Carpentry, video games engage men at Sudbury home
Wednesday November 28, 2007 -- Deron Hamel
The resident programming department at Extendicare Falconbridge has come up with two activities which have proven popular with the male residents at the Greater Sudbury long-term care home.

The home’s woodworking program and new Nintendo Wii video game console have become big hits with the guys, says resident programming manager Cindy Rose.

The woodworking program was specifically developed for the men. As part of the program, the gentlemen make a variety of wood objects, ranging from Christmas items to children’s table-and-chair sets.

Once completed, these products are sold by the men at the home’s craft shows and the money raised goes to residents’ council to help pay for outings.

Because outings are funded with money raised by the home throughout the year, these sales are important, says Rose.

During hockey season, the men love to take in Sudbury Wolves games as much as possible, so the carpentry activities and sales give the guys something to work towards.

It also gives the fellows a sense of satisfaction when they sell their products at the craft sales, Rose adds.

Although the woodworking activities are closely supervised by staff members from the programming department, Rose notes that the men are the leaders of the program.

Having the men take charge of this activity has had a positive impact on them, she adds.

“(These are) the roles that men were engaged within the community, prior to coming to long-term care,” says Rose. “They had the opportunity to have leadership roles in many of their jobs, so this gives them the feeling of maintaining that.”

The recent edition of a Nintendo Wii system to the home has been another great way to engage men in programming, says Rose.

Not only are the video games fun for the residents, they’re also a great way to maintain intellectual skills, hand-eye co-ordination and manual dexterity, she adds.

Sports games — including boxing, baseball, auto racing and golf — have become the favourites with the men.

“The residents just love it,” says Rose. “(Video games) are something that a lot of homes don’t realize are very therapeutic.”

Related Articles:
Men’s clubs get men to programming

Creating programs for men isn’t always a challenge

Breakfast clubs get men eating and chatting

Monthly program successful at engaging men