West Lake residents and staff enjoy lunch with community partner

LEC commends home's friendship with local restaurant

January 25, 2010 -- Deron Hamel

Residents and staff members at West Lake Terrace paid a visit to a nearby restaurant Jan. 21, as part of a community partnership.

Shrimp, clubhouse sandwiches and hamburgers were some of the restaurant's favourites that residents and staff members enjoyed during their lunch-hour visit, says life enrichment co-ordinator (LEC) Julie Clarkson.

Because the weather that day was warm, residents and staff members were able to walk to the restaurant, enhancing the enjoyment of the day for residents, while helping them increase mobility through exercise, she adds.

For the past few years the Prince Edward County long-term care home has had an agreement with Brick Works Oven & Grill, the home's next-door neighbour on County Rd. No. 12, to utilize the restaurant as a meeting place, as part of the home's evacuation plan.

All long-term care homes are required to include a designated meeting place in their evacuation plans. Given Brick Works' close proximity to West Lake Terrace, administrator and director of care Mary Lynn Lester contacted the restaurant's owner when the home was creating its plan to see if a partnership could be forged. The owner agreed to the partnership.

In return for Brick Works' support, the home often co-ordinates outings to the restaurant to help support the partnership, says Clarkson.

The partnership between the restaurant and home has come in handy in the past, she adds.

A few years back there was a power outage in the area. Because of the outage, residents had to be evacuated to the restaurant, recalls Clarkson, adding owner provided everyone with free soup and sandwiches.

"This is a great community partnership," says Clarkson.

Do you have a story you would like to share about a community partnership at your home? If so, please contact the newsroom at 800-294-0051, ext. 23, or e-mail deron(at)axiomnews.ca.

If you have feedback on this story, please call the newsroom at 800-294-0051, ext. 23, or e-mail deron(at)axiomnews.ca.

Back to News