Centre de Santé Saint-Thomas

Supportive Living

Covenant Care offers a range of care options to meet our residents’ varied and evolving needs. Covenant Care's team of healthcare professionals care for each resident based on his or her unique needs.. We believe in caring for the whole person—mind, body and soul. This means we meet our residents’ physical, emotional and spiritual needs and make every effort to help them maintain their independence. Our residents are the primary decision-makers in their health care whenever possible, but we support them in making decisions. We also strive to create a safe and comfortable environment in which our residents can thrive.  Our teams work closely with onsite AHS Case Managers who co-ordinate care and monitor the resident’s care needs with the resident’s physician and care team. Pharmacy services are available with delivery of medications and medication review by a pharmacist.

Care Includes:

• Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) on-site 24-hours a day
• Health Care Aides (HCAs) on-site 24-hours a day
• Recreation Therapist services and Chaplaincy services.
• Social Work, Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy services are available through consultation with AHS Case Managers.
• Help with Daily Activities such as Personal Care and Medication, Entertainment & Activities

My loved one is active in the community. Will he/she be able to stay involved while living at a Covenant Care Community?
We understand that many of our residents have made an immense impact on their communities, and we encourage them to remain as active in the community as they wish. We encourage our residents to continue attending faith services, hosting social activities, undertaking fundraising activities or hosting community events if they are able.

What if there is a waitlist to get in?
Transition Services manages the wait list and can help determine the process and next steps.

What types of activities are available for my loved one?
We believe that offering our residents a variety of entertainment activities is critical to their social engagement and overall well being. Our activity department offers many activities for residents, including community outings, one-on-one activities, group activities, physical exercise, special events and seasonal festivities.

Accommodations & Nutrition for Saint Thomas

What are the suites like?
All rooms at Covenant Care are private suites and include:

• Residents will need to set up their own telephone service – which is required for access to the emergency call system
• Window coverings
• Private bathrooms with barrier-free showers
• Closets and cupboards for personal belongings
• Emergency Call System
• Cable and internet services are available. There is a mandatory charge for cable services for all residents except on the secure units – where television is available in the common areas.
• WiFi is free and is available throughout the building

Do I need to bring furniture or other items?
Residents will need to bring their own furniture which may include items such as:

• Bed (unless assessed by an Occupational Therapist as requiring a hospital bed)
• Bedside table
• Bedside lamp
• Easy chair(s)
• Table or floor lamp
• Bed linens (at least two sets)
• Towels and wash cloths
• Clothes hangers
• Laundry basket
• All needed assistive aids such as wheelchairs, walkers and transfer pole

We also encourage our residents to bring other personal or decorative items to personalize their suites and make them feel at home.

How do I know if my furniture is appropriate?
It is very important to us that Covenant Care is safe for our residents and care teams. We ask that our residents and their families work with the staff to ensure their suites are furnished in a way that is safe for the resident and allows staff to easily and safely care for the resident.

Please note that floor mats and throw rugs are not allowed as they pose a significant tripping hazard.

What kinds of meals will my loved one get?
Our food is prepared on site following the Canada Food Guide and is approved by a registered dietitian. We are happy to accommodate special diets and a dietitian is available to consult with the resident and his or her family if needed.

While breakfast, lunch and dinner are normally served at scheduled times, we can be flexible with your loved one’s meal schedule. We also offer daily snacks, tea, coffee and juice.

Visiting at Covenant Care

When can I visit?
Family and friends are always welcome at Covenant Care and can visit 24 hours a day. Covenant Care has secure buildings, so family and friends will be asked to sign in at the entrance and will need an access code after regular business hours.

Can pets visit too?
We welcome family pets as long as they don’t pose a threat to residents, visitors, or staff. We also ask that pets have up-to-date vaccinations and be supervised at all times.

Can I host family events at a Covenant Care Community?
Yes, we can make arrangements to reserve a space for family events.  Families and friends can bring their own food or arrange to have it prepared by our catering service.

Is there parking?
Yes—there is free visitor parking available.

Is smoking allowed at Covenant Care Communities?
Since Covenant Care sites are non-smoking environments, residents and visitors cannot smoke anywhere on the property.

Costs for Supportive Living

How much does supportive living cost at Covenant Care?
Residents are responsible for paying their monthly occupancy fees. The fees for supportive living are set by Alberta Health (Government of Alberta) and depend on the suite type. The monthly fee includes all non-medical services (such as meals, housekeeping and spiritual care) and building costs (maintenance, utilities, etc.). These fees do not cover the cost of care, which is funded by Alberta Health. Please visit the Alberta Health website for details on current supportive living fees.

Residents or their designated representatives will be billed monthly by Covenant Care using pre-authorized debit. Residents or their designated representatives are responsible for any additional costs and charges outlined in the Residency Agreement that is signed prior to moving in.

What if I can’t afford it?
The Alberta Seniors Benefit (ASB) program provides a monthly income supplement to federal income sources including Old Age Security (OAS) and Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) for individuals 65 and over.  For more information, contact them at 1.877.644.9992.

Are there any other costs associated with supportive living?
Depending on your loved one’s needs, there may be additional costs such as:

• Medications
• oxygen therapy equipment and supplies
• eyeglasses, hearing aids, foot care and dental work
• mobility aids
• personal care supplies, toiletries, incontinence products and dressing supplies
• transportation to and from appointments
• entertainment package for cable television, telephone and internet

Services at Covenant Care

• 3 nutritionally balanced meals
• Weekly housecleaning, plus laundry service for sheets and towels
• Professional building maintenance – inside and out
• Utilities: heat, electricity, water, sewer, and garbage disposal
• Daily social and recreational activities
• Church services
• Access to community amenities
• Public WiFi

Additional services available for purchase

• Hair salon/barber shop
• Tuck Shop
• Cable TV & Telephone
• Parking pass