Introduction
Arbutus Care Centre, located at 4505 Valley Drive in Vancouver, is a long-term care facility nestled in the serene Arbutus Ridge neighbourhood. Known for its tree-lined streets and residential charm, the area provides a peaceful environment conducive to senior living.
Opened in 1986, the facility is operated by AgeCare, a for-profit organization affiliated with Revera Inc. AgeCare manages the centre and oversees the services provided to residents.
Arbutus Care Centre is not co-located with an assisted living residence; it exclusively offers long-term care services within its premises.
The average wait time for admission to Arbutus Care Centre is 28 days.
Contracted Services
Arbutus Care Centre does not provide professional nursing services or non-regulated services such as care aides.
Food services are supplied by an outside contractor, with all meals prepared and cooked on-site. This arrangement allows for freshly made meals tailored to residents’ dietary needs while leveraging external expertise in food service management.
Housekeeping services and plant/building maintenance are provided, ensuring that Arbutus Care Centre remains clean and well-maintained for the comfort of its residents.
Beds
Arbutus Care Centre has a total of 156 beds, of which 152 are publicly funded.
Room configurations consist of approximately 54% single-occupancy rooms (58 rooms) and 46% double-occupancy rooms (49 rooms), offering residents a choice between private and shared accommodations based on availability and preference.
Resident Fees
Internet service is included in the monthly resident fees, while cable and telephone services are not included and must be arranged separately. This may require residents or their families to manage additional subscriptions for these services.
An additional clothing labelling fee is indicated as an extra charge, which may be necessary for managing residents’ personal laundry and preventing loss of items.
Licensing & Incidents
In the 2022/23 period, there was one licensing complaint reported, which was substantiated.
Arbutus Care Centre recorded several incidents: unexpected illness (46), expected death (23), falls with injury or adverse events (16), aggressive behaviour (7), abuse or neglect (3), disease outbreak or occurrence (2), other clinical incidents (4), other service delivery incidents (2), other injuries (1), and unexpected death (1). These figures reflect the challenges inherent in managing health and safety in long-term care settings.
Licensing infractions totaled five, with one infraction each in the categories of physical facility, equipment and furnishings; medication; care and supervision; records and reporting; and licensing. This indicates areas where compliance and operational procedures may need attention.
Resident Profile & Quality Indicators
The average age of residents is 86 years, with 68.3% being female and 58.9% aged 85 years or older. The average length of stay is approximately 3.4 years.
About 14.4% of residents are diagnosed with depression, and 34.3% are receiving depression medication. Additionally, 25.7% of residents are taking antipsychotic drugs without a diagnosis of psychosis, and 4.6% exhibit physically abusive behaviour. These statistics highlight the importance of mental health services and careful medication management within Arbutus Care Centre.
Residents with dementia, ranging from mild to severe, make up 61.8% of the population, while 27.0% have severe cognitive impairment, including severe dementia. This suggests a significant need for specialized cognitive care and support services.
Approximately 41.3% of residents are taking nine or more medications, and 2.1% have had four or more emergency room visits. This underscores the complexity of managing multiple health conditions and the necessity for coordinated healthcare services.
Half of the residents (50.4%) use wheelchairs, and 31.7% are dependent in activities of daily living. Additionally, 2.2% have experienced a worsened pressure ulcer. These factors indicate a high level of need for mobility assistance and personal care.
Falls in the last 30 days were reported for 15.8% of residents, and 3.0% are subjected to daily physical restraints. This emphasizes the importance of fall prevention strategies and the careful consideration of restraint use.
Vaccination Coverage
In the 2022/23 period, 80.8% of residents were vaccinated for influenza, and 87.0% were vaccinated for COVID-19.
Among health care workers at Arbutus Care Centre, 58.3% were vaccinated for influenza.
