News Taking care of family Three generations of Janjics have operated Clarion Nursing Home June 11, 2007, Special to The Hamilton Spectator By Suzie Chiodo At a glance Who: Clarion Nursing Home, owned by siblings Keli Mehlenbacher, Mike, Mark and Kim Janjic, and their father, Nik Where: 337 Highway 8, Stoney Creek When: Since 1960 What: A third-generation, family-owned and operated long-term care facility Employees: 126 When the owners of Clarion Nursing Home say theirs is a family business, they're not just talking about themselves. Mike, Mark and Kim Janjic and Keli Mehlenbacher took over day-to-day operations 17 years ago from their father, Nik, who had been running the business since the death of his father in 1966. All three generations counted Clarion's staff and residents as part of their extended family. "Because we're a family and not a big chain, there's a completely different feel here," says Kim. "You know who you're dealing with." "We have residents here whose parents were residents," says Keli who, like her siblings, grew up working at Clarion. "Some of our residents used to be staff members or volunteers, and their parents worked here, too." This close-knit atmosphere explains why staff turnover is so low, with an average length of service of 13 years. Their cultural background is as varied as that of the residents. Together, employees speak more than 14 languages, including Italian, Serbian, Polish and Arabic. It's a fitting testament to the Janjics' roots. Their grandfather came from Serbia (then Yugoslavia) and their father was a star athlete there until he defected to Canada while his soccer team was on tour in 1956. When Nik Janjic took over the business in downtown Hamilton (it moved to Stoney Creek in 1983), he hired internationally trained staff and encouraged them to go back to school to get their Canadian qualifications. "He loved accommodating people who were in the same circumstances he was in," says Kim. "Lots of those people are still working here." Today they enrich the life of Clarion Nursing Home with parties and events celebrating their cultures. There's a Serbian Day, featuring the country's music, dance, costumes and food, plus regular Italian cooking sessions where residents enjoy pizza and biscotti. The lively social schedule, combined with an excellent reputation for high standards of care, means 150 people are on Clarion's waiting list (the home has 100 residents). "People are put at ease here -- they're part of a community," says Mike. "You can sense families' relief when they see that. They know their loved ones are being looked after." Biggest challenge: Mike: "We're bound by lots of regulations and there's an increasing burden of documentation and paperwork." Biggest surprise: Kim: "There have been no huge surprises because we've been around so long. There might be a few new products or ideas, but nothing really earth-shattering." Best decision: Kim: "Opening Lakeview Retirement Centre, our other business, in 1995." Mike: "We can accommodate one spouse in the nursing home, with the more independent spouse next door at Lakeview. That happens quite a bit." Worst decision: Mike: "We haven't really had any. Except for rules and regulations, looking after people doesn't really change." Learn the most: Mike: "We're a member of the Ontario Long-term Care Association and we go to training seminars, conventions and retreats." Keli: "Community partners like the Alzheimer Society give our staff in-house training." Best advice given: Mark: "We inherited our work ethic from our dad -- he's 75 and still works very hard." Best advice to give: Mike: "It's all about attitude. Whatever you do, do it the best way you can." Secret to success: Keli: "We're family, and that includes our staff. Everyone has their own area of expertise but we're all on the same page." On a personal note... We are a 3rd generation family-run home. Our Nursing Home was started by our grandfather in downtown Hamilton in 1960. It was moved to our present location and expanded by our father in 1983. Now four members of the Janjic family are involved in the day-to-day operation of the Clarion Nursing Home and the adjoined Lakeview Retirement Centre, opened in 1995.

Lakeview Advocates for Senior Citizens' Rights! September 2006 Lakeview Retirement Centre was successful in their ongoing constitutional battle with the City of Hamilton. Inspectors from the City are no longer entitled to view and copy personal and medical information of the residents of Lakeview for the purpose of issuing a license.

2004 Geriatric Recognition Awards May 6, 2004 St. Peter's and the Regional Geriatric Program Central held an evening at the Scottish Rite on May 5th, honouring outstanding service in the field of Geriatrics. It is with great pride that Lakeview Retirement Centre in Stoney Creek accepted the Margaret and Charles Juravinski Award for Outstanding Organization Acheivement. St. Peter’s Centre for Studies in Aging and the Regional Geriatric Program Central is pleased to announce that the first ever Geriatric Service Recognition Awards were a huge success! With more than two hundred people in attendance this inaugural event honoured those who have demonstrated outstanding service in the field of geriatrics.