With Saskatchewan’s aging population on the rise, the need for high-quality, long-term care has never been more important. The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) cares for more than 8,200 individuals living in 157 long-term care homes across the province. In Regina, eight long-term care facilities operated by the SHA serve hundreds of residents who depend on safe, personalized care every day. Hospitals of Regina Foundation is proud to support this care through targeted investments that improve safety, comfort and clinical outcomes.

In 2025, our donors helped us fund critical equipment across multiple facilities, including floor lifts, sit-to-stand lifts, regular sized and bariatric beds, and bladder scanners. While these items may seem simple to most people, they play a vital role in delivering safe and dignified care to elderly residents as well as those with complex medical needs, such as advanced dementia, Parkinson’s disease or late-stage Multiple Sclerosis.

Lifts were provided to five sites – Elmview, Parkside and Sunset Special Care Homes, Regina Lutheran Home and Wascana Rehabilitation Centre. These lifts help staff safely move residents from beds, chairs or baths without physical strain or risk of injury. Sit-to-stand lifts are especially useful for promoting safe mobility while preserving a resident’s independence. At the Wascana Rehabilitation Centre, new bariatric lifts and beds were added to ensure larger residents receive safe and respectful care, tailored to their needs.

Equally impactful is the addition of bladder scanners at Elmview, Regina Lutheran and Sunset care homes. These handheld, non-invasive tools give care teams the ability to quickly assess a resident’s bladder volume, helping to avoid unnecessary catheterizations, which can be uncomfortable and may lead to complications like urinary tract infections. They also support the diagnosis and management of common conditions such as urinary retention, incontinence and neurogenic bladder, a dysfunction where nerve damage from disease or injury prevents the bladder from properly storing or emptying urine.

“In 2025, the support of Hospitals of Regina Foundation made a meaningful difference for continuing care programs in Regina. Through this partnership, we enhanced resident safety and dignity by acquiring seven new lifts for long-term care homes and 12 new medical beds, including two designed to safely support bariatric residents,” says Terra Olynick, executive director, Continuing Care, Integrated Regina Health. “The Foundation also funded bladder scanners in three long-term care homes, enabling timely, on-site assessments and helping avoid unnecessary hospital transfers. Together, these investments strengthen safe mobility, improve clinical decision-making and support higher-quality, resident-centered care. We are deeply grateful for the Foundation’s continued partnership and commitment to our residents.”

These upgrades reflect the growing need to ensure our long-term care homes can meet the complex needs of an aging population, with the right tools in place.

“As the demand for long-term care increases, we must keep investing in safer, more advanced equipment that protects residents and staff alike," says Lisa Green, senior vice president, Hospitals of Regina Foundation. "Our community’s generosity is making a real impact, ensuring people receive the care they deserve with dignity, comfort and respect, right here at home.”