Dr. Gerald Zetter Care Centre

Continuing my tour of Edmonton nursing homes / LTC facilities I found this one to be Very homey and down-to-earth. The residents can create their own gardens and there are visits of animals. The residents can have their pets visit. The vibe seems quite laid back. Spoke with one resident who said she had been there for 7 years and loved it. My sister and I both took a tour with Joanne, who was very informative and helpful. She and her colleagues seemed to be there as their vocation, and not just a job. UPDATE 24/10/23: Moved my Mom here from Jubilee. She is much happier here. Still sharing a room unfortunately but the room is twice the size as the one at Jubilee. Also meals are on the same floor as her room, and not in a big hall downstairs like at Jubilee. Biggest advantage is that no long lines for the elevators

For the amount of money it costs residents to live here you would think that they would have enough staff to take care if the residents properly. My Grandma has accidents and they often "clean her" but don't clean her room. So she's stuck living in a room that's disgusting. After spending some time with her we had found they hadn't even washed her correctly and that she still had "stuff" on her hands. It's absolutely disgusting to put someone through that. That's how people get sick and stuff like that spreads fast in a care home. She has lost something like 12-15 pairs of glasses (some prescription) and the staff has no idea where the glasses are going. She has had property from her room taken, staff has no idea. I don't think it is the staff's fault as much as it is the management and the lack of staff in general. For what these people have to pay to be treated the way they are is just unacceptable in my opinion.

My mother-in-law resides here, for a few years now. The last few weeks when you get off the elevator on the 3rd floor you get a powerful smell of urine, today when it was mentioned up on the floor the response was "well they are a bunch of old people". My sister in law told her it's not acceptable and said it just shows the quality of care is going down. The lady said she will bring it to the attention of someone. That is pretty disgusting. Also the whole ambience of the cafeteria has gone down hill since Wayne was let go 2yrs or so ago. He always had it decorated for the season and was friendly and always said hello and would stop to chat if he had time. Now it is just an institutional feeling environment. Very sad at the decline of the environment.

My mother has been in the nursing home for the past 2.5 years ........ most of the personnal are extremely accomodating , and do care . Friendly staff . We as a family are happy we put our mother in the Dr. Gerald Centre Good Sam

Unfortunately, I have had to call this place my home for the last 4+ years. I want to ensure you however, that this has nothing to do with the facility and everything to do with my feelings and my need to live in long-term care, period!As far as long-term-care facilities go, the Good Samaritan Society cluster of nursing homes are closer to the top of the overall spectrum. and while not the best home out there, as far as Government-sponsorred home go, the Dr. Gerald Zetter Care Centre is one of the best, with their (optional) Canadian-lever accreditation having been awarded to them with Distinction. In all honnesty, it is nowhere near the many homes I consider to be more of a detriment to a person's health--such as the Edmonton General Hospital (more about that in another review) or Hardisty.There are two units on each the second and third floors, housing fifty residents in each; thus totalling around 200 persons at any given time. The second floor is dedicated to residents with mental deterioration, such as senility and alzheimer's disease. The third floor is housed by a variety of cognicient people, but for the most part, are able to converse and engage to at least some degree.During the week, the are physiotherapists and their aides assisting in the residents maintaining (mostly) their muscle and bone health while the occupational therapy team assess the residents for what they need to best function from day to day, as well as fixing old wheelchairs and their cushions, as well as finding new chairs for those whom can no longer walk..This is complimented by a full-time recreational therapy staff who, along with aides assigned to each unit, ensure that each unit has activities best suited for the residents of that unit.A small, but much-appreciated gift shop is maintained by the volunteers, so that residents can purchase a treat or a necessity without having to leave the facility..All in all, it's a great place to live at, but for reasons such as policies and regulations which don't make any sense to me; as well as the amount of time it takes to make changes to these policies, my frustration levels are slowly growing.It should not take 4+ years to develop a single policy for something like suprapubic catheters, but due to my love of this home, I rather endure monthly hospital visits to have it changed until they win the Guinness award for slowest to accomplish a new protocol. Just remember that no one is perfect, nor is any organization, but if they've been able to put up with me, they MUST be special, indeed!If your loved one can no longer be cared for by you or someone else close to them, don't feel guilty; you can trust your mother, sister, brother, father, etc, with the GSS Gerald Zetter Center and go to sleep at night knowing that they are in excellent hands,