There is no doubt, life has significantly changed at The Roxborough.

As with everyone, the norm seems something from so long ago, and although it is missed here, there has been an awakening like we have never seen.

All staff steering new protocols and procedures with ease because they are an exemplary team.

Working together, sharing jobs, and adding more, to do what needs to be done to keep all healthy and safe.

Some spending their well-earned breaks writing daily handwritten notes of inspiration for each resident to brighten spirits.

Offering escorted strolls in our courtyard, facetimes with families, or just a quick knock on the door with a cheerful hello to see how everyone is doing.

Last, but not least, our residents.

Their lives have seen so much change, but none like this, and to someone of latter years it can be very challenging.

They have been steadfast.

Trying their best to understand and except the frustration of isolation so stoically.

Thanking us in every way, every day for caring for them, and returning the kindness by taping notes in the elevators, sending their thanks and gratitude for keeping them safe.

These past few weeks, we have all discovered traits and strengths in ourselves and others we never knew were there.

A community of people who have come together, taking care of each other, that will come through this because we have lived it, together.

We will see you on the other side of this.

Stronger, closer, and more loving with each other than ever before.

Stay safe and healthy.

The Staff and Residents of the Roxborough Retirement Residence.

Living Loving Local at Verve this month: Eggs

The humble egg has been through a lot over the last few decades. They have been vilified as a prime suspect in elevated cholesterol levels and condemned as an allergy hazard to our young. Today however, they are celebrated as a SuperFood, which makes a lot of sense when you consider they provide all the nutrition a baby chicken needs in the first few weeks of life.

One large egg contains:

• 70 calories
• 5g fat
• 1g carbohydrate
• 6g protein
• 195mg cholesterol
• 65mg sodium

Making them a relatively low-calorie choice for the nutrition punch they pack. Eggs are an excellent source of protein, an item needed by all cells in the body for growth and regeneration. While eggs do contain cholesterol, and a significant amount at that when compared with other protein sources such as meat, fish and poultry, the effect of dietary cholesterol on blood cholesterol has been shown to be negligible. Consumption of trans-fatty acids such as those found in processed foods have a much greater impact on overall blood cholesterol levels.

Eggs contain specific vitamins and minerals used for general good health and disease prevention such as:

• Iron to carry oxygen to the cells and to prevent anemia.
• Vitamin A to help maintain healthy skin and eye function, especially night vision.
• Vitamin D to provide strong bones and teeth and possibly prevent certain cancers and auto-immune diseases such as arthritis.
• Folate to work along-side protein to produce and maintain new cells.
• Selenium to act as an antioxidant.

New research into phytochemicals contained within foods, shows us that eggs are a good source of:

• Lutein and zeaxanthin: both of which are needed for good vision and may be linked to prevention of age-related eye diseases, such as cataracts and macular degeneration.
• Choline: needed for DNA synthesis which is associated with memory function and a healthy nervous system.0

Eat eggs for breakfast or lunch or dinner. Whether they are poached, fried, boiled or scrambled – they are an easy to prepare, healthy choice. Try some of our favourite recipes.

Egg Bruschetta
Ham & Leek Quiche

We now work in the “after” times, meaning “after Covid-19 pandemic” and refer to the “before” times. We used to serve our residents meals daily in the dining room, they would sit and chat with each other over a coffee and dessert. Now, we go door to door with carts and racks loaded with all the goodness needed for each resident, for each meal. We deliver a snack each night for those who are diabetic, so they can keep healthy with the nutritious items they need. Residents are using their own mugs and we fill them to the brim with coffee, tea, and love!

Before, we would call residents and say, “you have a parcel at the reception desk, when you like, come by and pick it up.” Now in the “after” times, we have a cart and our reception staff collect parcels from a safe distance, the parcels and care packages are delivered suite to suite. It is nice to see the smiles when a resident gets a special something from a family member, even a big pack of toilet paper!

We used to stock our tuck shop and residents could come and browse and pick out essentials like chips and chocolate bars. Now we have loaded up a tuck cart and added new items like cleaning wipes, TP rolls and hand sanitizer along with the required chocolate bars and potato chips and go door to door once a week.

Bingo used to be played “before” in a room with lots of folks, sitting around tables playing together. Bingo now is done with a daily number given and residents play on their card over the week.

Family and friends used to come for dinner or have a visit here, now residents are learning a new language that include words like “face time, ZOOM and Skype.”

Spiritual services were held in house with various volunteers from local churches, for Easter, we adapted and played the Pope’s Easter message on a big TV, for one resident at a time.

We have adapted in so many ways, too many to list. The team at Courtyard Gardens has taken the task of adapting all aspects of our service delivery to new heights.

Amanda Hill

GM Courtyard Gardens

Are you interested in making a difference in the lives of older adults?

Verve Senior Living is hiring for temporary contract positions in our residences across Canada. During these unprecedented times, we are looking for new team members to help us deliver our high-quality services and to keep our residences filled with Verve-vibrancy, spirit, life and passion!

Perhaps you were recently laid-off, a college or university student or you want to lend a helping hand to our older adults during these challenging times? We want to hear from you! We are looking for people who share our core values of integrity, passion for excellence, collaboration, flexibility and empathy. We have rewarding temporary work in areas such as culinary/dining services, housekeeping, health & wellness, life enrichment programs, reception, general services (e.g. gardening, walking pets, room service delivery, etc.)!

If these opportunities appeal to you, please visit our careers page to learn more or submit a resume to HR@verveseniorliving.com.

Staff at The Concorde Retirement Residence in Penticton delivered small containers filled with soil and a container of seeds to each resident so they can plant their “seeds of hope” during COVID-19. The residents can watch their seedlings grow into a surprise plant.

Earlier this year, The Concorde applied for a grant with First West Credit Union and was granted $500 to create a “Community Garden” at The Concorde this Spring. Raised planter boxes, soil and seeds will be purchased so the residents can have a space to grow their favourite plants.

We all hope that COVID-19 will soon be lifted so that residents can enjoy their new Community Garden. In the meantime, they have their seedlings in a container in their suites to water and nurture as their surprise plant surfaces in the coming weeks!

Let’s see who has the greenest thumb on each floor!

A few weeks have now passed since the COVID-19 pandemic brought about significant changes in the way we operate our communities. Both our residents and our team members have had to adapt to the rapidly changing protocols. Our residents have been asked to shelter in place and both our employees and our residents are now subject to twice daily temperature checks and symptom screening. So far the protocols are working. We are keeping people safe and doing our best to create some level of normalcy in what is clearly an unprecedented situation.

With Easter and Passover approaching, we know that not being able to visit with family members and loved ones in person will be a meaningful disappointment for many of our residents. Please be assured that our staff will be doing everything they can to make the holidays as enjoyable as possible in the current circumstances.

It has been heartwarming to hear stories from our residences of the collaboration and support that our team members and residents are showing each other during these difficult times. Continued vigilance and adherence to the current protocols will be important for some time as we all wait for either a vaccine or an effective treatment for COVID-19.

Again, our thoughts go out to anyone who may be affected by the coronavirus.

On behalf of all of us at Verve Senior Living, we wish you and your family a happy holiday and we thank you for your continued trust and support. We encourage you to do what you can to stay healthy and protect the health of others.

John A. Carnella
President and CEO

A thank you poem from the Residents of The Roxborough – We hope it makes your day… it certainly made ours!

Angels In and Out Our Doors

To all the girls that we adore
Who keep coming in and out our door
To help us through each and every day
To all our girls, we’d like to say
You are the ones that we adore.

Your smiles and cheery voices bring
With each visit, a happy joyous ring
We thank you for your cheery ways
Helping us through these dreary days.
You are the ones that we adore.

Our meals you bring with snacks and more
These are our girls, who we adore.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner too
You bring to us the whole day through.
You are the ones that we adore.

Puzzles and games to stretch our minds
You do so much and are so kind
We thank all the girls that we adore
So,   please keep coming in and out our door.
You are the ones that we adore.

To all the girls that we adore
You bring many things to our very door.
Bingo cards and games to play
Throughout each and every day.
You are the ones that we adore.

And our Kitchen Staff so very rare
Toiling hard, our daily meals prepare
Thank you all for your loving care
Providing us with our “daily fare”.
You are the ones that we adore.

Good Housekeeping Ladies we adore
As you too, come in and out our door
We would not do well throughout this spell
If you did not care for us so well.
You are the ones that we adore.

And to Jodi and Crew we also say
Thank you so much for each and every day.
Rules and instructions, they quite often flow
For our health and safety, this we know.
You are the ones that we adore.

So thank you each, one and all
For walking through our hallowed hall
And for your care and cheers galore
Please keep coming through our door.
You are the ones that we adore.

(On behalf of the Roxy Residents)

April 2020

COVID-19 is often more severe in people 60+yrs or with health conditions like lung or heart disease, diabetes or conditions that affect their immune system.​ Do your part to protect those who are at most risk. ​

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic on March 11, 2020. Protecting your health and the health of others is very important, however there are also things you can do to protect your mental health during the COVID-19 outbreak. Read the World Health Organization Infographic on Coping with stress during the 2019-nCoV outbreak.

WHO – Coping with Stress during COVID-19