Making lives better
Vancouver, British Columbia
CONNECT Communities helps people redesign their lives after brain injury and stroke. Founded in 1993 by Janet and John Sherwood, CONNECT provides specialized residential rehabilitation through the Life Redesign Model — a proven approach that embeds rehabilitation into real life, in real homes, with a coaching team that believes recovery does not have a ceiling. 70.4% of people who move into CONNECT move home. Only 7.1% move to long-term care, compared to an industry average of 20 to 30%. The model delivers a 682% return on investment and generates $16.7 million in annual cost avoidance for the health system. These results come from people who arrived with severe functional limitations — the people the traditional system had already done everything it could for. The Life Redesign Model is recognized as a Leading Practice by Accreditation Canada. CONNECT holds Accreditation with Exemplary Standing, the highest level achievable, and presented four abstracts at the IBIA World Congress in Montreal in 2025. Today CONNECT operates 168 bedrooms across six locations in British Columbia and Ontario, with a new location under construction in Parksville on Vancouver Island.
On-site · Lake Country
The Independence Coach contributes to the creation of integrated, multi-professional Life Redesign Plans based on individual goals. They also serve as a mentor and teacher for residents and staff while ensuring high standards of care and continuous quality improvement.
On-site · Saanich
The Independence Coach collaborates with individuals to create and implement integrated life redesign plans following brain injury or stroke. They also serve as a mentor and coach to residents and staff while ensuring high standards of quality and safety.
On-site · Lake Country
The Nutrition Coach will assess the dietary needs of individuals recovering from brain injuries or strokes to support their life redesign goals. They will collaborate with Life Redesign Coaches to integrate nutrition strategies into daily routines and ensure a person-centered approach to mealtime experiences.
On-site · Lake Country
The Communication Coach develops integrated Life Redesign Plans to help individuals recover from brain injury or stroke. They serve as a mentor and teacher for residents and staff while collaborating with a multi-professional team to maximize community participation.
On-site · Nanaimo
The Communication Coach contributes to the creation of integrated, multi-professional Life Redesign Plans for individuals recovering from brain injuries or strokes. They serve as a mentor and teacher for residents and staff while building strong community relationships and ensuring collaborative support strategies.
On-site · Nanaimo
The Independence Coach contributes to the creation of integrated Life Redesign Plans by supporting residents in achieving their personal goals after brain injury or stroke. They also serve as a mentor and teacher for residents and staff while building strong community relationships.
On-site · Nanaimo
The Physical Coach contributes to the creation of integrated, multi-professional life redesign plans for individuals recovering from brain injuries or strokes. They also serve as a mentor and teacher for residents and staff while ensuring the delivery of high-quality, collaborative support services.
