New games, gadgets engage Burnbrae residents
Brings pleasure to woman unhappy about long-term care
Thursday, November 16, 2006 -- Natalie Miller
For residents who are frustrated living in long-term care, moments of joy can come from unexpected places.

A Burnbrae Gardens life enrichment aide learned that lesson herself this week when she introduced a new activity to a resident. The gem was a Magna Doodle drawing pad. Karen Lloyd approached the resident, who is quite vocal about her discontent and doesn’t normally partake in activities, with the new purchase. Karen asked the woman to draw something for her so the resident wrote ‘This is silly’. Karen then asked her to draw a picture and the woman drew some water and the same words ‘This is silly’. Karen then drew a tic-tac-toe board the pair played a game. The resident won. The senior then proceeded to draw pictures on the Magna Doodle and asked how she could acquire one.

“She’s going to town with the Magna Doodle,” says Karen.

“The Magna Doodle was wonderful.”

The life enrichment aide recently purchased the Magna Doodle, giant puzzles, finger paints and paper, books and a host of other basic games and gadgets for residents at the Campbellford nursing home. Karen spent about $300 on the items and was inspired to purchase them after she did the same for her father who lives in a locked-down unit of a nursing home in Newmarket.

Karen found she didn’t have access to activities she could do with him while visiting. “I felt my dad wasn’t getting the one-on-one (attention),” she says. In bigger groups her father tends to keep to himself but while engaged on a more intimate level he’ll talk and laugh.

Karen was fortunate to win $2,160 while out a local casino and decided to use some of her windfall to purchase items for both her father and Burnbrae Gardens where she has worked since January. “I love what I do here (at Burnbrae). It’s nice to be able to give back. It makes my heart feel happier.”

Karen just began introducing some of the items this week, which she says can be used independently by residents, with the assistance of activity staff and accessed by family members looking for ways to connect with their loved ones.

She’s thrilled already to see the impact the new activities are having on residents. “People are doing things they have never done before.

“Their minds are working instead of them just sitting there looking into space.”