Interview with Evergreen Retirement Community - Verve Senior Living family member, Chip Huang

Evergreen Retirement Community does a great job of creating a family environment. That was very important to us when we were looking for a retirement home for my dad. He had to be as comfortable in a new environment as he was at home, and they certainly achieved that.

I would highlight the social atmosphere, with their bingos and various social activities that they have for the seniors, birthday parties at the end of the month, and just how happy the residents seem to be and how much they enjoy their time there and the activities that are afforded them. Pre-COVID, of course, once COVID hit, things had to shut down like everywhere else in the country.

The dining room is terrific. They do a great job with the menu and the actual dishes there. The staff are friendly, and as far as entertainment, they make sure that there is entertainment and full amenities, including a spa and hairdressing salon, et cetera.

Fantastic. Always friendly, very kind. They’ve been very, very kind in meeting Dad’s needs and being very engaged with all of the residents. So it is like family, and they treat their residents like family.

His suite at Evergreen Retirement Community is very comfortable. Being on his own, he is good with the basics, and certainly the suite offers that. It was clean when we took it, nothing was in disrepair, and they continue to do a great job in maintaining the suite as needed.

The social aspect of my dad’s life has really, really skyrocketed. He was alone in his house, as perhaps other seniors might be, and the social aspect, the finding friends, and the care that the staff has given him have really given him a boost in his golden years, for sure. He has enjoyed his odyssey, and he has changed.

He is more energetic, more lively. It is probably a case of not knowing what you’re missing until you’re in the environment that provides you with the things that you need, and I think my dad discovered that after he moved in. There was some hesitancy leaving his house, the house that he and my mom were in for four decades, but once he got into Evergreen Retirement Community, he took to it very, very quickly. My dad’s a social guy, and having people around really boosted his mental spirits and his emotional spirits, and he found a new verve by moving there.

He does go down periodically to listen to music. His main social contact is meal times, so he looks forward to seeing his friends at the table. He looks forward to chatting in the hallways as he walks some of the hallways, and certainly with the staff. He’s always quick with a joke, the staff appreciate that, and there’s a lot of terrific banter throughout the day.

Evergreen Retirement is a very warm and welcoming community. Friends and family come to mind. We did take a look at a couple of other retirement communities, and they didn’t seem to have that warm feel, as Evergreen did the very minute that we walked in. In arranging the tours and arranging the meeting, we were treated very kindly, and my dad was treated very kindly right from the start. I think they do a great job of being open, honest, and welcoming.

When my dad was in his home, we were always very concerned for his own personal safety as he got older and his ability to maintain his home and take care of himself. Once he moved into Evergreen Retirement Community, that relief was immediately there and any of our worries were alleviated. There’s medical staff on hand and, at the push of a button, he could have assistance if need be. So, as his son, I couldn’t have asked for more in feeling the confidence in Evergreen’s ability to meet his needs.

We Googled retirement communities in Mississauga. I live in Mississauga, and my sister lives in Mississauga, so we were hoping for something close by within close proximity, and a quick drive. Evergreen was in the perfect location. My parents lived up in Rexdale for many years, and that’s where I grew up with them in their house.

Once my dad was on his own in the house after my mom passed away, things like snowstorms late at night, or if my dad couldn’t get to the phone, or if he wasn’t answering because he left the phone off the hook, it would be quite a drive to go up and see if he was doing all right. Once we got him over to Evergreen Retirement Community, it was literally a bike ride away from me. So I see him often. It’s instant relief, instant comfort.

I would strongly encourage other families to look into Evergreen as a viable opportunity for their loved ones. The support for my dad has been excellent, and they are very, very helpful in working with the families to make sure that the parent and the loved one are well taken care of.

They have suggestions, they will reach out proactively, and not just wait for an occurrence or a situation. That contact means a lot. We’ve gotten to know the staff very, very well by name, and it is very, very comforting to know that Dad is being taken care of.

The staff struck us as very welcoming, so we were impressed right off the bat when we visited. My sister and I toured a couple of communities, and right off the bat, it just felt right for my dad. Proximity to both of us also had a good part in the decision. Evergreen’s location was very convenient for us to get to, to give him a hand, to see him, and to visit as needed.

The amenities also impressed us, and the effort that the home put into all aspects of the quality of life for its residents. As I mentioned, the dining room, the dining staff, the entertainment that they set up for their residents, and the facilities themselves were all part of the decision. So it was a great all-in package for my dad.

The cost also does come into play because there’s a wide variance in the cost of retirement communities, and this one met our needs.

The overall feel, as soon as we walked in the door, was a very welcoming atmosphere. People were friendly, people were kind, and they legitimately wanted someone like Dad to be in their residence. So we didn’t feel as if there was a sales pitch at all. It was, "Here’s what we have, here’s what we’ll show you, and if the fit is right, we would love to have your dad join us." That stood out in our tours.