Chartwell Heritage Valley Retirement Residence is an Edmonton place that provides pretty much everything a senior needs.

We were pleasantly surprised to find that they’re very accessible to seniors who want to live independently or those who need constant care.

Their services are independent living, assisted living, private supportive living, and memory care. It’s really incredible how open they are to a variety of lifestyles, allowing them to accommodate different needs.

We particularly want to highlight their memory care program, which is for seniors with dementia or cognitive impairment. It’s very helpful that they have staff who can provide daily assistance with anything, such as bathing and activities.

There are three kinds of suites here as well: one bedroom, one bedroom with a den, and two bedrooms. It’s nice that each is also equipped with a security system, grab bar, linen service, and cable TV. The prices are justified, too, because all have kitchenettes.

But here’s the kicker we found: all rooms only include one meal per day. Unfortunately, the three meals per day service is optional, which is unfortunate because meals are basic needs.

On a good note, we found that there are plenty of activities and enrichment programs to keep residents entertained and active, like fun outings, billiards, and card games. Besides that one gripe we have, they’re still a solid pick in Canada.

Very helpful staff

“We just moved my dad into Chartwell Heritage Valley and so far we absolutely love it! The suite is lovely and spacious and they had it painted and new flooring installed for us. The staff is lovely and accommodating. David Martin was extremely helpful and had so much time for our questions and multiple tours. My dad is settling in nicely with help from David and Rick the maintenance/housekeeping manager. It’s been a great experience! We highly recommend this Chartwell location.”

Jennifer Nola, Google Review

Has a very supportive environment

“My mother has lived in Chartwell Heritage Valley for two years.  Our family has been very pleased with the level of care that she has received from the Chartwell staff.  We know she is safe, she is being served nutritious meals, she is receiving prompt medical care, she is being kept busy with a variety of resident activities, and she is growing friendships with both the staff and other residents.  The staff does a great job of keeping us informed about issues with my mother that could be causes for concern. If you are looking for a supportive living arrangement for elderly family members I highly recommend you consider Chartwell Heritage Valley.”

Gary Mandrusiak, Google Review

One of our top choices is The Briton House in Toronto, which has been around since 1976. That’s almost 50 years, which we believe speaks volumes about their experience and knowledge of caring for seniors.

We appreciate that they cater to independent living, assisted living, and memory care. It’s very convenient that seniors don’t have to move to another retirement home should they require extra care.

What’s worth highlighting is the independent living plus service, which is for seniors who want to live independently but need additional assistance. This may include escorting when bathing, providing dressing assistance, and managing incontinence.

Our only issue is some basic services require additional fees for assisted living, like toiletries and escort to the dining room during meals.

Based on what we’ve seen, their amenities are really excellent—there are indoor and outdoor spaces. We particularly like the English Garden, which is a beautiful space for social activities surrounded by plants, flowers, and waterfall sounds.

Plus, there’s an indoor beach complete with sunlight simulators. There’s no need to travel because the beach is right inside the building.

Lastly, there’s also a nice variety of suites for one to two people, including one bedroom, two bedroom, and a double suite. Honestly, we noticed that seniors can get pretty much everything they need here.

Overall solid service

“Jared is a fantastic person of contact, thoughtful, generous and caring. The staff are professional, the premises relaxing and high end. The community solid and helpfull. Great location. A 10 rating in all all aspects !!”

Lorne Merrick, Google Review

Incredible service and support

“I researched many retirement homes in Toronto, and Briton House stood out for many reasons.  Family owned and operated, an excellent reputation, positive referrals and reasonable pricing put Briton House on the short list.  It was quick and easy to book a tour and we were impressed with the comfortable hotel-like atmosphere, relaxing atrium and amenities.  Once my loved one moved in, the caring and competent staff provided an environment where she was able to enjoy regular meals, be supported with personal care and flourish, becoming the happy, social person she was before being diagnosed with dementia.  You can trust that residents are well cared for, safe and living their best life.”

Christine Dingemans, Google Review

Aberdeen Gardens is a Hamilton retirement home that has been around for over 70 years. These years definitely show their experience in assisting different kinds of needs.

They provide independent living, assisted living, and respite stays. We also like that there are personalized care plans for each resident, which is very helpful as they can cater to different needs.

We also appreciate that there are various floorplans, priced within the usual range in Ontario. However, we noticed that most of their suites are studio styles, which is also where their limitation lies.

But the positive is all suites have climate control, emergency response systems, and maintenance services. It’s also very convenient that they provide complimentary tray service if the resident is ill.

Plus, we found that pets are welcome in this retirement home, which is an incredible service for pet lovers. That’s as long as the resident can care for the pet on their own.

During our visit, we learned that families are welcome day or night. Families can even join their loved ones during meals and can stay for a short time in the resident’s room or a separate suite if one is available.

Overall, this retirement home is one of our favourites. The professional and caring staff is the icing on the cake.

Staff is incredible

“If you have a loved one or you yourself are looking for a place for assisted retirement living. Look no further, you will not find a more caring and helpful staff than here. We had my father in law here and he was very nervous about going to live in assisted living. He loved it here, the residents are happy and friendly. The staff and management do an amazing job. There are not enough words to say how appreciative we are of Aberdeen Gardens”

Edward Barry, Google Review

Makes transition process easy for residents

“Probably the most flexible retirement home I’ve come across. They work with you to make the transition of your loved one(s), as well as with the family to understand the challenges of when life changes. They were a great fit for us and the management amazing.”

Mario Tcheon, Google Review

One of our picks is Résidence des Franciscains, located in Quebec City’s Montcalm district. This Franciscan residence caters specifically to semi-autonomous seniors.

They provide assistance to seniors with cognitive impairments, such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. We really appreciate this because since this is the only service they provide, they can focus entirely on their residents’ needs.

It’s nice they also offer respite stays, which is ideal for seniors who need short-term care.

Since they’re focused on memory care, it’s important to have patient, caring, and highly experienced staff. And from what we’ve seen, they are well-equipped to care for residents with specific needs.

We really appreciate that their basic services are extensive. Residents get three meals and two snacks a day, housekeeping, laundry service, prescription tracking, health assessment, travel assistance, hygiene supervision, and more.

Plus, we were happy to see that the place is very safe. There’s a fixed call if residents need help, a carbon monoxide alarm, and 24/7 staff and security team.

It’s also incredible that they provide semi-furnished rooms, which means the basics are already included.

But we did notice there are only 41 units, which is a bummer because it does mean a longer wait list if they’re full. Then again, the place is worth waiting for due to the incredible service.

Top-notch care to its residents

“After four and a half years, the family atmosphere of the residence convinced me that I made the right choice for mom.

The staff has gotten to know her and when I leave the residence after my visits or when I go on vacation, I always have peace of mind because I know that she will be safe, that she will eat well and that she will receive all the care she needs.”

Nelson Nadeau, Google Review

Incredible assistance throughout

“I would like to thank Maude and Mélanie for their attentive listening and dedication when I needed their residence service! They were able to advise me and support me in the process of transferring my mother to them. They were of great help with wise advice, they gave a human experience in this whirlwind of emotion. I can never thank them enough and I wish the Franciscan Residence a long life.”

Réjeanne Guimond, Google Review

Gilmore Gardens is a luxury retirement plan in BC by Verve Senior Living. Even from the outside, the place is big, which surprised us (but in a good way).

They provide two living options: independent living and respite stay. The only issue we have is they don’t have assisted living, unlike other Verve Senior Living homes.

We were thrilled to learn that there are a variety of suites, such as a studio, one bedroom, one bedroom with a den, and two bedrooms. 

What sets this retirement home apart is the amenities. The suites have well-appointed kitchenettes, heat control, window coverings, WiFi and cable, and weekly housekeeping service—it’s luxury living at its finest.

Plus, we really like that they are pet-friendly, which is good news for residents who have furry companions. Each floor even has complimentary laundry facilities, which makes tasks easy to do.

It’s also incredible that this residence has many facilities for enrichment and convenience. There’s a library, outdoor terrace, spa, hair salon, bistro and bar, activity centre, fireside lounge, and personal mailboxes.

We noticed that the menu is diverse and healthy, which we have to say is actually delicious and not boring. 

The calendar is super packed, with daily activities for enrichment. It’s never boring here, which is why they’re a solid choice even though they’re a bit expensive (the studio is already $3,815).

All-around outstanding service

“My parents have been living in Gilmore Garden since last summer. It was extremely difficult to find a right place for aging parents, but we are so glad that we found GG. So far we are very happy that they are in this warm, bright, and welcoming community where all staffs are friendly, caring and helpful to answer their needs. They enjoy the holiday celebrations, parties, concerts, and performances. They participate in programs and activities as they like. Most importantly, we feel that they are in a safe place should they need any health assistance. GG has done an outstanding job in creating a happy and comfortable home for seniors!”

Vivienne Poon, Google Review

Strict safety measures

“Gilmore Gardens Retirement Residence is a warm, inviting, and safe place for your loved ones. The staff are always friendly and ready to help whatever the concern. The management has taken the COVID pandemic very seriously and endeavour to keep all the residents healthy by instituting a variety of safety measures. I suggest that you go and check out the Residence to experience all that they have to offer. I personally recommend Gilmore Gardens Retirement Residence to any who may be contemplating moving themselves, or family members, there.”

Robert Suranyi, Google Review