Blog

It was a small village in Singapore, but Changi was the whole world to Radha and Asmah. A world where they grew up in the 1950s, attending Teluk Paku Primary School, living just a few blocks away from each other, their fathers both working for the British forces. And yet, the two ladies never knew each other despite their common dreams of leaving their small village and seeing the world.

We know we must do better, no matter the environment, and we will. Serving seniors is fulfilling and rewarding work which attracts caring and kind people. Our values of R.E.S.P.E.C.T (Respect, Empathy, Service Excellence, Performance, Commitment and Trust), strong leadership in our residences, inclusivity and opportunities for learning and development is what differentiates Chartwell as an employer. As valuable as this is, it is not enough to solve all our challenges. Here are some new key initiatives we are implementing to attract and retain highly engaged employees.

There’s no denying that exercise is good for us and that even a moderate amount of regular exercise can yield both physical and psychological health benefits. Yet, one of the greatest misconceptions is that there’s a point in our lives when we must come to terms with our physical limitations. As a result, age often becomes a reason not to workout. Chartwell Crescent Gardens resident Marion proves this couldn’t be further from the truth.

I never dreamed I’d be living in a retirement residence, and with all the negative publicity these past 2.5 years, I hoped I’d never have to. Yet, after a five-hour operation to remove a parotid gland and a neck dissection, here I am in respite care.

Bertha Holtby, better known as “Birdie” to friends and family, has been a resident of Chartwell Southwind for the past 16 years, and is likely one of the first people you’ll meet if you choose to call the retirement residence home.

Taking the leap by moving into a retirement residence can be challenging for some seniors—and understandably so. Fear of the unknown is common, but this important step can also be full of wonderful surprises. This was the case for Chartwell Cité-Jardin resident Ella Danis.

The year is 1938 in Brantford, Ontario. Children from grades two through eight play in their wool school clothes, re-arranging desks in their one-room schoolhouse, kept warm by the cozy basement furnace. A shared learning space, Tranquility School was a hub for the community too, hosting bridge games, square dancing and fairs in the summer. It was a place where everyone knew each other, and community meant family.

Cécile Alexandre, 89, was a mother first and foremost, but also a hard worker, a pioneer and a symbol of female empowerment. Sadly, this exceptional woman, who was a resident at Chartwell Oasis-St-Jean in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu from 2013 to 2021, recently passed away. In honour of her memory, we wish to pay tribute to her incredible strength and compassion, which continues to inspire us.

I celebrate Black History Month because I am proud to know that we have such an impact on this world that we live in; the vast array of Black women and men that have paved the way for us to be where we are today. We are gaining recognition for what we do instead of what we look like. This is so monumental that we are not just looked upon as a black man or a black woman. We are looked upon as an individual. An individual who has done things to contribute to society.

Maria Styranka knows all about resilience. The dynamic 99-year-old resident of Chartwell Grenadier escaped Communism in her native Ukraine at the end of the Second World War, undertaking an arduous global journey that eventually led her and her family to Toronto.

Recently, Chartwell’s CEO, Vlad Volodarski, was asked to be a guest on episode eight of Seniors Junction, a podcast discussing social isolation among older adults.

It is disappointing to see the Toronto Star publish, once again, an inaccurate and uninformed opinion piece.