Divine Divas Marg Frost and Donna Kowalchuck with Longworth Long Term Care staff member Stacy. The Divas are a group of seven younger residents of the London home, and staff are helping them to “act their age” with different activities and outings.

Longworth staff members help residents to act their age
Younger residents form Divine Divas at London home
Thursday January 26, 2012 -- Deb Bartlett
Staff members at Longworth Long Term Care are encouraging a group of residents known as the Divine Divas to act their age.

Activity assistant Angela Boyd says she had her colleague Missy Robinson provide unique opportunities for the seven women in the home that range in age from 48 to 65.

“We just needed to give them something a little more hip and young,” says Boyd.

The Divas are letting Boyd and Robinson know what they want to do for activities and outings.

Three of the residents recently spent an evening at the Food and Wine Show, and had a great time, says Boyd.

They also put in requests for movies that interest them. The last film shown was Bridesmaids.

“Can you imagine that as the movie matinee in the lounge?” says Boyd.

She says the activities she and Robinson want to facilitate for the women will “give them a chance to still act their age and be young.”

The staff members are also helping them achieve goals.

One of the women wants to volunteer with children in the community. Boyd and Robinson are helping her with her police screening and costing out transportation before she applies for volunteer positions.

Boyd says it’s been great to see all the women accepting of each other.

“They’re protective of each other,” she says.

While some of the women have a network of friends, being young in a long-term care setting can be isolating, says Boyd.

She and Robinson started working with this group in November.

“We want to really focus on this group and make it their year,” says Boyd.

She adds that “it’s a bit of a struggle to offer programming to the group without appearing to exclude others.

“I know that we’re not the only home that is in this situation. Hopefully we’ll be able to connect with other homes and see what they’re doing,” says Boyd.

She wants to share ideas with staff members of other long-term care homes who have younger residents, and invites them to contact her at 519-472-6424, ext. 415.

To comment on this story, or to share how you enhance the lives of younger residents, contact Deb at 800-294-0051, ext. 30, or e-mail deb(at)axiomnews.ca.