Optima Living

Golden Sands Recognized as Outstanding Employer of the Year! We are pleased to announce that Golden Sands has been honoured with the Outstanding Employer of the Year Award for 2024 by the Lac La Biche and District Chamber of Commerce! 🏆 This team-inspired recognition highlights the extraordinary work of our team, who go above and beyond to create a caring and supportive environment for both residents and team members. The award was presented during the Chamber’s gala on November 16, with over 150 attendees and 40 businesses celebrated across eight categories. Golden Sands, nestled in the heart of Alberta’s Northern Boreal Forest, offers a vibrant lifestyle with Memory Care, Supportive Living, and Independent Living options. This award is a testament to our mission: Let us welcome you home. 🏡 Thank you to everyone who made this possible!  #OutstandingEmployer #OptimaLiving #GoldenSands

Our Co-op Program provides post-secondary students with hands-on, real-world experience across departments like Marketing, HR, IT, and Finance, helping them build critical skills for their careers. With the dedicated leadership of Simran Sandhu, Manager, HR Special Programs, our Co-op Program draws students from The University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, British Columbia Institute of Technology, and Langara College. Optima Living offers a start-up-like environment, where students work closely with directors and teams, make a tangible impact, and explore the possibilities within the seniors living industry.  Our Co-op students bring fresh perspectives, enthusiasm and innovation to their work, contributing to Optima’s mission of enhancing quality of life for our residents. With plans to extend the program to Alberta in 2025, we’re excited to keep growing this initiative as part of our organization-wide Big Rocks.  Thank you to all our Co-op students—you’re an essential part of Optima’s journey to deliver exceptional care and support.  Connect with Simran Sandhu on LinkedIn to learn more about our Co-Op program.   #OptimaLiving #CoopProgram #FutureLeaders #SeniorsLiving #Innovation 

🎨 **Bridging Generations Through Art** 🎨   The recently completed Intergenerational Mural Project at The Hamlets at Westsyde, an Optima Living community in Kamloops, is a testament to the power of connection and creativity!   Over two incredible days, children from Bumble and Bean Daycare, students from Westsyde Secondary School, and senior residents came together to design and paint a stunning mural that now decorates the walls of our community. This vibrant artwork celebrates themes of community, nature, and growth, featuring bright colors and meaningful details like a charming bakery storefront, complete with painted pastries—a heartwarming nod to shared memories.   “This mural represents so much more than art—it symbolizes the bonds that unite generations,” shared Ron Villanueva, General Manager of The Hamlets at Westsyde.   Highlights of this unique collaboration include:   ✨ Seniors and youth connecting through shared stories and creativity.   ✨ Personal touches like a student painting a section for her grandmother, a Westsyde resident, to enjoy every day.   ✨ Local media coverage, including CBC and CFJC TV Kamloops, spotlighting the project’s positive impact.   The mural now stands as a source of joy and comfort for our residents, including those living with dementia, while reminding us all of the strength of intergenerational relationships.   A huge thank you to everyone who participated and helped bring this vision to life!   📺 Catch CFJC’s coverage here: https://lnkd.in/gXjBNcDH 💛 Learn more about life at The Hamlets at Westsyde: https://lnkd.in/g_R738jB #IntergenerationalArt #CommunityConnection #OptimaLiving #CreativityAcrossGenerations 

Last week, Optima Living's Co-Founder & Principal, Karim Kassam, attended two exclusive events: The Senior Living Innovation Forum (SLIF) in Miami, FL, from November 3-5, and SenbridGe by Goodmans in Toronto on November 7. SLIF focused on reshaping senior living, covering AI in senior care, brain health innovations, and talent retention strategies. At SenbridGe, Karim and COO Angela Grottoli joined Canadian Seniors Housing leaders to discuss AI-driven healthcare innovation and strategic partnerships, featuring insights from Canada's top healthcare leaders. These events offered valuable insights into senior living and healthcare trends, reinforcing our commitment to innovation and leadership. #SLIF #SenbridGe #SeniorLiving #HealthcareInnovation #AI #Leadership #Networking

On this Remembrance Day, we pause to honour the courage, sacrifice, and dedication of the men and women who have served, and continue to serve, our country. We are especially proud to have veterans in our Optima communities, and it is a privilege to recognize their firsthand contributions to protecting the freedoms we hold dear. At Optima, we stand united in deep gratitude for their service. We remember, we honour, and we are profoundly thankful. Lest we forget. #RemembranceDay #LestWeForget #Veterans #Gratitude #ThankYouForYourService #OptimaLiving #HonouringOurHeroes #CourageAndSacrifice 

In September and October, Optima Living hosted our annual Base Camps in Alberta and British Columbia, where General Managers and Community Relations Coordinators (CRCs) gathered for a series of workshops focused on operational excellence. Alberta’s Base Camp took place in late September, followed by the British Columbia team meeting at Wisteria Place in Richmond on October 2nd and 3rd.  This year marked an exciting milestone with the participation of our CRCs for the first time, engaging in a dedicated program led by Heather Collingridge, Director of Community Relations, and Jennifer Harbour, Regional Coordinator of Community Relations. Sessions led by our Community of Practice leaders, functional experts, and keynote speakers provided valuable insights and tools to improve our day-to-day operations and services.  However, the real success of these Base Camps lies in the connections made and collaboration fostered among our teams. By working together and sharing knowledge, we’re strengthening our ability to deliver exceptional care to our residents and making Optima Living a better place to live and work.  Here are some video highlights from our recent Base Camp meetings: https://lnkd.in/grdYRGKE #OptimaLiving #OperationalExcellence #OptimaWay #SeniorCare

Wishing everyone a bright and joyful Diwali! Diwali, or Dipawali, is one of India’s most important festivals, a celebration of light and hope. Around the world, people honour the Festival of Lights by lighting diyas, symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. As we gather to celebrate this special occasion, we are reminded of the rich diversity within our community, where various cultures unite, share traditions, and contribute to a vibrant atmosphere. May this Diwali bring light, happiness, and new beginnings to you and your family. From our community to yours, Happy Diwali! #diwali #celebration #festivaloflights

Exciting news from our Optima communities in Alberta! Recently, two heartwarming stories highlighted how our residents connect to the broader communities where they live. These articles showcase the uniqueness of our communities and reinforce Optima's commitment to fostering enriching connections for our residents. We're grateful for our partnerships with teams and organizations that bring joy to those we serve. The innovative intergenerational program "Together We Grow," run by the Edmonton Public Library, received an Excellence and Innovation Award from Alberta Municipal Affairs Minister Ric McIver. Launched last year at our Rutherford Heights community, the program enables infants and their parents to engage with seniors through singing, storytelling, and shared activities. Airdrie’s U16 AA hockey team made Thanksgiving special for residents at Cedarwood Station by delivering over 85 meals when the building's elevator was out of order. This initiative started when hockey mom Sarah Barton spoke with staff member Janaya Stevenson about the issue. Barton shared, "There are a lot of elderly people who can't go up and down the stairs, including my grandma." The players’ visit brought joy to many, with General Manager Bianca Bedford stating, "It warmed the [residents'] spirits... to know that young people in our community care." Read the two stories here: CBC Edmonton https://lnkd.in/g6kntcJQ Discover Airdrie https://lnkd.in/gmeH46YW #OptimaLiving #OptimaWay #CommunitySupport #StrongerTogether

We are pleased to announce that Optima Living's communities across British Columbia and Alberta came together in an incredible show of generosity this past August and September, contributing a record-breaking 30,000 pounds of food to local food banks. Over the course of a 45-day donation drive, our residents, team members, and partners rallied to make a meaningful impact. Our Open House events marked the grand finale of this effort, resulting in over $12,000 in financial donations and over 16,500 pounds of food—bringing the total to over 29,000 pounds! To push us over the 30,000-pound goal, our Principals made an additional contribution to top it off. This was a remarkable achievement, made even more engaging by turning the drive into a friendly competition between communities to see who could raise the most. We couldn’t be prouder of the way everyone came together for this important cause. Mitch Thomson, Executive Director of Red Deer Food Bank Society, said "Thank you to Deer Park Village! Contributions such as these make a huge difference in our community and allow the Red Deer Food Bank to continue our mission of Alleviating Hunger. We look forward to partnering with you on future endeavours.” Read our blog for a look at the impact we’ve had on many communities where we live and work: https://lnkd.in/gFZsvjjW Optima Living was proud to support the following organizations for this food drive: Red Deer Food Bank Society, Calgary Food Bank, Strathcona Food Bank, St. Albert Food Bank, Edmonton's Food Bank, Vernon Salvation Army, Penticton Salvation Army, The Salvation Army in Canada, Southbrook Sobeys, Richmond Food Bank Society, Victoria Food Bank, The Mustard Seed, Local Friendship Centre in Slave Lake, Claresholm Community Outreach Society, Airdrie Food Bank (Alberta), Kamloops Food Bank, Medicine Hat's Root Cellar Food & Wellness Hub, Fort Saskatchewan Nourishment Centre, Waskaysoo Community Food Bank, Cochrane Activettes, Wetaskiwin's Rock Soup Greenhouse and Food Bank, Cloverdale Community Kitchen (Storehouse Community Hub Society), Greater Vancouver Food Bank, and The Kettle Society. #OptimaLiving #OptimaWay #CommunitySupport #FoodDrive #GivingBack #StrongerTogether 

Today, on World Osteoporosis Day, we're reminded of the importance of bone health for seniors and the crucial role that families, communities, and healthcare professionals play in preventing osteoporosis. This condition affects millions, making falls and fractures a significant concern for our aging loved ones. At Optima Living, we educate our communities to support bone health for seniors in many ways, including:   • Encouraging Safe Physical Activity: Weight-bearing exercises and balance training help maintain bone strength and reduce the risk of falls.  • Focusing on Nutrition: Diets rich in calcium and vitamin D are vital for bone health and overall well-being.  • Promoting Regular Screenings: Routine bone density tests can detect osteoporosis early, enabling timely intervention and treatment. We believe in partnering with families and healthcare experts to support seniors' independence and enhance their quality of life. Let’s work together to raise awareness and take action against osteoporosis, ensuring our loved ones can continue to live life to the fullest. #WorldOsteoporosisDay #BoneHealth #SeniorLiving #CommunityCare #OptimaLiving #OptimaWay