CapitalCare Kipnes Centre for Veterans

Facility is lovely. The floor staff (5 star) who worked with my mother were WONDERFUL AND RESPECTFUL to her. A superior to the staff appeared to take a dislike to her soon after she arrived. When my mother became mobile again (walking) soon after she arrived, the superior made a statement "well she is not what we signed...." (up for.) She was trying to talk her way through situations, and when challenged with FACTS contradicting her statements, she got defensive. It seemed like my mom didn't fit her perfect little world. My mom now has to be relocated (yet the staff that worked directly with her said she was lovely.) It is unfortunate that an elder in her late 80's has to once again be shuffled to another placement. This will be MOVE NUMBER 7. Since 2015, she has moved more times as an elder with dementia in her 80's than she has in her entire life. Some of this may be money related for these facilities, it may also be about someone that spends more time in her little office barking orders to hard working staff rather than being on the floor more often with elders. Some people need to learn to think and do things outside the box. Not every person fits a mold to conform to "sit in your wheel chair and we will all be happy then" Can you imagine if a school did this to a child who is different? Upon further discussion, the hospital that was reassessing her was fully prepared and expecting to return my mother to Kipnes Centre. Kipnes decided they didn't want her back. So my mom will be making a LATERAL MOVE to another place. So if your parent is a capable walker, they don't want them there as it is too hard to monitor their whereabouts in a locked down area.

The staff here took very good care of my grandfather. I wish they had more resources. They were kind and compassionate. The facility was clean, respectful and events were often planned.

The surroundings inside and out in the various courtyards are clean, vibrant, and reflect a peaceful place to live. The admin and staff are always helpful and warm. I'm glad my Dad is able to be cared for here!

My father, 87 years old , ex L.Col from Canadian Air Force was transferred from rehab facility at Norwood hospital after transfers from Sturgeon Hospital in St.Albert and prior was Riveridge Assusted living facility! As a family we have been impressed from day 1 the level of respect, understanding and individualized approach in the care of our father! There is an atmosphere of mutual respect and cooperation between all the disciplines providing the care from nursing aides, nursing assistants, RNs, dietary, OT,Physio,MDs,social worker,maintenance,recreation,spiritual advisors etc.. Staff are genuinely happy to work there, smiling, offering assistance, timely responses to individual requests and most of all working together and encouraging clients but individually supporting family members as well. I wish this model could be adapted by all extended care facilities as even with challenges , there is a joint community feel especially on the 4 wings of clients. A medical emergency for my Dad was handled promptly,professsionally in a brief transfer to an acute hospital!Yearly meetings to discuss specific care of person with all disciplines and the family is awesome. Daily recreational events, outings, many social activities ( average 3 per day) provides lots of choice as well. So grateful my Dad in these latter years is heard, respected and overall content! Thankyou Kipness!!!

Excellent facility. The staff are kind, the facility is spotless, and the rooms are a very decent size. I visited many long-term care facilities while trying to choose. I was pretty depressed and despondent after what I saw. I left several places with tears in my eyes vowing there would be no way I would let my family member move in there. When I visited Kipnes I was astounded. I left with tears in my eyes, but this time they were tears of relief and joy. The residents get a 175 sq ft room to themselves right away (no double rooms and then waiting for a single to open up). The hallways are wide and bright. The common areas are very inviting, and they have activities to engage the seniors and include the families. Doctors visit weekly (each day a different one), as do other professionals, and there is ongoing physiotherapy right in the building. My family member has been there for several months now and has actually come out of his shell. He engages with the other residents, he attends physiotherapy, he engages with the staff, he attends the events of his choosing, and is generally a much happier person. I am so grateful to everyone there for all their hard work. Bravo!

We have experienced nothing but care and compassion for my mother. The social worker and care manager have been extremely helpful with the issues involving my mother and I’m very thankful for them as well as the staff of Athabasca house. Their job is not an easy one especially in these times.

Facility is lovely. The floor staff (5 star) who worked with my mother were WONDERFUL AND RESPECTFUL to her. A superior to the staff appeared to take a dislike to her soon after she arrived. When my mother became mobile again (walking) soon after she arrived, the superior made a statement "well she is not what we signed...." (up for.) She was trying to talk her way through situations, and when challenged with FACTS contradicting her statements, she got defensive. It seemed like my mom didn't fit her perfect little world. My mom now has to be relocated (yet the staff that worked directly with her said she was lovely.) It is unfortunate that an elder in her late 80's has to once again be shuffled to another placement. This will be MOVE NUMBER 7. Since 2015, she has moved more times as an elder with dementia in her 80's than she has in her entire life. Some of this may be money related for these facilities, it may also be about someone that spends more time in her little office barking orders to hard working staff rather than being on the floor more often with elders. Some people need to learn to think and do things outside the box. Not every person fits a mold to conform to "sit in your wheel chair and we will all be happy then" Can you imagine if a school did this to a child who is different? Upon further discussion, the hospital that was reassessing her was fully prepared and expecting to return my mother to Kipnes Centre. Kipnes decided they didn't want her back. So my mom will be making a LATERAL MOVE to another place that has the same level of care. So if your parent is a capable walker, they don't want them there as it appears to be too hard to monitor their whereabouts while in a locked down area.

My father resided in the Athabasca House in Kipnes Centre for 8 long months before he passed January/2020. There was maybe 3 staff members that were kind and caring to my Dad but the majority were not. The "Care Manager" was the coldest most unemphatic woman I have ever met and how she ever got into the field of geriatric care is beyond comprehension and her staff either didn't care or were poorly trained, care plans were never followed. The Social Worker was no help either, he would tell us what we wanted to hear with regards to changes they needed to make but nothing ever changed. We directed staff to stop showering him because every time they showered him he had new bruises, it sickens me to think of how they manhandled this frail old man. We requested sponge baths only. He developed terrible bedsores due to not being turned as per his 'care plan' even though instructions were literally pasted to the wall above his bed. I took a picture at one point of a terrible deep open bedsore and requested the Care Manager come to have a look, she begrudgingly came as far as his doorway, she wouldn't even enter his room and look at his sore - she peered from the doorway and tried to give me some bs reason! I could go on and on....hearing aids were broken by staff and multiple times actually put in his ears backwards or without batteries. We as a family finally felt we had no choice but to hire (and pay out of our own pockets) companions to be with him (when we could not be) for every meal and to ensure he was comfortable before they left. I sent numerous emails and we had family meetings with both the Care Manager and the Social Worker but nothing ever improved. I asked my dad while he could still speak if they were good to him, his response to me was a shake of the head and he replied "I rely on these people for everything". He had a catheter that more than once was incorrectly inserted or twisted resulting in pain for him; these occurrences were caught by our paid companions, staff did not have a clue! If we could have had him at home we would have but unfortunately he had to be transferred via a sling hoist from wheelchair to bed and we do not have medical training for medication and catheter care. However I'm pretty sure we could have taken a crash course and been 10 times better than the care he received at Kipnes. His room was never cleaned properly never mind sanitized correctly. While I miss him terribly I thank the good lord that he was spared this Covid situation. I would have been thrown in jail if he was still alive because there would be no way in hell they would have kept me away from him...left solely in the hands of these people.