Retirement Home Help
Providing additional care for your loved one allows them to remain living in the retirement home.
Your father moved into a retirement home after your mother passed away because he was lonely and he couldn’t cook. The retirement home provides meals and there are other people around, but he’s still feeling lonely since it wasn’t as easy to make new friends as he had envisioned.
Lately, he has been struggling with incontinence, and he’s nervous to leave his room for fear of being incontinent in public.
Moving into a retirement home was supposed to solve his loneliness and provide him with activities and new friendships. Instead, he is confined to a room that is much smaller than his house. Staff tries to coax him out of his room, but they have many other residents to attend to and can’t remain at his side.
Our caregivers deliver personalized one-on-one care!
Our caregivers provide dedicated one-on-one attention to your father, gently encouraging him to participate in activities and offering support in case he does not make it to the washroom in time. Incontinence can lead to a significant increase in laundry, which may feel overwhelming to manage. A Warm Embrace caregiver will discreetly handle daily laundry and ensure bedsheets are changed as needed.
If your father’s care needs increase beyond what the retirement home can provide, staying there may no longer be suitable without extra support. With the help of a Warm Embrace caregiver, your father can continue living in the retirement home of his choice for much longer, potentially postponing the need to move into a nursing home.
The social connection offered by a Warm Embrace caregiver can have positive health benefits.
In addition to the practical assistance we provide, the social connection offered by a caregiver can have positive health benefits for your parent. Your parent will feel more connected and have something to look forward to each day or week!
Filling the Care Gaps: What Warm Embrace Caregivers Offer
Incontinence care
Cueing and reminders so client can self-manage
Immediate laundering of heavily soiled items
Frequent sanitizing of bathroom
Encouragement to be physically active
Human connection and good conversation
Warm Embrace in Action
“When we began looking for companion care for my aunt who had just moved into a retirement home, I reached out to three different agencies in the Guelph area. What made Warm Embrace stand out was the tone of our very first conversation. Chloe exuded empathy and competence; she was genuinely interested in our situation and asked thoughtful questions as a means to fully understand the needs of my aunt and our reasons for accessing her service.
It was clear that our family situation was one she had encountered before, and she was able to provide an excellent solution that has provided ease of mind for us and increased freedom and enjoyment for my aunt. The level of service is both professional and extremely personable.
As we encountered new challenges with the changing nature of my aunt's needs, Chloe responded quickly, with guidance and suggestions for new approaches. My aunt seems to thoroughly enjoy the outings she goes on with her companion. The variety of destinations and the thought put into making them fun and interesting to my aunt, catering to her interests and needs is much appreciated. I would not hesitate to recommend this service to any friends or family.”
~ Mary Jane S.
How Warm Embrace Enhances Care in Retirement Homes
Physical Needs
Incontinence
Requires regular toileting, changing briefs and clothing, diligent peri-care to prevent infection, and frequent laundry of clothing and bedsheets.
Transfers
Assistance in standing up, getting on/off the toilet, and in/out of bed. Being the second set of hands for two-person assist or Hoyer lift use.
Bed Care
Changing of briefs, sponge bathing, frequent repositioning to prevent bed sores, providing meal trays, meeting all needs.
Fall Reduction
Physical assistance with transfers, walking, showering, and any other high-risk activities to reduce likelihood of a fall.
Advanced Dementia
Exit Seeking
Constant attendant care to ensure safety if someone is exit seeking or inclined to leave the building at unsafe times
1:1 support
Providing cueing to get someone through the day, constant redirection and reminders
Keep couples together
Supporting the person with dementia allows them to remain living with their spouse instead of being placed in LTC away from their spouse
Awaiting or Preventing
Crisis LTC placement
Providing the necessary support for safety and to reduce risk while on the waiting list for LTC
What are signs that additional help is needed in a retirement home?
Increased loneliness or isolation
Difficulty with personal hygiene or incontinence
Wandering or exit-seeking behavior
Requiring two-person transfer-assist or a Hoyer lift
Problematic interactions with other residents or staff
Withdrawing from events and social activities
Inability to integrate with other residents and participate
Calls from staff to report safety incidents
Staff recommending LTC placement
Around-the-Clock Care
When your loved one can’t be left alone, our caregivers provide help, 24/7 around-the-clock. Our constant care allows your loved one to remain living in their retirement home of choice even when their care needs have increased.
What is the difference between a retirement home and long-term care?
Retirement homes are independent living facilities where meals and housekeeping are provided, but residents are capable of managing their daily needs. Residents attend activities as they please, and get themselves to and from the dining room for meals.
Some retirement homes have assisted living floors that provide additional support for those with higher care needs. Retirement homes are private, costs can vary, and some have wait lists while others have vacancies that are immediately available.
Examples of local retirement homes in Waterloo Region:
Luther Village on the Park
Chartwell Clair Hills
Hygate on Lexington
Chartwell Westmount
Granite Landing
Long term care is for those who have significant care needs. One must be deemed eligible for long term care and must be on a waiting list that is managed by Ontario Health at Home. Previously referred to as ‘nursing homes’, long term care provides nursing care and higher staffing ratios than retirement homes, and costs are standardized. Every long term care home is at full capacity with a significant wait list.
Examples of local long term care homes in Waterloo Region:
Extendicare Columbia Forest
peopleCare AR Goudie
Sunnyside Home
There are properties that contain both retirement homes and long term care homes on the same campus. Each side functions independently; the retirement home side is private-pay and independent living while the LTC side is partially government-funded and has wait lists. Living on the retirement side does not give priority access to the LTC on that same property. Wait lists are still proctored by Ontario Health at Home.
Examples of local properties that have both Retirement Homes and LTC:
The Village at University Gates
The Village of Winston Park
Age Care Elmira
Fairview Mennonite Home
Care Wherever Home Is
Warm Embrace serves residents at every one of the homes listed above. Whether its providing the extra personal care needed to remain in a retirement home, or providing companionship support within long term care, our caregivers ensure that clients have the best day possible wherever home is for them.
Retirement homes offer a baseline of services, but additional care—such as personal care, companionship, or overnight support—can be added to help residents stay longer in their preferred environment.
Yes, with supportive care your loved one can often remain in their retirement home even if their needs exceed what the facility provides.
Yes. Caregivers can provide overnight or round-the-clock support to ensure safety, manage behaviors, and offer companionship—especially helpful for clients with dementia or high fall risk.
Definitely! We are accustomed to working collaboratively with staff in retirement homes. Warm Embrace provides the increased level of 1:1 care that they simply cannot offer. Our job is to ensure clients are thriving, and staff have that same goal.