People of Perley - Anita Walden

When Anita Walden's husband, Jim, moved to Perley Health in May 2017, she had already been navigating his care for some time.

Jim, a Veteran who served 37 years with the Royal Canadian Regiment, had lived a full and active life. But after more than five decades of marriage, Anita began to notice changes that were difficult to explain, and for healthcare professionals to diagnose.

“Nobody knew he was ill except for me,” recalls Anita. “You know your partner pretty well. I noticed that there was a change in Jim.” 

What followed was a challenging period. Jim's illness was not immediately recognized, even as his condition worsened. At the same time, Anita and her family were dealing with a devastating loss, the death of their son in 2016. 

When a new opportunity opened at Perley Health for Veterans with special service needs, Anita was determined to bring Jim. He was admitted in 2017, among the first residents in the expanded unit. 

Anita describes it as a “jewel.” 

“It was wonderful,” she says. “The facility is amazing and so clean, and the people were very comforting.”

She describes one interaction with a staff member that shaped her early experience at Perley and how she approached the years that followed. 

“He put his hand on my arm and said: ‘Mrs. Walden, I'm going to give you some unsolicited advice. Our job is to look after your husband. Your job is to look after yourself.' Best advice I ever got.” 

Anita quickly found a rhythm in her visits with Jim while managing the emotional weight of seeing someone she loved change over time. At Perley, she found reassurance not only in the care Jim received, but in the people providing it. 

“I can't say enough about the staff,” she says. “They're just so caring. They don't lose their sense of humour, and that is so important.”

Jim lived at Perley from 2017 until his passing in 2025. 

Looking back, Anita is clear about what mattered the most. 

“I feel very comfortable here, I feel very respected,” she says, adding that the staff came to feel like family. “When you live alone and at my age, it's really hard to make friends. When I come here, I get hugs. It's very important.”

For Anita, Perley Health was where Jim's final years unfolded, supported by a team she came to trust and a community that made a very difficult time feel more manageable. 

“I can't say enough about the staff,” says Anita. “They're just so caring. They don't lose their sense of humour, and that is so important.” - Anita Walden, Family Member