A sincere appreciation
Celebration at Roseway Manor gives thanks to its hospital auxiliary
Laughter and music were in the air at Roseway Manor on Aug. 28 as staff, residents and visitors gathered for a celebration of thanks to the Roseway Hospital Auxiliary for their recent contributions to the long-term care facility that is helping make life a little better for the residents.
With a blanket and towel warmer that had been on the blink for sometime, and a main lounge that was stuck in the 1970s, the Roseway Hospital Auxiliary came to the aid of the manor, providing enough funds to purchase a new warmer and spruce up the lounge with new furniture, fresh paint and a few nautical decorative pieces that speaks to the local culture and heritage.
“From the Roseway Manor community we really do appreciate the gifts,” said administrator Cathy Hambleton, presenting Barb Henderson, president of the Roseway Hospital Auxiliary, with a card of thanks and a flower arrangement as a token of gratitude.
“Although we are a priority for Roseway Hospital, every once and awhile a request will come from Roseway Manor and we take it to the group and many of them say, ‘well you know that might be where we will be going someday soon’ so they are always very generous when it comes to donating to the manor if its possible for us to do that,” said Henderson.
Hambleton said the auxiliary has been very generous over the years helping with purchases that sometimes the manor’s budget “doesn’t quite stretch enough” to cover the cost.
“We are government funded so as we all know dollars can be tight.”
Now 43 years old, Roseway Manor is home to 66 residents. An adult daycare program is also housed at Roseway Manor.
“We’re a busy spot,” said Hambleton. “On any given day we usually have about 140 people in the building,” she said, including residents, staff and volunteers.
Hambleton said Roseway Manor is fortunate to have many dedicated volunteers, from toddlers and teens, to musicians and therapy dogs.
“We have a good cross section of people who come in,” said Hambleton. “It could be an individual volunteer who comes in and reads to a resident or sits with someone who needs some attention or makes conversation. We have a number of pets and therapy dogs that comes through. The one thing people never seem to forget is how to pet a dog. Seeing a dog brings such joy into their lives.”
Hambleton said Roseway Manor does have volunteer programs for youth.
“We work with the Shelburne high school every year,” she explained, with students in Grades 11 and 12 spending several hours a week throughout the school year visiting manor residents, doing everything from reading a newspaper for a resident or helping to write or read a letter.
A local nursery school also visits the manor on regular basis, especially around holidays like Easter, Christmas and Halloween.
Hambleton said Patsy JonesHassapis, director of Recreation and Volunteer Services, is always looking for more volunteers interested in visiting the manor and helping enrich the lives of the residents. She can be reached at 902-875-4707 extension 226.
When asked if Roseway Manor had a wish list, Hambleton said a new building is on top of the list, but other than that probably some more new furniture to update the manor’s other lounge for residents with Alzheimer’s.