More than one in five people in transitional care in hospitals in the Northern Zone of the Nova Scotia Health Authority die before they get a chance to go to a nursing home.
LIVERPOOL – The Queens Manor in Liverpool welcomed a new director of finance March 5, and the manor plans to also welcome a new director of recreation April 16.
Kelly Tufts was actually looking for a place to volunteer when she came across the job posting for director of finance.
“I was really excited to be part of something that’s meaningful in the community, but also is in my wheelhouse,” said Tufts.
In addition to an extensive background in finance, Tufts says she has a “bubbly personality” she wants to bring into the workplace.
“Accounting with personality,” she said with a laugh.
Not only does Tufts have the responsibility of checking things over, she also has the role of working as a team with the other directors.
“We’ve all go to work together, and we’re here for the same reason. It doesn’t matter if you’re in finance or the kitchen,” she said.
The staff at Queens Manor is there for the residents, she said.
Tufts calls Queens County home, but she’s only been back in the area since October. She moved to Ontario with her family in 1996.
“My kids are grown, and I always wanted to come home,” said Tufts about her move back.
When Tufts was offered the job, she says she was excited.
“But what really touched me was how compassionate Sandi (Humphrey) was about the position – how much she loves this place.”
Director of recreation
For Jill Cole, becoming director of recreation is a career dream coming true.
Initially, Cole says she thought about becoming an optometrist, and then she went into psychology. But when she returned to work at the manor for a second summer, she realized it was her passion.
“Tara (Smith) is such an amazing mentor, and it went so well with my personality,” she said. “It was just such a great fit that I fell into it.”
Cole applied to work at the manor on a whim during the summer before going to Dalhousie University for her post-secondary studies. And then she kept coming back. In total, she worked at the manor for five summers. After that, she took a position to fill a maternity leave position and finally took a permanent position. She’s been at Queens Manor ever since.
“I hope to maintain the current reputation of the recreation department – put my own little spin on it in certain ways,” said Cole. “The recreation department is the core of making this place a home rather than a facility, and I want to keep that going.”
As a recreation programmer, Cole had the job of facilitating the programs that retiring director of recreation Tara Smith designed. She also did assessments and one-to-one interventions with residents that don’t attend regular programs.
Growing up, Cole says she was close with her grandparents and says she has always been good at connecting with seniors.
“I’ve always wanted to be able to help people but do it in a fun way,” she added about what brought her into the recreation field.
Cole grew up in Charleston and went to school in Liverpool.
