One-to-one comparison

VIVA BARRHAVEN

This beautiful, still-very-new Ottawa retirement home offers the best in contemporary senior living. Chef-prepared dining, modern facilities, and a bevy of other luxuries are all integral to life here. Staff are compassionate and very involved with seniors, as many families and residents will attest to.

RAVINES SENIORS' SUITES & RETIREMENT RESIDENCE

We could highlight many exceptional things about this community, but memory care at the Ravines' is offered by experts highly specialized in this sphere. The interior design focuses on neighbourhoods, where dementia patients live in familiar surroundings that avoid the confusion created by more clinical environments. The Ravines' Healthy Minds Program is multi-faceted, focused on providing compassionate, well-rounded care for seniors with Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia. Included in the program are support groups for family and other loved ones, music therapy that stimulates memory and positive interaction, staff trained in the Gentle Persuasive Approach, therapy through multi-sensory environments, and other components.

VIVA BARRHAVEN

My mother-in-law lives here. It is a warm and welcoming place. The staff are lovely, caring, and patient and they know her name. The doctor on staff is a good listener and so kind to her. I find it a very cozy place, both in my mom's room as well as the communal areas. None of these places are cheap today, but you get true value here for your money.

There are endless wonderful amenities at this beautiful V!VA Retirement Community which can be found listed in the brochure or seen on the video, but what stands out for me is the warm feeling of family among the staff and community members. My parents, Della and Lawrence, were especially impressed when both staff and fellow members addressed them by name on the very day they moved in. It was a challenging move from their beloved hometown in Quebec, so all the lovely special touches, such as the ladies down the hall coming to introduce themselves and bringing a welcome basket and card from V!VA were very much appreciated and comforting. My mother is a wonderful cook, so gathering around the table to share a tasty home-cooked meal was important. Imagine their delight when Chef Eric appeared at their door to welcome them in person and chat about the food and dining experience and ask if they had some favourite recipes! The musical entertainment is fabulous. Both my parents love to sing and my dad is usually the first to get up and dance! My mother is still raving about the High Tea put on for International Women’s Day with beautiful flowers, tablecloths, crocheted doilies, and special cakes made fresh by the V!VA kitchen staff. V!VA goes above and beyond and the message they send is this: “You are important and we care about you”. My parents now call V!VA ‘home’. That is music to my ears!

I wanted to share how absolutely wonderful this retirement residence is. From the management to all the staff, everyone is also so friendly and incredible to deal with, especially for the residents. The building is always impeccable, welcoming warm, and caring. It is truly a wonderful residence and has exceptional staff.

My parents have been part of the Viva community for over a year. The staff are unfailingly kind and helpful. The gym and pool facilities are unparalleled. The flexible mealtimes and readily available snacks are an added bonus. I don’t hesitate to recommend Viva Barrhaven.

Our Mom has been a resident at Viva Barrhaven for just over a year. To say she was reluctant to go into a retirement home would be a huge understatement but after an adjustment period, she has really become a happy member of this community. At 93 she has made new friends and meets with them over a coffee in the cafe. There often is music in Mel's bar and lots of fun celebrations. The most amazing part of Viva is the staff who are genuinely interested in each resident and their families. To watch how happy people are while working there is truly heartwarming. If you are wondering about Viva for your loved one, go check it out, my family highly recommends it.

RAVINES SENIORS' SUITES & RETIREMENT RESIDENCE

My thanks to staff for their excellent help as I was at the Ravines for respite care for a hip replacement.

There are lots of things I appreciate about Ravines. I think the most significant benefit for me as a caregiver for my dad is that I'm seeing people that I know, who work there, other residents, and it's all part of a community where you don't feel like you're on your own. That's a big [relief] for me... Dad has some challenges with his memories and then he had a fall, and when he came out of the hospital, it was so nice to know that he had this place to go to, to transition to a place where he had more care.

Sunday February 7th, 2021 was a very special day for the residents of the Ravines. Monitored by Ottawa Public Health, our first COVID-19 Moderna Vaccines were given to us by teams of uniformed Ottawa Paramedics moving through our buildings door to door in a well planned routine... There had been significant planning by our excellent Managers and every employee worked so efficiently that we were even able to have lunch! Congratulations on a job well done! One month later on March 7th, 2021 we repeated our successful vaccination treatment with our second Moderna vaccines and the teams of Paramedics. In July, 2021 we achieved our goal of 100% of residents and 100% of staff having been vaccinated. We're proud and relieved to have to have achieved this level of safety and health protection. On September 2nd, 2021 we were given booster injections by nurses from the Ottawa Health Department. Our General Manager, Sam Sourchi, and all the staff planned and organized and followed up so that everything went smoothly.

My parents were residents of the Ravines Seniors' Suites and then the Retirement Residence from 2014 to 2021. The staff and management were caring, friendly and helpful. At times when my parents required additional assistance, staff was there to help and then followed-up to make sure that everything was okay. Sam Sourchi, the General Manager, is a skilled and proficient manager, who was able to resolve issues which at times felt impossible to resolve. The facilities are pleasant, clean and safe. This is definitely a nice place to live.

My mom lives here and she loves it.

VIVA BARRHAVEN

Just minutes from Manotick and Stittsville, V!VA Barrhaven is Ottawa's premier all-inclusive retirement community with some of the largest suites in Nepean. Enjoy V!VAlicious meals and treats throughout the day. Then get moving with our stunning amenities including a wellness spa, indoor saltwater pool, fitness studio, golf simulator, movie theatre, underground parking & more! Book your tour today!

RAVINES SENIORS' SUITES & RETIREMENT RESIDENCE

Our community presents a vibrant, social lifestyle where residents, their loved ones, and members of the community feel welcomed, empowered, and comfortable to express their personalities. Our resident-led clubs and groups, resident ambassadors and testimonials can attest to this! We focus on enhancing lives at all stages - from independent living to assisted living to memory care. We want to make our residents feel like they are at a vacation resort every day of their lives! Visit www.alavidalifestyles.com/alavida-insiders to read about our community, or check out our Facebook page at @alavidalifestyles to get a glimpse of the action!

VIVA BARRHAVEN

Medical form completed by family doctor, Personal Interview, TB test required

RAVINES SENIORS' SUITES & RETIREMENT RESIDENCE

Chest x-ray, Medical form completed by family doctor, TB test required

VIVA BARRHAVEN

Information not available

RAVINES SENIORS' SUITES & RETIREMENT RESIDENCE

Pre-admission medical paperwork, list of prescriptions and recent chest x-ray required prior to move-in for our Retirement Residence.