The Wexford seniors’ community, the newest in the Bria Communities family, recently had their first anniversary. We opened our doors to the first two residents a year ago in March 2016 and grew to a community of over 40 seniors—a larger community and a closer family of staff and seniors—in the present day. The residents are happy that they chose to live here and we are happy they let us work in “their homes” every day.
Our First Milestones
The feeling you get when you walk into our building is warm and welcoming and yet unique to The Wexford. The residents shared some special moments with us, including two very notable ones.
We are the first Bria community to do open seating at meal time meaning residents have more flexibility with meals being served any time between 11:30am to 1:00pm and 4:30pm to 6:00pm. We are also the first community to introduce the Bria courtesy van that takes residents into town for appointments, errands and shopping in the local Tsawwassen and Ladner area.
Both initiatives were very well received. Residents comment on how pleasant it is to visit other residents who live here and come and go as desired with open seating times and unassigned tables. They also say the van is convenient for those who no longer maintain a car or rely on their children for transportation, and want to remain independent.
Of course there are many first celebrations:
- Our first Mother’s Day tea in May invited all the ladies from The Wexford and The Waterford and their daughters (and the honorary Wexford men) for high tea. There were tiers of savouries and sweets, and fine china tea cups. Together, we served over 100 people from our two communities that day.
- In the summer, we enjoyed our first BBQ paired with a fantastic Polynesian show. All families from the Northgate townhomes joined us in the Northgate courtyard to dance and enjoy music pouring out from the dining room to their patios.
- Christmas is always a special time for families. In early December, we invited adult children to the community for a holiday dinner like you would have at your own home so they can spend time with their elderly parents. We also organized a breakfast and photoshoot with Santa visiting the residents, their great grandkids, and families from the Northgate.
- To start the New Year, we watched the ball drop and had champagne together in our best attire. Our Red Seal chefs served a 5-star meal and a band played all of their favourite songs.
Building a Lifestyle Together
Bria Communities is proud of our resident-driven activities. The Wexford is no different with Recreational Coordinator Diane James guiding the residents and creating a lifestyle that took shape over the past year. She creates a vibrant and dynamic activity calendar that takes into account the suggestions, interests and passions of our residents. Activities can vary between morning exercise classes to afternoons at the opera. Sometimes, it means trying an ukulele class for those who want to tap into their musical talents.
The residents that live here are mostly locals who love being in South Delta and want to stay in a community where they have established their life and their story; it is the community where they have raised their families, and continue to live. Many of our residents are couples who want to enjoy the Bria Communities lifestyle together.
We’re also very welcoming too! Our residents love inviting their friends and family members to the community for a weekly bridge game or sit down for entertainment we scheduled on weeknights.
Today, The Wexford is filled with residents who want to live their best lives. Sometimes this means fewer worries about meals and housekeeping so they can try a new hobby like painting or yoga. The braver residents, for instance, enjoy sharing. One resident put on a slideshow of their trip to Antarctica to show friends in the Lounge!
It is hard to believe it has been a year. The time has gone by so quickly – I am happy to say that staff are fully engaged one year into their roles and residents are happy that they made the move to The Wexford. We look forward to many more years of celebrations and milestones together, and to filling the last few suites soon to further expand our family here.
Care to join the family at The Wexford?
Sincerely,
Rosanne Philbrook, Wexford Manager
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