Extendicare

This Indigenous History Month, we are proud to celebrate two remarkable women at Extendicare Red River Place in Selkirk, Manitoba: June, a proud Treaty resident, and Rhonda, a Treaty Recreation Facilitator who has been working at the home for nearly 15 years. Selkirk, Manitoba is located on Treaty 1 territory, which is the traditional land of the Anishinaabeg (Ojibwe and Saulteaux), Nehiyawak (Cree), Oji-Cree, Dakota, and Dene Peoples. It is also part of the National Homeland of the Red River Métis — a connection Rhonda feels every day. “There is a special feeling knowing that your ancestors lived and worked on the same land that you do,” she says. For Rhonda, that connection shapes how she sees the residents in her care. “The Elders of the community are to be celebrated and highly respected. I find it interesting to learn about them, the lives they have lived, and the knowledge they pass on.” June feels it too. “We are proud of where we came from, and where we are going. We are caretakers of this land — always be proud of where you come from.” We are honoured to learn from our elders who make Red River Place the community that it is. #IndigenousHistoryMonth #Extendicare

June is Seniors’ Month in Ontario, and this year's theme, Let's Get Moving, couldn't feel more fitting as we kick off the month with a love story 80 years in the making. ❤️ Eighty years of marriage, five children, ten grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren, and a love story that started at a tailor shop. Last month, Bill, a 104-year-old resident at Extendicare Meadows, celebrated his 80th wedding anniversary with his wife, Josie. The couple first met while making air force uniforms at Cornell's Tailor Shop — the beginning of a partnership that has spanned generations. To mark the occasion, the two celebrated at Extendicare Meadows with a special dinner, surrounded by family, decorations, and thewarmth that was built through a lifetime of love shared together. When asked for their advice for a successful marriage, Bill said, "It's got to be luck." Josie offered her own wisdom: "You have to always be there for each other." Congratulations, Bill and Josie, and happy Seniors’ Month to all the residents, families and team members who keep our communities moving forward every day.

This spring, Extendicare’s residents, families, team members and community members across the country are coming together to make every step count in support of the Alzheimer Society of Canada. As care providers for a growing population impacted by rising rates of dementia, this is a cause close to our hearts. For more than a decade, Extendicare has been a proud supporter of the Alzheimer Society of Canada, raising more than $1.8 million to date to support critical work to improve quality of life for Canadians affected by dementia and their loved ones. Today, more than 750,000 Canadians are living with dementia – a number expected to reach nearly 1 million by 2030. Dementia is one of the most common reasons a person must leave their home and enter long-term care, and the needs among Canadians are increasing rapidly as our aging population grows. To unite around this important cause, Extendicare long-term care homes, our ParaMed Home Health Care and SGP Purchasing Network teams are walking, rolling and raising funds in support of the ASC’s vital work to provide resources for people living with dementia and support for their families. #Extendicare #DementiaCare #WalkForAlzheimers

May is Physiotherapy Month – a chance to recognize and celebrate physiotherapists and physiotherapy assistants who help residents build strength, balance, and confidence to keep doing what matters most to them. “The most rewarding part of our work is seeing residents feel stronger, safer, and more confident as they work toward their personal goals,” shares Snehal, a physiotherapist at Extendicare Brampton. To the physiotherapy team at Extendicare Brampton, and to every physiotherapist and physiotherapy assistant across Extendicare, thank you. #PhysiotherapyMonth

🏆 Celebrating our latest #ExtendicareCareChampions Care Champions are team members whose compassion, professionalism, and dedication to residents truly stand out. They reflect the very best of Extendicare - making a meaningful difference every single day through exceptional care, strong relationships, and unwavering commitment. Please join us in congratulating: 🌟 Aizzah, Registered Nurse, Extendicare Michener Hill, AB 🌟 Christina, Recreation Facilitator, Extendicare Hillcrest Place, MB 🌟 Heather, Dietary Aide, Extendicare Oakview Place, MB 🌟 Meghan, Recreation Aide, Extendicare Winbourne Park, ON 🌟 Sandra, Personal Support Worker, Extendicare Tecumseh, ON 🌟 Vishu, Manager, Resident Programs, Extendicare Fairmont Park, AB Thank you to our Care Champions. ❤️

This Personal Support Worker Day, six PSWs from Extendicare long-term care homes across Ontario reflect on what this work means to them and share the moments that have stayed with them most. From dignified end-of-life care to trusted daily support, laughter, music, and many quiet wins, their words are a powerful reminder of the heart behind long-term care. Read their stories here: https://ow.ly/Oiio50Z0nl1

May is #PhysiotherapyMonth! 💪We are fortunate to have talented, passionate Physiotherapists (PT) supporting residents at our long-term care homes across Canada. Paras, a PT supporting our Sherwood Court and Elginwood homes, shared how PT helps residents hold on to their independence, dignity and sense of self through functional movement. “Every step, every transfer, every small gain matters. Whether it’s helping someone walk safely to the dining room again, stand with confidence, or simply move without fear, our goal is to restore not just function, but confidence and freedom,” he says. Individualized assessments and tailored treatment plans for each resident focus on improving strength, balance, mobility and endurance to help residents move through their day with more independence and comfort. Please join us in celebrating the amazing PTs like Paras and his team who keep residents active and engaged. #Physiotherapy #InderdisciplinaryCare #Extendicare

Happy National Nursing Week! This week, we celebrate the nurses who make a difference for those in our care every day — and all those working toward becoming the nurses of tomorrow. In addition to providing scholarships to help our own team members upgrade their credentials through the Extendicare Nursing Scholarship program, we also support nurses shaping the future of Canada’s healthcare system through scholarships offered by the Canadian Nurses Foundation/Fondation des infirmières et infirmiers du Canada (CNF) in gerontology and nurse practitioner studies. 2025 recipients include Shawna, a Behavioural Supports Ontario Registered Nurse working in a rural hospital and pursuing her Master of Science in Nursing. Her graduate research explores how nurses use activity-based interventions to support patients living with dementia. “Becoming a nurse has allowed me to combine my background in gerontology and recreation therapy with clinical skills to advocate for compassionate, person-centred dementia care.” Darren, another recipient of an Extendicare CNF scholarship, is the first nurse in his family. “I knew I wanted to occupy my life’s work with something that I could be proud to tell my friends and family I am a part of,” he says. "And nursing has fulfilled that desire”. For Darren, caring for older adults is where he finds the most meaning in his work. "Their individual life journeys are fascinating and their wisdom is invaluable."

It’s Nurses Week, and we are proud to shine a light on the clinical expertise and compassionate leadership nurses bring to dementia care every day. In our latest video, Karen Simpson, Extendicare’s Manager of Behavioural Support and Dementia Care speaks with Renee, Behavioural Supports Ontario Lead and Assistant Director of Care at Extendicare Burloak, about what she wishes people understood about dementia, and how nurses play a critical role in seeing the person behind the diagnosis. Thank you to all nurses across Extendicare for the skill, empathy and dedication you bring to your work to serve residents – this week and always. #NursesWeek #Extendicare #DementiaCare

Our care teams make a meaningful difference every day, with nurses playing a vital role across Extendicare and ParaMed. This Nurses Week, Leslee Thompson, a new member of our Board of Directors and a former frontline nurse and health care leader, shares a message of thanks for the compassion and commitment shown every day by our nursing team members. Through every interaction, our nurses bring skill and empathy – improving the lives of those in their care across our communities. Thank you for all that you do this week and every week. #NursesWeek #ThankYouNurses #Extendicare #ParaMed