Frequently Asked Questions
Health & Wellness
Go ahead, ask us anything
The transition to a senior living community comes with lots of questions. Moving into a new home is a big decision, and we want to ensure that all your questions are answered, so you can make an informed choice. Here are some of the most common questions we receive from new residents and their families about United Active Living.
Frequently asked questions
General
We operate under a social model of care rather than a medical model of care. That means that we see you as a whole person—focusing on your interests, personality and life history. This relationship-centred approach means that you are empowered to make your own decisions about what is right for you. It’s a simple and sincere approach. And it works. This approach supports you in maintaining your independence, ensuring a meaningful and fulfilling life.
*Our Services and Amenities are incomparable.
** We offer flexible mealtimes with varied, well-balanced menus and daily specials that promise a variety of nutritious meals.
** Our United Minds dementia care program is the most progressive in the world and focuses on your strengths.
** Our United Cares Wellness Program and Hospitality Program offer additional care services that are completely customizable to your needs and can be adjusted as your needs change.
*Arts & Culture Programs and Educational Programs are inspired by residents’ interests so that you can live a full and enriching life in your later years.
* Our Integrated Community means that couples are not separated, even if their care needs differ. This model ensures that individuals with diverse needs, including dementia, are an active part of our community.
United Active Living fosters a vibrant, lively environment. You’ll enjoy quality time with other residents while developing authentic, meaningful connections and relationships with the Wellness Staff team.
We’re a community within the larger Calgary community too, so you can engage with our Community Partners, from trips to the Calgary Philharmonic to classes with St. Mary’s University. Many residents find that their lives expand to include new friends, new opportunities to learn, and more socializing when they move into a United community.
While the common expectation is that older adults will “age in place,” often the family home no longer meets their changing needs. What we are seeing are the benefits of “aging in community” where there are supports to ensure that older adults age well and have more opportunities to thrive.
Living a full life in your later years is an important focus in United Active Living communities. Programs are designed around your interests. The art studios, for instance, are open 24/7 and facilitated by professional artists. A kinesiologist leads exercise classes and can also design individual programs.
We have many Community Partnerships that give our residents opportunities to be involved in different aspects of arts and culture in Calgary, including Calgary Civic Symphony, Lunch Box Theatre, and the Calgary Philharmonic. Our programming draws on residents’ interests, skills and experience. The most successful programs are those that are inspired by you.
We value residents’ wisdom and life experiences, so we’ve created opportunities for you to enrich the lives of other residents by lending your expertise as a program volunteer. Learn more about Arts & Culture Programs and Educational Programs.
Choosing your suite
United offers both independent living (for residents who don’t require assistance with personal care) and quality living (for residents who need a bit more care). In both, you have a choice of luxurious, high-end suite designs with a variety of floor plans. You can choose from one or two-bedroom suites, full kitchens, and more. All suites come with in-suite laundry.
Explore suite options at Garrison Green, Fish Creek North, and Fish Creek West.
Absolutely. Our spacious suites are yours to make your own. Suites are large, so you can bring your favourite furniture, pictures, and other personal items. Your suite is your home—we encourage you to personalize it.
Pets are part of your family, so dogs and cats are welcome. Contact an Active Living Advisor for more information.
United Active Living offers both short-term trial stays and respite care stays.
Respite care stays are intended to help you recover from surgery, provide a supportive environment while your caregiver is away, or simply give you a much-needed break from life’s hustle and bustle. Respite care at United is available to people with diverse care needs, including dementia.
Trial stays give you an immersive experience so you can see for yourself what living in an older community is all about. Contact one of our Active Living Advisors for details.
My monthly costs
Rental rates depend on a number of factors including the size of the suite and the amenities and health care options you choose. Depending on the community and the size of your suite, monthly costs start at around $4,000 per month.
Packages include meals, 24-hour emergency response, housekeeping, utilities, in-suite laundry, cable TV, phone service, and more.
Contact one of our Active Living Advisors to fully understand your options and costs.
Yes, meals are included, and your monthly rental fee is flexible to include as many or as few meals as you want. Contact an Active Living Advisor about your meal options.
At United, you can eat what you want, when you want, and with whom you want. There is no assigned seating. Our kitchens are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day, and we feature an all-day menu.
Our chefs create varied, well-balanced menus and daily specials that promise a variety of nutritious meals. As well, our servers get to know your likes, dislikes, and dietary requirements. Learn more about dining options.
Health and wellness
Health care services are a key offering available to all residents. Your wellness is our number one priority, which means we focus on who you are as a person, not just the state of your health. From our nurses to our hospitality team, we will connect every day to ensure all is well. Learn more about our Commitment to Wellness.
As your care needs change, we change right with you. For residents living with dementia, United Minds is one of the most progressive dementia care programs in the world. Every step of the way we are dedicated to keeping everyone in our community healthy, safe, and well.
We believe that you know how you want to live, so our health care team supports you by providing choice and control over your life. Your health care needs don’t define who you are. It’s our job to find out what you need to live a full, active life and help meet those needs. It’s all about supporting you to live well rather than what is most efficient for the health care team.
Our wellness teams are a unique feature of United’s communities. Meeting each week, the wellness teams are made up of representatives of all departments—United Minds, nursing, food services, housekeeping, programming, and fitness. They share their knowledge about your concerns, successes, capabilities, and needs, and develop approaches that can help you improve your quality of life.
Because getting to know you as a person is central to our approach to wellness, simply spending time with residents is an important part of our Wellness Staff’s job. Nurses at United will always refer to you by your name and wear business casual attire rather than scrubs. Medications are made available to you in your suite to ensure privacy, dignity, and respect.
We ensure that your health care needs are well managed, and provide you with the peace of mind that an unexpected change won’t disrupt your connection with your community. Nursing support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Should you need to transition from independent living to quality living, there is no need to leave the community and your friends. We will support you in your move to one of our quality living suites to ensure you can continue to enjoy your accustomed lifestyle.
An important part of our philosophy is Integrated Living, which includes supporting the close ties that spouses have by helping them remain together if they choose. This is true even when a couple has different care needs. Husbands, wives, or life partners often want to stay together no matter what health issues they face. Many couples also choose to participate in programs and activities that support the general well-being of both.
Research shows people with dementia have better outcomes and higher quality of life when included with the general community population. At United, we are an Integrated Community and do not segregate based on level of care. There are no separate dementia wings or floors. All residents are encouraged to participate in programs and events.
At United, we have purposely designed our environments, our United Minds program, and our specialized employee education to support you in maintaining your independence.
Dementia care
Our job as caregivers is to understand what makes each resident who they are, and how we can provide meaning, purpose, and a sense of belonging here with us. Learn more about United Minds by downloading the brochure.
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.
