Interview with Greenview Seniors Residence - Metta Lifestyles management, Adam Cranley

The type of care that Greenview does [is really] enhanced assisted living. [Some] staff have been here for 20 plus years and really having a passion for what they do. With long term care homes, the wait lists are growing longer and longer, especially in the GTA. That puts seniors today in a tough bind because they’re living longer, and care needs go hand-in-hand with that. Greenview has always done higher levels of care than a standard independent or assisted living home, and we continually introduce more staff [and] training. We call it full-spectrum care.

We do two-person transfers, full feeding assistance, oxygen management, medication management, specialized diets. Our care services list is very long because we know that seniors care nowadays, it's not just they need their housekeeping or their laundry done. It's the physical care as well. … When a senior moves into Greenview, even if they're a little bit past independence, they and their family know when additional care needs arise, Greenview has the staffing and care services in place. They don't have to move to another home. They can be comfortable, safe, and secure.

Everything that we do is also tiered. Maybe today they’re using a walker, but maybe down the road, they need more assistance to and from meals and activities. We already have the staffing in place to accommodate that. If care needs continue to increase, we can accommodate that. … If a resident [needs to take] that next step [and] a long term care home [becomes available], they might even turn it down because they're happy at Greenview. They're getting the same level of care [and] they’re happy there and the family is happy.

Our chef, Peter, is our Regional Executive Chef and oversees the menus for all our homes and supports chefs and cooks at all of our communities. He really tries to think outside of the box. He's partnered with farms in Uxbridge, north of Toronto, to give us true farm-to-table. We even had gardens outside. Residents that have a bit of a green thumb, they'll help grow our vegetables with us and we'll do a bit of a potluck at the end of the season. 

With Greenview being in the Toronto area, we have such a diverse crowd… so he's willing to expand our menu. If a Cantonese resident moves in [with] a specific diet and tastes, he'll go out of his way to get those items for that particular resident. 

[That adaptability also applies] to the type of activities we do with our residents. A lot of it promotes physical activity, which is really important for our residents. But also, again, simple things like arts and crafts or movie matinees, or the gardening program. … Greenview's got a beautiful courtyard out front. Little things like that. We bring in entertainers. We try and bring everything to our residents.

It's remarkable to see how little things really make our residents happy, [for example] a resident being assisted down to the dining room and a PSW having a friendly chat with them. Our residents and staff build a great relationship, with Greenview being a smaller home, too. It's really neat to see the environment that Greenview has. It's about the simple things, for our residents. It really is. That speaks to our staff going out of their way to get to know the residents as well.

Yvonne, our Director of Care is great with communicating with the families. She's been at Greenview now for [over 20] years, and builds a strong relationship with families. If it's a little change or a big change, she reaches out and communicates with families.Communication is the biggest thing. Because of the depth of care we offer, we find that families travel further to bring their loved one to Greenview. Being able to come in often might not always be an option. We [use] our Facebook page to get videos and pictures out. A family might text our lifestyle manager and [ask for] a picture of mom while she doing arts and crafts. [We want to] really have that personal touch [and] get to know the families as well.

It starts from when they first reach out: building that rapport with the families. If it’s an hour-long conversation, I don't mind, because it's a really big decision not only for the senior, but the kids moving their mom or dad into a home. It can also be frightening for them, too. Building that rapport, keeping communication open at all times is very important. I think it's one of Greenview's big strengths.

I find that families that approach me feel a bit lost. … With the type of care we do, there's a lot of educating. I'll set aside a time with [families] so that I can educate them: Here are all the different options that you have. If you're looking independent, assisted living, dementia care, memory care, the whole works, long term care. Everything is laid out for them. Even if you don’t choose Greenview, I want to make sure you're making an informed decision. 

I try and assist them and educate them as best I can and give them the resources [so even if] I'm referring them to another home that makes more sense for their location, I know that they're making the best decision for their loved one. … It's all about, making sure that [they make] a very well-educated and very informed decision. They'll take comfort knowing that they're making a good decision for their mom or dad. And I can sleep at night [because] there's another senior moving into a home where they're going to be happy.

At Greenview, we've had quite a few centennial residents that live past 100. … My favorite thing about working in this industry [is getting to hear] the wisdom that they have … and the stories that they can share. They've lived through it. If a resident is 80, 90, 100 years old, they've seen it all. That's one of the true joys [of] working in this industry. 

We've been renovating the home for the past couple of years [said in 2021 - ed], giving the the residents something to be proud of. Greenview is an older home but the location is fantastic. We're right on Lawrence. Shops at Don Mills is right across the street. The convenience factor is already there. But now we're working on the internal aspect and giving it a fresh face. We redid our dining room, our basement and a lot of the suites.