Residents and family members at King City Lodge enjoy the seventh annual Christmas gala.
King City Lodge’s Christmas gala, a family affair
Staff and families of 36-bed long-term care home make evening memorable
Wednesday December 23, 2009 -- Camille Jensen
Characterizing the evening as a family affair, staff members and families came together Dec. 10 to make King City Lodge’s seventh annual Christmas gala a memorable evening for residents and guests.

The home’s program co-ordinator Jenny Berry says due to the home’s small size, a 36-bed long-term care home, it operates more “like a big family,” with everyone contributing to make the event special.

In preparation for the dinner and live entertainment, Berry, along with food services manager Lilia Desanu and nursing administration services manager Sansira Veliovski, decorated the home and solicited the community for donations for its silent auction, which supports the home’s music program.

Personal support workers volunteered to stay and assist residents with their make-up and hair in preparation for the big night, as well as family members, who came in early to help residents look their best.

Nearly 90 guests joined the home for a prime-rib dinner with crème brûlèe cheesecake made by the home’s kitchen staff and their family members, who volunteered to help with the large meal.

Staff members that were working joined the residents for dinner while others volunteered to come in and eat with residents who did not have family attending.

The best part of the evening was seeing families enjoy themselves and meet new members of the home, according to Berry.

“It was a really good time to have all the families come together and get to sit with their loved ones and just have a nice Christmas get together,” she says. “We had a lot of new families this year and it was something that they really enjoyed.”

The home’s silent auction raised $1,700 that will go towards the home’s music program, which brings in live entertainment three-to-four times per month.

“Our music program is one of those programs that all of the residents here enjoy and that everyone of all cognitive levels can enjoy,” says Berry.

Carroll Graham, a daughter of one of the residents living at the home, wrote a thank-you letter to King City Lodge for the gala, characterizing the evening as a “phenomenal experience” thanks to the commitment of the dedicated staff, their families and volunteers.

“One truly becomes part of a family when they or their loved one comes to live at your home,” writes Graham in the letter. “I know I speak for many when I say thank you for your caring.”

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