How Team Members Are Embracing Progress Through Med Admin and Flex Scheduling
At The Village of Erin Meadows, two long-serving team members – Sima Atcha, a PSW who recently stepped into the Med Admin role, and Jennilyn Binoloc, who moved into a full-time, 12-hour Flex Schedule – are examples of how new opportunities can strengthen both personal fulfillment and team stability.
Their stories highlight the promise of two important initiatives that have been unfolding through 2025 across Schlegel Villages: career progression for PSWs into roles with greater responsibility, and the innovative Flex Schedule trial that is already transforming work-life balance and resident continuity of care.
With the Research Institute for Aging studying the impact of the Flex Schedule – which essentially blends 8- and 12-hour shifts giving team members more full-time opportunities, more days off to rest and recharge, while creating greater consistency in the neighbourhoods – this work is expected to guide organizations across the long-term care sector in Ontario.
New Opportunities for PSWs in Medication Administration
After more than two decades as a PSW, becoming a Med Admin was a big change for Sima, especially because she’d spent years in the same neighbourhood, surrounded by teammates who felt like family.
“It was hard because our dynamics were so good,” she says, “but there were new opportunities, and I decided I had to try.”
The decision wasn’t simple, but Sima, who has always approached caregiving with determination, compassion, and a willingness to learn, was motivated to take advantage of the new opportunity.
“I’m one of those people who will take a chance,” she says. “Never say never. If you put your mind to it, you can do it.”
She passed her Med Admin training, proved herself quickly, and discovered a rewarding new rhythm of work. The support she provides residents as a PSW remains the main focus of her days, and she’s there for all aspects of care as she always has been, but now as she also hones in on medication needs, she finds she sees residents from a fresh lens.
“You build a different relationship,” she explains. “You know their routines, and you can see right away when someone is having a bad day. It’s a different connection.”
The change also came with leadership transitions and new team dynamics, which Sima embraced, and after two months, she feels entirely settled into her new role. After everything she has learned, her message to other PSWs in other Villages looking to implement the new role is simple and strong: “Don’t underestimate yourself. If you want to change, you can.”
Finding Balance and Stability Through Flex Scheduling
For Jennilyn, who joined Erin Meadows in 2018, becoming a PSW was a natural progression from a lifetime of caring for others – her grandparents in the Philippines, and seniors here in Canada.
“I love working with the elderly,” she says. “It’s always been my passion.”
For years, she worked casually, often privately, but craved the energy and teamwork she found in the Village environment. When the Flex Schedule pilot launched, she saw a chance to move into something steadier and more supportive of her life at home.
She signed on for a full-time, 12-hour shift and she loves it.
“I like it because I have two days off in a row, and then three days off on my other weekend,” she explains. “More time to relax, more time to fix things at home. It’s a good work-life balance.”
The transition wasn’t without its challenges; 12-hour days are long, especially at first. But with the added breaks and the support of her neighbourhood, she adjusted quickly. And for residents, she sees a clear benefit.
“With the longer shifts, there’s more consistency,” she says. “You’re here through the shift changes, so not everyone is coming and going. It’s easier for the residents.”
Moving from casual to full-time has also brought stability she deeply appreciates: “This is better,” she says with a smile. “More stable.”
At Erin Meadows and in communities across Schlegel Villages, the Med Admin role is opening doors for PSWs who want to grow, and the Flex Schedule is creating stability for team members while enhancing continuity for residents.
Schlegel Villages is one of the first in the sector to explore flexible scheduling at this scale, and with the Research Institute for Aging studying its outcomes, the learning here will shape a roadmap for others across the province and beyond.
These are early steps, but already the impact is clear: opportunity, confidence, stability, and a better experience for residents and team members alike.
And as Sima says, it begins with one belief: “If you want to change, you can do it.”
Note: As Schlegel Villages opens new Villages over the course of the coming years, beginning with Ridgeview Court in Milton and Millers Creek in Ajax in the spring of 2026, Flex Scheduling, Dedicated Support and PSW Med Admin will be integrated in Village Life from Day 1.
