Village Green continues to provide safe outdoor entertainment for residents

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‘We are going to cram as much live entertainment in as we can’

Village Green is continuing to offer the Greater Napanee long-term care home’s residents a wide range of top-notch outdoor entertainment in a safe environment.

Country-rock band Picket Fences is the latest outdoor entertainment troupe to perform outside at Village Green.

On Aug. 5 the group played a show for Village Green residents, who were seated at a distance in the home’s garden.

“The residents were super happy to have more entertainment at the home, and we even shared one song via Facebook Live with our friends, families and followers,” Ulana Orrick, Village Green’s life enrichment co-ordinator, tells The OMNIway.

The Picket Fences show was the second live performance at Village Green since restrictions in place due to the global COVID-19 pandemic were eased in June to allow outdoor entertainment.

Keeping in line with safety protocols, residents watch performances while observing social distancing requirements from inside the chain-link fence in the Village Green garden. The bands play from the other side of the fence.

The first outdoor concert for Village Green residents was on June 30, when Breaking Chains performed.

There are more outdoor shows lined up at Village Green.

Another entertainer, Mr. Honky Tonk, will be performing on Sept. 2, and a duet consisting of two residents’ family members will be providing entertainment on Sept. 5.

“We are going to cram as much live entertainment in as we can before the weather makes that impossible for us,” Ulana says.

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New LECs discuss the inspirations that set them on their career paths

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Three OMNI LECs are new to their positions, they all had different motivators that led them to LTC, but they are united by a passion for their work

Three life enrichment co-ordinators (LECs) who are new to the position of managing and organizing programs at OMNI Health Care long-term care homes may have different experiences that led them on their career paths but they’re united by a passion for their work.

Ulana Orrick became Village Green’s LEC on March 30. Ulana, who has a solid background working in long-term care, says her supervisor at a previous job she had working in a life enrichment department at a long-term care home encouraged her to pursue a career in program management after seeing her potential as an interim manager.

“She said, ‘you found your inner leader, you should definitely pursue something,’ so I started looking around for another rural home – I really wanted that rural experience – and Village Green just happened to be looking (for an LEC) at the same time I was, so that’s what brought me here,” she says.

“I am absolutely loving it here, this is such a great little home.”

Laurie Kracht became Streamway Villa’s new LEC in early July, and she credits her late father for inspiring her to take the career path that brought her to the Cobourg long-term care home.

About five years ago, Laurie moved back home to help her mother care for her dad, who had been diagnosed with dementia.

Eventually, Laurie’s father needed hospital care, and, after spending several months in and out of hospital and waiting for a bed in a long-term care home, he moved into Streamway Villa. He passed away three weeks later.

But Laurie says during his time at Streamway her father was happy and was receiving excellent care.

Laurie saw the difference that people working at Streamway Villa made in her dad’s life.

“It was the first time I had seen my dad smile in a long time because he had been in and out of the hospital for a long time,” Laurie says.

Kim Williams had been working as a life enrichment aide at Frost Manor for about two years when she had a chance to mentor her peers, which she says ignited within her a desire to become a manager.

She brought that goal to fruition earlier in the spring when she joined Pleasant Meadow Manor as the Norwood long-term care home’s new LEC.

“I enjoy the staff, I enjoy the environment and I enjoy the residents — I’m making friends with the residents here like I did at Frost,” Kim says.

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Wildwood residents tap into their love of gardening during the pandemic

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‘The world continues to grow’

In recent weeks, the Wildwood Care Centre courtyard has become the perfect place for residents to tap into their talents for gardening.

With restrictions in place on large-group indoor programming in long-term care homes due to the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic, the courtyard and its gardens have provided residents with meaningful activities in a safe environment.

“Residents have been enjoying the gardens here; they have been watering the gardens (and) they have enjoyed planting tomatoes, so they’re enjoying being out there watching things grow,” says Alison Hoskins, the St. Marys, Ont. long-term care and retirement home’s life enrichment co-ordinator.

For many residents, gardening is an activity they have enjoyed their whole lives, so planting flowers, growing vegetables and watering is a way to not only latch on to their past but to continue doing something they love.

“They love coming out to their courtyard and doing the gardening and watching everything grow – that’s what they all talk about,” Alison says.

While the pandemic has impacted all of our lives in some way, Alison notes the residents’ work in the Wildwood Care Centre courtyard to help grow plants is a metaphor for perseverance during a challenging time.

“The world continues to grow,” she says. “There are positives, and we have to keep looking at the bright side of things.”

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Frost Manor becomes a ‘big-top tent’ in August

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The ongoing pandemic has meant team members have had to tap into their creativity to develop fun, yet safe, activities for residents

Frost Manor has been transformed into a “big-top tent” throughout August and residents of the Lindsay, Ont. long-term care home could not be happier.

The life enrichment team has decorated the main lounge and small dining room to look like a carnival. Staff members have decorated the walls with images of a ferris wheel, roller coasters and a merry-go-round.

“We have tried to make it look like a carnival in here,” life enrichment co-ordinator Lyndsay Burton says.

Every year the Frost Manor life enrichment team treats residents to a month-long themed event that embraces the OMNI Health Care core value of fun and laughter.

This year the life enrichment team elected to create a carnival atmosphere throughout August that includes a variety of activities the team has developed to engage residents.

There have been many games and events the team has created that have a carnival theme, and prizes – such as chocolate bars or Cheezies – have been a favourite part of the events for residents, Lyndsay says.

“For the whole month we’ve tried to gear towards having a lot of prizes for the residents to win, and after they win a prize the residents get to spin a prize wheel which will determine the prize they receive,” Lyndsay explains.

Lyndsay says creating the carnival-themed month has been a learning curve for the life enrichment team because of protocols in place due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, but everyone has adapted well.

She adds that the pandemic has also resulted in the team having to think outside the box in order to create meaningful, fun, yet safe, activities for residents.

“COVID has put a bit of a damper on entertainment, so we have really tried to pull together our creative side and make sure that they’re still able to have fun and exciting programs for the summer,” Lyndsay says.

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Streamway Villa transformed into a campground

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Team members created a week-long camping-themed week that was rich with reminiscing and full of fun and laughter

Summer just wouldn’t be summer without camping for many people, so the Streamway Villa life enrichment team created a week-long camping program Aug. 10 to 14 with every activity throughout the week having a camping theme.

In fact, the Cobourg, Ont. long-term care home was even decorated with a camping motif, complete with an outdoor fire pit, a tent, an inflatable pool where residents could catch plastic fish, posted campground rules and signs warning everyone to “watch out for bears.”

Due to the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing and safety protocols were in effect during each program.

Laurie Kracht, Streamway Villa’s life enrichment co-ordinator, says the team had one goal in mind: to make residents feel like they were on a camping trip.

The week also encouraged lots of blissful reminiscing, while for others camping activities were brand-new experiences.

“One of our residents was telling me he had never set up a tent, so he helped me set up the tent,” Laurie tells The OMNIway.

“(The resident) is in his 80s and he set up a tent for the very first time.”

Laurie says the highlight of the week was a campfire on Aug. 12 where residents roasted marshmallows and hot dogs at the fire pit in the home’s courtyard.

“That was the best part; it was great to see the residents all laughing,” Laurie says.

“Everyone had a great time, and even the residents who normally don’t participate, they were raving about it the next day.”

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Sharing some sweetness

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Pleasant Meadow residents and staff treated to cake and ice cream, courtesy of local Lioness Club

Residents and staff members at Pleasant Meadow Manor were recently on the receiving end of some community love when members of the Norwood Lioness Club stopped by with cake and ice cream.

On Aug. 5, representatives from the Lioness Club, who were wearing face masks and practising social distancing, showed up at the Norwood, Ont. long-term care home’s parking lot with the sweet treats that were dished out to everyone.

The Peterborough Examiner even showed up to take a photo that was published the next day.

This isn’t the first time the Norwood Lioness Club has shown its support for the folks at Pleasant Meadow Manor. In February, club members dropped off Valentine’s Day cards for everyone.

While the global COVID-19 pandemic has been a trying time for everyone, it has also sparked many random acts of kindness like this.

Kim Williams, the life enrichment co-ordinator at Pleasant Meadow Manor, says the cake and ice cream the Lioness Club delivered went over well with everyone.

“The residents were overjoyed at their generosity and thoroughly enjoyed their treats,” she tells The OMNIway.

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Local musical duo brings lunchtime entertainment to Maplewood residents

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‘This is definitely a lunch experience to write home about’

A local favourite vocal-guitar duo stopped by Maplewood on Aug. 12 to provide some safe outdoor lunchtime entertainment for the Brighton, Ont. long-term care home’s residents.

The performance on Maplewood’s front lawn from Ray Herbert and Ralph de Jonge, who call themselves R and R, was so moving that Rachel Corkery, Maplewood’s administrator, was inspired to send out an e-mail to The OMNIway as well as residents’ families as she watched.

“As I write this email I am listening to the glorious music that R and R are playing for our residents,” she writes. “Our residents and staff are so excited for this day.”

While R and R performed, residents got to enjoy a barbecue lunch along with blueberry smoothies.

Indoor entertainment and large-group programming have been suspended in OMNI Health Care’s 18 long-term care homes since the global COVID-19 pandemic began in March in an effort to keep residents and staff members safe from the highly contagious virus.

Being able to provide safe outdoor entertainment for residents was a welcome change.

“This is definitely a lunch experience to write home about,” Rachel says.

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Summertime barbecues resume at Country Terrace

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Residents are thrilled that one of their favourite meal programs has returned

With some restrictions in Ontario long-term care homes easing, Country Terrace is once again hosting outdoor summer barbecues for residents once a week.

Every Thursday the Komoka, Ont. long-term care home’s nutritional care team fires up the barbecue to grill hamburgers and cheeseburgers for up to 12 residents at a time, with social distancing in effect at all times to keep everyone safe during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The barbecues also include side dishes, such as potato salad and dill pickles, and there’s always cold pop and beer as well as ice cream for dessert.

Because there’s a limit of 12 residents at a time who can attend the barbecues, there is a rotating schedule to allow a different group of residents to the event each week.

Country Terrace nutritional care manager Alex Achillini says barbecues are a favourite summertime meal program for residents, so they have been well received.

“They love the barbecues and especially eating outside in such beautiful weather,” he says.

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Local performer provides an ‘uplifting day’ for Streamway residents and staff

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Don Owen played guitar and sang outside the garden fence on Aug. 5

Streamway Villa residents had their first outdoor musical performance from an outside entertainer in five months when Don Owen set up a wooden stage on the other side of the fence at the Cobourg long-term care home and played guitar and sang for everyone.

Residents sat socially distanced in the garden to watch Don’s Aug. 5 performance.

“It went really well; the sun was shining, the breeze was blowing, and the weather was really nice, and Don is a really good performer,” Streamway Villa life enrichment co-ordinator Laurie Kracht tells The OMNIway.

Laurie says there was an energizing atmosphere among residents, who clapped and cheered with enthusiasm after each song.

Don has performed for Streamway Villa residents in the past so he was playing to an established fan base, Laurie says.

One of the residents even wanted to thank Don personally for his performance, Laurie notes.

“It was really an uplifting day, (and) I even had the staff take a moment to come outside and enjoy what we do here,” she says.

In July, Taylor Stacey, a high school student and temporary worker at Streamway Villa, showed up at the home to play violin and guitar for residents outside the fence in the garden, which was a big hit with everyone.

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Safe barbecues help bring some normalcy back to Willows residents

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With social distancing in effect, recent small-group barbecues have helped residents enjoy a favourite summertime activity while keeping safe during the pandemic

Summer is here and that can only mean one thing: it’s barbecue season at Willows Estate.

Recently, the Aurora, Ont. long-term care home hosted back-to-back barbecues in the garden for residents.

The barbecues were on back-to-back days because large-group activities are still suspended in long-term care homes due to the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing protocols remain in effect.

Team members grilled hot dogs for residents and provided toppings, including mustard, relish, ketchup, mayonnaise, onion and tomato.

Residents were treated to cool beverages, such as orange juice, lemonade, fruit punch and water.

To complement the food, warm weather and atmosphere, life enrichment aide Azaria Kanda played jazz music in the background which residents enjoyed.

“(Residents) were, as usual, grateful to be back to somewhat normalcy for the time being and just enjoying the moment with friends from different floors they might have not seen in months,” Azaria tells The OMNIway.

“All in all, it was a wonderful time.”

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