What to Expect from an Independent Living Seniors Community

What is Independent Living?

When looking for an Independent Living seniors community with a loved one (or loved ones), your primary goal is to ensure they receive the the level of attention that meets their individual needs. Bria Communities encourages residents to live in a vibrant, inclusive, people-centred seniors living community. Residents are open to express themselves and direct their own lives, and they can also choose to receive different levels of supportive personal care and attention.

7 Points to Check on Your Tour of an Independent Living Seniors Community

Everyone looks for different qualities when they’re looking for a seniors community. However, there are some essential things to look for that indicate a positive living environment where people can thrive.

Visitors may find it useful to note these points:

1. Size of the community – First off, think about the word ‘community’… what does it mean? Some might say it is a like-minded group of people who know each other and share similar interests, while others may feel it is more of an expanded family. At Bria, our slogan is ‘Get to know your neighbours’. We feel this is an important value, and we live by it. Our ‘sweet spot’ is to build communities with less than 150 suites. Any larger than that and the place becomes a small city and begins to feel more institutional.
   
2. Staff rapport – We believe that staff who enjoy what they do are the best ambassadors for a healthy, interactive seniors community. Look to see how managers and staff get along, and how they interact with the residents. How respectful do they behave? At Bria, our people are our most valuable touch point for our residents, and each one of them has their own unique style and approach to making sure our communities are the best they can be.
3. Resident satisfaction – When you tour a seniors community, you may get caught up in the amenities and look and feel of the living spaces. We encourage you to chat with residents about their experiences to get a better idea of what the community is really like. Ask them what they think about the quality of life in their community. What do they enjoy most about living there? How independent do the residents seem? At Bria, we consistently score in the highest percentile in our annual, third-party-validated resident satisfaction surveys. And we are proud of it.
4. The dining experience – Food and drink, and the social aspect of sharing meals together is an excellent way to understand what an Independent Living community is really like. Insist that you stay for lunch while you are there for a tour. See where residents dine, and how many people eat meals together, and how much chatting goes on between bites? How does the food look and taste, and how engaging are the servers? At Bria, our Red Seal chefs have developed the BriaCuisine™ platform, which includes consultation from the Dietitians of Canada on optimised nutrition for seniors, as well as an ‘eat anytime’ programme for residents who have busier than normal schedules.
5. Recreation, fitness and social activities – On your tour, ask for the community’s activity schedule and recreation plan. What types of social and recreational activities are there for residents? Ask about how much input residents have with activity programming? Find out how outings and trips are planned, and what the community does to assist residents with running errands. Our fitness and activity platform, BriaFit™, includes all aspects of healthy living — from mental acuity to physical exercise.
6. Features and amenities – Beyond the basics of cleanliness and housekeeping, find out exactly what is included in the rental package. Laundry, television, telephone, internet? What protocols exist to ensure security and safety? How conducive is the space to accommodate accessibility needs, like wheelchairs and walkers. At Bria, our residents spend a lot of time outside their rooms and in our communal spaces — large living rooms, lounges, coffee rooms, in our gardens and water features — as well as on multiple outings per week to all kinds of destinations.
7. Responsiveness and communications – Think back to when you first contacted the community for the tour. How easy was it to book? How did you book it: online, by phone, or by email? How prompt was the response? When you do the tour, ask about what provisions exist for communications with family members if health issues or other problems arise.

Bria Communities: What Sets Them Apart?

What distinguishes Bria Communities from other seniors residences? As you read above, in the seven points, Bria has a resident-centred approach to Independent Living, which means that every resident is treated as a unique individual with a rich life story. The vivacious, robust quality of our communities embodies a refreshingly novel difference: we find that our residents experience a ‘second start’ in life after they have moved in. They embark upon an entirely new and independent, yet exciting and satisfying, chapter in their lives. As active members of Bria Communities, residents enjoy opportunities to meet new people and develop warm, enduring friendships. Bria residential communities promote inclusive, stimulating settings that enable seniors to thrive. They enjoy spending their “golden years” in the company of close friends. They can participate in social and recreational activities and share spending time together. Bria Communities offer a fresh beginning!

What to Expect on a Bria Tour

What can you anticipate during a tour of any of the four Bria Communities? Each location offers some unique features, yet all share aspects of the Bria lifestyle in common. Consider scheduling a tour of any of these four locations in British Columbia:

• The Wexford in Tsawwassen, BC
• The Waterford in Tsawwassen, BC
• Sunridge Gardens in Murrayville, BC
• Magnolia Gardens in Langley, BC

Both The Waterford and Magnolia Gardens include fully staffed 24-hour care centres. This is an essential service to look for when the medical needs of a loved one are more than family members can provide. Families will love being able to stay in close contact with their loved one, while also having the comfort of knowing that their loved one gets the essential supportive medical care they need. Bria Communities are an especially attractive option for couples who require varying levels of care. One spouse can reside independently while their partner receives around-the-clock nursing attention in a BriaCare™ Centre. Bria Communities encourages residents to enjoy as fulfilling lifestyles as possible, while remaining close to each other as they age in different ways.

A Socially Stimulating Lifestyle

Every Bria community features comfortable, residential suites and social areas. Residents enjoy many options for both group and individual activities. They can also explore the community, visit nearby shops, parks and more on their own. There’s also the option to participate in group excursions to all sorts of cool places nearby. Additionally, people living in a Bria community enjoy two nutritious meals and two snacks every day. They also have access to support services such as laundry and housekeeping. The Bria Communities lifestyle enables residents to maintain as much independence as possible, while still being able to get assistance when necessary. Family members have peace of mind knowing that their loved one receives valuable assistance in a caring, respectful environment.

Schedule a Tour Today!

Don’t miss your opportunity to schedule a tour of one of these remarkable communities. Accommodations in these locations remain in high demand. You’ll want to give your loved one (or loved ones) a personal tour of the comfortable, safe Bria lifestyle in British Columbia. Call 1-844-969-BRIA (2742) to arrange your tour today!