 |
|
 |
|
| Avalon
Lodge residents 'swinging for the fences' There wasn’t anything on the line in a recent baseball game between the Avalon Angels and the Grey Jays, and there weren’t any statistics being registered either. But the game – one of many baseball-themed events at Avalon Lodge’s July 5th “Baseball Day” – was a huge hit at the Orangeville-based home, says Sarah Murray, activity director. “We had many residents who wanted to go to a [Toronto Blue] Jay’s game, but a large percentage who couldn’t make the trip,” says Murray, explaining the difficult logistics in bringing residents who have cognitive impairment. “So we decided to have our own baseball game.” Funds for the day were made possible by the Rainbow Auxiliary, a local organization that raises funds for seniors – and many long term care residents – granting wishes. Wishes costing up to $500 are granted, explains Murray, who sits on the auxiliary. Because of the great interest in baseball at the home, the auxiliary spent the $500 as widely as possible, and most significantly, on hiring Ace, the Toronto Blue Jay’s mascot (Murray describes his as a “big bird”) to entertain residents during the day, an 8-hour affair. “We had the $500 dollars and we wanted to go all out,” she says. Murray also booked “Jaco Productions,” a husband-wife performance artist team that does theme-based skits and songs. Abbott and Costello’s “Who’s on first?” was the centre-piece of their performance, explains Murray. The home was decorated in a baseball theme, with typical baseball park snacks and meals being served. But apart from the antics of the Jay’s mascot – including the odd “mooning” session (cheekily lifting his tail) – the most popular event of the day was the baseball game. Avalon Lodge is divided into two homes, one a retirement residence, the other a long term care home. The game pitted the two homes against each other, Avalon Angels representing the long term care home, while the Grey Jays represented the retirement residence. In order to level the playing field and be as inclusive as possible, all participants were required to play in wheelchairs. A t-ball device was used so players could hit the ball, says Murray. Cheerleaders replete with pom-poms ringed the sidelines, while family members and staff cheered. Staff celebrated the day by dressing in baseball uniforms, and the home made up special hats for all the residents to wear. Widely-varied wishes are granted through the Rainbow Auxiliary, says Murray, although this was the largest collective wish granted. Some are as small as trips to Tim Horton’s, while others – like a recent wish granted to a resident to attend the Rogers Cup international tennis tournament in Toronto – involving greater resources and travel. “Some people just have simple requests, and don’t want much,” says Murray, who has been a member of the auxiliary since 2004.
|
|
| What is The Morning Report? |
| Morning
Report is an independently written and produced on-line news service.
Three times a week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) it brings visitors to the OLTCA web-site news on the people, activities, events and issues in OLTCA member homes. The stories are researched, written and posted by Axiom News Service without prior editorial approval from either the individual home or OLTCA. OLTCA member homes can redistribute Morning Report stories to other audiences. Non-OLTCA members are permitted to use posted materials by attributing the source including OTLCA’s web address, www.oltca.com Questions with respect to use of posted material
should be directed to Gilbert Heffern, Director of Communications,
at gheffern@oltca.com |
| OLTCA Members |
Get
your news on Morning Report Please be sure to include the idea, a contact name and whether or not you also have or will be able to get photos that might be used to illustrate the article. Morning Report is interested in your events, activities, programs, milestones, staff and resident profiles and any other information that you feel people should know about who you are, how you feel, what you do and how you do it. |
| Previous Stories |
| The Morning Report Story
Archives now contains over 150 news stories and profiles on OLTCA
member homes. To access these stories go to: Story Archives |