Reunited with memories
This Saturday Audrey Cowieson’s ultimate dream came true.  For the last 50 years Audrey has not stopped thinking about  the best friend she ever had.  From tots playing together at the park to brides maids at one anothers‘ weddings; Audrey and Freda McVean were truly best friends.  Sadly the pair lost touch after having families of their own.  
Little did Audrey know that when she shared her dream to find Freda with her `dream weaver`, Suzanne Boychuk, that her dream would in fact come true through a partnership between Georgian college, Leacock Care Center and a program called Second Wind Dreams. Prior to the program Audrey had never even told anyone of her dream to find her friend for fear that others would think the idea was crazy.
Programs such as this provide insurmountable meaning in a senior’s life! When Audrey found out that her dream was underway she said with tears in her eyes and her hand on her chest “You have no idea how much this means to me!  People say that your dreams don’t come true- but they really do Suzanne, they really do.  I will never forget you for the rest of my life!”.
Though Freda died in 2006, there were tears of joy on everyone’s face this Saturday as Audrey met with Freda’s children, Debby McDonnell and Janet Wilson, for the first time! The afternoon was filled with food, photos, stories and laughter as Audrey learned what she had missed in the last fifty years and Freda`s daughters heard of a side of their mother they didn`t know before.
Today, Audrey is still looking forward to meeting Freda`s son and can `hardly believe that [her] dream has finally come true’.

Suzanne Boychuk, Judy Hawthorne, Debby McDonnell, Janet Wilson, and Audrey Cowieson

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Georgian College and Leacock Care Centre team up to Bowl for Dreams
Four students from the Therapeutic Recreation program at Georgian College organized the Bowling for Dreams fundraiser on Friday, March 11, 2011.  This bowling fundraiser took place at Rainbow Lanes and was in support of the not-for-profit organization Second Wind Dreams, which benefits seniors living at Leacock Care Centre in Orillia.

Second Wind Dreams pairs Georgian College Therapeutic Recreation students with residents of Leacock Care Centre to fulfill one of their dreams. Second Wind Dreams events are funded solely through the fundraising efforts of Therapeutic Recreation students.

Our goal was to raise $1,500 during our Bowling for Dreams fundraiser. With the help of our 80 participants who collected sponsorship pledges, we raised $4020.45 for this wonderful cause!  We would like to thank all of the participants who came out to support Second Wind Dreams as well as our sponsors who donated many prizes for the event. The fundraiser was a huge success and this money will fund many dreams in the future.

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On February 24^th, 2011, Leacock Care Centre presented their signed OLTCA Postcards to the Simcoe North MPP office.

 

Featured in the picture is Judy Maltais(Administrator and Harvey Cowling (resident) as they present Mary Silk Executive Assistant for MPP Garfield Dunlop 568 signed OLTCA post cards on behalf of Leacock Care Centre, residents, families and employees. These signed petitions carry a strong message : Long Term Care  Depends on a caring TEAM. These cards send a message to government about the importance of adequate funding and the essential role our team play in providing quality long term care to Ontario’s seniors.

 

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Bowling for dreams

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By JENNIFER BURDEN The Packet & Times

A group of Georgian College therapeutic recreation students are hoping to help seniors fulfill their dreams one strike at a time.

Jade Mance, Laurel Beveridge, Rachel Sybring and Jennifer Lindsay have organized a bowling night to raise money for Second Winds Dreams — a not-for-profit organization that pairs volunteers with seniors to help them do something they've always dreamed of.

In December, Beveridge took an elderly woman to Casino Rama to see the Ten Tenors. The senior, who lives at the Leacock Care Centre, hadn't seen a live concert in 20 years and never thought she would be able to go again until Beveridge and Second Wind Dreams arranged for her special outing.

"It was great," Beveridge said Wednesday. "(Second Wind Dreams) is a good intergenerational program between the college and the Leacock Care Centre."

Hoping to raise more money to make more wishes come true, the students organized Bowling for Dreams. The event is being held at Rainbow Bowling Lanes on Memorial Avenue on March 11 from 7 to 9 p.m.

"We thought (bowling) was a good way to reach out to the community," Sybring said.

Participants need to raise a minimum of $20 to take part in the evening, which includes two games of bowling, shoe rental and a door prize draw ticket. Teams of four to six people can register, but each person must collect sponsorship individually.

The average dream costs $250 to fulfill.

The event is open to everyone and is a "guaranteed good time," added Mance.

Registration forms are available by emailing bowlingfordreams@gmail.com. The deadline to register is Feb. 23.

 

Leacock Care Centre aiming to collect 500 signed postcards

 

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After hearing of the devastation happening in Haiti, the Leacock Care Centre Management Team wanted to do something to help.  Debbie Allen, Life Enrichment Coordinator organized three separate fundraising events which catered to staff working at the home.  On February 19, 2010 there was a Waffle Breakfast which started at 6:30 am for the night and day shift to enjoy.  On February 25, 2010 several managers donated their time and spaghetti sauces and hosted a Spaghetti Supper for the evening staff and then again on February 26, 2010, a Spaghetti Lunch for all to enjoy.  A minimum donation of $5 was all that was asked and the Leacock Care Centre has raised $740.11 to donate towards the fundraising efforts for Haiti.  Thank you to all who volunteered their time and supported the event. Tuesday November 2, 2010
Family and community members were welcomed to discover how long-term care is “a place where people can live and enjoy life” during an open house at the Leacock Care Centre Oct. 26. The event was part of the sector’s Long Term Care Week celebrations. This year’s theme was Advancing Care Through Innovation. Resident and family service co-ordinator Sabrina Desranleau-Tyers says the Orillia home showcased 14 vendors who are enhancing quality of life for residents, such as Shoppers HomeHealthCare, the Alzheimer Society and a mobile dentistry service. A resident was on-hand to share her experiences living in the home, and staff members offered tours to interested visitors. “It was about bringing attention to long-term care and showing that it’s different nowadays,” says Desranleau-Tyers.



Orillia home focusing on highlighting each department’s role in resident care
Tuesday February 15, 2011 -- Deron Hamel
Team members at Leacock Care Centre are aiming to collect 500 signed postcards in support of the Ontario Long Term Care Association’s (OLTCA) 2011 advocacy campaign.

Click here for the full story

 Shaping compassion in next generation of caregivers
Leacock Care Centre’s co-op program brings new passion and perspective, says volunteer co-ordinator
Wednesday February 23, 2011 -- Kristian Partington
Working with the residents of a long-term care home is more than a career — it’s a calling. Through its co-operative student placement program, Orillia’s Leacock Care Centre has paved the path for one young woman to realize her potential.

Sarah Thompson, a Grade 12 student at Patrick Fogarty Catholic Secondary School in Orillia, chose to follow her volunteer hours at the centre with a co-op placement that ended in January.

“I wasn’t entirely sure what it was going to be like,” says Thompson, now completing her final semester of high school, “but I knew I was really interested in finding out and being around people and being able to help out.”

She says her career path will now lead to a position that allows her to enhance the people’s lives.

Volunteer co-ordinator Lois Blais has seen a number of students pass through the doors, some of whom have launched a career at the home.

Thompson has a personality that radiates compassion and residents and staff members were all inspired by it, says Blais.

“With Sarah coming in it was like a whole new breath of fresh air and a whole new perspective,” says Blais. “She had an honesty and a presence about her that just brightened the room. It was just lovely to see her blossom.”

Residents looked forward to seeing her smiling face, just as Thompson grew to anticipate those moments when she could learn from the wisdom and experience found in each interaction with her new-found friends.

Thompson says “getting to know the residents and getting to know who each one was individually as a person and knowing that I was making a difference in each of their lives” was the greatest pleasure she gained from her co-op experience.

She says she’s looking forward to taking a year off to travel and gain new perspectives on life, noting that she plans to build upon the strengths she discovered during her placement at Leacock Care Centre.

Blais says she’s certain future residents at a home somewhere will benefit from Thompson’s presence.

Over the years the  Residents have been delighted in watching the families of little ducklings that live on the shoreline,  grow from week to week. .  The ducklings become quite tame and come right up in droves to enjoy the corn treats.

.   Feeding the ducks is a peaceful past time that many have enjoyed and is an activity that is  anticipated from year to year.  "

Thank you to everyone who supported our team and rode the bike with us!  Look forward to this happening again next year!

PSW focuses on positivity in face of compassion fatigue

Leacock Care Centre Pedal Pushers were out again for the 9^th year in a row to support the Heart and Stroke Foundation on the Big Bike!  Our team had 20 team members on the bike this year and we raised $2,267.  The event in Orillia brought in $66,000 over a two day period!

The Leacock Care Centre team wishes everyone a happy and safe holiday season.........and a wacky New Year!