David Lloyd-Jones (DLJ) residence in Kelowna is marking 75 years of service to the community, and for those who live and work there, it’s always felt like home.
“I love it here. For me, this is the best place,” said Svetlana Kovach, a registered nurse and the charge nurse at DLJ. “Every morning when I come to work, for me it’s like coming home.”
Newcomers are encouraged to decorate their rooms with personal and meaningful items, helping them settle in with comfort and dignity, an Interior Health media release states.
“We try to treat everyone like family,” Kovach said. “It’s our job to take care of them.”
DLJ’s common areas are designed to feel warm and inviting, not institutional. There's a garden and outdoor deck where residents can relax, and even a daycare operating in the basement.
“It’s really nice. I love this place,” said resident Joanne Fischer. “The staff bend over backwards for us. They help us outside, and they’ll take us on a stroll around the block.”
Located at 934 Bernard Avenue, the 64-bed DLJ residence opened its doors on June 21, 1950. Over the decades, it has grown and evolved with ongoing renovations and upgrades helping the facility adapt to residents’ needs.
One of the most recent improvements is a major upgrade to the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, which means all public spaces at DLJ are now air-conditioned.
The home is named after David Lloyd-Jones, a prominent Kelowna resident who built many homes in the Okanagan, owned local lumber yards, served on the city’s first municipal council, and helped establish Kelowna General Hospital.
