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 London.

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:

• Family Introduction: All Department Heads meet with all new family members on the first day.
• Welcome Package: New residents receive a Welcome Package on their first day, which includes a copy of our Resident Bill of Rights, letters from Family Council and Resident Council and a cozy crocheted blanket.
• Welcome Tea: We host a Welcome Tea every other month for new residents to meet and greet other residents.
• Family Council: Every quarter, our Family Council hosts a welcome meeting for new family members and encourages them to attend to meet other family members and get involved with the Council.
• Monthly Newsletter:We send out a monthly newsletter to family members (and/or Power of Attorney) to keep them informed.
• Family BBQ: We host a special summer family/resident barbecue in June and a family/resident Christmas Party as ways for family members, residents, staff and managers to stay in touch and get to know each other better.
• Family Involvement: 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, and our Social Worker is always available to talk privately about coping with the stress and emotions of care giving.
• Memorial Services: Every spring and fall, we hold a memorial service in honour of residents who have passed away. Family members are invited to join us and many have been coming back for years to remember their loved ones.

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 organize a minimum of 3 outings every month for residents and they can include everything from shopping excursions, movies, men’s outings to the Jet Aircraft Museum and summer picnics in the park, to tours of the Donnelly Museum, trips to the Labatt’s brewery, a run to Tim’s for coffee and going to the British Quilter’s Festival.
• Fall Colours Tour:In the fall, we organize a tour out into the countryside to enjoy the breathtaking colours of autumn.
• Christmas Lights Tour:Every Christmas, our residents are taken on a tour of the city to enjoy the bright festive lights.
• Western Fair:Every fall, our residents like to take in the sights and sounds of the Western Fair.
• Port Stanley Trip:In what has become an annual pilgrimage, we take a trip to Port Stanley and enjoy the French fries at Mackie’s restaurant on the beach.
• Intergenerational Program:Our Intergenerational Program brings elementary students from local schools into our home to spend time with our residents.
• Residents Council:Our Residents Council makes a monthly donation to the charity of their choice on behalf of all residents.
• Student Placement Opportunities:We provide 8 to 10 week placement opportunities for students working in the Registered Dieticians Masters Degree Program at Brescia College.
• Community Service Opportunities:We also provide opportunities for local high school students to earn their 40 hour community service credit.
• Coffee House Fundraisers:We regularly host and our volunteers man in-house coffee house fundraisers on behalf of the Alzheimer’s Society.
• Middlesex Healthcare Service Providers Committee:Our Administrator sits on the Middlesex Healthcare Service Providers Committee which meets quarterly to discuss issues affecting health care in the community.
• Christmas Bazaar: We host an annual Christmas Bazaar that is very popular with residents and the community at large. Vendors come in from outside and residents have tables to sell crafts, baked goods. Our volunteers help run it and all proceeds go to the Residents Council.