​Choosing a seniors’ community is like a lot of things: what you see isn’t exactly what you get.

At first blush, you see a bright and vibrant community with residents out and about: attending programming, eating meals in the dining room, socializing, and otherwise going about their day. Seems simple enough, doesn’t it? Provide food, a suite, programming, care, and presto! You’ve got the formula down pat—no need to get too cerebral about it—just build it, and they will come.

But like most other things, there’s what you see, and then there’s what’s going on under the surface. At United, you’ll find many similar elements of a seniors’ community: food, lodging, programming, and care. But what’s less tangible is a philosophy that refuses to adhere to a status quo.

There’s more to the story

If you’re at the beginning of your continuing care journey, whether for yourself or a loved one, chances are, you’ve been introduced to an entire lexicon of new terms: words like memory care, cognitive decline, levels of care, support, caregiver, and facility are likely buzzing in your ears ad nauseum. All of these terms are important when taking your needs into consideration, but notably, through the reams of information, much less common are words like integration, innovation, creative expression, or collaboration.

Until you step into a United community.

Chipping away at stereotypes

From its inception, United has positioned itself as a local owner and operator committed to transforming the experience of aging as we know it. One of the mechanisms for transformation: breaking down the barriers within the community itself. Gone are the secure floors and locked units, and instead, United has forged the path to create Canada’s first fully integrated older adult community—residents of all backgrounds and abilities mingle, sharing amenities and experiences, attending programming, interacting, and forging connections that wouldn’t be possible in a community that separates people based on a diagnosis or perceived limitations.

Amy McDonough, Executive Director at United Fish Creek, says the benefits of living in an integrated community help break down the stigma of aging, and that living with a dementia diagnosis offers a way to connect through shared experiences. “When you have a diverse community, you see residents shed some of the fear that naturally surfaces after a diagnosis—they see their peers living, thriving, and leading fulfilling lives. They don’t suddenly disappear and become invisible. Aside from receiving additional support from the wellness team, nothing changes for a resident when their care needs change. It makes a huge difference in their mindset, knowing they won’t lose their friendships, their spaces, or their purpose as they continue on their journey.”

Collaboration sparks innovation

United’s integrated community approach isn’t just a surface-level innovation: for a community to be truly integrated, it takes all teams working together to ensure residents’ needs are being met. With departments operating as collaborators, there’s a natural conduit for teams to connect, share their strategies, and help each other out.

Behind the scenes, team members like Kathy Cleary, Vice President Strategic Projects, and Jamie Fewchuk Director of Innovation in Aging have been collaborating to create opportunities for team members to introduce innovation in other areas of United’s operations.

Enter: United’s first annual Innovation Fair. “When Kathy proposed the initial concept of the Innovation Fair, we knew it was the perfect platform for our diverse team to share their ideas. Our service facing team members have some of the strongest connections with residents—they understand how to truly make a difference in their day-to-day experiences and what the challenge points are in delivering an exceptional experience. Fostering a culture of innovation across all levels of the organization makes sense if we want to make a real impact in our communities,” says Jamie.

“The Innovation Fair was a significant step to engage team members, and embrace United’s core philosophy of innovation at every level of the organization,” says Kathy. “Each one of the 34 entries had merit, but the recurring theme across the board was collaboration. It was a really tough decision for the judges, I certainly don’t envy that job at all.” Kathy laughs, “It speaks to the team’s dedication to the residents, and to their fellow team members—since there’s no typical day at United, collaboration between departments is key to the success and wellbeing of everyone here.”

Christy Moneva an LPN, and Sylvie Kavugho, an HCA with the United Cares team took top prize for their submission, providing a solution for a cross-team communication system. “We initially were excited about the $500 prize, but we got serious about our submission when we realized we could really make an impact on the lives of residents,” Christy says. “Since we often work the evening shifts, unobtrusive monitoring is essential for the safety and support of residents, but there are a lot of boxes to check, and critical checkpoints can potentially be missed if your task list starts piling up.” Christy continues, “Sylvie and I created the ‘Universal Point of Care System’ which enables teams across departments to access and contribute to resident safety monitoring. Now, with everyone on the same page, we all work together to ensure residents are being looked after without interruption, and we can respond more efficiently if an urgent need arises.”

Sylvie adds, “We’re so glad that we were able to implement this new system in the community—it gives us peace of mind to know that we can ensure residents are eating, socializing, and understand how they are participating in daily life here. We don’t want residents to feel like we are overbearing or treating them like they are children. We love to spend time with them, and get to know them all individually, and to ensure they feel like we are not just connecting with them to cross a task off our list, but to make a real connection.”

Reaping the rewards

It’s not just residents who notice the difference a collaborative community makes. This year, United was the proud recipient of the 2023 Minister’s Seniors’ Service Award. For 25 years, the annual award has recognized Albertans and organizations making a difference in the lives of seniors and their communities. United’s nomination was based on its integrated living model, supported by United Minds services, as well as the inaugural Innovation Fair’s winning submissions.

Jamie, Christy, and Sylvie ventured to Government House in Edmonton accompanied by United Active Living President and CEO Kim O’Brien, to receive the award from Alberta’s Lieutenant Governor Salma Lakhani and the Honourable Jason Nixon, Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services.

“Being recognized with a Minister's Seniors Service Award holds a special significance for us,” says United’s President and CEO Kim O’Brien, “It serves as a testament to the dedication of our team members who tirelessly strive to enhance the lives of United’s residents, and further inspires us to continue our innovative pursuits.” Kim continues, “This acknowledgment of the important work we do is truly appreciated as we continue to push boundaries and explore new ways to better serve our aging population. I am grateful to share this special award with our team and our residents and hope that is serves to further inspires us to continue our innovative pursuits.”

Forging the path forward

While it’s nice to be acknowledged as a visionary in the sector, the team at United presses on in pursuit of innovative solutions that set the organization apart in a growing industry. “As we continue to build and grow,” Jamie says, “we’re committed to learning and innovating along with the residents who choose to live at United. As their needs shift and change, we will too. We’re seeing a cultural shift of older adults who see the value of living in a community, well before their wellness needs require them to make that transition. For many, they want to make the most of their golden years, alongside people they relate to, creating new friendships, and reconnecting with their loved ones.” Jamie concludes, “The landscape for older adult communities is changing and we want to be at the forefront of that shift, setting of the bar for what a community for older adults can be. We do that by trusting our team, and giving them the opportunity to lead that change. I can’t wait to see what our team brings to this year’s Innovation Fair—their dedication and commitment to residents challenges us to keep evolving.”

Seeing is believing

“My sister has only been here for a few months,” says Ursula, whose sister is supported by United Minds services, “Every time I visit, I see her feeling secure, gaining confidence, and becoming a valued member of the community. She had initially been on a locked unit elsewhere, but she felt restricted and unable to make genuine connections. We’re so happy we found United — and we feel so optimistic about her future in her new home.”

United’s innovative approach to transforming the experience of aging can be distilled down to one thing: connection. “We are so thrilled at the response from team members when it comes to residents,” says Kera Redlack, Vice President of Wellness and Employee Engagement. “The mutual respect and joy residents and team members get from being encouraged to establish genuine relationships with each other is why we see so many smiling faces in the community, and why we get such dedication from our team members. We are thrilled to be acknowledged across the industry, setting the bar when it comes to innovation.”

If you want to learn more about United’s philosophy, we’d love to meet you. Stop in and get a behind-the-scenes look at innovation in action!