Creativity and innovation are hallmarks of life in S&R long-term care and seniors living communities, and in 2025 team members across the organization found imaginative new ways to enrich residents’ daily lives.
Appropriately for the holiday season, the first S&R Christmas story of the year actually took place in summer at the Village on the Thames, when a team member brought a family holiday tradition to residents of the Chatham-Kent seniors living community.
Fun co-ordinator Diamond Zelina and other team members spent the week leading up to the event in July decorating the Village’s activity room with snowflakes, red balloons and other festive touches to create a yuletide atmosphere.
When “July Christmas Day” arrived, the event proved to be a hit with residents.
“My family does Christmas in July, so I thought the residents would love it, and they did,” Diamond said. “It was a lot of fun and brought everyone together for a great time.”
At Lanark Heights, life enrichment team members also showcased their creativity with a rock ‘n’ roll party hosted at the Kitchener long-term care community earlier this year.
The idea was simple. Residents enjoy music and parties, so team members created a 1950s-themed event that sparked memories through music, fashion and food.
Held in February, the event brought together the life enrichment and food services departments. Residents were encouraged to dress up in sunglasses and other accessories from the era.
“We had live music, people dressing up in 1950s costumes and, with Gauri, our food services manager, we made our own diner-style french fries and served root beer,” said Karla Verdesoto, Lanark Heights’ life enrichment manager.
Another creative initiative saw Waterloo Heights bring farm life directly to residents when four chicks hatched at the Waterloo seniors living community.
In August, activity director Jacqui Metzloff ordered a kit that included fertilized chicken eggs, an incubator, a brooder, chicken feed and a cage to house the chicks once they hatched.
Residents were able to experience the entire process, from incubating the eggs to watching the chicks hatch and grow, while enjoying the companionship, laughter and even music the birds inspired.
After five weeks of incubation, the eggs hatched and four fluffy chicks were born. Once they were grown, the chicks were adopted by other farms.
“The chickens were noticeably bigger every day, and each one had their own personality,” Jacqui said. “They were very friendly and curious and did not mind being picked up or petted.”
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