Calgarian Julian Galley is planning to cycle from Calgary to Richmond Hill, Ontario – a distance of some 3,400 kilometres – to raise awareness and financial support for the Alzheimer Society of Canada. Julian’s mother Joan lives in United’s Fish Creek community and is part of the community’s unique United Minds service.

“I got the idea for this event driving back to Calgary from Ontario. When our kids started university last fall my daughter headed west to B.C. with my wife, and my son and I went east to Ontario. My son and I drove out together and that was lots of fun, and his excitement was contagious. During the long hours behind the wheel over three days on my way home, the ideas for this event started to come together in my head. Could I ride my bike from Calgary to the Compugen offices in Richmond Hill, Ontario?”

Julian works for Compugen, one of Canada’s largest IT service providers. Compugen is supporting and sponsoring the ride, which begins June 28.

“My brother and I have been involved in our mother Joan’s journey with dementia for quite some time. Her cognitive decline became noticeable in the years that followed our father’s passing, nearly 20 years ago. We respected and advocated for her independence for as long as we could and she was very well supported by friends, family, and a new partner. Her cognitive decline was slow but relentless and our role in her life became more and more prevalent in the years that followed. 

In 2018 it became quite apparent that it was time for my brother and me to get our mother the support that she needed in the form of an assisted living community.  We really wanted to find the right kind of place that would support her cognitive challenges and at the same time afford her the kind of care that met the important priorities we had set out and discussed – her dignity and her quality of life – as she continued on her journey with dementia.”

Julian and his brother toured several communities that offered dementia care services and settled in United’s Fish Creek community. “It was clear right away that it was the right place for our mother. From the inclusive approach of integrating memory care residents into the mainstream of the community to the United Minds memory care programming to the client and family-centred care focus – we felt very strongly that this was the community for our mother, Joan. The choice was made and we helped our mother move into her new home in July of 2018.”

To donate, read more about Julian’s journey, and follow him on his trip, click here.

Photos courtesy of Julian Galley and United Active Living. Videos by Sherana Productions.

Speak with one of our active living advisors about life in a United community. They can arrange tours of our Garrison Green and Fish Creek communities. If you know a friend or family member who could benefit from living in a United community, send them a link to our website or blog, or arrange a future visit. We are happy to help! 

United Active Living’s memory care service, United Minds, is the subject of a short documentary film available to view on United’s YouTube channel.  The video profiles Fish Creek resident Con Irving, his wife Dorothy and their daughter Karen Leussink. As well, the program speaks with United Minds manager Amy McDonough and two dementia experts who toured United’s two communities and received a first-hand look at how its innovative memory care program works.

Following their visit, United’s approach to dementia care earned accolades from Dr. Allen Power and Daniella Greenwood.

“United is a trailblazer, going against the grain of the safe and easy way. This is a path that most people have not embarked on yet,” said Dr. Power, an international educator on transformational models of care for older adults, particularly those living with changing cognitive abilities. “I’ve always encouraged people to think about creating inclusive communities and not segregating people based on a diagnosis. What I love is finding a community like United.”

“I think United is courageous,” said Daniella Greenwood, a consultant, speaker, author and activist who is a proponent of inclusive communities in Canada and Australia. “You are going against a system that is focused on disease, disability and categorizing people. It’s easier not to be inclusive. Creating such a practice shows others that it can be done. It’s also about doing the right thing.”

In the short film, United Minds manager Amy McDonough points out that United doesn’t segregate residents based on their cognitive or physical abilities. Rather, residents with dementia live on the same floors as everyone else, they eat in the same spaces and attend the same programs. Importantly, couples stay together even if they have differing needs.

“The person with dementia isn’t lost; they are still there. Our job as caregivers is to find out what makes them who they are, how we can provide meaning, purpose and a sense of belonging here with us. We don’t separate couples should one of them have dementia. We keep them together. So many changes happen to a couple’s relationship so we support them both.”

 

Fish Creek residents Conrad and Dorothy Irving came to United four years ago after Dorothy was diagnosed with dementia. “We looked at three or four places so we could live together. But others wanted to separate us. That was upsetting to me,” said Con. “We decided United was the best place for both of us. Several residents have made friends with Dorothy, and I know I can go out and residents and employees are watching out for her. I know as a caregiver I have to look after myself. I’m comfortable knowing she is in good hands.”

 

 

“There’s always a risk in being a frontrunner,” said Greenwood. “Over 10 years ago, United took a risk. Everyone is welcome to live here. They won’t lock you away. There are no guidebooks, they just did it and the sky didn’t fall.”

“United said we are not waiting for others to prove this is the right thing to do, we are just doing it,” said Power. “You should never ask what the risk is of doing something without also asking what the risk is of not doing it.”

The short documentary film was produced for United by Sherana Productions. Watch it here.

Take a look at our commercials: Opportunity and Community

Talk with one of our active living advisors about life in a United community. They can arrange in-person or virtual tours of our Garrison Green and Fish Creek communities. If you know a friend or family member who could benefit from living in a United community, send them a link to our website or blog, or arrange a future visit. We are happy to help! 

To learn more about life at United’s Fish Creek community, watch this short video.

Or, to find out more about life at United’s Garrison Green, watch this short video.

Contact us here!

 

“My grandmother had dementia. Watching her go through that sparked my interest in psychology and aging,” said Jenny Hamilton, who is in the psychology honours program at St. Mary’s University.

Jenny is United’s latest student-in-residence, a program that began in 2016 with a student from Mount Royal University living at United’s Garrison Green. It was so successful that it expanded to St. Mary’s University the following year. United’s residents play a key role in the process of choosing the student. Students take up residence in the community, and live and work with the residents for a school year. Jenny moved into Fish Creek last August and will stay until May.

Because of her interest in dementia, Jenny has worked closely with residents in the United Minds program, which specifically engages residents in programs that stimulate the mind and memory. She initiated her own programs with residents in the art studio and has a regular Thursday evening board games program.

Unlike other older adult communities that segregate residents based on their cognitive or physical abilities, United chooses not to. Residents with dementia live on the same floors as everyone else, they eat in the same spaces and attend the same programs. Importantly, couples stay together even if they have differing needs.

“In our United Minds program, we focus on who the person is and build a relationship with them,” said Amy McDonough, United Minds manager. “We focus on including people with dementia in our community. There is more to someone than their diagnosis. The person with dementia isn’t lost; they are still there. Our job as caregivers is to find out who they are. It’s a relationship-centred approach. We truly get to know them, what’s important to them.” That approach recently earned the support of two major advocates, Dr. Al Power and Daniella Greenwood, who are strong supporters of inclusive community living.

“I want to pursue my Masters and PhD with a focus on aging,” said Jenny. “What I’ve seen at United is that the United Minds program is unique. There is nothing like this in Canada that I know of, so I feel very privileged to live here and see what the possibilities are. The standard is locked units for older adults living with these cognitive impairments, but United’s approach is different. I believe United Minds should be the standard in dementia care.”

Jenny has run several of her own programs within the United Minds program. “It’s really fulfilling for me to engage with the residents in the program. The programs give them a purpose or a new interest and a sense of accomplishment, which is so important in our lives. It provides a sense of control in their lives and relationships instead of being told what to do.”

As part of her studies, Jenny wants to do a research study into the attitudes and experiences of staff who work with older adults. “It’s been studied in psychology that the more information they receive, the better their attitudes towards the work they do. At United, I’ve noticed a continual information flow, which is, I think, reflected in the attitudes of staff, especially in their involvement in the regular wellness committee meetings.”

Has she been surprised by anything during her time at United? “I’m surprised at how one person can have so much history and accomplished so many things during their lives. There are so many interesting people here. Dementia doesn’t negate that, and by approaching each person as a person, it’s so interesting to see the passion and interest they show when they become involved in something new. My grandma, despite her dementia, was very involved with Zumba (a popular dance exercise), and my father, in his 50s, runs marathons. It tells me that our stereotypical views of aging need to change. Older adults are engaged, interested and active. Residents in their 80s are expressing their art talents in the art studio even though they have never picked up a brush.”

“I’m very lucky to be here; quite serendipitous in fact,” said Jenny. “My interest in dementia, my studies in psychology, and I’m living in place that is in the forefront of dementia care. It’s like all the stars aligned!”

Photos and videos by Sherana Productions.

Ask us about our short-term respite stays.

Do you know a friend or family member who could benefit from living in a United community? Send them a link to our website or blog, or arrange a visit. We are happy to help! 

To learn more about life at United’s Fish Creek community, watch this short video.

Or, to find out more about life at United’s Garrison Green, watch this short video.

Contact us here!

 

 

United Active Living’s approach to dementia care has earned the endorsement of two dementia experts. Dr. Allen Power and Daniella Greenwood were in Calgary last week to work directly with staff at United’s Garrison Green and Fish Creek communities. They were also panelists at the public event, Dementia Re-Imagined: Continuing the Conversation, which was sponsored by the United Active Living Foundation, and presented in partnership with Dementia Network Calgary and Alzheimer Society Calgary.

“United is a trailblazer, going against the grain of the safe and easy way. This is a path that most people have not embarked on yet,” said Dr. Power, an international educator on transformational models of care for older adults, particularly those living with changing cognitive abilities. “I’ve always encouraged people to think about creating inclusive communities and not segregating people based on a diagnosis. What I love is finding a community like United. Because I’m always writing about this, I love visiting communities that offer this now.”

“I think United is courageous,” said Daniella Greenwood, a consultant, speaker, author and activist who is a proponent of inclusive communities in Canada and Australia. “You are going against a system that is focused on disease, disability and categorizing people. It’s easier not to be inclusive. Creating such a practice shows others that it can be done. It’s also about doing the right thing. United is at the forefront of innovation. I love the openness in the design and how everyone is encouraged to be creative. For that to be part of life here is so special.”

United’s Garrison Green was built in 2008 near Mount Royal University. It took a groundbreaking approach to living with dementia. Unlike other older adult communities that segregate residents based on their cognitive or physical abilities, United chooses not to. Residents with dementia live on the same floors as everyone else, they eat in the same spaces and attend the same programs. Importantly, couples stay together even if they have differing needs.

United’s philosophy supports inclusive environments that value people living with dementia and helps them reach their full potential.

“In our United Minds program, we focus on who the person is and build a relationship with them,” said Amy McDonough, United Minds manager. “We focus on including people with dementia in our community. There is more to someone than their diagnosis. The person with dementia isn’t lost; they are still there. Our job as caregivers is to find out who they are. It’s a relationship-centred approach. We truly get to know them, what’s important to them. We don’t separate couples should one of them have dementia. We keep them together. So many changes happen to a couple’s relationship so we support them both.”

In 2010, Dr. Power wrote in his first book – Dementia Beyond Drugs: Changing the Culture of Care – about the importance of creating inclusive communities. He followed that in 2014, with Dementia Beyond Disease: Enhancing Well-Being.

“There are more voices of advocates living with dementia demanding to be able to live where they choose. They are saying, ‘We don’t want to be in a place where only people defined by their disease are living. We want to be included as much as possible in society,’ said Dr. Power. “If you say you won’t exclude people based on their race, religion or ethnicity, why would you do it based on a medical diagnosis? It takes courage to actually put this into practise.”

Fish Creek residents Conrad and Dorothy Irving came to United three years ago, after Dorothy had been diagnosed with dementia two years prior. “We looked at three or four places so we could live together. But others wanted to separate us. That was upsetting to me. We decided United was the best place for both of us. The staff here have formed a family bond with us. I would adopt them if I could! It’s a community. Two or three other residents have made friends with Dorothy, and I know I can go out and residents and staff are watching out for her. I know as a caregiver I have to look after myself. I’m comfortable knowing she is in good hands.”

 

 

Al Power and Daniella Greenwood spent time discussing their research and how it connects to United’s philosophy with the resident councils in each community. They were excited by what they heard. “The thing that stood out for me was how concerned residents are about each person’s welfare. They wanted to know how they could support people with dementia better,” said Daniella. “This is about community. Now they are looking at having a spokesperson on the council who can speak for those who don’t have a voice. I was blown away by what United has in place. Some skills are trainable, attitude isn’t one of them. It’s the desire to connect, not just the skills to connect.”

“I was pleased with the people – the attitude and passion,” added Dr. Power. “There is a lot of flexibility in the systems – the meals, the processes. Often places are regimented. It was so nice to come here. I was looking for common operational barriers, but they weren’t there. The resident councils are engaged in creating community. No one is marginalized. You get the diversity of opinion that creates strength and resiliency in an organization.”

“There’s always a risk in being a frontrunner,” said Greenwood. “Over 10 years ago, United took a risk. Everyone is welcome to live here. They won’t lock you away. There are no guidebooks, they just did it and the sky didn’t fall. Al and I sat in a meeting where they are trying to do more to build on their successes.”

“There’s always a risk of something going wrong, but it can be made better,” said Dr. Power. “You can always think of reasons not to do it. Blame the regulations, the costs and the difficulty in integrating those with different levels of ability or cognition, but United said we are not waiting for others to prove this is the right thing to do, we are just doing it. You should never ask what the risk is of doing something without also asking what the risk is of not doing it.”

In Dr. Power’s view, the increasing number of baby boomers will one day look for the services of an older adult community, some of them will experience dementia. “With the growing numbers, I believe the answer is going to be inclusion. It’s going to be impossible to lock everyone away in separate housing. Inclusion is the only sustainable solution.”

Dr. Power is working on a new book about inclusion, and the experiences of communities who have successfully implemented it, along with co-author Dr. Jennifer Carson. He will be capturing many of United’s experiences as he researches the book.

Photos and video by Sherana Productions

Do you know a friend or family member who could benefit from living in a United community? Send them a link to our website or blog, or arrange a tour. We are happy to help! 

To learn more about life at United’s Garrison Green, watch this short video.

Cognitive Challenges No Barrier at United

United is known for being a thought leader in challenging the norms of what it means to age. They re-imagined the standard approach to supportive living by creating an inclusive community for older adults. Being inclusive means that United does not segregate or limit residents to a particular unit or wing based on the person’s physical or cognitive challenges. Rather, all residents are included in all aspects of the community.

Dr. Al Power, a geriatrician and author who has argued against locked wings for many years, writes in a recent blog article: “While physical safety is always an important consideration, “security” comprises much more than physical safety—it also means emotional and psychological security, which includes such attributes as familiarity, trust, respect, dignity, privacy, and balance. The problem is that many things we do to increase physical safety help us to feel better, but actually decrease the sense of security felt by the person.”

Locked wings may be the traditional approach, but they don’t work for residents. In order to make an inclusive community successful it takes research, education, and an operational shift.

A Workplace Culture Focused on Quality

As part of her Masters in Nursing program, Nicole Kendall, director of health and wellness conducted a review of current research literature and found common themes that support United’s inclusive community model. “I found that a workplace culture that is less focused on tasks and more concerned with spending quality time with residents improves communication throughout the organization and has a positive impact on wellness for residents. This requires leadership support that fully endorses and encourages a different approach to staff education and involvement with residents. The research also shows that the involvement by someone with dementia in everyday activities improves their quality of life and gives them a sense of independence in making their own decisions. I think it’s safe to say that we identified these themes to better understand what shapes the delivery of person-centred care in dementia and the areas that we should concentrate on in order to ensure we are providing this care at the highest level possible.”

Nicole was able to share her Master’s work with other health care professionals at the Canadian Gerontological Nursing Association’s 20th biennial conference. “It is important to share United’s philosophy and provide real-life examples of how our inclusive model positively impacts the lives of people living with dementia, as well as enriches our entire community,” said Nicole. “By doing this we are helping to break down the stereotypes and stigma associated with dementia, and we are challenging health care professionals to think differently about the accepted norms and traditional ways of caring for people living with dementia.”

United is committed to incorporating leading edge research into their operating model,
contributing to research that will improve the well-being of older adults, and sharing their
knowledge in order to advocate for equal treatment of everyone, regardless of their medical
diagnosis.

Photos by Sherana Productions and United. Video by Sherana Productions

Do you know a friend or family member who could benefit from living in a United community? Send them a link to our website or blog, or arrange a tour. We are happy to help! 

To learn more about life at United’s Fish Creek community, watch this short video.

Contact us here!