Sweetgrass
Lifestyle options:
Independent Living, Assisted Living, Dementia & Memory Care
Guest stays available, Adult day programs onsite, Palliative care available
Cost (from):
$1,650
Suites:
52 suites (Studio, 1-bed)
About Sweetgrass
A member of Optima Living
Sweetgrass is modern, bright and spacious with an intimate cottage layout located in Slave Lake, AB. We enjoy a fun, loving atmosphere, with music playing in the cottages and lots of laughter. Our grounds are lovely, with a beautifully trimmed lawn, shrubs, and raised flower beds. A pathway and small bridge connect Sweetgrass with Vanderwell Lodge next door, and visitors are always welcome. Our beautiful two-storey community opened in summer 2015. We are dedicated to promoting maximum independence, choice, and dignity for each resident and encourage the involvement of family, neighbours and friends.
COVID-19 Information
When it comes to the news and social media addressing COVID-19, there are as many perspectives as there are people.
It makes one wonder how we navigate these times.
There is one word that immediately comes to mind. We navigate all of this with love. Love, care, compassion, and concern for those we love and those around us—for the caregivers, for the sick, for those who have lost loved ones.
Continue to care for yourself and others in any way you can. Wash your hands. Get vaccinated. Be Safe. Stay in touch. Turn off the news more. Be positive. Find ways to show love. Pay for someone else’s coffee at the drive through, share a wink when you can’t see that smile, share a word of encouragement in an unexpected way, reach out to your neighbour, leave a flower on someone’s doorstep...and above all, don’t give up hope!
If you are struggling, reach out to many of the online or mental health professionals that are available, or call your Optima Living community. We can put you in touch with a support network.
Insider reviews & perspectives
Comfort Life Review
Sweetgrass is really unique among all the retirement communities that we review, in its cottage style layout. This is ideal for people from the area who want to have their own space and want to easily step out to enjoy the open air. It’s a safe, comfortable, pleasant environment where all your daily needs—including meals and housekeeping—are taken care of.
The really great thing about Sweetgrass is the fellow feeling that you get in a community with peers... peers who become friends. You’ll come to enjoy your days much more than living on your own or living in an area where there are not many people your own age around. That leads to a feeling of revitalization for people who move here.
Leadership here (the general manager and staff) is professional, welcoming, and experienced both in senior care and in working with people living in more remote locations like this. They take their cues from the company founders who begin with a vision focused on cherishing elders and the contribution they’ve made to the world. This means creating a place where seniors feel completely at home, and where they feel honoured.
Read the full reviewLifestyle
Lifestyle options
Independent Living (definition)
Cost from $1,650
Includes
- Meals (3x/day)
- Daily tidy (Extra fee)
- Housekeeping (1x/week)
- Medication administration
Assisted Living (definition)
Cost from $2,120
Includes
- Diabetes
- Meals (3x/day)
- Daily tidy (Extra fee)
- Housekeeping (1x/week)
- Medication administration
Dementia & Memory Care (definition)
Cost from $2,120
Includes
- Meals (3x/day)
- Daily tidy (Extra fee)
- Housekeeping (1x/week)
- Medication administration
Suites
- Type: Studio
- Ownership: Rent
- Cost: $2,120 - $2,318
- Size: 200sq/ft
- Companion fee: +$600
- Details:
- Cable TV in room (additional fee)
- Call Bell System
- Mini-fridge
- Personal phone number in room (additional Fee)
- Contact:
- Type: 1-bed
- Ownership: Rent
- Cost: $2,120 - $2,318
- Size: 200sq/ft
- Companion fee: +$600
- Details:
- Cable TV in room (additional fee)
- Call Bell System
- Mini-fridge
- Personal phone number in room (additional Fee)
- Contact:
- Type: Studio
- Ownership: Rent
- Cost: $2,120 - $2,318
- Size: 380sq/ft
- Companion fee: +$600
- Details:
- Cable TV in room (additional fee)
- Call Bell System
- Mini-fridge
- Personal phone number in room (additional Fee)
- Contact:
- Type: 1-bed
- Ownership: Rent
- Cost: $2,120 - $2,318
- Size: 625sq/ft
- Companion fee: +$600
- Details:
- Cable TV in room (additional fee)
- Call Bell System
- Mini-fridge
- Personal phone number in room (additional Fee)
- Contact:
Dining
Our chefs focus on offering residents a variety of dining choices, including local favourites, familiar dishes, and specialty meals. The focus for every dish is for residents to have homemade options and the chefs use fresh fruits and vegetables when possible. Three meals a day are provided for residents with additional snacks throughout the day.
Meal service : Room Service (extra fee), Table service
Seating type : Assigned seating , Open seating
Amenities & Services
Residence Amenities & Services
Arts and crafts
Chapel
Community Garden
Emergency call system (pull-cord in room)
Fitness Studio
Hairdresser
Internet
Laundry machines
Mail box
Parking (outdoor)
Patio/Courtyard/BBQ
Pet friendly
Religious Services & Holiday Celebrations
Spa/Beauty Salon
Walking Path
Wheelchair Accessible
Programs & Activities
Arts and Crafts
Assisted Walks/Trails
Bingo
Card Games
Entertainment
Gardening
Parties
Religious & Holiday Services
Staff & Care
General Manager's Message
Paula Bird
As General Manager of Sweetgrass, I would like to welcome all residents and families to our community. I come from Nisichiwayasihk (Nelson House), Manitoba, and am from the Cree tribe.
I have worked in the health industry for 30 years. I have worked in several roles, including a medic with the Canadian Armed Forces, a mental health counsellor primarily in the area of addictions, and as a Community Health Representative with the Canadian Prenatal Nutrition Program and the Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative. I have also sat on the national board as a Director of Health in First Nations communities. I have been involved in senior care over the last two years, managing Sweetgrass.
I love celebrating my Cree heritage and actively participate in traditional Cree/Ojibway ceremonies. I am a proud mother of five and have eight grandchildren.
Staff
| Medical Staff | |
|---|---|
| Registered Practical Nurses | |
| Personal Support Workers | 24 hrs/day |
| Doctor | visiting 1x/week |
Care services
Care options available:
- Guest stays available
- Adult day programs onsite
- Palliative care available
Health Services:
- Catheter care(with special assistance)
- Cognitively impaired residents(with special assistance)
- Oxygen assistance(with special assistance)
- Physically challenged residents(with special assistance)
- Vitals monitoring(with special assistance)
Accreditation & Associations
Neighbourhood
Neighbourhood
We are within close walking distance to shopping, restaurants, convenience stores and local places of interest in Slave Lake. Sweetgrass is directly located next to Vanderwell Lodge, which enables a thriving recreation program between the two buildings.
Sweetgrass is located at 105 6th Avenue NE, Slave Lake, Alberta, T0G 2A2.
What's nearby:
Community Christian Center St. Peter Celestin Catholic Church Slave Lake Wesleyan Church Slave Lake Alliance Church
Slave Lake Healthcare Centre Slave Lake Eye Care
Rexall 
Slave Lake Airport
Vanderwell Lodge
Legacy Centre
Citizen's Park Marten River Campground at Lesser Slave Lake Provincial ParkCompare Sweetgrass with nearby communities
| Compare with | Lifestyle options | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Sands | Assisted Living, Dementia & Memory Care, Independent Living | Lac La Biche, Alberta |
| Wild Rose | Assisted Living, Independent Living | Edmonton, Alberta |
| Garneau Hall Seniors Community | Apartments, Assisted Living, Independent Living | Edmonton, Alberta |
| Country Cottage | Assisted Living, Independent Living | Sherwood Park, Alberta |
| Aster Gardens | Assisted Living, Dementia & Memory Care, Independent Living | Sherwood Park, Alberta |
