VIVA Barrhaven Retirement Community
275 Tartan Drive K2J 6A9 Nepean, ON, Canada

Taking a bite out of apple season V!VAlicious Recipe: Individual Apple Pie with Puff Pastry Crust While summer might be winding down, we can all look ahead to the sites, sounds and most importantly, flavours, of autumn! Thats right apple season is here again! To help celebrate, we asked our Executive Chef Robert at V!VA Whitby Shores to share his favourite apple-based V!VAlicious recipe. ... We have such great local produce in Ontario, so we try to use it as often as possible. Apples are a staple in our Communities and are one of the most sustainable fruits, says Chef Robert. There are so many variations of apples and each one has its own individual flavour, from tart to sweet, crispy to crunchy. Apples are so versatile in many recipes, but the Granny Smith apple is perfect for this delectable dessert. Elevate your traditional apple pie recipe and surprise your family and friends with a delightful apple indulgence that takes la mode to a whole new level. Try out this recipe at home or call us to book a tour (or virtual tour) at your local V!VA Retirement Community location for a taste of the good life at V!VA. https://vivalife.ca/take-a-bite-out-of-apple-season/

In honour of all grandparents, wed like to wish you a Happy National Grandparents Day.

From home care to senior apartments and more, there are a lot of housing options for seniors in Ontario. Where to begin? Heres a great overview of them all in this helpful guide prepared with information from the Ontario Retirement Communities Association. https://vivalife.ca/senior-housing-in-ontario/

September is here, and were ready to enjoy every last moment of the summer! V!VA Lifestyles Manager, Dawn, shares tips on having physically-distanced summer fun. https://vivalife.ca/socially-distanced-garden-parties/

Wonderful evening last night as our Community Members watched a movie under the stars! Popcorn, refreshments and absolutely gorgeous weather!

Happy National Book Lovers Day! Reading has many benefits for people of all ages, including improved memory and reduced stress. What great book are you currently reading?

Taking a moment out of the day to fight against COVID-19 to celebrate the many successes of this incredible team! They have worked tirelessly to keep everyone safe while continually delivering services and having FUN - such a great Team - #VIVASTRONG!

At V!VA, our Orange Dot Values guide everything we do. One of those values is "Be a friend" - which simply means treating everyone with kindness and respect. Thats why International Friendship Day means a lot to us - especially during these challenging times, when our friends matter more than ever. What are you doing to honour your friendships today?

If youve had a chance to read Parts 1 and 2 of our series on mindful meditation for seniors, you already have a great idea about the different techniques and benefits of this practice for older adults. For this final part, we sat down with V!VA Mississauga Lifestyle Manager, and certified meditation instructor, Julie Hunter, to learn more about how this practice as touched her life and the lives of her Community Members. For the full article click here! https://vivalife.ca/mindful-meditation-series-for-seniors-/

V!VA Barrhaven Community Members enjoyed a lovely Strawberry Social today with live music from Roxy and Don all while enjoying refreshing lemonade and strawberry treats prepared by our Culinary team. A beautiful afternoon.

V!VA Barrhaven Community Members enjoy another beautiful outdoor concert with music from Spencer.

Seniors well-being is always top of mind for us. As we mentioned in Part I of this series, the practice of mindful meditation has many benefits for older adults. It is an individual personal practice that can be exercised in a group setting or alone. Although it is common to meditate with eyes closed and body stillness, there are practices that incorporate other forms. Lets take a look at some simple mindfulness techniques for older adults to consider while meditating. Check out the full article at: https://vivalife.ca/mindful-meditation-for-seniors-part-2-/

Over the last few months, we have all been faced with heightened levels of stress and anxiety in all aspects of life due to the rise of the coronavirus pandemic. While there are many ways to manage stress, one of the most effective methods is through meditation. This is the first of three brief articles written to introduce meditation in a clear and accessible way to help beginners embrace the practice. Check out our full article blog post here:... https://vivalife.ca/mindful-meditation-for-seniors-part-1-/ See more

Starting to consider retirement living for you or a loved one? Use this helpful guide to better understand the different terms used in the senior housing market and make your search easier. Click here to download: https://vivalife.ca/senior-housing-terminology-guide/

V!VA Barrhaven celebrated Canada Day in style starting the day off with an Antique Car drive thru, a BBQ lunch, afternoon entertainment by Peter Foret which included some good old fashioned iced cold lemonade and tasty poutine made by our Culinary team. What a fun day!

From our family to yours, Happy Canada Day!

Embrace BBQ season with this delicious recipe from Executive Chef Bruce at Waterside A V!VA Retirement Community. Bursting with colour and flavour alike, this dish is perfect for a warm summer evening. Add in the grilled corn on the cob and a summer fresh fruit salad alongside, and your guests will be asking for seconds. Try out this recipe at home or call us to book a virtual tour at your local V!VA Retirement Community location for a taste of the good life at V!VA. https:...//vivalife.ca/maple-cilantro-turkey-burgers-with- roasted-sweet-baby-pepper-salsa-servings-4/ See more

V!VA Barrhaven celebrated Fathers Day with a variety of tasty wings and a cold beverage!

Wishing all of the fathers who live and work in our Communities the very best on this special day. We recognize this year is certainly different, and look forward to celebrating with Dads in person as soon as possible. From our family to yours: Happy Fathers Day!

Gardening season is upon us, and our Community Members couldnt be happier to get their hands dirty again. V!VA was one of the first to offer raised planters with built-in seating to allow for easier, ache-free gardening. To learn more about V!VAs Victory Gardens and the benefits of gardening for seniors, we spoke with Lifestyle Manager Laura Moon. Check out the conversation here: https://vivalife.ca/the-benefits-of-gardening-for-seniors/

June is Seniors Month and in honour of celebrating our amazing seniors, we want to Super Senior them. If you would like to nominate a local senior in the Gre...ater Ottawa region to receive a care package from us, please leave a comment below as to why youre nominating them and send a direct message to [email protected] with their details. We will draw 4 names a week and arrange a special care package porch drop. See more

A very special 60th Wedding Anniversary celebrated recently at V!VA Barrhaven. Family joined in a lovely favourite meal complete with a delicious chocolate cake provided by our Culinary Team. What a momentous occasion that we were blessed to be a part of. Congratulations Ken and Carol!

V!VA Barrhaven partnered with a local Dominos pizza and were able to offer all of our Community Members and our Team Members a delicious lunch comprised of a personal pan pizza and a yummy cookie brownie!

June is Seniors Month.This year, the Province of Ontarios theme for Seniors Month is Aging Strong: Respect and Protect Seniors, a message that certainly resonates with all of us at V!VA - especially during these challenging times. Click the link below for some great ideas on supporting seniors during COVID-19. https://vivalife.ca/supporting-older-adults-during-seniors/

Between on-site childrens daycares at select locations and partnerships with local schools and camps across all of our Communities, we understand firsthand the benefits of intergenerational programs for our older adults. These programs provide our Community Members with a renewed sense of purpose by enabling them to pass along skills and knowledge, and they help younger generations understand aging. Unfortunately, our intergenerational activities are on-hold due to Public Health protocols, but we cant wait to hear the sound of children laughing in our corridors once again soon. Happy Intergenerational Day everyone!

Being socially distant doesnt mean being socially disconnected! Here are some helpful tips on selecting the right software to make connecting with loved ones easier than ever. https://vivalife.ca/best-communication-technology-for-seni/

V!VA Barrhaven Community would like to recognize and celebrate our compassionate and caring Wellness Nurses. Thank you for all you do!

National Nursing Week is May 11-17. This years theme is "Nurses: A Voice to Lead Nursing the World to Health". We cant think of a more appropriate message or better time to celebrate nurses in the midst of this unprecedented period. To all of the nurses in the V!VA Family and throughout our communities: Thank you for your expertise, leadership and compassion. Learn more about this important milestone by clicking on the following link: https://cna-aiic.ca//news-room/events/national-nursing-week

Jennifer Campbell , a Support Staff employee at Longfields Davidson Heights School and its Community Outreach Team, presented Community Director, Denise Tessier with a gift bag to show appreciation to V!VA Barrhaven team members for taking wonderful care of their Community Members at this challenging time. V!VA Barrhaven thanks you and your team for your generously and thoughtfulness.

If you love of working with seniors then we have an amazing opportunity for you. During the COVID-19 pandemic, our retirement community may have the need for help to serve and support our seniors. Help keep our Community Members safe by joining the V!VA Support Force, a Team of individuals in reserve who are available on short notice to assist in the operations of our Communities. From concierge to servers, housekeepers to general help, were looking for people with a big heart and great attitude. Enjoy competitive pay for truly fulfilling work! To learn more and apply, please go to: https://applynow.net.au/jobs/ni/ViVA687

Wishing all of our Community Members, Team Members, families and friends a very safe, healthy and Happy Mothers Day.

During these challenging times, its important to find things that still bring a smile to our faces. For many people, the thought of festive Mariachi music and delicious Mexican cuisine can evoke the brightest of smiles. To celebrate Cinco de Mayo, were sharing a V!VAlicious Mexican recipe for Barbacoa Tacos with Pico de Gallo from one of V!VA Retirement Communities talented Executive Chefs. Click the following link to see the recipe and try it for yourself! https://vivalife.ca/a-cinco-de-mayo-vvalicious-recipe/

V!VA Barrhaven would like to thank all of our families and friends for your unwavering gratitude and support as we continue on this journey. It is your care, compassion and diligence that has allowed us to effectively keep a healthy community and continue to share those happy moments. At the same time V!VA Barrhaven would like to show our support to all communities that we are travelling with on this same road. Thank you and thanks to Tricia Howard, our Culinary Services Manager for the great photos.