Extendicare

We were very pleased to welcome a number of candidates to our homes over the past few weeks to meet-and-greet with our residents and team members. Opportunities to connect with leaders who are invested in the well-being of seniors and the future of long-term care in our province are invaluable to us. We invite all candidates to visit, meet with our residents and staff, and learn more about the important work that Extendicare is doing to serve seniors across Ontario.

“I love the idea of using recreational activities to enhance people’s quality of life. It’s rewarding to be part of this remarkable journey,” says Nadine, Recreation Programs Manager at Extendicare Athabasca in Alberta. Nadine leads the Activity Program Boxes program which enhances residents’ quality of life through purposeful engagement. Each box targets specific areas of therapeutic engagement: relaxation, redirection and attention, fine motor and sensory. Read more about how the program is personalized for each residents’ unique needs, abilities, and interests on our blog: https://ow.ly/gAFI50V6w3L

Celebrating Black History Month through music. Residents at Extendicare Rouge Valley enjoyed a performance by singer Michelle White who paid tribute to Black artists throughout history. The event was one of the many ways, including trivia contests and cuisine, that the long-term care home highlighted #BHM2025.

Last month, an Extendicare-led study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Directors Association (JAMDA Journal) authored by Extendicare Chief Medical Officer Dr. Matthew Morgan, Senior Manager of Physician Engagement Dr. Ahmed Vanker, Senior Director of Corporate Quality and Risk Natasha Milijasevic, MBA, PhD, and Quality and Risk Advisor Lara de Waal. It showcased the overwhelming success of an Extendicare medication safety initiative that resulted in the reduction of antipsychotic medication use among residents within participating long-term care homes by more than 40 per cent on average. “We want to ensure that our residents are not on antipsychotic medication if it is not required,” says Dr. Morgan. “Our goal is to decrease antipsychotic use in our long-term care homes with regular, evidence-based reviews of personalized care plans, with collaboration between our clinical team and families, to ensure resident safety and high-quality care.” The keys to success include: 👪 Strong collaboration between interdisciplinary teams of physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and behavioural experts in close partnership with families 💙 Personalized approaches to deprescribing, leading to families and teams reporting improved quality of life in their loved ones, and strengthened resident engagement 🤝 Essential support, technological data tools and collaboration from key external partners PointClickCare and MediSystem Pharmacy. Learn how Extendicare’s clinical team achieved these leading-edge results: https://ow.ly/1o1P50V646Z

"Don’t give up on love. You never know who you’re going to meet, or where." Bob and Juliet were strangers when they moved into Extendicare Laurier Manor in Ottawa, Ontario. But one day in the garden, everything changed. ❤️ Their story proves that love can begin anywhere, at any stage of life. Read more: https://ow.ly/bsQz50V0bf8 #HappyValentinesDay

In the Behavioural Support Transitional Unit (BSTU) at Extendicare McGarrell Place in London, Ontario, sensory-focused tools and technologies are tailored to the complex behavioural needs of people living with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Learn how the BSTU provides residents with a calming environment that promotes a sense of familiarity and comfort by targeting their senses: https://lnkd.in/gGdhuWA8 Place

Reminiscing about warmer weather at Extendicare Leduc in Alberta, when Jonathan, a volunteer, and Rosalyn, a family member at the home, teamed up with the community and residents to bring a colourful new “little free library” to life. Residents chose the paint colours and picked out their favorite books to fill it. It’s more than a library; it’s a hub for stories, connection, and community! #LittleFreeLibrary

In 2024, we continued to advance our mission to provide people with the care they need, wherever they call home. 🏠 We increased access to long-term care and grew system capacity:  • Opened two new homes in Sudbury and Kingston, which welcomed a total of 448 residents  • Broke ground on three additional homes in St. Catharines, Port Stanley, and London  • In total, we started or completed construction on 11 homes, totaling 2,496 new or upgraded beds, thanks to support from the Government of Ontario  💙 Advanced improvements to quality of care:  • Achieved best-ever quality indicators  • Advanced medication safety programs to improve resident quality of life, including a reduction in antipsychotics use to an industry-leading 14.8 per cent average across our homes, substantially below the CIHI national average of 23.2 per cent for homes nationwide • Strengthened wound care practices and continued to invest in specialized training, including the Skin Wellness Associate Nurse (SWAN) Program  💪 Supported our teams’ growth:  • Grew our care teams and increased staffing ratios to provide more hours of direct care to each resident 🛏️ Provided more affordable, wholesale purchasing services in support of partners and senior living operators nationwide:  • Expanded to serve more than 140,000 beds across Canada - an increase of 25,000 over the year before  🧠 Deepened our relationship with the Alzheimer's’ Society of Canada, in support of those living with dementia and their families Thank you to all the residents, families, team members, and partners across Canada for making 2024 such a meaningful year. We look forward to continued momentum as we provide people with the care they need, wherever they call home.

Animal-assisted therapy is a powerful tool in person-centered dementia care. By fostering connection and comfort, therapy animals like Sophie the Golden Retriever are making a meaningful impact across Extendicare. Discover how animal-assisted therapy is shaping resident care in our latest blog: https://ow.ly/u1sZ50UPHI5

Wishing happiness and prosperity to our residents and team members who celebrate as we welcome the Year of the Snake. Happy Lunar New Year!