We highlight exciting changes coming to active lifestyle and senior living in the very near future, developed by some of top retirement living operators and organizations in Canada.
In our Inspiring Leaders Series, we interview visionaries driven by a passion for excellence that’s manifest in Canada’s most innovative retirement communities.
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David Bird, president and CEO, Verve Senior Living
2024 interview
The resident of the future is going to require us to be more bespoke or tailored to what they want, when they want it, how they want it, more so than the prior generations…. [In the past], I think, retirement residents [wanted] a chapel. That fits one group of people's needs [but now we] recognize that religious and cultural differences require [us] to have more adaptive spaces that cater to each resident’s needs.
Food is [also] a huge part of that. Being able to adapt and flex to dietary needs, we see more requests for dietary preferences and different ethnic cuisines. [We need] to offer those to residents. Then, also being able to provide settings where family members can come in and feel just as comfortable there as they did when they visited their parents or loved ones at home.
Brad Bushby, VP of sales, technology, and marketing, Schlegel Villages
2024 interview
You're going to see some bigger Villages. For example, our Oakville project has 640 long-term care beds [and] a number of retirement homes will go on that property as well. So we call it the City of Schlegel Villages [with] significant buildings [there].
As big as that gets, though, it still consists of neighborhoods [with] the same team members [in each]. That gives a sense of a community within a community. You're part of a bigger Schlegel Village, but you're still living in a neighborhood with people that you know….secure and safe. Main Streets with amenities [like a hair salon and library] will continue…. We've got a pet shop in most of our Villages, now, [plus] hobby shops. Main Street is a big part of what we're about.
Marlene Powner, regional operations manager, Sifton Properties, Ltd.
2024 interview
We really like the model of seniors apartments….. It's an apartment, offering some meals, some housekeeping, and some programming. Two of our properties [also] have villas…. Riverstone has 20. [Each is] about 1,200 square feet, one floor [with] a couple of bedrooms. They have fewer meals or less housekeeping, but [they’re] a neighborhood to themselves… a community [of like-minded] people. But then we give you a little bit of support.
Sharon Toor, CEO, Sagecare Inc.
2024 interview
(Note: Sagecare is focused on memory care.)
I’m getting more and more involved in [mentorship], networking with [local] colleges for PSWs…. I need people I'm bringing on to have a knowledge base about dementia. [We’re] even reaching out into the development of their programs [asking], ‘What innovations are coming through?’ Let's help trial it. I want to be present for those, [to] volunteer our facility for those things, trying new electronics and technology innovations. We want to find a cure for dementia [and be part of] innovations that improve the quality of life.
Karim Kassam, co-founder, Optima Living [0:42]
2021 interview
[Speaking about Aster Gardens in Edmonton] Everything is touchless, so they don't need a physical key to get in anywhere. When they move in, they get a band. That band allows them to move into common area doors, into their suite doors…
The other thing that is going to be exciting for them is that they could be sitting on the fourth floor having a beer, watching the hockey game, and it's time to clear the tab. They don't have to do anything, because everything is being tracked on their fob. So, they don't have to sign a piece of paper, they don't have to do any of that. They click it, and through the QR code technology, everything is being tracked for them.
They decide they want to go have a swim. Again, we know exactly where they are. One of our wellness coordinators will join them for that swim, make sure that they're safe and secure while they're entertaining. While they're having chair yoga, we know exactly where they are in that moment. And we know that if there are issues with their health during that chair yoga, that we can track and monitor their well-being.
We also have a state-of-the-art memory care neighborhood that we are offering at Aster Gardens. And that's what I think is [the] first of its kind in Alberta... We value knowledge partnerships and so Optima’s proprietary Brain Health model was developed in concert with the University of Alberta and the University of Manitoba. So, we're taking both a very clinical approach and a very knowledge-based approach to the way in which we deliver our memory care services to our residents.
And the reason why they live in neighborhoods is because they're not done living their best life. We're going to provide tools and interesting ways in which they're going to be able to leverage the parts of their brain that they can use effectively, to make sure they have physical engagement, and really ensure that when they and their families are together, they really are able to live that life that their loved ones want them to lead.
Angela Kelly, director of operations, Estates of Niagara [2:45]
2021 interview
I think the other unique piece is the life equity component of [Stoneridge Estates]. So, although the trends are showing that 50 plus [adults are] looking to lease, there are some that are still looking for investment opportunities, and this idea of life equity. So, [Stoneridge] is offering a multitude of opportunities with respect to purchasing, owner-occupied investment, life equity, or even leasing. So, on the financial side, there's still opportunity there for people to make sound investments in real estate, which [of course] is proven over, time and time to be a good investment, and we're seeing that more and more these days, with what's happening in real estate.
So, life equity would be that they would become a shareholder in the corporation. And they would be given earnings … Once all net operating expenses [are cleared], whatever's left over, they would be paid a certain amount per share. [That would again] fund more of the lifestyle that they're looking for.
Elaine Wood, former vice president of operations, Delmanor Senior Living [4:04]
2021 interview
Every day we have Eureka moments. Every day, through great collaboration, we look at how can Delmanor push the envelope further and further and further, to making sure that we remain that leader in the retirement industry. I think one of the Eureka moments for me, personally, is seeing how quickly our teams can respond during crisis, and change the way that they operate.
