Vancouver, B.C. – Optima Living welcomed B.C. Seniors Advocate Dan Levitt to its Royal Crescent Gardens community on August 30 for a tour, showcasing its commitment to quality care and home-like environments for seniors. The visit, led by Optima Living’s senior leadership team, provided an opportunity to demonstrate how collaboration with key partners like Fraser Health Authority and BC Housing helps deliver high-quality care to residents.

During the visit, Mr. Levitt was able to witness firsthand Optima Living’s innovative Artfull Enrichment series and engage with long-serving staff and residents – many of whom consider Royal Crescent Gardens a family as much as a workplace and home. Levitt was impressed with the community’s vibrant atmosphere and dedication to providing home-style living for seniors. 

“I truly enjoyed my visit to Royal Crescent Gardens,” said Levitt. “It is evident that both the residents and staff enjoy living in this Optima Living community, and that it fulfills their mission of providing home-style living for seniors.”

Optima Living’s Co-founder and Principal, Farid Damji said, “This was an excellent opportunity to showcase our ‘Let us welcome you home’ philosophy. Dan was very impressed with the home-like atmosphere we’ve created and appreciated our commitment to seeking feedback from both residents and employees to continuously improve our care.”

Leanne Graham-Wishlow, Regional Operations Manager at Optima Living, added: “We are so happy that the Seniors Advocate came to our community at Royal Crescent Gardens. We are proud of the home that we provide to our residents and feel a great sense of family and belonging between our residents and staff. We are so thankful that we could share this with Dan and show him how we welcome our residents home.”

The visit also provided a platform for meaningful discussions on key issues facing the seniors housing sector, including open RFPs for assisted living and long-term care beds, the potential benefits of a seniors tax credit, and the need for a capital redevelopment program for aging infrastructure. The exchange of ideas reinforces Optima Living’s commitment to working closely with stakeholders to improve the lives of seniors across the province.

Angela Grottoli, Chief Operating Officer at Optima Living, emphasized the significance of the visit saying, “We are so thankful that the Seniors Advocate took the time to spend the day with us. It meant a great deal to our staff, leadership team, and residents. We support the work of the Office of the Seniors Advocate and appreciate their dedication to seniors in British Columbia.”