Woodland weightlifting program is engaging men in fitness

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‘It has become a really big hit here’

A weightlifting program at Woodland Villa is encouraging the men living at the home to participate in activities while promoting physical fitness.

One of the challenges many long-term care homes face is creating programming that’s attractive to male residents, but this activity is proving to be a winner with the gentlemen living at the Long Sault, Ont. long-term care home, says life enrichment co-ordinator Lisa Doran.

At the moment, about 10 residents regularly participate in the program each week, Lisa says.

Often, the men living at Woodland Villa prefer their own activity groups, and the weightlifting program is aimed at the men for this reason.

“It has become a really big hit here,” Lisa tells The OMNIway.

Lisa notes this program has also created a new pastime for residents, since none were active weightlifters in the past.

The men involved with the program are also showing positive results, she says, adding that the more they work out with the equipment the more weight they need to use to increase resistance.

“They start to find the weights too light, so it has been really good at helping them build their strength,” she says.

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LEA is taking Woodland Villa residents around the world

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Armchair travel program uses videos, slideshows and music to help residents experience other cultures

A Woodland Villa life enrichment aide (LEA) is being commended for a program he’s created that’s taking residents to far-away places while remaining in the comfort of the Long Sault, Ont. long-term care home.

Every month, Nicholas Merizzi dedicates a whole day to his armchair travel program, which engages residents in the cultures of countries across the world.

Residents look forward to the globetrotting program, which features props such as videos, slideshows and music to give residents a feel for the featured country of the day.

For many residents, the program brings back fond memories of their travels; for others, it’s a way to learn about countries and their people.

“(The program) goes over really well with the residents, especially the ones who have done lots of travelling,” says Woodland Villa life enrichment co-ordinator Lisa Doran.

“Nicholas starts off in the morning, and he might do something like trivia. In the afternoon they will sing and have slideshows. There is a whole bunch of stuff that is involved with it.”

While Nicholas spearheads the program and organizes the events, other life enrichment team members provide support.

Lisa says Nicholas will let her know what’s needed for an armchair travel day, and she and other team members will help with backdrops and decorations.

Lisa says Woodland Villa residents enjoy programs where they can learn about other cultures and experience the sights, sounds and tastes of other countries.

“We did Oktoberfest last month; the residents really enjoyed that, with the German music and the decorations and the different types of German beers – that was a huge success as well,” she says.

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Woodland Villa residents couldn’t go to a pumpkin festival, so a pumpkin festival was brought to residents

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The local community came together to help the home host its own version of Pumpkinferno

When an outbreak at Woodland Villa prevented residents of the Long Sault, Ont. long-term care home from taking a much-anticipated trip to see hand-carved pumpkins on display at a Halloween festival, family members, staff and the local community came together to bring a festival to residents.

Residents had been looking forward to attending Pumpkinferno, an annual festival at Upper Canada Village with more than 7,000 hand-carved pumpkins on display, so they were saddened to learn they wouldn’t be able to make it this year.

Then a family member had an idea to host a similar event at Woodland Villa so residents wouldn’t miss out. And that’s how the “Woodland Villa Inferno” was born, says Lisa Doran, the home’s life enrichment co-ordinator.

The Woodland Villa team reached out to the community for support and got a “tremendous” response, Lisa says.

Generous local farmers donated 168 pumpkins. Local elementary and high-school students joined family members, staff and residents to help carve jack-o’-lanterns.

When the work was done, carved pumpkins and decorations adorned Woodland Villa’s two new courtyards, and about 30 residents got to see the spectacle on the evening of Oct. 28.

Residents who couldn’t make it outside still got to enjoy the view by looking out their windows onto the courtyard, Lisa says.

“We had a bunch of decorations outside and we had music playing and we brought the residents out so they got to see all the pumpkins and the decorations and get the full effect – and they absolutely loved it,” she tells The OMNIway.

“This was an amazing idea from a family member, and so we ran with it.”

Lisa says the community support the home received to make the pumpkin display possible was inspiring.

“This was the first time we have really worked with the community since COVID started,” she says. “We were really impressed with the feedback we got and with the people who wanted to help out to make this happen.”

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The Great Gatsby comes to life at Woodland Villa

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Residents enjoy a themed day to celebrate the Roaring Twenties

The Roaring Twenties recently had a revival at Woodland Villa, when residents of the Long Sault, Ont. long-term care home were treated to a themed event based on one of the most popular novels of the era, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Spearheaded by life enrichment aides Melissa Cleary and Liana Charbonneau, the event featured residents dressing up in attire from the era, including masquerade masks and pearl necklaces, and the home’s activity room was richly decorated to mimic a speakeasy.

Melissa explains how the idea for the event was born.

“Every summer we brainstorm ideas for the residents, and we wanted to try something new,” she tells The OMNIway.

“We figured, why not do a Great Gatsby day for something new. We wanted to incorporate a little of the 1920s era because we have never included that era in any of our themed programs, and a lot of our residents know about the music and the decorations from that time, so they really appreciated the atmosphere of the day.”

Due to restrictions in place to keep everyone safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing was in place with full safety precautions in effect.

Liana says residents enjoyed the event, adding they “loved” the decorations, food and music. The music brought back memories for residents, even if the 1920s were before their time.

“They all recognized the music and they were dancing to the songs,” she says, adding some residents had seen the 2013 film adaptation of The Great Gatsby, starring Leonardo DiCaprio.

“It was a really fun day for them.”

Liana says this was the first time the Woodland Villa life enrichment team organized an event based on a classic novel, but given the success of the Great Gatsby day, it’s something the team would consider building upon.

“We would do that again in the future, I think, that would be a great addition to our programming,” she says.

Melissa says The Great Gatsby proved to be the perfect classic novel to create a themed event around.

“People did recognize it, and others were interested to know what it was about, and once they learned about the book they came (to the program),” she says.

“We made the book come to life.”

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PHOTO CAPTION: Woodland Villa resident Lucille Lauzon is pictured here enjoying a theme day at the home centred on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby.

In-house drive-thru window is giving Woodland residents their much-needed Timmies treats

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Once a month, residents look forward to lining up to get their coffee and doughnuts

One thing many Woodland Villa residents have been missing since the COVID-19 pandemic was declared 16 months ago is their regular trips to Tim Hortons for coffee and doughnuts.

To remedy this, life enrichment team members at the Long Sault, Ont. long-term care home have come up with a solution that’s making everyone happy.

Life enrichment team members Melissa Cleary, Liana Charbonneau and Kaitlynn Cotnam have made a Tim Hortons drive-thru window that has been decorated to look like the real thing, and residents and team members alike are having fun with it, says Woodland Villa life enrichment co-ordinator Lisa Doran.

Once a month, the life enrichment team sets up the drive-thru window and waits for residents to come up and place their order for coffee, tea, hot chocolate and doughnuts.

“The residents will go up to the window and place their order and get their coffee and Timbits, and then the next person comes up,” Lisa tells The OMNIway.

Recently, fancier drinks have been added to the menu, with the life enrichment team members making iced coffees topped with whipping cream, caramel or chocolate sauce.

While pandemic safety precautions remain in place, the Tim Hortons drive-thru window is bringing back some level of normality for residents, Lisa says.

And the life enrichment team members are having fun with it as well, she adds.

“They love doing it, so it’s great for everybody.”

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Woodland Villa puts a new ‘spin’ on exercises

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Team members have incorporated the home’s game wheel into an exercise program with favourable results

The Woodland Villa life enrichment team has come up with a way to put a new “spin” on exercise programs – literally.

Team members at the Long Sault, Ont. long-term care home have been incorporating a game wheel into an exercise program. Residents love spinning the wheel for games, so it was fitting the wheel would encourage them to participate in exercise activities.

Instead of prizes, each space on the wheel has an exercise routine written on it. Among the exercises that have appeared on the wheel are knee hugs, sit-to-stand exercises, arm circles, and knee raises and bends.

The “wheel of exercise” has been turned into a “ritual” by life enrichment aide Kaitlynn Cotnam, says Lisa Doran, the home’s life enrichment co-ordinator.

During the program, residents will spin the wheel and whatever space the pointer lands on will be the exercise residents will do.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there is currently no large-group programming at Woodland Villa. The activity can be done in small groups or as a one-to-one program.

The program can also be held indoors or outside, Lisa says.

“The residents love it – they can have the program outside or wherever they want, even in their rooms,” she tells The OMNIway.

“It has been really great at getting the residents involved. It’s different all the time.”

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How ‘shooting hoops’ has become a favourite activity at Woodland Villa

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A recently acquired Pop-A-Shot has been a safe and fun way to engage residents during the pandemic

A new basketball-themed activity at Woodland Villa is proving to be engaging for both residents and staff members at the Long Sault, Ont. long-term care home.

Woodland Villa recently acquired a Pop-A-Shot basketball game that has been getting lots of use since it arrived at the home two and a half months ago, says Lisa Doran, the home’s life enrichment co-ordinator.

The Pop-A-Shot combines old-fashioned basketball with an arcade game.

The game features two side-by-side basketball hoops and a backboard that’s surrounded by netting for safety. Players toss basketballs towards the hoops, and an electronic scoreboard tallies the baskets scored.

The game is set up in the activity area. Lisa says residents will often go to the Pop-A-Shot, pick up a basketball and start playing.

Staff members, when they have some down time, are also taking residents over and shooting hoops with them.

“(The Pop-A-Shot) is going over very well – both the residents and the staff love it; you can hear people using it all the time,” Lisa tells The OMNIway.

“They have competitions with each other, and even the staff will have competitions with each other.”

With safety restrictions in place due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there is no large-group programming in long-term care homes. Since the Pop-A-Shot basketball game is a two-player activity, it’s the perfect tool for engaging residents in something they enjoy while adhering to important safety protocols, Lisa says.

Asked if she would recommend the Pop-A-Shot to other long-term care homes, Lisa doesn’t hesitate in her response.

“Definitely, it’s been great,” she says.

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PHOTO CAPTION: Woodland Villa resident Denis Gauvin takes aim with a basketball at the home’s recently acquired Pop-A-Shot. 

Woodland team helps resident Dorothy Daye celebrate 100th birthday

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Team members organize a safe event to honour new centenarian

The Woodland Villa team rolled out the red carpet and hosted a safe event on June 15 for resident Dorothy Daye to help her celebrate her 100th birthday.

Staff members at the Long Sault, Ont. long-term care home showered Dorothy with an array of gifts, including flowers, champagne and a birthday wreath.

Dorothy was also provided with a fancy hat that read, “Look who’s 100”, and a sash to honour her on her special day.

And, of course, there was a birthday cake for Dorothy, which she kindly shared with her fellow residents and staff.

Dorothy, who has lived at Woodland Villa since 2018, was able to celebrate her birthday with other residents in small groups, and social distancing was observed in accordance with COVID-19 safety guidelines.

Lisa Doran, the life enrichment co-ordinator at Woodland Villa, says Dorothy had a long, busy day amidst all the birthday wishes and gift-receiving that comes with being a new centenarian, but she was thrilled with the adulation she received on her special day.

“She loved it,” Lisa tells The OMNIway. “She was tired at the end of the day, but she loved it.”

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OMNI receives final approvals to begin Woodland Villa redevelopment project

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Renovations to expand the home from 111 to 128 beds will begin shortly

OMNI Health Care has taken initial steps towards beginning its redevelopment project to add 17 long-term care beds to Woodland Villa by carrying out preparatory work in anticipation of receiving the final approvals.

The project, which will increase the size of the Cornwall-area long-term care home from 111 beds to 128, is expected to begin shortly and be completed by December 2022, the original target date set when the project’s funding was approved by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care in May 2018.

Several permits and approvals – both at the provincial and municipal level – must be obtained before long-term-care home redevelopment projects can move forward.

Construction was scheduled to start last spring at Woodland Villa; however, the global pandemic caused a setback because plans had to be created to ensure safety measures meeting Ontario’s COVID-19 precautions for workers were in place.

Once completed, the redeveloped Woodland Villa will have four spacious neighbourhoods where residents will live. There will also be wider hallways, more home-like dining and lounge spaces, and privacy for residents will be improved by replacing three- and four-bed wards with one- and two-bed rooms. The new design will also surround two courtyards, and there will be a large common area in the centre.

OMNI Health Care president and CEO Patrick McCarthy says the organization is pleased the redevelopment project is ready to begin.

“We are really happy to be underway and we are looking forward to the new Woodland Villa meeting the new design standards,” he says.

Woodland Villa is one of four OMNI long-term care homes to receive approval for redevelopment funding from the ministry.

Pleasant Meadow Manor has been approved for a redevelopment project to include 35 new beds, Almonte Country Haven will be awarded 17 beds and Country Terrace will be awarded eight new beds.

OMNI has also received ministry approval to build a new 160-bed Riverview Manor in Peterborough’s north end.

Final approvals for the Pleasant Meadow Manor and Almonte Country Haven redevelopment projects are expected to be received in the coming weeks, McCarthy says.

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Woodland Villa’s new safe visitation patio is proving to be a big success

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‘We have had nearly every day booked with families who have been able to visit their loved ones’

Woodland Villa’s revamped patio, which is fitted with a wood and Plexiglas barrier to allow the Long Sault, Ont. long-term care home’s residents to have safe visits with their loved ones during the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic, has been booked solid since opening May 27. Read more