Living in long-term care doesn’t mean residents have to endure a bland, institutional setting.
Shaughnessy Seniors Community, located in Port Coquitlam, is a small boutique-style residence that provides exceptional care while focussing on the individual needs and preferences of each resident.
“It doesn’t feel like a facility here,” says Lina Saba, Director of Sales and Marketing for Park Place Seniors Living, Shaughnessy Seniors Community’s parent company.
“It’s a small site, with about 60 units total. The suites are quite large and are for private, single occupancy. Some of the corner units are as big as a studio apartment making residents feel more at home while still receiving round-the-clock registered nurse care.”
A unique feature of Shaughnessy Seniors Community is that the residence is completely private pay. A home-like environment is available and accessible without the need to navigate the health region assessment or endure a long waiting list for a spot. The licensed private-pay structure also allows for more flexibility of admissions, while still following provincial regulations.
A key benefit of that flexibility is allowing couples of different care levels to remain together. This is especially important because it means that elderly couples don’t have to be separated in their final years because of different care requirements.
“This is one of our biggest difference makers,” Saba says.
For example, if one partner has severe dementia and requires additional care, the couple can still move into the care home together. Or, one person can move in temporarily to help with the transition to a long-term care setting. Shaughnessy Seniors Community also offers a limited number of adjoining suites, for people who want to stay together but also prefer to have their own space.
“Unlike other facilities, we don’t have an exact criteria of care need level that people must meet in order to be admitted,” Saba says.
“Because we are a private pay residence, it means customer service is central to how we operate. Our options are less prescribed and less institutional.”
Residents at Shaughnessy Seniors Community are supported by the staff who are caring, committed and consistent. Many of the staff have been there for years, which means they bring a sense of familiarity to the residents, many of whom have cognitive issues.
“Having long-term staff is a crucial part of a good experience for our residents. They trust our staff. Especially during a pandemic when visiting is restricted, it makes a big difference to them to be familiar with who is providing their care.”
As well as spacious interior rooms for the residents, Shaughnessy Seniors Community also boasts a stunning garden courtyard for residents that features a cherry tree, bird bath, water features, a gazebo and tables with umbrellas. The layout of the care home is circular, and the garden area is directly in the middle.
This self-contained space is a boon for residents, especially for those with dementia who are in danger of wandering. Staff can watch through the windows that surround the courtyard and residents have the freedom to be outside without a lot of supervision.
Thanks to the highly engaged family committee, residents will soon have a beautiful new deck on the side of the building to facilitate outdoor visits.
“This was a project driven entirely by the family group, who raised the money for construction and arranged for the landscaping,” Saba says.
“We’re so lucky to be in an involved community where there’s a lot of engagement in trying to make the place as home-like and beautiful and green as possible, which makes a huge difference for residents, especially in a time that they're more cooped up than usual.”
To ensure the safety of residents, there are also regular education and audits for pandemic safety.
“The benefit of being part of a larger company is that we are training and meeting regularly. We have supplies, resources and people who will drive to your site if you need the support. That goes a long way to make families feel confident,” Saba says.
To learn more about the outstanding, unique care at Shaughnessy Seniors Home, visit its website.
