Frost Manor focuses on programming to help residents with cognitive impairment
Lindsay long-term care home delivers on new year’s resolution
Thursday April 17, 2008 -- Deron Hamel
Frost Manor made a new year’s resolution in January to vigorously focus on programming for residents with cognitive impairment and the Lindsay long-term care home has remained true to its commitment.

Life enrichment co-ordinator Vi O’Leary says a new program which brings three co-op students from St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Secondary School in Lindsay to help with one-to-one programming has proven to be a successful partnership.

The students participating in the program spend one-to-one time throughout the week with residents who have cognitive impairment. The trio manicures residents’ nails, applies makeup and massages hands, as well as helps residents get to meals. The students have also had one-to-one tea parties for residents.

Over the years creating meaningful programming for residents with cognitive impairment has been challenging for the home, says O’Leary. But since the co-op program began early in the year it has shown signs of success.

O’Leary gauges the success of the program by the residents’ reaction. The reactions residents have to the activities may be as small as a smile or a chuckle, but O’Leary notes this is very meaningful.

“You do get response — small, little things that make you realize that what you’re doing is right,” she says. “This makes all the difference in the world.”

As a result of the successes the programming has shown, Frost Manor now has an activities calendar specifically designed for residents with cognitive impairment. This, says O’Leary, marks another success in the home’s mission to heighten its focus on programming for residents with cognitive impairment.

Grade 11 student Vanessa Papatzikakis is one of the three co-op students participating in one-to-one programming with residents. She says the reactions residents have to the one-to-one programming helps her understand their likes and dislikes.

Papatzikakis adds that the work she does at the home has been a learning experience.

“Every reaction I get is something new that I learn,” she says. “I think it makes them happy when we’re happy.”

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