There are many different programs run through the activities department, including larger events like teas and luncheons, which the rest of the staff are crucial to delivering. There are also the more “day to day” activities that keep residents moving, thinking and socially involved.
LaRocque said they run these activities each morning and afternoon during the week, two evenings a week and Saturdays once a month, with chapel on Sunday. They fit into different categories, being physical, mental and spiritual.
Physical activities include ladder ball, beanbag toss, exercise class, and Rocks and Rings curling. LaRocque said the Westview residents are quite capable, although sometimes they adjust the events to help them participate. Even if someone cannot do every move, they can watch, which is considered participation.
Examples of intellectual activities would be bingo, crossword puzzles and Jeopardy, a favourite. There are also reading groups and sing-a-longs, with LaRocque amazed at how they remember the words to old songs.
Although staff delivers many programs, there are several that are run by volunteers. As well, the community often pops in for other events, and invites residents to goings-on in the greater community, which the activities supervisor is very happy to see.
“Boissevain is great. I have worked at other places and the effort in this community to include us is unlike any I’ve ever seen. They really work to make us feel part of the community. We want them to feel a part of the Boissevain community, which they are.”
A favourite group that shows up are the pre-school and daycare children. There are also groups like musicians and dancers who come to entertain.
As well, Westview takes its residents out to other communities. They go to the Peace Garden, and have been as far as Brandon and Shilo. They were planning to go out to Killarney last week, but cancelled due to the extreme cold. They like to do outings once a week under normal circumstances.
In fact, if the weather is nice they go outside as much as possible. LaRocque said the back garden is beautiful and a great source of outdoor fun. They take walks and drives and go for ice cream. You take advantage of good weather in Manitoba when you get it. A favourite spot in the summer is the Killarney campground.
There are activities that stay the same as they work and are popular. They are always open to new ideas from community, staff or residents. For example, residents asked for a homemade breakfast with eggs and now they have incorporated that for the colder months.
“We try to run a variety of things,” LaRocque explained. “We want to try to include everyone.”
She said they probably get three-quarters of residents involved in some type of programming, and really try to involve everyone in the larger events. She added that the people who may like to spend more time in their rooms are knitting or reading or doing something, so they are not really inactive.
A few bigger events are in the near future, like a Valentine’s Day party and a Hawaiian luau, “to make us forget how cold it is”. There will be January and February birthdays, and if the weather picks up, an outing.
LaRocque said residents get a calendar and look at every morning and afternoon to see what is going on and if it appeals to them. They participate heavily, look forward to good natured “heckling” from some staff and can give as good as they get. It keeps them active and social, and again, LaRocque gives a lot of credit to Bighia and other staff, as well as the community at large, for helping keep Westview residents enjoying their lives.
“With activities, our aim is to offer as much variety in programming as possible to meet everyone’s needs,” LaRocque explained. “We want to make sure they are not isolated, that we are able to keep everyone involved, to give them something to look forward to in the day.”
by PAUL RAYNER, Recorder staff