Barrie community can find out about life at Coleman
Wednesday, May 25, 2005 - John Driscoll
The doors will be wide open for the Barrie community June 18 at Coleman Care Centre and activity director Carol White is hoping people take advantage to find out first-hand what goes on in a long-term care home.

“Open Doors is an important event because most people have no idea what is going on in long-term care homes,” Carol says.

While people should start planning for long-term care well in advance of any decision, “it is difficult to get people in here until they come to crisis,” she explains. “Then they are emotional, unprepared and find it all overwhelming at first.”

If they come to Open Doors, they will be able to get a feel for what happens at Coleman, she says. They will see that the home is a caring place where residents and family members get involved in many activities, she says.

They will also be able to visit several homes and compare what they have to offer, she points out.

Open Doors is designed to raise awareness of and demystify retirement residences and long-term care homes across Ontario.

At Coleman, letters and information about the event have been sent to the local access centre and hospital, and posters have been put up to inform the public about the event from 1:30 to 4 p.m.

Staff, residents and family members will all be participating, she says. A music program for residents and visitors is scheduled with management staff on hand to provide tours, Carol says.

Family council members will be serving refreshments and people will be managing information booths handing out information.

There will a display of pictures of residents. Staff and family members are prepared to answer any questions the public might have, Carol says.