Chaggares looking forward to the “unknown” of retirement
Thursday, December 22, 2005 -- Craig Anderson
Pauline Chaggares, departing DOC/administrator of Springdale, is bidding farewell today to a forty year career as a nurse, director of care and long term care administrator, but not without a touch of trepidation.

“On one hand it’s very scary,” says Pauline, “I’m going into the unknown, and after five years [at Springdale] it’s going to be hard to let go. We’ve certainly grown together. But it’s time for me to go down a different path.”

Pauline and husband Ron recently purchased a house in Punta Gorda, in southwest Florida. The home, situated on Peace River between the twin towns of Punta Gorda and Port Charlotte, gives the couple canal access to the ocean and an idyllic country environment. They plan to spend the next six months “working on our dream home,” says Pauline.

“It’s exciting,” says Pauline, of the pending move south. “I think I’ll probably enjoy golfing, playing cards and puttering around the new home.”

But Pauline expects that, after forty years, the call to return to work will be strong after the initial ‘honeymoon’ phase of retirement. If the call becomes hard to ignore, Pauline adds, she’ll return to long term care classification work, a job she has done previously on a part-time basis.

Visits to family and friends in BC and Alberta and a sojourn to Greece to visit her father and other relatives might serve to dampen any desire to return to work, adds Pauline. Rob, her husband, who is already retired, will also likely discourage it.

“He’s been patiently waiting for me to retire,” says Pauline, laughing.

Pauline became Springdale’s dual administrator/director of care after in 2001 after serving as director of care for two years. Pauline’s omniscient approach was offset by her “people personality,” says Ann Dillon, life enrichment coordinator.

“She ran a tight ship,” says Ann, who has been at Springdale since 1991. “She made people accountable and knew everything that was going on. But she also knew all the residents and family members and was very approachable. Any tour that went through the home ended at her office because she would always invite the prospective resident’s family in for a chat. She gave the position a personal touch. I am going to miss her – it’s been a great journey.”

Pauline remembers additions made to Springdale in 2003 as her “pinnacle achievement.”

“I am very proud of the achievements we have made at Springdale. We have an awesome staff and wonderful management team.

Pauline is particularly proud of the low staff to resident ratio (eight to one), hygiene care, the home’s ‘no lift’ policy, and the reduction in wounds seen through “Healthy Living, Healthy Skin.”

“Working here has been inspiring, exciting. OMNI is so advanced in the field, particularly with their educational opportunities,” says Pauline. “The support is inspiring, and the commitment from home office – from Fraser [Wilson] onwards – pushes us to try harder. It’s phenomenal.”

Another lasting memory for Pauline is the transformation of long term care into a less institutional and mechanistic field, a change enshrining dignity for residents.

“Long term care is not what it used to be. Springdale is warm, friendly, and cozy, it’s not a place to die. I look at it as – this is the resident’s last home on earth, and we can make a difference.”