Introducing strawberry socials, butterfly raising and Paint Nites

Steeves and Rozema communities make time for the simple pleasures of life
7/22/2016  - Michelle Strutzenberger
 

Over the last few weeks, S and R Today has told stories about some of the ways that Steeves and Rozema communities are making time for the simple pleasures of life.

In early June, a news article featured Twin Lakes Terrace in Sarnia as it hosted a time honoured tradition – the strawberry social.

The event was made possible by a strong team effort from everyone at the retirement community.

Residents and staff members cleaned and cut strawberries for the shortcakes that were served and everyone pitched in to decorate the home.

Executive chef and manager of food services Phil Stell made sure there were enough of the sweet berries to go around, and director of resident services Julia Potts and business services co-ordinator Candace Vandermeer helped residents sell tickets for the event.

At Afton Park Place in Sarnia, another simple pleasure was enjoyed from late May to June 20 – caring for 22 painted lady butterflies.

Afton Park’s life enrichment team worked hard to get the residents involved with the project from the day the chrysalises arrived to when the butterflies were released, said Stacy Petrie, the long-term care home’s life enrichment manager.

Residents had a plethora of kind words for the life enrichment department for organizing the project.

“It was fantastic – this is not something we see every day,” resident Dorothy Bailey said of the butterfly release. “We were just mesmerized.”

Resident Irene Mundy said the project was “one of the best things” she has seen at Afton Park Place, noting that seeing all the butterflies reminded her of growing up in the countryside.

Petrie said what made the project so successful was the hard work the life enrichment team put into it.

“They really interacted with the residents and really got the residents involved with the whole process from the day we got (the chrysalises) until the release,” she said.

Finally, earlier this month we saw paint and fun flow during a Paint Nite at Lanark Place in Kitchener.

Initial shyness and skepticism among participants – especially those who don’t consider themselves artistic – soon gave way to laughter and enjoyment.

Marketing director Stephanie Paddock credits the artistic instructor for the evening, Stephanie Radley, for helping to shift things.

Radley walked the group of 20 through saying a pledge to “Have fun, not worry about anyone else’s work and not criticize one’s own work.”

“That set the tone for ‘We’re here to have fun’,” Paddock says.

Spirits were also lifted by the special hors d’oeuvres, including sangria, created by executive director Bradley Lukas, who took over the retirement home’s kitchen to prepare the treats. “Everyone loved them,” Paddocks says,
    
In the end, everyone walked away with a great painting. “And I think some people learned to get past their fear of ‘No, I can’t do that’,” Paddock says.

If you have a story you would like to share with S&R Today, please contact the newsroom at 1-800-294-0051, ext. 27, or e-mail michelle(at)axiomnews.com.

If you have any feedback on this story, please contact the newsroom at 1-800-294-0051, or e-mail michelle(at)axiomnews.com.




   
 

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