Welcome to Ivan’s bachelor’s quarters.
Stayner, Ontario
Ivan opens the door to his room and delivers the line as if he had said it before.
“This is strictly bachelor’s quarters.”
It makes everyone laugh.
Inside, family photos hang on the wall. The room is bright and calm, with sunlight pouring in.
Ivan lives in long-term care because he needs 24/7 nursing care. At Stayner Care Centre in Stayner, Ont., he is not only receiving care but also building a life around familiar things, daily routines, and people who know him.
For Ivan and his wife, Julie, the newly redeveloped home is about more than a new building. It is about what the space makes possible.
“I have a suite where the sunshine pours in every day, and I love that,” Ivan said, “I didn’t know what to expect when I first got here, but I love it here. It’s starting to feel like home. I like the openness, spaciousness. I miss my cat, but he does visit me at times.”
That sense of home reaches beyond his room. Ivan is the President of the Residents’ Council, a role that reflects his involvement in the life of the home and in the care it provides. He leads karaoke sessions, helping bring residents together through music and laughter, and often speaks on behalf of his fellow residents at home events. Long-term care is where residents receive 24/7 nursing care, but it is also where they build relationships, share their views and remain part of a community.
For Julie, that sense of comfort is just as clear.
“I feel very at home here. I feel very comfortable when I come. I think this is very special,” she said. “The team members are so friendly with the residents, and I have become friends with the residents here too.”
Her words help show something many families know well. Moving into long-term care does not end connections. Families remain important care partners, and that feeling of home is shaped not only by the room itself, but by the visits, routines and relationships that continue there.
For Ivan and Julie, this redeveloped home is now the setting for this next chapter. The building is new, but what matters most is what happens inside it each day. It is a place where Ivan is cared for, where he belongs and where community is part of everyday life.
“The team here create such a warm atmosphere. It’s everything. It’s very special,” Julie said. “We feel very fortunate.”