Baking, decorations and special events lead up to the holidays
November 26, 2013 — Jennifer Neutel
With Christmas a month away, residents at Riverview Manor have been busy baking goodies for their bake sale this Friday, just one of several events taking place at the Peterborough long-term care home leading up to the holidays.
Life enrichment co-ordinator Sonia Murney says the baking has produced smells throughout the home luring people into the activity room where residents and staff have been “little Betty Crockers.”
This past weekend residents and staff made fudge, peanut butter fudge, maple fudge, mincemeat tarts, cherry tarts and banana bread.
“They are the kings and queens of baking,” says Murney.
There is one rule: that the first batch is a taste test, and after that it’s for the bake sale, Murney says with a laugh.
The baking provides a time for memories and reminiscing.
“If you look at our residents and the religious factor where they would have been part of their church, and they would have been part of their church bazaar and it brings back true memories that way, as well as just the smells alone – it’s a warm and cozy feeling,” Murney tells The OMNIway.
Everyone is welcome to come to the Nov. 29 bake sale, which runs from 2-4 p.m. at the Peterborough home. Funds raised through the sale will go towards the residents’ council.
In addition to the delicious smells, the home looks festive for the holidays.
“It’s certainly Christmas at Riverview Manor. The home is beautifully decorated with the help of the residents as well as the activity department,” says Murney, noting the nursing stations on each side of the home takes on decorating their station.
The spirit of giving is also present at the home. Office manager Virginia Murphy says Riverview Manor is collecting toys for the Country 105 Christmas Toy Drive, which collects new unwrapped toys for The Salvation Army. People can drop donations off at the home until Dec. 14, when the Miracle Broadcast will happen live from Peterborough’s Lansdowne Place.
“It’s good to get involved in the community, we try to do that a lot,” notes Murphy.
Every year the home has a residents’ wish tree in its main office. The name of each resident is on the tree and people can pick a name and buy that resident a gift to open Christmas morning.
Jay Lough Hayes from Peterborough Realty is assisting with the residents’ wish tree for the second year through the Christmas Elves for Seniors program. This year Hayes took 18 resident names. St. Anne’s Church is also donating beautiful quilted lap blankets.
“There’s a ton of community involvement and donations that help out for every home,” says Murney. “It’s incredible everybody steps up to the plate this time of year and it’s wonderful the love that you get.”
During the first week of December the home hosts two Christmas turkey dinners for families.
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