HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1996-07-24, Page 17Dining for Seniors: a social time for everyone
By Brenda Burke
T -A Reporter
EXETER - "Is writing on an
empty stomach harmful?...No,
but paper's better."
Carol Gascho, activity
director at Queensway Nursing
and Retirement Home,
addressed the room full of
seniors with riddles.
"What has a mouth and fork
but never eats?" she continued.
"A river."
The group, which had just
finished its meal, snickered and
groaned in reaction to one of
many forms of entertainment
available on Dining for Seniors
days provided by Town and
Country Homemakers.
On Tuesdays at the Exeter
Lions Youth Centre following
a $7 lunch, entertainment may
take the form of dog qbedience
instruction, a karate
demonstration, clogging
perfornfances, slide
presentations or local school
choirs.
Professionals come to talk
about medical care, home
security and funeral
arrangements. And every
afternoon of entertainment
ends with a social time of
playing favorite games such as
cards and crokinole.
"I think seniors should get
involved in different things as
much as they can," said Betty
Brand, who has been
volunteering with the
organization for three years.
"Being by themselves all day is
not very good. They need to
get out...I think it's also good
for the volunteers."
The TCH mandate is to
provide support services that
allow people to live
independently in their own
homes. Offering services such
as transportation, friendly
visiting, telephone reassurance,
home maintenance and meal
programs, the non-profit
organization has been
operating for 19 years.
It established a head office
in Wingham before expanding
to service Huron County and
its border areas. Bayfield held
the TCH first dining program,
which later spread to Zurich,
Exeter, Hensall, Goderich,
Brussels and Grand Cove.
Dawne Erb has been
cooking and organizing Dining
for Seniors volunteers since the
program began.
"There's a lot of rewards in
doing this job," she said,
adding, "It can be an emotional
roller coaster at times," with
happy occasions such as
anniversaries and sad moments
such as the death of relatives.
The service began as a
social program with the meal
as a secondary aspect, she
explained. For many seniors,
she said, the support group of
people the program provides is
their "event of the
week...something to look
forward to."
Erb is the program's only
paid staff, with volunteers
organizing the meal. Although
each dining day averages 35
participants and 10 to 15
volunteers, these numbers rise
on special occasions.
"Volunteers to me are really
dedicated people," said -
Community Service
Coordinator Faye Blair -
Skinner.
"They're actually active
seniors that are volunteering as
well," added Jeanne (cladding,
service supervisor.
Besides other community
work, Bob and Ada Dinney have
volunteered their services for the
dining program for about five
years.
"I might need it myself
someday," said Ada. "You need
places to go."
Some seniors such as Stewart
Miner, a resident of the Exeter
Villa, appreciate the
transportation provided free of
charge to Dining for Seniors
participants. Others including
Kathleen Green like Meals on
Wheels and have used the
program for years.
Blair -Skinner credits the
success of TCH programs to a
solid network of volunteers.
With a budget of $3.2 million,
the organization services at least
2,500 clients each year with the
help of 185 staff and hundreds
of volunteers.
Although Blair -Skinner
would like to see more
interaction between youth and
seniors, she's aware of the
restrictions. The dining
program's two summer students
help with the clean up of the
meal but don't necessarily inter
react with program participants.
And, sometimes a large group of
young children can be
overwhelming for seniors, she
added.
She has noticed volunteers in
their 20's and 30's are helping
with Meals on Wheels but what
amazes her most is the
dedication of seniors who
continue to volunteer for who.
services.
"They're needed...They just
don't want to give up."
Seniors enjoy themselves
at Dining for Seniors Day
at the Exeter Lions Youth
Centre on Tuesdays.
Below, Queensway resident
Dorothy Bullock sings 'You
Are My Sunshine' as part
of the dining program's
entertainment. At bottom
right, Queensway Nursing
and Retirement Home
employee Audrey Brand
and her daughter, Sabrina,
sing 'Tomorrow' to
entertain Dining for Senior
participants.
SAI:14
F1-OPNp`7VE
will be receiving
SOFT RED WINTER WHEAT &
FUNDMEA RED WHEAT
•
Hansa . MOM
262-3002 2351150
1-800-265-5190
■ Hensall Co-op the fastest
wheat and barley receiving
elevator in the area
■ Locallyowned by farmers
■ Friendly fast efficient
service
• Fair Grades
• Honest weights
ALSO HANDLING
• ' White Winter
* white Beans
• Coloured Beans
ns
&NOM Londesboro
522:-1000 523-4470 666-1300
1Iderton
li