Community Partner Update – Issue 1, 2026

Issue 1, 2026

There’s an incredible sense of progress and possibility across peopleCare. As we continue to grow, build new homes and welcome new team members, we’re also embracing innovation and sharing what we’re learning with the broader sector. From fast-tracking our construction milestones to advancing AI and digital technologies to embracing the transformative power of emotion-based care, our teams are truly changing the world of senior living.

Transforming experiences through emotion-based care

Inspired by peopleCare’s commitment to transforming experiences, our Oakcrossing LTC home spent a year exploring the Butterfly Approach™ to emotion-based care, to understand how it could further enhance our own person-centred approach. Focused on how people feel, emotion-based care fosters connection, honours life stories and brings more meaning and purpose into everyday moments for residents and staff.

Along the way, the team received overwhelmingly positive feedback from residents, families and staff and earned Accreditation from our partners at Meaningful Care Matters. They also saw improvements in outcomes including fewer falls, reduced pain, increased appetite, higher satisfaction and improved staff retention.

This important work aligns with a broader shift across our sector as Ontario invests in emotion-based approaches for dementia care, and it reflects a growing recognition of the importance of connection, belonging, and individualized support in LTC.

Read the full story: Transforming Experiences through Emotion-based care

Watch this video to see some of the moments captured throughout our journey.

 

peopleCare Tillsonburg LTC scheduled to open in August

Construction of our new 160-bed LTC home in Tillsonburg is progressing quickly and the home is really starting to come to life! Between now and opening in August, we will build a local team of more than 200 people. Hiring is underway, with leadership roles now filled and more opportunities opening soon. We’re planning job fairs this spring with our partners at the Tillsonburg & District Multi-Service Centre and Fanshawe College as we begin recruiting in earnest.

peopleCare has a long history of serving seniors in Oxford County and we’re proud to be putting down roots here with the support of our local MPP Ernie Hardeman and the Town of Tillsonburg. The County, Town and Council have been incredible partners, championing new LTC beds, supporting peopleCare in securing an ideal central location, and helping move the project smoothly through planning.

Visit us on Indeed to learn more, explore our new Tillsonburg LTC hiring page, and see the latest project photos on Designing Vibrant Communities.

 

In other development news

peopleCare appreciates the government’s continued commitment to staffing and capital investment in LTC, reflected in the recent Ontario Budget and ongoing investments. As one of the province’s leading builders of new and redeveloped homes, we know how essential this support is to delivering modern homes that meet the needs of residents and their families.

In the past three and a half years, peopleCare has opened LTC homes in Meaford, Tavistock, Delhi and Kitchener, which means close to 600 new and redeveloped beds are now available for seniors and their families who need our care and supports.

We continue to partner with municipalities where LTC is most needed, while pushing hard on developments already underway. Our Tillsonburg home will open this summer, with additional projects in Stratford and Peterborough, where our home on Trent University lands will include an exciting teaching and research partnership.

From the ground up, peopleCare is Designing Vibrant Communities across Ontario.

 

Key insights from a year in LTC AI wound care

From the moment peopleCare saw Skinopathy’s AI-powered wound care technology, we knew it could be a game changer. After a 12-month evaluation, funded by OBIO’s LSCTC Centre of Excellence, the results did not disappoint. The outcomes exceeded typical industry benchmarks across all measures, improving accuracy, efficiency and clinical insight for LTC teams.

Innovation is one of peopleCare’s strategic priorities, focused on responsible adoption and bringing impactful, human-centred ideas to life in our homes, while also driving solutions that shape the future of the sector. Looking ahead, we will continue to explore AI and other technologies to support our clinical teams and enhance care.

Read peopleCare delivers breakthrough results from AI wound care evaluation.

 

Olympian teaches a different kind of kick in LTC

It’s not unusual for residents at peopleCare Hilltop Manor to try something new, but karate might still come as a surprise. Since May 2025, the LTC home in Cambridge has been offering karate lessons as part of its recreational programming, helping residents build strength, confidence and meaningful connections.

The program began when Olympic karate athlete Hamoon Derafshipour approached the home, and the team quickly connected with his engaging, inclusive teaching style. Residents of all ages and abilities have taken part, including Noor, Hilltop’s youngest resident at 41, who found a sense of community, built confidence, and even won gold at a local tournament.

At Hilltop Manor and across peopleCare homes, programs like this are about more than activity. They’re about connection, confidence, and creating moments that matter. Whether it’s trying something new, building friendships, or celebrating achievements, it’s all part of supporting residents to live more fully every day.

Read Karate at Hilltop Manor LTC builds confidence and community

Save the date! Putt for a Purpose

peopleCare’s annual Putt for a Purpose golf tournament returns this September to the beautiful Grey Silo Golf Course in Waterloo, Ontario. Last year’s event sold out early, bringing together industry leading construction, financial, and senior living partners, along with valued vendors, suppliers and friends for a great day on the course, in support of a great cause.

Mark your calendar and watch for registration to open May 1.

Click to view video highlights from our 2025 tournament.

 

Reflecting on Together We Care

Thank you to the Ontario Long Term Care Association and Ontario Retirement Communities Association for hosting another stellar Together We Care conference, bringing together senior living leaders to focus on innovation, quality and what comes next for resident care and experiences. Not every highlight was on a stage. It was in the laughs between sessions, the quick selfies that turned into long catch-ups and the familiar faces that make our sector feel like a community. Our teams were thrilled to be recognized through OLTCA’s inaugural Leading with Heart initiative, honouring their positive impact in their homes and communities. These are the moments that stay with us long after the conference ends!

peopleCare thought leaders in action

Congratulations to the new OLTCA board

peopleCare President Megan Allen-Lamb was re-elected to the Board of Directors of the Ontario Long Term Care Association at its recent AGM, and will once again serve as Vice Chair, continuing her leadership and advocacy for the sector. The OLTCA’s volunteer Board of Directors is elected from its membership and represents a broad spectrum of LTC homes, including urban and rural, small, medium and large, and across all ownership types. Congratulations and thank you to the new and returning board members for their leadership and commitment to strengthening LTC in Ontario.

Advancing digital transformation in LTC

Through her leadership and commitment, peopleCare’s Quality Systems Specialist, Salima Massani, is advancing digital transformation across peopleCare and the broader LTC sector. A PointClickCare Champion, Salima supported the sector-wide adoption of LTCF, sharing the frontline-informed insights that have guided successful implementation across peopleCare’s homes. She is also championing a pilot at one peopleCare home, helping advance integrated lab and clinical solutions in alignment with eHealth Ontario’s “Patients Before Paperwork” initiative. Reflecting her commitment to knowledge-sharing, Salima recently co-presented at an OLTCA webinar on the value of integrated labs and digital prescribing.

2026 budget consultations

Thank you to MPP Michelle Cooper and Waterloo region MPPs Mike Harris, Jess Dixon and Brian Riddell for hosting a budget consultation, creating space for thoughtful local discussion on Ontario’s priorities. peopleCare appreciated the opportunity to participate and share perspectives on the role LTC plays in supporting seniors and the broader health system. As a leading operator and developer, peopleCare’s priorities include securing stable operating funding indexed to inflation, a capital program that reflects today’s market realities, and a well-supported healthcare workforce. The Ontario Government’s significant investments in LTC are having a positive impact in our homes, improving care delivery, supporting innovation and making life better for residents, families and staff. Engagement like this is an important part of building on that progress as we plan for the future of seniors’ care and services.

MPPs Mike Harris, Jess Dixon, Brian Riddell and Michelle Cooper heard from constituents in Waterloo Region ahead of the 2026 provincial budget.

Click to access a PDF version of this newsletter.