A warm, comfortable residence for those in need of assisted living
Nestled in the heart of Pointe-Claire on Stillview Ave. is a seniors’ residence that specializes in quality, personalized care for people who have lost their physical or cognitive autonomy. Le Vivalis is a place its residents call home — a place where family members know their loved ones receive the best care possible in a warm and welcoming environment.
“It’s a unique residence,” said Rita Kataroyan, vice-president of marketing for Le Groupe Maurice, which owns Le Vivalis and a network of 21 seniors’ residences throughout the province.
“Le Vivalis offers a combination of a highly medical environment, including visits from a doctor and a registered nurse present 24/7, in a beautifully decorated, warm, human and non-institutionalized setting. Not often do you find both attributes in the same complex. That’s probably what differentiates Le Vivalis most.”
The eight-storey facility has 130 tastefully decorated single rooms that are designed to meet the health, safety and comfort needs of each occupant. There are two floors dedicated to residents with cognitive issues, and staff trained to understand and care for their specialized needs. On three other floors, those with physical disabilities will find the care and support they need. Another floor has rooms open to patients of the nearby Lakeshore General Hospital who need a place to convalesce for a few months post-surgery, before going home. And there is a floor used as an extension of the West Island Palliative Care Centre.
The goal at Le Vivalis is to make everyday living easier for each resident by providing the best possible environment, regardless of a person’s level of capacity — or incapacity.
“The living units are bigger than a hospital room but mostly much more inviting,” Kataroyan explained. “All units are fully furnished, including an electric bed and all sorts of big and small details to ensure the safety and well-being of residents. But it’s the smile and caring approach of the staff, the warm and homey decor of the rooms, the personalized activity programs customized to each individual’s physical and cognitive needs, that are what make Le Vivalis more than just a residence. It’s home. The residents feel like they’re home.”
All the common areas are elegantly appointed to create an atmosphere of calm and sophistication. From the topfloor lounge with library to the piano lounge and the full-service dining rooms on each floor, every detail is accounted for to make for a relaxing ambience.
Basic services such as three meals a day plus two snacks, housekeeping and recreational activities are included with all rental leases, but because the residents have different mobility and cognitive issues, there is a menu of options available at an extra cost.
“Each resident has a personal intervention plan. Upon admission, our RN conducts an evaluation with tools that measure the autonomy of the person, and determines the type of intervention that they require. Once that evaluation is completed, a personalized plan is put forward for the resident.”
From music, gardening, painting and even pet-facilitated therapy, the in-house recreational therapist leads a daily roster of physical, cognitive, intellectual and social activities that are suited to residents with a loss of autonomy.
“It’s healthful living to encourage the extension of the autonomy they have left,” Kataroyan said. “It’s a program we started not too long ago where we try to know where they come from, what they’ve done in life and what they still enjoy doing, and we integrate that in the personalized plans we have for each resident.”
People come from all over the island of Montreal to live at Le Vivalis, which has a bilingual staff to meet the needs of English-speaking clientele, she said.