Current Temperature
0.5°C
Log In
Taber and District Housing Foundation helping seniors in manors across the region
Posted on January 1, 2020 by Taber TimesPoll
Loading ...Recent News →
- Provincial budget highlights identified: MLA Hunter
- Provincial grant solves “unfair” funding anomaly for RCMP-contracted policing in Coaldale
- Jets return to southern Alberta for matchup against the Okotoks Dawgs
- Taber WHAM finishes in bronze medal position
- Horizon School Board meeting brief from March 25
Recent Blog Posts →
By Greg Price
Taber Times
gprice@tabertimes.com
Taber and District Housing Foundation (TDHF) and Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) have teamed up to help make seniors lives as fulfilling as possible in various manors in the region.
“We are collaborating on addressing the emotional, physical and relational needs of senior residents of Pioneer Place for the purpose of improving their overall well-being,” said Carrie Wilson, a placement officer for the Taber and District Housing Foundation. “We have other manors, but this is the first to sort of guinea pig the programs.”
What the housing foundation and FCSS is hoping for is all the programming they are doing spreads out to the various manors the foundation area covers as well, including Vauxhall.
All sorts of fun activities are going on at Pioneer Place, including the ‘Not So Perfect Pitches’ singing for seniors. Puzzles/games have been introduced to keep residents’ minds sharp. Also, grief counseling groups have been offered.
“We are trying to cover all our bases and build relationships with residents. Bridging those gaps, I think they would be more apt to partaking in counseling programs if they feel more comfortable with the people who are offering the programs,” said Wilson. “We are working on the emotional and the physical with some of the activities we have done, and bringing them into the common area, to not only build relationships with FCSS people and myself, but also other residents within the manor.”
The initiative was started in late October with a kids Halloween parade for residents as the kick off and feedback has been extremely positive.
“They are so happy. I get thank you phone calls. They want these things,” said Wilson. “There’s a real need that is being filled. Most of the seniors had not even heard of the FCSS and their programs they offer until they were introduced at the manor.”
To celebrate the Christmas season through the Silver Sharing Program, there is a Christmas tree in the atrium of the clinic, where gender and age is attached to small gifts be they PJs or socks. A group of children will be coming into Pioneer Place on Dec. 16, dressed as elves and give each senior a gift.
The New Year will see an inter-generational program start up in January 2020.
“Grade 8 students from Taber Christian School will be coming to the manor once a month,” said Wilson.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.