Our Difference

We understand the decision to transition to long-term care is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. We want to ensure your decision is a positive one. Below are some of our home’s points of difference:

The calendar is always full. You can be as active as you like.

For some people, the key to living better is filling every day with meaningful activities that bring people together, build bonds and create shared experiences.

Whether it’s tapping the power of music to engage a resident with dementia, attending worship services, participating in exercise classes, or reminiscing with a friendly volunteer, there’s always something going on at Extendicare Cedars Villa.

Here, residents lead active and engaged lives.

This is home. Your home.

We want you to feel at home. We’ll support you in becoming an active and engaged member of your new community and enjoy life to the best of your ability.

We have a welcoming and inclusive environment.

Not only do we work very hard to integrate residents into our community and feel at home, we’re also committed to making families feel at home here too. The following are some of the measures we take to help our residents settle in and also help family members feel comfortable and get involved:

• Welcome Home: Upon arrival, our Social worker acts as a Guardian Angel, ensuring that the new resident and family members always feel welcomed and included and never feel overwhelmed.
• Family Advisory Group: We tell family members about our Family Advisory Group and invite them to join.
• Welcome Tea: We host a welcome tea once a month so that family members and new residents can meet other family members, staff and managers in a relaxed and informal setting.
• Personalize Your Room: Residents are encouraged to bring some personal items and furnishings from home to make their rooms feel more familiar and comfortable.
• Resident Care Plan: Family members, along with their loved one, participate actively in all aspects of the development of the resident’s Care Plan.
• Pet Friendly: We are very pet friendly and always encourage family members to bring family pets for visits.
• Education Fair: Once a year, we host an Education Fair for residents and family members where they can get valuable information on topics ranging from Power of Attorney and Public Guardianships to Alzheimer’s and infection control.
• Resident Council: We tell our new residents about Residents Council and encourage them to join and participate if they are so inclined.
• Resident Involvement: Staff members focus on including new residents in programs as soon as possible and introducing them to other residents.
• Family Participation: Family members are encouraged and welcomed to participate in activities with their loved one.
• Memorial Services: When a resident passes away we will hold a memorial service in lieu of church services or large funeral if requested by the family.
• Open Door Policy: We have an Open Door policy so that if a family member or resident wants to talk, we’re here to listen.

We connect you to the community.

Maintaining strong connections to others is essential to keeping people active and involved.

Getting you out into the community and bringing the community into our home is important to your quality of life. Here are some of the ways in which the residents and staff get involved with the community, and how the community connects with us:

• Weekly Outings: We have weekly outings for residents. These outings can include everything from trips to the zoo, the Calgary Stampede and a day at Princess Island to picnics in the park, an afternoon at the Legion and an annual Christmas lights tour.
• Student Placement Opportunities: We provide placement opportunities for students in the Occupational Therapy, Recreation Therapy, Dietician, Social Work and Health Care Aide programs at University of Calgary, and Bow Valley College.
• Intergenerational Program: We have an Intergenerational Program that brings daycare children into our home from the local school to spend time with our residents.
• Community Awareness: We partner with the Alzheimer’s Society and United Way in the community to raise awareness on a variety of issues and actively support their fundraising efforts.
• Tuck Shop: Our Tuck Shop is run by the Association for the Rehabilitation of the Brian Injured (ARBI) and staffed by individuals living with and recovering from acquired brain injuries including strokes.
• Christmas Bake Sale: Our Annual Christmas Bake Sale is open to the general public and a popular event. Each year, we enjoy a very strong turnout.
• Community Garage Sales: We also host two annual Community Garage Sales, one in spring and one in fall. They are a great way for the community to come together for a good time.