Residents participate in a basketball tournament as part of Olympic-flavoured activities at the O’Neill Centre.

Olympic experience part of life
O’Neill Centre residents engage in stimulating, fun activities
Tuesday, September 4, 2012 -- Lisa Bailey
Olympic-inspired activities at the O’Neill Centre celebrated the wisdom and camaraderie of residents.

They were participating in a basketball tournament that awarded medals to the winners, and grew and shared their knowledge about Olympic history as the Summer Games played out in London.

Program manager Sona Azar says the Toronto long-term care home’s family room was busy as residents watched TV coverage of the Olympics. Her team collaborated on special programs to add to the feelings and memories that residents, like people in their homes around the world, get from the Olympic experience.

“We want to keep everybody updated so they live the day and live in the community,” Azar says.

Staying connected to the world and current events is part of the home-like experience that the O’Neill Centre is committed to providing to residents.

Scott Fawcett, a university student working with the program team for the summer, led the discussion on the Olympics’ past as part of a history class looking at various topics. The Olympic session, held the same day as the London Games’ opening, was one of the best attended classes, and residents demonstrated a lot of interest through their participation.

Resident Tony Armendola attends the history class and found the Olympic one enjoyable because he likes sports.

Just as athletes from around the world united in London in the spirit of competition, residents from a diverse range of life experiences and cultural backgrounds drew together to share a common Olympic interest.

“It’s everyone coming together,” Fawcett says.

Along with this socially-enriching sense of community came a sense of pride and joy, as residents recalled their own sports endeavours. And while “everyone cheered for Canada,” Fawcett says, residents also paid attention to participants from their countries of origin.

The multicultural aspect of the Games also sparked reminiscing and conversation, providing social and cognitive benefits to residents.

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