Independent living in Alberta is an ideal lifestyle option for active or semi-active older adults looking for a social and supportive retirement. Our residents choose independent living for many different reasons, but here are some of the ones we hear most often:

• You’re ready to expand your social circle and casual socialization in a community setting sounds a lot better than living at home alone.
• You’d sleep better at night knowing that staff are around whenever you need them—whether in an emergency or simply when you feel like company—thanks to a call-bell system or personal response pendant.
• The many tasks associated with owning a home like costly repairs, lawn and landscaping care, and cleaning a large house are sapping your energy; you’d rather focus your time on family, travel, and the simple enjoyments of retired life.
• Instead of an all-ages apartment, you’d prefer living in a quiet and safe community with people who share your stage of life. You’d also like this to be your last downsize—because who has the energy for multiple moves?
• Having optional senior-friendly fitness classes, clubs, social gatherings, volunteer opportunities, and outings available on your very doorstep sounds appealing.

The cornerstones of independent living at Chartwell are our enriching social life, friendly staff support, and a sense of personal safety and security. There are many valuable services you or a loved one may benefit from as a part of this lifestyle, such as:

• Delicious and nutritious dining options
• Housekeeping, linens, and laundry service
• Transportation to appointments or fun outings in the local community
• Access to visiting health care professionals like physicians, physiotherapy, blood pressure clinics, and more

Depending on the Chartwell seniors’ residence, you may have a wide variety of accommodation options to choose from, including studio, one-bedroom, one-bedroom-plus-den, and two-bedroom suite layouts, some with kitchenettes or full kitchens, balconies, and patios. When you’re not spending time relaxing in your private suite, you may be enjoying one of the many on-site amenities at your new retirement home, such as outdoor space or walking paths, bistros with hot beverages and snack service, libraries, fitness rooms, movie theatres, and much more.

If you or a loved one are looking for a worry-free, flexible lifestyle without care, independent living may be the right choice for you; however, care services may also be available through third-party homecare providers. As some of our retirement homes in Alberta also offer a continuum of care—meaning Private Supportive Living, assisted living, and memory care are available within the same building—you can also feel reassured knowing you can opt into care services as your needs change without the need for another big move.

Our Directors of Care will partner with you to build a personalized plan of care reflective of your or a loved one’s unique needs, helping to ensure we are safely meeting what you require to feel your best each day.

Chartwell also has a unique Memory Living program at Chartwell Wescott in Edmonton. Our contemporary retirement residence features a dedicated Memory Living Neighbourhood—a warm, supportive, and safe setting for seniors living with dementia that offers an elevated memory care experience.

Unique features of the neighbourhood include:

• A secure and home-like environment with 24-hour staff supervision
• Suites and amenities that cater to the experience of dementia using design features like soothing or contrasting colours and cueing signage for maximum accessibility, independence, and easy navigation
• Secure outdoor space
• Dedicated dining room and amenity spaces

Chartwell is proud to offer a person-centred approach to memory care; one that honours who a person is and their unique experience with dementia, rather than focusing solely on the disease they are living with. What does this look like in practice?

• Understanding each resident’s personal history, preferences and dislikes, and what brings them joy

• Forming meaningful, trusted relationships between residents and staff
• Not allowing the personal expressions of a resident living with dementia to define who they are
• Striving to learn each person’s unique experience with dementia to better soothe and redirect to activities, conversations, or people that bring relaxation or happiness.

With a high staff-to-resident ratio, our staff “work to live” in our Memory Living neighbourhood alongside residents, meaning they aren’t just there to provide care services, but jump into residents’ daily routines to make them feel more at home. Envision staff and residents sitting on the living room couch watching a baseball game and eating popcorn together; folding laundry or setting the table for dinner; browsing a resident’s closet together to discuss what they want to wear; or planting flowers in raised garden beds on a sunny day. We know these important aspects of daily living are what give you or a loved one purpose and happiness, and that’s exactly our mission: to help you live a good day, every day.

Additional features of Memory Living in Alberta include:

• Access to nursing staff 24/7
• Specialized activities and dining
• Dedicated Memory Living Managers to support residents and their families

Our Memory Living Manager will partner with you and your family to build a personalized plan of care, designed to maximize your independence, comfort, and quality of life. You or a loved one may receive valuable care services like:

• Assistance with morning or evening routines, including dressing, grooming, showering or continence care
• Cueing assistance and an escort to meals and activities
• Medication management
• Many more customizable services available