'Enchantment' program to
honour residents’ legacies
Monday, October 17, 2005 -- Craig Anderson
Meadow Park is looking to change “long term care” to “legacy teaching culture.”

“Legacy teaching culture” – honouring the complex histories of residents and celebrating their experience and knowledge – is part of Meadow Park’s newly begun “Enchantment” program.

“Life doesn’t end when you walk through our doors, it’s a continuation of your legacy,” says Michelle Bronsard, activity director. “That sums it up – when you come to a nursing home this isn’t the end for you, it’s a beginning, we want to learn from you, and we want you to grow too.

Meadow Park kicked off the “Enchantment” program on Oct. 1 with their first Fall Fair – a large carnival-esque event held at the London-based home. Family, residents, staff and the greater public were treated to a day long outdoor fair featuring carnival rides, cotton candy, a BBQ, and a dunk tank. The unlucky dunkees included a nurse, a maintenance manager, and a relative of one of the home’s staff members. 14 local vendors peddled their wares to the more than 200 local residents who participated.

The kid-centred fair also featured clowns, a magic show, face-painting and a treasure hunt to retrieve treats and novelty items buried around the home’s property.

The guest speaker was local MPP Khalil Ramal, who Michelle says “faithfully” commented on the “Enchantment” program.

Finally, a symbolic ceremony was held, formally announcing the “Enchantment” program.

12 residents released 18 butterflies, the symbol of the “Enchantment” program.

“There’s that old myth that says when you catch a butterfly and make a wish to it that when you let it go the wish is taken up to the heavens to be granted by the gods,” says Michelle.

“The environment we want to promote here at Meadow Park is one where residents can celebrate their legacies, as well as leave them when they go, and we can learn things from them while they are here, and for us to provide the best care that we can for them.”

The program is in its preliminary phases, says Michelle, with the initial workshops focusing on ways to foster deeper connections between staff and residents.