“Going Back In And Seeing All Of My Former Residents Brings Me So Much Happiness” – Meet Amy McConnell

Since founding the company in 2014, Amy and the team have helped move more than 400 seniors to retirement homes.

Find out below what makes Amy tick—including why she loves working in the industry and helping seniors throughout Ottawa.

Amy, what is your current job title?

Owner, Tea & Toast Inc.

What did you do professionally before coming to Tea & Toast?

I did marketing for a number of retirement homes for almost 10 years.

Why do you enjoy working for Tea & Toast?

I love operating my own business because I’m not confined by one main way to help seniors find retirement living. Instead, I can use creative problem solving to find the best solutions for each individual person.

What’s a current trend you see in Canada regarding senior care and retirement?

There isn’t a lot of information out there, let alone clear information, about retirement living. Meanwhile, we’re also seeing a growing population of seniors with dementia and younger seniors requiring care, who have nowhere to go except retirement homes.

What’s the one thing you would tell children of ageing parents—even if their parents aren’t yet at the age where they might need a retirement residence?

Plan ahead: you never know when things will change, and they often change fast. Also, educate yourself as much as possible before choosing a retirement home.

What makes you really good at your job?

I LOVE what we do at Tea & Toast. It’s a great pleasure to work with so many families, and I also love working with all the retirement home marketers across town. It’s such a joy to walk back into the homes after helping someone move and have previous clients greet me. I also love working with the homes who I used to work for, going back in and seeing all my former residents brings me so much happiness.

Is there a short anecdote you’d like to share about your time with Tea & Toast?

I’ll always remember helping Ruby find a home. Her sister, whom she had been living with, had just passed away. Meanwhile, Ruby’s family was out of town. Ruby wanted to wait until spring to move into a new home. When I asked her why, she said “Moving is hard in the winter.” But I pointed out the many resources available to help her move—and finally, she said “Okay, we can start looking then.” She found her new home during our first tour! Now, when I tour that home, I get to visit Ruby. She is so happy there, it’s wonderful to see!

What do you do in your spare time?

I love to cook and shoot photos of my dishes, as well as of my family.

Is there a mantra or words of wisdom you like to live by?

Everything happens for a reason.

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