聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 The Kamsack and District Nursing Home auxiliary is spearheading a project that would have a cement-floored courtyard developed on the home鈥檚 property at the corner of East Avenue and Stewart Street.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲e have already set aside $10,000 to be used for the new, wheelchair-accessible courtyard and would welcome donations towards this project,鈥� Bev Scobie, president of the auxiliary, said last week.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 An outdoor area was set up years ago when many of the residents were able to walk and enjoy the space, but now most of the residents are in wheelchairs and cannot navigate the area, Scobie explained. Because of the underground plumbing it is not possible to lay cement in that area, therefore plans are being made to develop a new, fenced-in area at the corner of the property.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 From this location, residents would be able to see the flats south of Kamsack and the activity that goes on in the neighbourhood, she said.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The funds raised by the nursing home auxiliary are used to enhance the activity program and to provide extras for the facility which the budget cannot cover, be it something needed for health purposes, entertainment or comfort.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲e provide funds for trips out in the handibus and for admission to community events,鈥� she said. 鈥淎t Christmas each resident receives a gift from the auxiliary.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭he nursing home is a home for 60 residents and (the facility) provides day care for others,鈥� she said.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The auxiliary was started by nursing home staff in 1974, she said. Eventually that changed and volunteers took over the duties. The majority of those active in the auxiliary have had family members as residents in the nursing home and realize how important the auxiliary is to the residents.
鈥淯nfortunately the members of the nursing home auxiliary are aging and we are desperately in need of new members to keep the auxiliary going,鈥� she said. 鈥淥ur two longest serving members joined in 1983 and 1984.
The auxiliary recently recognized those two longest-serving members, Faye Zbeetnoff and Ophelia Sakundiak, who are both in their early 80s. The women were presented gifts in recognition of their work and all that they have contributed to the nursing home auxiliary.
鈥淵ou have helped to make the nursing home a much more comfortable home for the residents,鈥� the women were told.
鈥淲e would like to welcome new members, Scobie said, adding that the next meeting is to be held on April 19 at 9:30 a.m. at the Assiniboine Valley Estates.
鈥淥ur next fundraiser will be the annual June tea which will be held on June 4 in the dining room at the nursing home.鈥�
Scobie thanks everyone who supports the auxiliary鈥檚 teas and bake sales, and said that the members are appreciative of having received grants from Saskatchewan Lotteries.
鈥淲e would also like to thank those who spent time visiting with the residents of the nursing home, those who come in to entertain the residents and those who have helped at the teas and contributed to the bake sales in the past.鈥�
As a way of reinforcing the positive impact the nursing home and its auxiliary has had on the residents, Scobie released a letter that had been received from family members of a resident.
鈥淓very time we as a family visit our mom, we are rewarded with all the good things mom tells us regarding the entertainers, games and field trips that you organize to help keep the residents active,鈥� said a letter from Jean Bettison鈥檚 daughters Diane Jacques and Val Vogel.
鈥淥ften times, the importance of the mental and physical activities are overlooked when a formerly active senior has been dealt the blow of no longer living independently,鈥� the letter said. 鈥淔rom what we see, your efforts mean such a great deal to the residents, but just as importantly to the families forced to make some uncomfortable decisions.
鈥淭he bus trip recently taken to Pelly where residents were welcomed by the folks at the Pelly Drop-in Centre was an example of how important it is for these residents in the Kamsack nursing home to occasionally return to their roots and relive some of the good memories. Your department has made this happen.
鈥淓ach evening my mother relives the day with me on the phone and on this particular evening she was thrilled to be able to share the news about the terrible rains and field conditions she saw between Kamsack and Pelly.
鈥淲e want you to know how important are the little things, like reading the local newspaper to the group of residents.
鈥淗onestly, given the guilt that one feels from being so far away, we can always count on your department to keep the spirits of the residents lifted,鈥� the letter said. 鈥淕ood for you and thank you.鈥�
