(Choice Plus Mural, one of the new beautiful additions to the Two Hills Health Centre / Photo Source: Assisted Living Alberta)

Residents at Two Hills Health Centre are enjoying a more personalized and engaging living environment thanks to a series of quality-of-life improvements introduced through the Quality of Life Chrysalis Project, an initiative led by Assisted Living Alberta and supported through Government of Alberta funding.

The project is designed to transform continuing care spaces into warmer, more home-like environments that support social connection, cognitive function, dignity, and overall well-being for residents.

At Two Hills Health Centre, improvements include interactive murals, personalized door wraps, themed imagery, Sound Off headphones, and accessible raised garden beds. The enhancements help create spaces that reflect residents' identities and experiences while making it easier to navigate the facility.

The visual improvements are intended to support memory and wayfinding while fostering a stronger sense of familiarity and belonging. By incorporating themes and imagery that resonate with residents, the facility has become more individualized and welcoming.

Residents are also benefiting from the addition of Sound Off headphones, which help remove barriers such as background noise and hearing limitations. The technology allows residents to participate more fully in group programming and enjoy immersive experiences throughout the facility.

Outdoor engagement opportunities have been expanded through the installation of raised garden beds, providing residents with accessible ways to garden, spend time outdoors, and remain connected to meaningful activities.

According to Assisted Living Alberta, the Quality of Life Chrysalis Project is a two-year initiative dedicated to creating environmental and quality-of-life enhancements in continuing care centres. The project is inspired by the Butterfly Care Home Approach developed in the United Kingdom and incorporates evidence-based interventions that support memory, social connection, and person-centred care.

Made possible through a $7 million investment from the Government of Alberta, the project is bringing improvements to 26 continuing care facilities across Alberta's Central Zone. The initiative builds on successful care home transformation efforts first introduced at Tofield Health Centre and aims to create living environments where residents experience greater comfort, purpose, and joy as they age.

Project leaders say the Chrysalis Project represents an important step toward creating continuing care environments that feel less institutional and more like home, while supporting residents' emotional, social, and cognitive needs.

For residents and families at Two Hills Health Centre, the improvements are helping create a more inclusive and engaging environment where meaningful connections, personal identity, and quality of life remain at the heart of care.

(Pictured below: Part of the Chrysalis Project, supporting a higher standard of care and quality of life. Photo Source: Assisted Living Alberta)