After hearing about the Make-a-Wish program at Norwood’s Pleasant Meadow Manor, a life enrichment co-ordinator and registered nurse were intrigued. For the past year, staff at Pleasant Meadow has invited residents to slip their wishes into a wooden wishing well in the home. So far, employees have helped make seven separate wishes come true. The most recent wish, and loftiest so far, is Grace Patterson’s desire to meet Oprah Winfrey.

Chris was recently approached by home office for some details about the Make-a-Wish initiative that could be shared with other homes.

At a recent regional meeting, Darlene Thibault, life enrichment co-ordinator at Almonte County Haven, spoke briefly with the program’s creator, Pleasant Meadow Life Enrichment Supervisor Chris Charlebois.

“I just thought it was a really nice idea,” says Darlene.

“I just found it was really nice they offered residents, one at a time, a special opportunity to make a wish and have it come true.”

Darlene says Almonte grants wishes on a smaller scale, particularly menu choices. Twice a month, a group of eight to 10 residents are invited into the “fine dining” therapeutic kitchen for a special meal. Served on fancy dishes, residents choose ahead of time their favourite food.

“I think (Chris) takes it a step further,” says Darlene of the Make-a-Wish program. Darlene notes she has to take a look at her budget and speak with Chris again. She has kept her thoughts about the program to herself so far. There’s much going on at the home right now and fund-raising dollars are currently being directed to improving the home’s gardens. “All of our monies usually go to a particular project,” she explains.

Heath Heffernan, a registered nurse at Rosebridge Manor in Jasper, says he hasn’t had the opportunity to meet with Kathy Barr, life enrichment co-ordinator, to discuss the idea. “We are interested in it,” he says. “We haven’t done anything with it.”

Heath is attracted to the initiative’s ability “to bring happiness and hope to somebody and grant them wishes. It doesn’t have to be anything big, but something small, to make a difference in their lives.”