Trained caregivers: We assessed how these caregivers treat residents with Alzheimer’s or dementia.
Supervision: We considered memory-care homes with 24/7 monitoring, as change in behavior or certain “attacks” can happen any time of the day. We also checked if they keep the room and surrounding safe from possible hazards.
Routine: We included memory-care homes that have a structured routine based on the patient’s or resident’s behavior, preventing them from feeling anxious.
We also checked if they come up with games or activities that can stimulate the brain.
Regular updates: We checked if the memory-care homes constantly send regular updates to the family members, whether good or bad.
When our grandmother started showing early signs of dementia, we thought bringing her memory back would be as easy as pulling up old photo albums or playing her favorite songs.
But as her condition progressed, she kept forgetting who we were too—and these songs and pictures didn’t seem to help anymore. That’s when we realized that we need the help of the best memory-care homes.
Remember, if you’re also on the same path, you don’t need to navigate this alone. Give your loved ones the care that they truly deserve, and explore these loving and caring memory-care homes that will treat them like family too!
How much does a memory-care home cost in Vancouver?
In Vancouver, private memory-care homes can range from $4,000 to $12,000 per month. An average memory-care home can start at $4,000, while mid-range to higher-end memory-care homes can start at $6,000.
When our grandmother was diagnosed with an early stage of dementia, she started losing things at home, or kept forgetting why she went to the other room.
The moment it progressed, we started noticing that apart from constantly forgetting things (and names), she would suddenly get angry or frustrated out of nowhere.
We decided to visit Fair Haven Homes Society Vancouver Lodge with our grandmother, just to check what the place looks like. And because of its welcoming facility, we saw how our grandmother instantly felt calm the moment she stepped in.
You’ll immediately hear the soothing music along with the calming drops of water and bubbles in the aquarium. In fact, we noticed that several patients or visitors check the fishes in the aquarium, keeping them entertained.
You can also see lots of plants placed around the area. The caregivers normally walk around the place in the morning and in the afternoon, establishing a peaceful routine for the patients.
The staff here are also very compassionate. In case you’re out of touch, you can trust them to provide the needs of your loved ones, ensuring their comfort first.
This memory-care home is also great for low-income seniors. You can seek help from the BC Housing in Burnaby so you can take advantage of the rent and assistance offered below the market price.
Pros
Calming surroundings
Proactive staff
Budget-friendly memory-care home option
Cons
A few reports about over reliance on medication for behavioral management
Limited basic services are included
Ensures that the patient’s needs are given
“My grandmother was fortunate to have stayed at Fairhaven In Vancouver. The care and attention she received was excellent. She passed away yesterday and during her last few weeks, she was made comfortable and the staff took extra time to ensure that all her needs were taken care of. They dealt with us in a compassionate way and made sure we had extra wash cloths, mouth swabs and anything else as needed to make her comfortable. Thank you 🙏 so much! We are so grateful to all of you!”
Operating Hours: Monday – Sunday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Consumer Rating: B+
Google review
4.7/5
Total reviews score
5/5
Score consistency
5/5
Our Rating: B+
Trained caregivers
4.8/5
Supervision
4.8/5
24/7 monitoring
4.8/5
Quick emergency response
4.8/5
Routine
4.7/5
Consistent daily schedule
4.7/5
Personalized routines
4.7/5
Regular updates
4.5/5
Casa Mia is one of the best memory-care homes that are known for their long-term care. Every day, their staff will let their patients engage in different activities.
But of course, the recreation staff will assess the needs and the mood of your loved ones first, as no one wants a facility that pushes clients to do activities that may be triggering.
We also noticed how the staff treats all patients with compassion. We observed how one staff would deal with another patient without the family’s presence, and that kind of treatment is pretty standard across all caregivers.
They also have a resident dietitian, so if your loved ones need to follow a strict diet (which most of the older folks do), then you’ll love that you won’t have to worry about arranging this separately.
The rooms here are also brand new. The housekeeping department also follows a cleaning and maintenance schedule, which will ensure their rooms remain tidy and sanitized.
Our most favorite part about Casa Mia is that they host annual outings, which we think is very entertaining and beneficial for patients with Alzheimer’s or dementia.
However, their facility is quite bright. So if your loved one gets easily overstimulated by lights then you may have to reconsider bringing them here.
Pros
Ideal for long-term care
Has a resident dietitian
Consistent level of care, even without the family’s presence
Brand new and clean rooms
Cons
Bright facility may be too overstimulating to some patients
Telephone and cable service require additional cost
Caring and cheerful staff
“We value a brunch of loving, caring and cheerful staff. My parents stayed at Casa Mia for more than a year. I would like to give 5 stars to everything!”
“Everyone and everything is has been top notch. Very impressed with the care shown towards my Mom. Problem solving, food, staff, atmosphere are all very very good. It is so nice to finally see my Mom in a place that will respect and care for her! Update: I continue to be impressed. “That’s not my job.” Does not seem to be a phrase used here. Everyone takes responsibility for what you tell them or ask for. It is so very refreshing to know that you can speak to anyone about anything. Then they will take responsibility for it. The care is really exceptional, timely, caring and supportive. The best part is everyone is this way! I think you can understand this now. If I were to develop a model around this model of LTC. I wouldn’t, I couldn’t. There is something very special happening here.”
Operating Hours: Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Consumer Rating: B+
Google review
4.7/5
Total reviews score
5/5
Score consistency
5/5
Our Rating: B+
Trained caregivers
4/5
Supervision
4.8/5
24/7 monitoring
4.8/5
Quick emergency response
4.8/5
Routine
4.5/5
Consistent daily schedule
4.5/5
Personalized routines
4.5/5
Regular updates
4.7/5
Some people with Alzheimer’s or dementia thrive on staying active or getting out of the house often. While we don’t understand it fully, we’re grateful that Terraces On 7th acknowledges this need.
Here, all senior citizens enjoy an energetic lifestyle. Aside from the normal walking around the facility, some are tasked with cooking, while some are asked to perform certain household chores.
This memory-care home or retirement house actually allows your loved ones to feel like they’re living independently–or the way they used to–but with full guidance and assistance from the staff.
However, caregivers and nurses are not provided by this facility. So if you’re decided to go for Terraces On 7th, you have to arrange this provision separately.
But don’t worry–their staff are all trained to do CPR and are knowledgeable on giving First Aid.
Meanwhile, meals are provided by their in-house chef from morning until evening. Even better, their chef only uses fresh ingredients, so your loved ones can maintain their healthy diet.
During special occasions, this facility also hosts themed dinners—something that the older folks really looked forward to. Not to mention that they get to eat in a dining room overlooking the mountains!
Your loved ones can also enjoy watching movies, series, or documentaries in the in-house theatre.
Pros
Retirement home with energetic lifestyle
Staff are knowledgeable on CPR and giving First Aid
Main dining room overlooking the mountains
In-house chef
Cons
Caregivers or nurses are acquired separately
Ongoing renovations may be too disruptive
Different activities every day
“My mother lived at Terraces for 5 years and loved it there! The residence is extremely well-run, has a fantastic, kind staff, and offers excellent value. There is always a variety of activities for residents every day and the food is very, very good. The downtown location and views from the building are enviable too.”
“My mum has lived at Terraces for a year . She was looking for a place that was close to her previous home , had walking paths, and an environment where she could do activities with other residents and also have privacy and space for herself. Terraces provides this and a lot more . The staff are friendly, they know everyone by name and are extremely helpful. Activities are varied and residents can choose what they want to do. Musical performances , outings to parks ,shops and cultural events are highlights but there are also regular activities every week including exercise classes and movies.There is no pressure to do anything if you don’t want to. The management, recreational coordinators, chef and support team are always available for questions and are highly visible on a daily basis .Terraces is a warm and welcoming community and you feel it as soon as you walk through the front doors.”
We visited Windermere Care Centre when our good friend was still figuring out the best options for her mother’s memory care. This facility actually left a lasting impression, that we also considered placing our grandmother here.
We’re well aware that being gentle in this type of facility is pretty common, but we found Windermere’s staff to be extra gentle around the elderly. We saw how they handled redirections with kindness and calm in their voices, which is a big deal for us.
I remember distracting our grandmother when she wanted to “go home” at three in the morning, but since we didn’t know how to redirect her energy back then, the situation became more stressful, which eventually woke up our neighbors.
You’ll also love that the facility is quiet. While it isn’t modern, the memory-care home feels cozy, which helps your loved ones to feel like they’re still at home.
You can also trust the staff to build a consistent daily routine, from bath time to meal times, and some daily activities in between.
However, we noticed that they provide limited updates. So it might be best to schedule a visit at least twice a month, just to check how things are going in the facility.
Pros
Gentle care from the staff
Builds a consistent daily routine for patients
Cons
Limited updates from the staff
A few reports about the facility being understaffed
Accessible location
“Good location ,everyone work there lovely care for each resident.”
Can care for couples with different care requirements
“My in laws have been on the 8th floor for almost 2 years. That staff are friendly, kind and really care for the residents. My mother in law has a bad sacral wound and since she moved to Windermere the care has been so good her wound is almost completely healed. They also worked hard to keep my in laws together even though the care requirements were different.”
Operating Hours: Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Consumer Rating: B
Google review
4.3/5
Total reviews score
4/5
Score consistency
5/5
Our Rating: B
Trained caregivers
4/5
Supervision
4.3/5
24/7 monitoring
4.3/5
Quick emergency response
4.3/5
Routine
4.3/5
Consistent daily schedule
4.5/5
Personalized routines
4/5
Regular updates
4/5
For those who are looking for a modern memory-care home for their loved ones, you’ll love that Renfrew Care Centre recently renovated their 5-storey brick building.
Here, you’ll find the interiors very clean and bright, which actually felt more inviting compared to our initial visit prior to the renovation.
This has been one of the go-to memory-care homes among Vancouver residents since it’s centrally located. Because of this, it will be easy for you to visit your loved ones, especially if you’re planning to do it multiple times a week.
The best part about this facility is that they offer 24/7 complex care, which means caregiver or nursing support is always available. You can definitely sleep more soundly, knowing that someone is looking after your loved ones even while they’re asleep.
They also have a resident chef and a dietitian, so you can rest assured that healthy meals are being served every day.
There are also a lot of activities your loved ones can join. If they’re into music, the facility organizes singing therapies and live music every now and then.
During our last visit, we were also lucky enough to witness gardening activities and even a pet therapy or an animal-assisted therapy, wherein specially trained animals visited the facility to help patients manage their mental health conditions.
However, we’ve heard that dementia patients aren’t always invited to entertainment events. We just wish that they make comprehensive assessments, especially if the patient isn’t overly stimulated by bright lights and strong sounds.
Pros
Several therapeutic activities
24/7 complex care
In-house dietitian and chef
Religious services are available
Cons
Doctor’s appointments or check-ups could be more frequent
Limited entertainment events for dementia patients
All residents are treated equally
“Our mother, who suffers from dementia, was placed here in March 2024 after a lengthy hospital stay. We knew nothing of this care facility as others closer to where we live were on our preference list and we were more familiar with them. However, I and my family could not be happier that she ended up here. From the moment we walked in the front door, we were greeted so warmly and made to feel welcome. Months later, that is still the case. The facility is clean and bright and the food is exceptional. On Remembrance Day, we left a few treats for all the staff to simply remember and acknowledge them. Part of a note we left included: “…It doesn’t matter who we pass in the hallways or on the elevators, everyone is friendly and welcoming. The meals and snacks provided by the chef and kitchen staff are excellent. And in general, the way we see how ALL the residents here are treated with so much respect and love makes us feel so fortunate that our mother ended up in this facility. Thank you for truly making RCC a home for your residents…” And that’s how we truly feel. Our mother is lovingly cared for which puts our minds at ease. Highly recommend Renfrew Care Centre.”
“I am the caregiver and PoA for my 86 year old friend, who has dementia.
We had had her in a for-pay centre which cost about $14,000 per month. She could not afford to stay there. It was a wrenching decision to move her, because we anticipated that like the last two moves, she would have a sharp decline. We were so surprised that not only did she not decline, she improved immensely! She had been in a stage where the old centre told us she was so shut down, and had refused to eat, so she was likely to die within a week. Now she is back to being able to have a conversation with me on her best days.I attribute this turnaround to the wonderful, kind, attentive care she is getting at Renfrew, and on the fact that she is in the middle of everything so she gets lots of social stimulation. At the previous care centre she used to spend 24/7 in bed, in her little suite from which she could not even see people in the hall. I guess I would say that the difference I notice is that the staff here *engage* with folks. The staff at her old place just *attended to* her – in and out in the time it took to leave her “meal” of boost. Yesterday started as a no-response day, but by the time I left she had eaten some of her lunch (amazing!) and was engaged in listening (and did respond to) my stories. When I left she thanked me for coming. I am SO grateful for the wonderful care that the staff at Renfrew provide. They realized my tiny friend needed a smaller wheelchair, and they acquired one for her. They have learned her preferences and they are so lovely to her friends who come to visit. I would recommend this care centre to anyone.”
FAQs about Memory-Care Homes in Vancouver
What is a memory-care home?
A memory-care home is a facility that supports individuals with Alzheimer’s, dementia, and other memory-related conditions.
Can I visit my loved one freely in a memory-care home?
Normally, memory-care homes impose regular visitation hours. For those who cannot be there physically, some memory-care homes may arrange virtual call options.
Are respite or short-term care available in memory-care homes?
Yes, short-term or respite care are also available if you need temporary support.
Can residents bring their own furniture or decor in the memory-care facility?
Most of the memory-care homes in Vancouver encourage clients to bring a piece of home such as photos or personal belongings, helping them feel more at ease in their new place.
Archie Montrose
