Admission FAQs

On the day of admission, it is important to bring copies of any Power of Attorney/Statutory Guardian papers, the resident’s Health Card, a copy of their most recent Notice of Assessment from Revenue Canada and a void cheque. If the resident is moving into the home from a community setting you will need to bring all medications. You will want to bring clothing that is comfortable and machine washable. Generally, a two (2) week supply of clothing is sufficient. You will also want to include enough clothing appropriate for the various seasons and different weather conditions. For a complete list of recommended clothing to bring, click here. You are also asked to bring any specialty toiletries, such as makeup and hair products. People are encouraged to bring items such as pictures, artwork, gifts and other memorabilia to give their room a personal touch. We will ensure that the personal items are appropriate and safe for the room and that any electrical items are approved by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA).

Televisions, radios, telephones and computers are welcomed in all of our rooms. It is the resident or family’s responsibility to provide each device and contact a service provider to setup the service to the room. If the resident is already subscribed to any of these services, you will simply need to have the provider transfer the existing service to their room in the Home. They may even be able to keep their current phone number. Ask the service provider for details. Cell phones and wireless internet are permitted in the Home.

We appreciate the importance of a quality dining experience and are proud of the menu selection we offer. Meals are cooked fresh each day in our on-site kitchen and are served in the dining room. Residents are always provided with two entree choices at each meal. Residents are provided with three (3) well-balanced meals per day, as well as refreshments between meals and snacks in the afternoon and evening.

Yes. We cater to a wide variety of special diets, including diabetic, vegetarian and no-pork. Each person’s diet is assessed at the time of admission and quarterly therein. Food intake is monitored at each meal. If there are noticeable changes, a referral to the Dietitian is made and changes are implemented accordingly. If you have a question about our ability to offer a specific diet, please contact the Admissions Coordinator.

Residents are assigned an Attending Physician at the time of admission based on the Home area where the resident will be living. Although it is not mandatory, we encourage residents to take on the Physician provided by the Home to ensure good communication of health information, and to allow for on-site accessibility. Residents may retain their own Family Physician from the community if the Physician is willing to comply with the requirements of the Ministry of Long Term Care (MLTC).

Banwell Gardens offers a range of physiotherapy and rehabilitation services. There are also alternative therapies and restorative care programs available. Each new resident is assessed to determine an appropriate physiotherapy regime shortly after admission. Our objective is to maintain and restore residents’ current abilities and strengths through a variety of physical programs designed to meet individual needs.

The Home welcomes families to visit as often as possible and to stay as long as possible. Guests are a very important part of a resident’s life, and we encourage regular visits by relatives and friends. We practice an open hours visitation policy with consideration for the comfort and schedules of all residents. It is suggested that visitors who plan to visit after 8:30 p.m. call the Home and advise the Charge Nurse of their plans as the doors are locked after this time.

Yes. Residents may have overnight leaves of up to 48 hours per week. Extended leaves or vacations of up to 21 days can also be accommodated. It is important to know that accommodation fees remain the same even though the resident has taken an overnight or vacation leave. The Unit Nurse should be notified of any plans for an overnight leave or vacation so we can work with you to coordinate and review all care and medication needs.