Frost Manor life enrichment team members from left, Amy Whitehead, Kim Williams, Jesse Fraser and Lyndsay Burton, dressed up for National Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day.
Theme days, special visitors get nod from residents
From wearing pajamas all day to playing the slot machines and tending to animals, life has been ducky for residents of OMNI Health Care homes.
Frost Manor is just one of the eastern Ontario long-term care homes that’s embracing new ideas for unique activities. The Lindsay long-term care home recently celebrated National Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day.
National Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day encourages people to go to work in their PJs, nightcaps, gowns, sleep masks and slippers.
Life enrichment co-ordinator (LEC) Lyndsay Burton encouraged residents and team members to wear their nightclothes that day and most did.
“We thought, ‘why not bring this to the residents and staff and have a wonderful spirit day for them?’” Lyndsay says.
“It was a ton of fun, and everybody was asking if we could do this once a week. … It was so fun to see the staff and residents join in on the fun.”
Lyndsay notes that an interesting aspect of the event was that with nearly all residents and staff members dressed in their Pjs, it put everyone on the same plane.
Prizes were awarded to residents and staff members for the “comfy award” and best-dressed.
The LEC tries to create as many programs and activities as she can that centre on themes for special days on the calendar.
Meanwhile, Maplewood embraced its own theme day recently, presenting an afternoon at the casino.
Life enrichment aide (LEA) Lynanne Campbell arrived at the idea of holding a casino-themed afternoon for residents of the long-term care home in Brighton.
LEA Rosanne Blackburn tells The OMNIway that residents enjoyed Lynanne’s unique program.
“It was a success,” Rosanne says.
“We had a penny slot machine, double dice roll table, 21 card game and roulette. We gave them poker chips to play the games they wanted.”
The casino activity ran for an hour and at the end of the 60 minutes, residents turned in their poker chips for prizes, each choosing what appealed to him or her. Prizes included stuffed animals, candy, chips and spring ornaments for
Resident Lillian DeBassecourt poses with one of the ducklings staying at Springdale Country Manor perched on her head.
residents’ bed-side stands.
Recently in Springville, two newly-hatched ducklings at Springdale Country Manor were a big hit with residents and staff.
The ducklings, Larry and Bob, were from Woolley Wonderland Farm in Lakehurst. The pair had only hatched a few days before visiting the long-term care home. Team members from the life enrichment department cared for them during their stay.
“The residents just love them; they have been holding them and petting them and they are just loving them,” Springdale LEC Sonia Murney told The OMNIway recently.
“The residents have been joking around and having a lot of fun with the ducks.”
Larry and Bob, who have now returned to the farm, also had their first swim, with team members setting up a small pool for the pair to get their feathers wet. Residents were invited to watch the ducks frolic in the water, which delighted them, Sonia says.
Springdale Country Manor residents often get visits from dogs and cats, so having ducks come to the home was a unique type of pet therapy, the LEC says.
“It brings the farm to the home, and we’re in a country setting, so this is something they like to see.”
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