Woodland Villa to increase community involvement
Tuesday January 29, 2008 -- Camille Jensen
The administrators at Woodland Villa want to involve their rural community and are hoping to develop a strong volunteer base in the upcoming year.

Michael Rasenberg, administrator for the Long Sault long-term care home, says that volunteer involvement has been declining in recent years. He's hoping that events geared to bringing the community into the home will encourage new volunteers.

"We want to get the community coming to events here," says Rasenberg. "In the long-run we are trying to attract local people that have the time to come in and keep some of our residents company."

Rasenberg says that in previous years, an annual country fair has helped bring new people to the home. He's hoping to expand on past events, to further increase the home's exposure.

"We really pride ourselves on being a rural community nursing home and we want to get that community more involved," says Rasenberg. 

Debbie Kitchen, director of care for the home, says that an open house is one way they plan on generating interest in the greater community.

Kitchen feels that a main reason people are reluctant to volunteer is they are often unsure of what they can be doing to help.

Kitchen wants people to know that there are plenty of activities other than just pushing wheelchairs and she encourages seniors to come to the open house.

"This is a good way to have people come in and spend the day and see what they can be doing to help," explains Kitchen. "If we have an open house we can show them that even as much as sitting and reading with a resident or chatting and helping them with bingo, are the kinds of things we are looking for."

Kitchen says she is hoping to organize the open house in February. 

Among other resolutions, the home also intends to create a new family council, something the home is currently lacking.  Rasenberg says that adding a family council is another way to get community input.

The home also used its January meeting to discuss areas that the staff could work on. Improved communication and increased management during certain shifts, were identified as the two main areas that need attention.