Burnbrae residents rally behind staff member
Thursday November 29, 2007 -- Deron Hamel
April Anderson characterizes a Nov. 26 trip for residents as being “one of the best outings” she has organized as life enrichment co-ordinator at Burnbrae Gardens in Campbellford.

The trip took seven residents to the nearby town of Marmara so they could enjoy lunch with Karen Lloyd, who works in the life enrichment department and as a restorative care aide.

Lloyd, who suffers from osteoarthritis, has been off work since the end of October. However, she’s recovering and expects to be back on the job in January.

With residents anxious about Lloyd’s condition and constantly asking staff members when she will be returning to work, Anderson felt she needed to put their worries to rest, so she arranged the trip to Marmara.

When Anderson proposed the idea to residents, she had no trouble getting them inside the OMNI van.

“Usually I have to encourage (residents), but I just said, ‘We’re going to visit Karen,’ and I’ve never seen so many hands go up,” says Anderson. “They were in the van almost before I could get there.”

Over tea and pie and after many hugs and kisses from residents, Lloyd eased their concerns and talked about how she was feeling, as well as answered questions about her progress. And, of course, everyone wanted to know when she was coming back to work.

Having spent a lot of time working in the life enrichment department, Lloyd has been involved closely in the lives of residents, spending time with them and accompanying them on outings. From this, a special bond has developed between her and many residents.

She describes the feeling of having the residents show up to see her as “overwhelming.”

“I do a lot of extra things with them, so when I’m not there I guess they really miss me, but I miss them, too,” Lloyd tells the OMNIway in a telephone interview from her home.

Lloyd adds that she was touched by the outpour of concern she has received from residents, noting that it says a lot about the good nature of everyone at Burnbrae Gardens.