Shalene Chascha Rycroft (left), Brenda Pelland-McIntosh (middle) and Lindsey Neudorf (right) began the process of starting Seniors Best Life back in June, and officially opened it in December (Photo: Facebook / Seniors Best Life)

By Shaun Penner

Senior Transition Services

New business aims to help seniors transition to next stage of life

Jan 11, 2020 | 7:00 AM

A new business in Grande Prairie is looking to help seniors as they transition to a new phase of their lives.

Started by three local nurses just last month, Seniors Best Life is looking to help seniors, and their families, with the many different challenges they face as they transition out of their homes into the likes of an apartment, semi-assisted or assisted living facilities.

After decades of combined experience working in the health care industry, Brenda Pelland-McIntosh, along with partners Shalene Chascha Rycroft and Lindsey Neudorf, saw a gap in the senior care industry, which was a lack of support in what they term move management.

“There is a group of seniors and older adults, who don’t necessarily have the support,” said Pelland-McIntosh. “Their kids are living in Calgary or Edmonton, away from Grande Prairie and they are trying to figure out how to downsize.”

“A lot of times, what we find is that the kids of the parents, it’s too overwhelming for them and they don’t know where to start.”

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Some services that are a part of move management include de-cluttering and downsizing for a move, helping set up a new home, and coordinating and assisting with different aspects of a move.

SBL is looking to offer assistance in other ways, including advocacy support when it comes to medical and other appointments, and what they call therapeutic companionship for those who may not have family close by.

Pelland-McIntosh says that they can fill that grey area between a friend or family visiting, and what home care nurses may provide.

“It’s not us to do the cleaning and the cooking, but actually help them to maintain some of their function and feel that they still have a lot to offer to themselves and to their families,” said Pelland-McIntosh. “One of the things that we have found is that people will have to leave somebody, and all they want is someone just to go in and to make sure that they have some kind of socialization, to make sure they are okay.”

“It’s nice to have another set of eyes checking in on one of your family members.”

The business is the first of its kind in Grande Prairie, and Pelland-McIntosh states that it is the only business of its kind north of Edmonton.

More information on the business can be found on their website and Facebook page.