Your life, your community, your news

SEASON OF GIVING

Resident at Andrews of Charlottetown work putting together boxes for Operation Christmas Child, an annual undertaking by Samaritan’s Purse. Through the project, Samaritan’s Purse delivers gifts to children around the world every Christmas. Residents filled 15 boxes for donation.

ABOVE & BEYOND ACTIVE AT ANDREWS

Check out this month's Check outBeyond our photos from Above and winner our Remembrance Day | p. 10 services. | p. 3

RESIDENT ‘IT’SRECIPES SO ARTISTIC’

This month we feature a Resident Clive Pirkey decadent butter tart recipe devoted his working life to from resident Evelyn Rafuse creating beautiful wood | p. 4-5 carvings. | p. 6-7

PET THERAPY RESIDENT RECIPE

Spending time with animals proven to benefit seniors a fruit This month we feature and people living with cake recipe from resident dementia p. 6-7 Wanda |Ings. | p. 4-5

UPDATE FROM ANDREWS Dear family members and friends of Andrews Senior Care, We had a busy and fun-filled November at our homes. We honoured our veterans in Remembrance Day ceremonies, decorated for the holiday season, celebrated resident artists and participated in important charitable causes like Operation Christmas Child. This month we will be celebrating the holidays with lots of crafts, tasty treats and musical guests including local choirs. We wish you all a wonderful holiday season and all the best in the new year! Sincerely, Andrews Senior Care

2 Team member Laura MacArthur, an LPN, and resident Anna Doucette share a laugh while walking to lunch at Andrews of Summerside.

REMEMBRANCE DAY Andrews Senior Care homes marked Remembrance Day with services in partnership with local branches of the Royal Canadian Legion.

In addition to our regular Remembrance Day services, students from Summerside Intermediate School stopped by Andrews of Summerside with gifts for veteran Arthur Hiscock. Pictured from left to right are: Lawrence and Thomas Chan, Stacy Thain, Millar Perry, Arthur Hiscock and Logan Gallant.

3 3

ANDREWS COOKBOOK WANDA ING’S FRUIT CAKE

In every family there's that one dish that mom or dad makes better than anyone else in the world. Maybe it's dad's chili recipe, or mom's secret to perfect ginger snap cookies. These dishes and desserts become family legend, favourites at holiday parties, birthdays or family dinners. The recipes are often passed down through generations and become a part of a family's story. We wanted to share those stories. Every month we feature a different recipe submitted by one of our residents. This month we feature a fruit cake recipe from resident Wanda Ings.

Wanda’s Fruit Cake

Ingredients 2 cups brown sugar 2 cups of butter 1 cup of molasses 5 cups of flour 6 eggs Lemon juice 1 tsp soda and salt 1 pkg of seeded raisins 1 pkg of seedless dates 1 pkg of currents ¼ pkg of citron peel 1 tsp of cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, almond flavouring.

Directions Combine ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Spread into a loaf pan and bake in preheated 300 degrees F for 4 hours.

Photos by Nathan Rochford. Fruit cake prepared by Andrews' culinary team.

‘It’s so artistic’ Resident Clive Pirkey devoted his working life to creating beautiful wood carvings

Andrews of Stratford resident Clive Pirkey is a bit of a magician. While some magicians specialize in grand stage tricks or close-up magic, a fleeting moment of mystery, Clive’s talent is based in something more solid – wood. Clive can take a humble piece of oak, pine or walnut and turn it into a work of art with nothing more than his hands and a few simple tools. “I love to see what he does,” said Jeanette, his wife. “It’s so artistic. To think it’s all in his head.” Clive has been crafting wooden treasures since 1951. It was a skill he initially picked up while in high school in St. Louis, Mo. “I always liked hand-carved things,” Clive said. “The part I found interesting was that I could make a living at it.” Continued on page 7

An Angel holding a candle, carved by Clive.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 After graduating, Clive moved to Phoenix, Ariz, where he began a career in wood-working making cabinets and other interior fixtures for a local company. In his spare time, he began carving at home as a way to relax. He started out small but eventually expanded his repertoire to include impressive pieces like wooden horses, angels, wood spirits, canes and replicates of existing works of art. The more he did, the more he learned and the more he learned, the better he got. “Things just evolve from one thing to another,” said Clive. “Work is work, you’d be building kitchen cupboards and this, but this was a hobby.” Today, Clive is retired and no longer does much carving. However, he and his wife have many of his pieces on display in their room, which is where Andrews’ activity coordinator Sharon WoodsBryenton discovered them. “I knew Pirkey was artistic,” said Sharon. “I didn’t realize

More carvings by Clive over the years. Pictured at top is a wood spirit, a lion and and eagle crest. In the centre of the page is a horse and horseshoe and at the bottom is a statue inspired by a drawing by James Dean titled “The Composer.”

he had this talent. He’s truly amazing. It’s astounding the hidden talents many of our residents possess.”

ABOVE & BEYOND

November 2023

Every month our team and residents recognize one team member for showing exceptional care

Parkhill

Summerside

Charlottetown

Stratford

Park West

Our Above and Beyond winner for November is Harpreet Kaur. Harpreet is a team player, always willing to help where and when she’s needed. She’s kind, professional and excels at food presentation. Harpreet started working as a cook at Andrews of Parkhill approximately one month ago. Prior to joining our team, she worked in similar roles at restaurants in Montreal. Since joining our Parkhill team, Harpreet has felt supported by her colleagues and welcomed by our residents. “I love my colleagues,” she said. “They’re very friendly.” In her spare time, Harpreet enjoys cooking at home and watching horror movies. One of her favourite dishes to make is a pav bhaji, a street food dish from India consisting of a thick vegetable curry served with a soft bread roll.

Our Above and Beyond winner for November is Debbie MacWilliams. Debbie is a dedicated team member who always finds time to make our residents smile and is always willing to help her team members when needed. Debbie started working at Andrews of Summerside 16 ½ years ago as a housekeeper. She’s remained in housekeeping ever since. “I love being around the residents,” she said. “I love talking to them. If I can make them smile, that’s what I enjoy. That’s more important than anything, in my eyes.” Outside of work, Debbie enjoys baking. While she likes baking a variety of things, including donuts, she recently finished her meat pies for the Christmas season.

Our Above and Beyond winner for November is Steve Francis. Steve is a fast-learner and a dedicated team member who is always willing to help where and when he’s needed. He has a great demeanor when interacting with our residents and always has a smile on his face. We are fortunate to have him at Andrews of Charlottetown. Steve started working with us as a dietary aide two months ago. Prior to joining our team, he worked as a cook with the Murphy Hospitality Group. He said one of the most rewarding parts of his role is spending time with the residents. “They have more knowledge,” he said. “They’re good role models.” Outside of work, Steve enjoys spending time in nature and socializing with friends.

Our Above and Beyond winner for November is Julie Durden. Julie is a dedicated team member who has always gone over and above for our residents and her coworkers. She is thoughtful, caring and an absolute delight to work with. We have been fortunate to have her as part of our Andrews of Stratford family. Julie started working at our home 13 years ago as a housekeeper. From there, she moved into caregiving and then in 2012, went back to school to become an RCW. Shortly after finishing her program, she became shift supervisor in our Community Care department, a role she remained in until this month. “I love helping people,” she said, adding her time at Andrews as been especially rewarding. “It feels like a family, lots of grandparents.” Julie’s last day was Monday, Nov. 27. She is returning to the U.K. after spending 14 years working and living in Canada. While we’re sad to see her go, we are happy for the time she spent at Andrews. We know she feels the same. “It’s such an awesome job,” she said. “I wish I could take Andrews of Stratford with me.”

Our Above and Beyond winner for November is Dante Salangsang. Dante is a dedicated team member, always willing to go the extra mile for our residents and the Park West team. We are fortunate to have him. Dante started working as a caregiver at Park West in September. Prior to joining us, he worked for two years as an RN in his home country of the Philippines. He is currently preparing to write the NCLEX to get his Canadian nursing license. Having worked in a hospital previously, he finds senior care less stressful and more rewarding. “Their smiles, it’s very pleasant,” he said of working with our residents. “It’s very rewarding.” When he’s not at work, Dante enjoys spending time at the beach and at Victoria Park.

GAMES Sudoku

Community Cash 50/50

The object of the puzzle is to fill the remaining squares, using all the numbers 1–9 exactly once in each row, column, and the nine 3 × 3 subgrids.

Weekly 50/50 draw in support of support not for profit groups including Murphy's Pharmacies Community Centre and the Holland College Athletics Department. Anyone can play for just $2/week.

If you or someone you know is looking for more information, here are some helpful resources.

Community and Nursing Care Decision Guide A comprehensive guide to help you select a community care or nursing home on Prince Edward Island. Some topics covered in this guide: How to navigate the senior care system on PEI (pg 4) How to choose a community care or nursing home home (pg 11) How to have the talk with your loved one (pg 28) Home evaluation checklists (pgs 13 and 24) Selling your home (pg 45)

This resources can be downloaded from the email version of this newsletter or by visiting www.communitycarepei.ca

Do You Have Any Questions? If you have any questions or would like to book a tour please contact our Senior Living Advisor Ph: 902.894.5896 Email: info@andrewsseniorcare.com

100% Happiness Guarantee Should you not be happy for any reason during your first month at Andrews, we will refund your money (private pay amounts only) and help you move back home.