The Director of Long-Term Care for the County of Renfrew has retired.
After spending 25-years with the county and occupying five different job titles, Shelley Sheedy is looking forward to spending more time with family and friends.
Her last day was Wednesday, June 30th, 2021.
Sheedy says she started as a resident care coordinator at Miramichi Lodge in 1996 and was quickly promoted to the administrator of the home. For a short period, Sheedy worked as the director of care at Miramichi Lodge before the County of Renfrew did some restructuring and created the position of Director of Long-Term Care. In addition to overseeing operations at both Bonnechere Manor in Renfrew and Miramichi Lodge in Pembroke, Sheedy also served as the acting Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) for the County of Renfrew during the major flooding of 2019 and the COVID-19 pandemic.
The outgoing director of long-term care says a lot has changed in the 25-years she’s worked with the County of Renfrew.
Sheedy says some of the accomplishments she’s most proud of include helping redevelop Miramichi Lodge from the previous facility on Bell Street to the beautiful location where they are now. Sheedy talked about moving 156 residents on a cold January day to the new long-term care home.
While working as Director of Long-Term Care, Sheedy helped have Bonnechere Manor and Miramichi Lodge receive the highest awards from Accreditation Canada at exemplary status. Sheedy says front-line staff and management deserve those accolades with the excellent care they provide.
More recently, Sheedy was involved with launching the Butterfly model of care. She adds the County of Renfrew has engaged an architect to design the butterfly units and determine how to make them into smaller households.
Taking over the position of Director of Long-Term Care for the County of Renfrew is Michael Blackmore, the administrator at Miramichi Lodge in Pembroke. With Blackmore working alongside Kim Saunders, the administrator at Bonnechere Manor in Renfrew, Sheedy says she looks forward to cheering on long-term care in Renfrew County from the sidelines.
Sheedy wanted to thank all the residents and their families that she had the honour to serve over the last 25-years. She also took the time to recognize the incredible groups of volunteers, elected officials, community partners, local hospitals, the health unit and the senior management team with the County of Renfrew.
In her retirement, Sheedy says she looks forward to spending more time with family, friends and being able to travel again once restrictions are lifted.
Sheedy also plans to volunteer in the community and will teach the Bachelor of Science and Nursing program to help guide the next generation of nurses and leaders.
The County of Renfrew put together a video to recognize the work and congratulate Sheedy on her retirement. The video was presented to the County of Renfrew council meeting at the end of last month, with the Warden, CAO, mayors, deputy mayors and reeves from across the Ottawa Valley thanking Sheedy for her commitment to residents and providing quality care over the last two and a half decades.
First ID badge given to Shelley Sheedy from the County of Renfrew. Photo credit: County of Renfrew council meeting, June 30th, 2021.
https://www.facebook.com/1049myfm/videos/366975465135346/
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Miramichi Lodge and Bonnechere Manor launch Butterfly Approach to long term care