Highview Lucan hosts open house for intergenerational care home
- 11 hours ago
- 3 min read
By Dan Rolph
Highview Lucan is opening with a care model its operators say is built on connections, bringing together seniors, adults with developmental disabilities and those living with dementia or cognitive decline.
The new privately owned and operated 53-unit care home in Lucan opened its doors to the public on Tuesday, Aug. 18, for an open house where the public could learn more about the home and what it brings to the community.
Highview president Joy Birch said the intergenerational model for care offers many advantages to those thinking of calling Highview their new home.
“I think it creates a beautiful opportunity for people to come alongside each other and learn from each other, talk to each other and maybe make some new friends,” she said.
Highview announced its purchase of the former Jake’s House property on Lucan’s Main Street earlier this year. Though Highview also operates care homes in London and Kitchener, the Lucan location is the first of its kind for the company.
Birch described Highview Lucan as her “passion project” and noted that it’s deeply personal for her. She said she had already been working on a business plan for supported living for individuals with neurodiversity and developmental disabilities when she got a call in April 2025 about viewing the three-storey building.
When Birch and Highview founder Ross Chapin went through the location together, Birch said they knew it was meant to be.
“There was such a perfect opportunity to bring together different generations, lots of different backgrounds and experience,” said Birch. “Everybody will have a completely different lens and perspective on life.”
Since purchasing the property, changes have been made to both its interior and exterior, and Birch said crews have worked for months to ensure it feels new. In particular, she said the second floor’s “Owens Cottage,” which is dedicated to those living with dementia, was a focus of those renovations. She said they reduced the number of suites on the floor, opening up the space while adhering to dementia design principles. The space features differently coloured walls for easier navigation and lighting that mirrors the quality and the clarity of changing sunlight throughout the day.
“It helps a lot with cueing for time of day,” said Birch. “The lens of your eye is the very natural indicator to your brain of if you should be awake or sleeping.”
With Highview close to welcoming its first residents in early September, Birch said they already have their eyes set on the future. The unoccupied homes flanking Highview Lucan have been demolished, clearing space on the 1.4-acre property for their long-term plans — a village featuring small homes fit for those living with dementia.
“It will provide people a little more privacy, a little more space and a little more independence,” she said. “Then, we can put some basic levels of care into the houses.”
Though it was a matter of circumstance that first drew Highview’s attention to Lucan, Birch said there are many benefits to creating their next care home in a small town with a tight-knit and welcoming community.
“When you have people come together in a community, the people who are more able will come alongside the people who are less able and want to help,” she said. “I think we’re going to see that. I really do.”
Of Highview’s 53 units, Birch said 20 have already been reserved. For some of those future residents, moving into Highview Lucan will mark a homecoming to the former Jake’s House building.
“We can’t wait to welcome them back,” said Birch. “We’re pretty excited to have them back in the home.”
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