In lives full of defining moments, we help create even more.

Whether it’s a brief encounter or a life changing event, these unique moments enrich lives. And we do everything we can to make them happen.

To give you an idea of how we can make a difference, here are Remarkable Moments from our home.

Our Defining Moments

Perfect Attendance Award at Extendicare Scarborough

Extendicare Scarborough’s employees are recognized for their “Perfect Attendance” every year during the “years of service ceremony”.

Extendicare Scarborough’s employees are recognized for their “Perfect Attendance” every year during the “years of service ceremony”.

In 2015 and 2016, 10 employees were awarded for their perfect attendance. The number of employees that are recognized for Perfect Attendance have increased over the years.

Debbie Tudball, a full-time Dietary Aide has been the longest recipient of the “Perfect Attendance” achievements. In 2016 employees were also recognized for 1 sick day under the “Almost Perfect Attendance” awards category.

Congratulations and thank you for helping people live better.

Residents at Extendicare Scarborough Enjoying Summer Frozen Delights

On a Summer day, an ice cream truck visited the residents at Extendicare Scarborough for “Ice Cream Social”

On a Summer day, an ice cream truck visited the residents at Extendicare Scarborough for “Ice Cream Social”. Residents enjoyed some delicious frozen delights. They can choose different flavours of ice cream served in a cup or in a cone. Everyone enjoyed the delicious cool treats.

Extendicare Scarborough gets a visit from the Petting Zoo

Residents and staff enjoyed petting some animals

One fine day, the Petting Zoo visited Extendicare Scarborough. The residents and staff enjoyed the opportunity to touch and cuddle with some of the animals. They enjoyed petting the soft fur of a bunny, the hard shell of a turtle, the soft skin of a cat and many more loveable animals. Seeing and petting these gentle creatures put a smile on many faces.

The Importance of "Let's Talk"

Extendicare Scarborough staff and residents watched the play “I’m still Here”, a research-based drama on living with dementia.

Extendicare Scarborough staff and residents watched the play “I’m still Here”, a research-based drama on living with dementia. The play illuminates the realities of living with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Its goal is to help foster meaningful interaction and reduce unnecessary suffering among patients, caregivers and their families.

It makes you realize the importance of "Let's Talk" to overcome the daily challenges. The patients, caregivers and families experience different challenges and frustrations. Simple tasks may take the patients longer to do or to remember. Patients get frustrated. Caregivers and families who want to help gets frustrated as well. It is essential for everyone to listen and to talk to each other while experiencing these challenges.

Halloween Costume Contest at Extendicare Scarborough

Dressing up at work for Halloween

Staff at Extendicare Scarborough celebrated Halloween Day by dressing up for the residents and competing in the Halloween Costume Contest again. The residents nominate the winners. This year, the winner was “Donald Trump”, second place was to the “pirate” and the last place was the “nun”. The residents enjoy this Halloween Activity.

Extendicare Scarborough’s Cook Retires after 42 years of service

Charlene started her journey at Extendicare Scarborough in 1973. She was a young teenager and was still in High School when she hired as a Dietary Aide. Charlene remembers being paid $1.65 an hour back in the days. Charlene retired in November 2015; however she still continues to visit us from time to time when she in the area. She has managed to pen down her 42 years journey at Extendicare Scarborough in the attached document. The very best to Charlene and Happy Retirement!

My 42 Years at Extendicare

This is my story about my years of working at Extendicare Scarborough. I started my years of service October 6, 1973. I was a young teenager still in high school. I was hired by Mrs. Oliver. She was very strict by fair. I was nervous and scared. I was trained to use the dishwasher, sort silverware, set up trays and serve meals. I had to learn all the residents’ names and diets. It did not take me long before I knew all of the residents’ names and diets in the dining room. I worked three hours three nights a week after school and on weekends and I made $1.65 an hour. When I started we only serve one choice at meal time or they could have a sandwich. We served the residents in the dining room off trays that were set up with everything on it. The second floor residents’ trays went up on a hot and cold cart. We had two carts, one for east and one for west end and the nurses would serve the residents.

In Sept 1978, I married my first husband I met and worked with in the kitchen since I had started there. After getting married, I started cooking part time. I also took a health care aide course Extendicare offered the staff free from Centennial College. We did it in the activity rom 2 days a week.

In 1980, I met my second husband and we married in October 1983 and had our daughter in 1984. In 1984, Extendicare sent all of their cooks to George brown College to take a cooking course. I cooked all the breakfast and lunches for 150 people. There have been a lot of changes over the years with the ministry and every new boss that starts. In 1988, I took another course I paid for myself, a food service worker course. It took me two years part time. It was five courses. I received a honour certificate in the menu course. I would have loved to make my own menus. The staff learned to know the residents likes and dislikes by working with them every day.

One day, Chris, our Administrator at that time, took me to a school with him to talk about my years of service with the students.

Over the years of working at Extendicare I learned a lot, met a lot of people and made a lot of friends. In fact, I am still friends with three people I started working with. I have gone through happy times and sad times with my co-workers and they were always there for me.

About five years ago we could not fill the beds so we got Tamil residents from the Tamil community in our area. We started serving Tamil food and we even got a Tamil cook. Sometimes, I made the Tamil food and I never had any complaints. I never really like change much but I adapted and made it through 42 years of service. When I come to Extendicare for a visit, the staff are still asking where their soup is. The staff always loved my soups the best. I always took pride in my work and did it to the best of my ability. I enjoyed being able to serve the elderly over the years knowing that will be me someday. I hope I will have caring service when it is my turn to enter a nursing home.

Sincerely,

Charlene

Volunteers Make A Difference

Appreciating volunteers at Extendicare Scarborough

Volunteers are special and Extendicare Scarborough takes the opportunity to appreciate its volunteers every year. This year the volunteers were invited to the “Royal Tea” at the home. The volunteers were recognized by the staff and the local Scarborough-Guildwood MPP, Ms. Mitzie Hunter. There are about 80 volunteers registered with the home. The volunteers range from various Church Group services, daycare, school children, boys & girls club, pet visit, Cyber for Seniors and many others.

Mr. B's Walking Restoration

Mr. B. entered our restorative walking program with the goal to improve his walking so that he could return home to his family.

Mr. B. entered our restorative walking program with the goal to improve his walking so that he could return home to his family. Despite trying his best, he was not making the progress he had wanted and was becoming increasingly frustrated and depressed. He began getting angry with himself for his lack of progress and with his family for not taking him back home. We realized the program he was in was doing more harm than good and so, we switched him to an entirely different program of group exercises and aromatherapy massages. His mood and attitude improved drastically. He enjoyed interacting with other residents. The aromatherapy massages helped to alleviate the pain and stiffness in his knees. Slowly but surely his strength improved and his stiffness decreased. Now he seems to enjoy his exercise classes with fellow residents and rarely mentions wanting to go home.

Mrs. N's Positivity

Mrs. N. was 101 years old when she was admitted to our restorative care program for walking. She was still steady on her feet ...

Mrs. N. was 101 years old when she was admitted to our restorative care program for walking. She was still steady on her feet with the aide of her walker and walked at a good gait. Every morning she was raring to go and each day she would walk the entire perimeter of the second floor under the supervision of her Restorative Aides. Without fail she was always kind to everyone she met and happy to be out and about meeting people. Despite her commitment to walking, Mrs. N.’s health started to decline and increasingly she would be unable to take her daily walk. “At my age, if I want to rest, then I want to rest.” she would say. Sadly, she recently passed away but she was always cheery and never lost her positive attitude. She was an inspiration to us all as she showed that, no matter how old you are, it’s never too late to enjoy life.