Kentwood's community partnerships featured in
entertainment programming
Wednesday, October 26, 2005 -- Craig Anderson
Unbeknownst to new residents, community partnerships are highlighted during the admission process.

A new resident is queried as to their likes and dislikes in literature, movies, music, indeed all cultural tastes. The resultant picture doesn't just provide a staff with a sense of the resident's personality, inimitability or particular history, they also provide clues as to what might be appropriate in programming terms.

At Kentwood, community partnerships and returnee volunteers tie in to these interests, as they routinely find ways to delight residents by meeting their tastes.

Some partnerships appeal generally, like the twice a year visit by the local Trenton Glee Club. Glee Club members dress up for Halloween - and despite their peculiar costumes (see photo) - sing such a wide selection of classic songs that they are generally appreciated by many of the Picton home's residents.

One partnership, with the Picton public library, has proven to be fruitful for residents with very specific tastes. The visiting librarian, Kate Conkin, has according to Jill Turney, LEC, "gone out of her way" to meet resident's interests in both literature and film.

For one Elvis-obsessed resident, says Jill, Kate has been a godsend. Kate has been able to procure most of
Elvis' movies for this resident, whose principle quirk is that he is a fan of Elvis' movies.

The library partnership is but one of many that ties into entertainment programming. The local Elk's Lodge holds an annual dance for all of the area's nursing homes, complete with transportation and ice cream, cookies and other treats.

Another local music group - "Off The Cuff" - play regularly for the home's forty-five residents. Most significant, says Jill, is that all of this time is volunteered.

"It provides a wonderful variation for the residents, and it's just nice to have all of these breaks in routine," she says.

Community partnerships are not exclusive to entertainment programming, however.

Kentwood has active partnerships with a number of Christian churches, such as Anglican, United, Pentecostal, and the Salvation Army. Both the Anglican Church and the Salvation Army provide monthly luncheons, the latter's entitled "Loaves and Fishes."

"It's wonderful for organizing programming," says Jill. "They meet religious needs and provides important activities."

Establishing inter-generational programming with a community partnerhas proved more difficult, says Jill, who adds that she has worked hard at entrenching a 'grandparenting' program, to no avail. The small Picton community makes it more difficult, and with only 45 residents, there are similarly only a small number of grandchildren to incorporate into programming.