Welcome to the Our Team series where we highlight the people who make important contributions to Albany Retirement Village. This week we interviewed Owner/Operator Helen Cepek-Simpson.
Helen Cepek-Simpson, Owner/Operator
- What is Albany Retirement Village?
Albany Retirement Village is a place where people come together to make a home. Residents live in a safe, inclusive, and caring atmosphere where meals are provided, there is supervision of medication, and there are social activities in a clean environment. One of the most important aspects of the retirement home is community living. Residents have the opportunity to engage with our team, each other, family and friends, and community members, in downtown Petrolia.
- What have you seen retirement living do for people?
I have seen residents transformed by proper nutrition, exercise, assistance with activities of daily living, and socialization, allowing them to reach their fullest potential.
- What makes you most proud to be the Owner/Operator at Albany Retirement Village?
I’m most proud that as an organization, we are able to enhance the quality of people’s lives. Seniors in our community have worked so hard over the years and it is fulfilling to be able to provide them with the support they need to thrive in their later years. It is also wonderful to see our team of dedicated staff working together with community health providers and community members to achieve a common goal. I’m also happy to see that our three children and my sisters are involved with our family business.
- How did you first get into the retirement home business?
I grew up with my mom having a retirement home on Garfield Avenue. With the assistance of my mother and her knowledge, over time, my husband and I were able to grow the business. My mother taught me to be compassionate and caring in all of my work.
- What changes have you seen in the sector over the years?
Over my 35 year career, I’ve seen changes mostly concerning regulation. From an operational perspective, it hasn’t affected resident care much because we’ve always provided a high standard of care. There are more standards around documentation that we’ve complied with. I’ve also seen changes around government subsidized programs. Currently there is resident care assistance through CCAC. Health care policy changes affect us greatly.
- What makes you hopeful about the retirement home sector?
I’m hopeful that there will be more funding for mental health initiatives and for low-income people who require care.
- What’s next for Albany Retirement Village?
We have been involved in the community Health Hub discussions. We believe that we have a wealth of experience and a fantastic location to develop more services for our local seniors and we look forward to doing that in the coming years.