Riverview Manor resident Grace Shannon works on her latest puzzle in one of the activity rooms at the Peterborough long-term care home.
Resident attributes staff to her recovery
Tuesday, June 5, 2007 -- Deron Hamel
Since coming to Riverview Manor four years ago, Grace Shannon says her life has changed for the better.

Shannon, 85, came to the Peterborough long-term care home relying on a wheelchair for mobility and requiring an oxygen tank.

Today, Shannon is able to get around with the help of a walker and no longer uses oxygen. She has a positive outlook on life and is involved with most activities the home offers.

But this wasn’t always the case, says activity aide Mary Lou Rayment.

“When Grace came here she would only come out of her room for meals and sometimes she wouldn’t even come out for meals,” says Rayment.

Shannon admits her initial response to entering long-term care was not good.

“I thought it was the end of the world,” she says. “(Now) I’m very happy. My life is much, much better.”

With encouragement from the home’s activity staff, Shannon took charge of her recovery and before long her life began to improve.

 “They took me off oxygen and they started having me take exercises, and gradually they got me walking with the help of the physiotherapists.”

Shannon, who has arthritis in her hands, says the physiotherapy she has received since coming to Riverview Manor has been a big factor in turning her life around.

“The physio girls come twice per week and do wonderful things,” she says, noting exercises such as shuffling cards and picking up objects have been effective in improving her condition.

Shannon has become involved in card games since coming to Riverview Manor. In particular, she has taken a shine to euchre and even competed in a tournament in Norwood last autumn.

She also enjoys doing puzzles. After she finishes with an activity, staff will escort Shannon to the activity rooms so she can work on her latest puzzle.

“I’ve done 11 big ones now,” she says.

When asked what she thinks the biggest contributor to her recovery has been, Shannon doesn’t hesitate with her answer.

“The good care and the wonderful staff, she says. “Every one of them, from the kitchen staff to the nurses and the activity (staff).”

Rayment says getting some residents involved with activities can be challenging. Once residents gain trust in the staff, they are more likely to participate in activities, she notes.

“You have got to get to know them,” she says. “You . . . find out their interests, then you start bringing them to things they’d be interested in.”