Quality of life

Quality of life is largely determined by the sense of family and shared values within facility-based living. Residents often speak about what contributes most to quality of life: Caring relationships, kindness, connections with others, respect, autonomy, camaraderie, joy, laughter, and a sense of purpose and belonging.

Why quality of life isn’t the same as quality of care

Quality of life means so much more than high quality care. But measuring quality of life can be a challenging task.

Families make all the difference

We believe family and friends are the most important support system for our residents. We’ll always consider you an essential part of the care team.

Spiritual and end of life care

CHAA’s faith-based operators offer exceptional palliative and end-of-life care. Our care services include a rich and inclusive spiritual aspect for all residents from any faith community.

How donations and volunteers make a difference

Most of our member sites are filled with volunteers and enriched through charitable donations.

Equity, diversity & inclusion

CHAA’s first not-for-profit care homes in Alberta began in the 1860s through the mission work of faith-based organizations. Our calling then — as it remains today — is to offer care to individuals struggling with inequities, poverty, social isolation, marginalization, and other challenges of daily living. We welcome all residents in our care homes, regardless of faith, culture, sexual orientation/identity, financial circumstances, or cognitive capacity.

Perogies and congee are welcome here

Some CHAA care homes offer enhanced services for populations with distinct language, food, cultural and religious preferences — including staff who speak multiple languages. It’s our way of working ‘in the home’ of our residents.

Social work and guardianship

About 80% of long-term-care residents have dementia and need help managing their finances. And some have no family at all. Our care homes always step up.

LGBTQ2S+

No matter who you love or which gender you identify with, CHAA care homes are committed to learning from each other and our residents about welcoming and supporting individuals and couples in congregate care settings.

Indigenous populations

As faith-based operators, CHAA’s care homes have a strong connection with the spiritual values and health practices of Inuit, Metis, and First Nations populations. Still, there’s a long way to go before we’re truly meeting the needs of elders.

Welcoming all faiths

CHAA members are guided solely by our long-standing faith, values and commitment to serve those in need.

Thriving in place

Most residents in continuing care develop strong friendships and roots among the familiar faces and routines in their care home. Our goal is always to maintain a stable and consistent residence for those needing care — ideally in the same care home if possible, and certainly in the same community.

Advocating for a home-like environment

Small care homes designed for 14 or fewer residents are increasingly in demand. But even large care centres can be designed and operated to feel intimate and home-like.

Moving up sometimes means moving out

Many Albertans are surprised to learn that residents sometimes must move to another facility as their care needs increase. Our operators are working hard to change the system policies and capacity issues that are the source of this challenge.

Serving community catchment areas

CHAA operators are trialing new outreach and day programs that bring meals, recreation, check-ins, and social connections to residents in our surrounding communities. Here’s why we need to grow this concept.

Pandemic protections

The COVID-19 pandemic taught us a great deal about gaps and challenges in the continuing care system. CHAA and our not-for-profit operators played a leadership role from the onset of the pandemic to advocate for system-wide protections, share early learnings, and find new ways to support residents and families through some difficult years.

Leadership on pandemic protocols

CHAA operators served as advisors and influencers to public health officials on the optimal infection prevention and control measures throughout the pandemic.

Decades of experience to draw from

While some care homes in Alberta have been in operation for 3-15 years, CHAA’s care homes have between 30 and 165 years of experience. That wealth of experience — through two previous pandemics — helped us mobilize and adapt throughout COVID-19.

Workforce health and stability

As our continuing care workforce struggled throughout the pandemic under the weight of uncertainty, changing protocols, grief and fatigue, our operators advocated for staffing supports to retain and rejuvenate our valued staff.

COVID lessons learned

Alberta’s Auditor General released a report on how our continuing care system responded during the early months of the pandemic. As expected, not-for-profit care homes fared better than some others.

Family engagement and involvement

CHAA operators have always committed to consulting broadly with families and residents about the COVID protections and measures in care homes.

Perspective Matters

Residents