At Optima Living, we’re working towards being the best place to work. Part of that goal means making sure we’re supporting the well-being of the team members who make our seniors living communities feel like home.
Earlier this month, we launched the very first episode of THRIVE, Optima Living’s made-in-Optima podcast to share the mental health resources and strategies available to our team members to support their wellbeing at work, and beyond.
Each episode will feature expert speakers and industry professionals sharing tools, resources, and insights that team members can apply in their daily lives.
Led by Simran Sandhu, Manager, HR Partnerships and Programs at Optima Living, alongside three co-op students (Tracy Than, Elizabeth Porier, and Ranya Bimbrahw), the idea of the podcast grew from feedback our team members shared through our annual employee survey feedback, indicating they want more support around the mental health, resilience, and burnout challenges that often face team members in caregiving industries.
Recognizing that many frontline team members have limited time for traditional forms of training, Simran envisioned a podcast format to serve as an easily accessible resource that could be listened to wherever and whenever it fits someone’s schedule.
The first episode, “Your Support Network: EFAP Explained,” has recently been released on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. The episode features guest speaker Gordon Penner from Hub International, discussing the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) and how it can support many of our team members and their families. The episode explores confidential counselling, mental health resources, financial and legal support, family services, and other supports available through employer-paid EFAP benefits.
“At Optima Living, we know that caring for others starts with caring for ourselves. THRIVE was created to bring meaningful conversations, practical strategies, and expert insights to our team members on topics that matter,” explains Simran. “From managing stress and finances to navigating grief, nutrition, relationships, and the everyday challenges of caregiving. Whether at work or at home, our goal is to provide tools that help people not just cope but thrive.”
At Optima Living, we know that supporting our team members is essential to building strong communities. THRIVE is one way we aim to provide practical resources, meaningful conversations, and expert guidance that help our team members thrive both personally and professionally.
Watch or listen to our first THRIVE episode on Spotify, Apple Podcast, or Optima Living’s YouTube channel and keep an eye out for future episodes.