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 Cobourg.

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:

• Monthly Newsletter: We publish and distribute a monthly newsletter to keep residents and family members informed and included.
• Family Night: We host an annual family night to provide family members with valuable information, and provide them the opportunity to raise concerns, ask questions, provide feedback and give us input.
• Memorial Service: We hold a quarterly Memorial Service and invite family members to join us in celebrating their loved ones who have passed away.
• Multidisciplinary Team Meeting: Our multidisciplinary team meets with new residents and family members within the first week after admission.
• Christmas Time: We make sure all residents are made to feel special at Christmas time and make sure they have a gift on Christmas morning.
• Mother’s Day: We make a point of recognizing our women residents on Mother’s Day with a small gift or flowers.
• “All About Me” Form: Family members fill in our “All About Me” form which gives us background information about the resident so that we can learn about their loved one’s personal history and tailor activities around their interests.
• 24/7 Family Visiting Hours:There are no restrictions on family visiting hours so they can visit any time day or night.
• Welcome Blanket: New residents each receive a welcome blanket upon admission and their names are published in our monthly newsletter.
• Personalize Your Room: New residents are encouraged to bring personal items and family photos from home to make their room feel more familiar and comfortable.
• Residents Council: A member of our Residents Council greets each new resident.
• Family Participation: Family members are encouraged and welcomed to participate in activities with their loved one.
• Resident Care Plan: Family members, along with their loved one participate actively in all aspects of the development of the resident’s Care Plan.
• Open Door Policy: We have an open door policy so whenever a family member 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:

• Community Outings: We organize regular outings for residents and they can include everything from a fall leaves tour of the countryside and picnics at the waterfront to a guided tour of the municipal greenhouse and an outing to a museum..
• Christmas Lights Tour:Every Christmas, our residents are taken on a tour through the community to enjoy the bright festive lights.
• Community Service Opportunities: We also provide opportunities for local high school students to earn their 40 hour community service credit.
• Intergenerational Program: Our Intergenerational Program brings elementary and high school students from local schools into our home to spend time with residents.
• Student Placement Opportunities: We provide placement opportunities for students from the RN, RPN, PSW, Recreational and Culinary programs at Sir Sanford Fleming, Trent University and ASIMCO College.
• Nurse Practitioner Care: We work with the Nurse Practitioner at our local hospital to reduce the number of visits our residents need to the Emergency Room by first triaging and often treating the resident right here in our home. It’s safer for residents and reduces the ER workload.
• Community Committee Involvement: Senior management volunteers time and expertise to sit on local community committees on issues such as palliative care, ethics, alternative dementia therapies, elder health care and more.
• Local Charity Support: We often provide free meeting space and support for local charities such as the Alzheimer’s Society as well as to Behavioural Supports Ontario.
• Christmas Bazaar: Our Annual Christmas Bazaar features vendors who come in from the community, baked goods as well as crafts made by residents and it is very popular in the community.
• Summer Yard Sale: As well our annual Summer Yard Sale is open to the community and well supported with proceeds going to the Residents Council.
• Father’s Day Classic Car and Tractor Show: Our annual Father’s Day Classic Car and Tractor Show is always a big hit.