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 Hillcrest.

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:

• Meet Your Social Worker: Upon admission, our Social Workers ensures that family members and new residents always feel welcomed and included and never feel overwhelmed.
• Bi-monthly Newsletter: We produce a bi-monthly newsletter and distribute it to residents and family members to keep them informed about our home. All new residents are identified and welcomed in our newsletter.
• Family Advisory Committee: We tell family members about our Family Advisory Committee and encourage them to join as a way to get involved in our home.
• Christmas Day: We also host an annual formal Christmas Dinner for family members and residents.
• Family Accommodation: We have sleeper chairs in our home so that if a family member wants to stay the night with a loved one, they can do so comfortably.
• Volunteer Pastor: We also have a volunteer pastor who works with residents and family members in coordination with our staff Social worker to provide support and counseling, especially during the Palliative Care stage of life.
• Family Function Space: We have areas in our home that can be reserved in advance for private family functions.
• Seniors’ Fair: Once a year, we host an educational Seniors’ 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.
• Personalize Your Room: Residents are encouraged to bring some personal items from home to make their rooms feel more familiar and comfortable.
• Residents Society: We tell our new residents about Residents Society and encourage them to join and participate if they are so inclined. The President of the Residents Society greets new residents and welcomes them to the home.
• Resident Involvement: Staff focuses 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. We also host regular Memorial services and invite family members to join us as we remember residents who have passed away.
• Individualized 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 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:

• Resident Outings: We have outings for residents, weather permitting, and they can include everything from trips to the zoo, the Calgary Stampede and a day at city parks, fun at the casino, shopping and going to the Farmer’s Market.
• Christmas Lights Tour: We take residents on an annual tour of the city to see the Christmas lights.
• Student Placement Opportunities: We provide placement opportunities for students in the Occupational Therapy, Recreational Therapy, Dietician and Health Care Aide programs at local universities and colleges.
• Intergenerational Program: We have an Intergenerational Program that brings elementary school students and daycare children into our home to spend time with our residents.
• Alzheimer’s Society: We partner with the Alzheimer’s in the community to raise awareness on a variety of issues and actively support their fundraising efforts.
• City Food Drive and Adopt-A-Family: We participate in the annual City Food Drive and Adopt-A-Family programs
• 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.
• Annual Christmas Bazaar and Bake Sale: Our Annual Christmas Bazaar and Bake Sale is very popular and open to the general public. Each year, we enjoy a strong turnout and funds raised go to our Residents Society.
• Community Garage Sale: We also host an annual Community Garage Sale when the community comes together for a good time and all funds raised go to our Residents Society