Brianna Armsworthy

We would like to thank The Casket for covering our 60th Anniversary Celebration held on Wednesday, October 3rd, 2018.

Resident Lynn Mersereau visits with Michelle Thompson, R. K. MacDonald Nursing Home CEO, Wednesday afternoon (Oct. 3) during an open house celebrating the 60th anniversary of the facility. Corey LeBlanc The Casket

“Let the trumpet sound – rejoice and be glad – for the spirit of celebration resounds, once again, in this special place, as we proclaim the 60th anniversary of the R.K. MacDonald Nursing Home.”

“That’s how Sister Brendalee Boisvert, Sisters of Saint Martha congregation leader, began her remarks during an open house celebration at the Antigonish residence Wednesday afternoon (Oct. 3).”

To read all of this story from The Casket, click here.

In a recent issue of Voice For Care Magazine, there was a lovely article done on the Storytelling Program:

“Most Wednesdays since earlyspring, you will find a dedicated group of Residents and support people gathered in the Rhubarb Patch, engaged in a lively afternoon of story writing, laughter and comradery. The storytelling program is a collaboration with R.K. MacDonald Nursing Home and Arts Health Antigonish (AHA!). “

You can read the full magazine click here.

We are very pleased to reproduce the below excerpt of an article by Sam Macdonald of The Casket published on August 14th.

‘A little sanctuary’: Antigonish Community Comes Together to Create Buddy Bench at RK MacDonald Nursing Home

Kim Cameron-MacDonald (upper left), Francis Grenier, Emma MacDonald, Mary Grace, Mary Partridge, Diane Delorey (bottom left), Donna MacLean, Mary Margaret Grace and Sadie Boyd – all enjoying the fine weather with the Buddy Bench – the newest addition to the garden area of the RK MacDonald Nursing Home. – Sam Macdonald

A new, colourful addition adorns the garden area of the RK MacDonald nursing home.

The bench is hard to miss. The bright yellow bench is decorated in the rainbow-coloured handprints of several generations of people and is the product of a partnership between members of Antigonight: Art After Dark Festival, staff and residents of RK MacDonald and youth from the local Montessori School.

“It took a lot of priming and painting to get that beautiful yellow that is there now,” Emma MacDonald, festival director for Antigonight, said, describing how the handprints belong to several generations of Antigonishers.

“We also wanted to use a lot of bright, primary colours for the handprints. We wanted to incorporate an inter-generational piece to this community art project.”

You can read the rest of  the article on The Casket’s website here.

The Arts Health Antigonish Arts Canopy project was recently recognized with an artwork unveiling.

A well-attended art unveiling at R.K. MacDonald Nursing Home, Sept. 26, served as an appropriate time to recognize the good work done, as well as continuing efforts of, Arts Health Antigonish’s (AHA) Arts Canopy Project.

“Arts Canopy Project is an Arts Health Antigonish initiative which has helped to bring a number of arts-based projects to people; seniors and other folks, who are living in the community,” program co-ordinator Mary Partridge told the audience gathered for the unveiling, in the front foray of the nursing home on Pleasant Street.

Our celebration of a very special man was recently featured in the The Casket.

   On Jan. 16, Charlie Worth was the guest of honour as he and some family members joined staff and residents of the home for plenty of reminisces and, of course, a lot of laughs.

You can read the full article here on the The Casket’s website.

Reflections of our Residents were recently featured in the The Casket.

    For Mary E. Walsh, memories of a young teacher putting on a Christmas concert in a one-room schoolhouse came flooding back.

You can read the full article here on the The Casket’s website.

A Country Christmas at the RK MacDonald Nursing Home was recently featured in the The Casket.

  “I was kind of bored one day and I decided ‘well, I have got to do something,’” the Margaree Valley, Cape Breton native, said, when asked where he came up with the idea for the holiday celebration.

You can read the full article here on the The Casket’s website.

A donation to the RK MacDonald Nursing Home was recently featured in the The Casket.

“It’s very heartwarming to see their contribution,” she said. “We all have a connection to dementia and it’s great to see groups, like the S&B ladies, using their talents to contribute in such a meaningful way.”

You can read the full article here on the The Casket’s website.

The RK MacDonald Nursing Home’s Remembrance Day Ceremony  was recently featured in the The Casket.

The celebration, which took place Nov. 8 in the R.K. Chapel, included residents, family members and staff, along with Royal Canadian Legion Arras Branch 59 members and veterans.

You can read the full article here on the The Casket’s website.

Join us to celebrate Christmas this year by helping the R.K. MacDonald Nursing Home to light up our tree with a bulb dedicated to love. As in previous years, our ‘Lights of Love’ Christmas tree will be lit to honour people in whose name donations were made. These people do not have to be residents of the R.K.

Your donation will be used to fund A Dementia-Friendly Healing & Sensory Garden. 

You can dedicate a bulb in memory of a deceased loved one or to honour someone presently in your life. There is no limit to the number of bulbs you can purchase. In addition to a tax receipt for your donation, you can receive a card which you may send to anyone you have honoured.

The tree will be lit and dedications read at 7.00 p.m. on Sunday, December 4^th, 2016, in the R.K. Chapel.  Following prayers, dedications and carols, refreshments will be served in the R.K. Dining Room.  All dedications will be entered in a ‘Lights of Love Memorial Book’ which will be on display in the R.K. Chapel for the next year.

If you would like to donate to the Lights of Love Campaign, you can download this years’ form here.