October 1 is National Seniors Day

by Ramon Syyap

Joan Powers looks forward to every Tuesday when she gets to revisit her childhood with a game of cribbage.

“It gets very competitive – it keeps me sharp,” says 84-year-old Powers, a resident at the Cardinal Ambrozic Houses of Providence since last year. “Growing up, we would often play Chinese checkers, so I get excited for it. I would not have met Janny otherwise,” she adds, referring to her new friend.

Joan Powers, 84-year-old resident of the Houses of Providence

The Cardinal Ambrozic Houses of Providence is helping residents successfully transition to long-term care by enlisting a holistic approach to care.

Activation assistants like Debra McGraw have an important role in the Houses. They pay special attention to the unique needs of the nearly 288 residents and help them to flourish in a new environment through the design and development of meaningful activities.

Programs span from intellectually-geared interactive word puzzles and card games, to mindful exercises such as chair yoga – each one adapted to a resident’s level of ability while placing great emphasis on social inclusion and cognitive health.

“I try to get residents involved in activities that bring them joy – whether it’s in a group setting or a solitary pursuit. I meet the resident where they are on that day in their journey and offer my attention, friendship and care,” said McGraw.

Activation Assistant Debra McGraw (left) with resident Janny (right)

Powers moved to the Houses in 2017 and since then, has settled into the community, forming new relationships due in large part to her participation in such programs.

For many like Powers, moving to a long-term care facility can be a difficult decision that comes at a time in one’s life when there have been many changes and unknowns. The move may make the individual feel like they have lost their independence, value, and peer support. However, activation across the Houses is playing an important role in ensuring that all residents have the opportunity to comfortably age while living their best life.

“Compassionate care is very individualized and my job is to make our residents comfortable and encourage them to thrive in their own way,” said McGraw.

2017-18: Statistics representing the most widely used services over the age of 65. There were a total of 353 residents in the Houses of Providence. There was a total of 4724 visits to the Stroke/Neuro Outpatient Clinic.