“Everyone here has been so good to me,” says Michael, a resident at Extendicare Limestone Ridge who has lived at the home since January 2025.
Initially, Michael says he was unsure about the transition to long-term care, but he quickly found comfort and support from the team at Limestone Ridge – especially Amanda, a nurse who provides his regular care.
“She taught me how to find my way back in a way that was just remarkable,” Michael shares. “When I first moved to Limestone Ridge, I was trying to come out of my shell and become more mobile – and Amanda helped me immensely. She is very kind, understanding, and intuitive. It quickly became clear to me how much she wanted to help me, and all the other residents, be the best version of ourselves.”
Amanda works with Michael often and describes him as “inspiring, independent, and giving,” highlighting his strength and resilience throughout his care.
Michael’s transformation in long-term care
Two years before moving into Limestone Ridge, Michael experienced a stroke.
“I wasn’t in very good shape when I got here,” he says. “I lived alone after the stroke, and it was difficult to move in during recovery.”
When Michael arrived at Limestone Ridge, he relied on a four-wheel walker to move around and was experiencing symptoms of vascular dementia including confusion, difficulty recalling names, and short-term memory loss.
Today, Michael rarely uses a cane to walk around the home, and his memory and cognitive abilities have improved significantly. He’s become more talkative and engaged, especially when chatting with Amanda about the latest plot of Coronation Street.
How has this transformation happened? Amanda credits interdisciplinary care.
The power of interdisciplinary care
Interdisciplinary care brings together health professionals with diverse expertise to create a comprehensive, resident-centred plan to address each residents’ individual needs.
With regular physical activity and consistent encouragement and motivation from the care team at Limestone Ridge, including Nurses, Personal Support Workers, Physiotherapists, Recreational Therapists and other team members, Michael is more active and steadier on his feet than before.
To strengthen his cognitive abilities, Nurses, Personal Support Workers, and other team members regularly engaged Michael in conversation, asking questions that encouraged short-term memory recall, such as how his day was going or how about a recent visit with family members.
Michael’s stepdaughter also plays an important role as a collaborative partner in interdisciplinary care. Her frequent visits provide social connection and emotional support, reinforcing the teamwork behind his recovery.
All these efforts, coupled with Michael’s dedication, hard work and tenacity, have all contributed to his remarkable recovery.
Michael’s active involvement at Extendicare Limestone Ridge
Recently, Michael expressed a desire to contribute more to the home community. The program and recreation teams are currently brainstorming ways to make this happen and are considering having Michael help set up activities and deliver mail and nursing equipment to different units (a meaningful nod to his former career as a medical equipment coordinator at Kingston General Hospital).
“Seeing Michael’s recovery has been inspiring,” shares Amanda. “It is extremely rewarding and reinforces to me how gratifying a career in seniors care can be.”
As Michael approaches one year living at Limestone Ridge, he smiles and says, “I’m happy to be here. This is home.”