Lunch at Amica Credit Mills: Exploring Care, Memory Care, Suites and Amenities

Amica Credit Mills is one of those retirement homes where there’s a lot to explore.

Located in Mississauga, it offers a full continuum of care of Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care and Respite Care, with everything from studio suites to premium two-bedroom suites. There’s also an indoor pool, bistro, theatre, fitness studio, craft kitchen, games room, beautiful outdoor spaces, and two incredible dedicated Memory Care floors.

I got an in-depth look at the residence when Elderado and Amica Credit Mills hosted a lunch and tour together for local professionals who support older adults and their families.

Tami Smith, Community Relations Director at Amica Credit Mills, took us through the home, and there were a few things that really stood out to me.

One Home With a Full Continuum of Care

One of the biggest strengths of Amica Credit Mills is the range of care available within the residence.

Amica Credit Mills offers Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care, and Respite or Short-Term Stays.

For someone who is largely independent, Independent Living provides a maintenance-free lifestyle with dining, activities, amenities and the ability to add support as needed.

Assisted Living provides additional help with daily activities, with a wellness team and nurse on-site 24/7. Support can include medication management, bathing, dressing, mobility, continence care and other health and personal care needs.

For people living with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, there are two dedicated floors of Memory Care.

Having these options within one residence is significant. Someone may move into a retirement home when they’re still quite independent, but their needs at 85 may look very different from their needs at 90.

For older adults hoping to age in place, having multiple levels of care available within the same community can provide some peace of mind about what happens if those needs change.

Memory Care Is Something Special

Memory Care was one of the biggest highlights for me.

I tour a lot of retirement homes, and when I’m touring Memory Care, I’m interested in much more than the suites. I want to see the environment residents actually live in throughout the day.

At Amica Credit Mills, Memory Care occupies two dedicated floors, with dining, activity and social spaces designed specifically for people living with dementia.

One of the most interesting features is the specialized elevator connecting the two Memory Care floors. It allows residents to move between the floors while remaining within the secure Memory Care area.

That gives residents access to more space and more variety without compromising the security of the Memory Care environment.

Another feature that caught my attention was the Tovertafel.

The Tovertafel is an interactive system that projects games and activities onto a table. Residents can interact with the projections using their hands, creating opportunities for movement, engagement and social interaction.

Memory Care residents also have access to specialized programming, including sensory activities, music therapy and one-on-one time.

What stood out to me was that Memory Care feels like its own community within Amica Credit Mills rather than simply another section of the residence.

For families considering Memory Care, that’s an important distinction.

A Lot of Choice in Where You Live

We toured a variety of suites throughout Amica Credit Mills, and there’s a significant range in what retirement living can look like here.

Amica Credit Mills offers studios, one-bedroom suites, one-bedroom plus den suites, and two-bedroom suites, with different layouts and features depending on the level of care.

One of the standouts was a two-bedroom Premium Independent Living model suite.

Two-bedroom suites range from approximately 775 to 1,081 square feet. Premium options can include a full kitchen, and select layouts offer private balconies.

For someone downsizing from a house or larger condo, it’s a good example of how moving into a retirement home doesn’t necessarily mean moving into a small studio.

We also saw a one-bedroom Independent Living model suite, which provided a completely different option with a separate bedroom and living area in a more compact footprint.

One-bedroom suites at Amica Credit Mills range from approximately 524 to 759 square feet.

In Assisted Living, we toured a studio suite, showing how a smaller, easier-to-navigate space can work for someone receiving more day-to-day support.

Studio suites range from approximately 379 to 516 square feet.

Throughout the suites, there were thoughtful accessibility features like wide doorways, grab bars and accessible bathrooms.

I’m particularly fond of the curbless showers.

It’s not the flashiest feature you’ll see on a retirement home tour, but it’s exactly the kind of thoughtful design that can matter as someone gets older. Removing the curb makes getting into the shower easier and eliminates a potential trip hazard.

Amenities You’ll Actually Want to Use

Amica Credit Mills has an impressive amenity list.

There’s an indoor pool, fitness studio, theatre, games room with billiards, craft kitchen, bistro, library, salon and spa, sitting areas, patios and terraces.

But I’m less interested in how many amenities a retirement home can put on a brochure and more interested in what those spaces actually feel like.

At Amica Credit Mills, there were a lot of spaces I could genuinely picture residents using.

The bistro was one of my favourites. It’s a beautiful, casual space where residents can grab something to eat or drink, meet a friend, or spend time with family outside of the main dining room.

The theatre, games room and craft kitchen provide completely different ways to spend an afternoon.

And there are plenty of smaller sitting areas throughout the residence.

Those may not get the same attention as a swimming pool, but I think they’re important. Not every social interaction needs to be a scheduled activity. Sometimes you just want somewhere comfortable to sit with a neighbour or family member.

The Outdoor Spaces Deserve a Mention

The outdoor spaces were another highlight for me.

Amica Credit Mills has patios, terraces, gardens and outdoor sitting areas that feel like extensions of the indoor common spaces rather than an afterthought.

For residents who enjoy being outside, having comfortable and accessible outdoor spaces can make a meaningful difference to everyday life, particularly during the warmer months.

Lunch With Local Professionals

After touring the residence, we sat down for lunch with Tami and a group of local professionals who support older adults and their families:

• Nicole Galeotalanza, Certified Case Manager, Life Care Planner and Life Coach at Tri-Star Health
• Brian Cowan, Real Estate Agent & Broker, Transition With Ease | Keller Williams Empowered Realty
• Michael Wright, Real Estate Agent, Every Avenue | Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd.
• Val Malysheva, Brand Ambassador, Gordon’s Downsizing & Estate Services
• Jodi Binning, Business Development Manager, Elder Care Transitions
• Tyler Rudublo, Program Manager, Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation

Together, the group brought expertise in real estate, downsizing, senior transitions, care planning, health, and aging and brain health innovation.

Elderado and Amica Credit Mills hosted the afternoon together to give these professionals an opportunity to experience the residence firsthand.

Many of them work directly with older adults and Sandwich Generation caregivers who are trying to understand their senior living and care options. Seeing a retirement home firsthand helps professionals better understand the options available when those conversations happen.

And, of course, we got to experience the dining.

Caesar salad with grilled chicken was definitely the popular choice around the table, while other dishes included golden mushroom soup, grilled cheese, sandwiches and a tofu and vegetable noodle bowl.

What Stood Out to Me About Amica Credit Mills

If I had to narrow our visit down to a few things, I’d start with the continuum of care.

There are options for someone who is highly independent, someone who needs more day-to-day assistance, and someone who requires dedicated Memory Care. Respite and Short-Term Stays add another option for families who may need temporary support.

I’d also put Memory Care high on the list. The two dedicated floors, specialized elevator, Tovertafel, programming and common spaces make it feel like a purpose-built community within the larger residence.

Then there’s the choice.

Choice in suites. Choice in care. Choice in where to eat. Choice in activities. Choice in whether you want to swim, exercise, watch a movie, work on a craft, sit in the bistro or head outside.

That combination is what stood out to me most.

If you’re looking at retirement homes in Mississauga for yourself or an aging loved one, Amica Credit Mills is one I’d recommend experiencing in person.

A website can tell you that a retirement home has a pool, Memory Care or two-bedroom suites. Walking through the residence gives you a much better sense of how all of those pieces come together and whether it feels like somewhere you could call home.

Learn more about Amica Credit Mills.