by CONNIE TABBERT
Editor
COBDEN — The sign on a resident’s wheelchair said, ‘Somebody take me to belly dancing.’
That sentence brought laughter from the crowd gathered in the activity room at Caressant Care Nursing and Retirement Home in Cobden Saturday afternoon.
Belly dancing was just one of the events happening to celebrate two anniversaries at the home.
“I want to thank everyone for coming today and helping us celebrate our 40th anniversary of the company and our 15th anniversary at our current location,” said Alexis Anderson, administrator of the home.
Prior to moving to its current location, it had been operating out of what is now a dental office on Pembroke Street West.
Ms. Alexander said the clients of Caressant Care receive top-notch service from the staff.
“Our mission here at Caressant Care is to meet the identified needs of our clients, primarily elderly persons, by providing integrated quality care and services in a specialized home environment,” she said.
Staff take this mission seriously and “work each and every day striving to make our residents feel as safe and comfortable as possible.”
In their final days of life, which is a reality for us all, staff do all they can to make the resident’s final days calm and pain-free, she said.
“Although we believe we are achieving those goals, we will never stop striving to make things better,” Ms. Alexander.
However, reaching those goals is a community effort, and to thank the residents and council of Cobden, which is now part of Whitewater Region, Ms. Alexander said the company wanted to provide something that everyone could enjoy as a token of their appreciation.
While no one from council could be there at the presentation (but did arrive later), Ms. Alexander said, “We are donating this bench to the town as a symbol of our partnership.
“Unfortunately we could not co-ordinate its placement with today’s celebration, but in the near future, it will be placed near the book tree on Main Street.”
A plaque on the wrought-iron bench reads, With gratitude to the Town of Cobden from Caressant Care Nursing and Retirement Home.
However, a partnership with the township is not the only beneficial partnership to the residents of the home.
“We’ll be fostering this fall with the local grade school,” Ms. Alexander said. “We’ll be inviting children in Grades 4 to 6 to adopt a grandparent. It’s an undertaking that has been tried at other places with positive benefits for students and residents alike.”
Ms. Alexander then invited everyone outside to watch as the time capsule created by the residents was buried beneath the company’s sign.
“Inside this capsule are messages from our residents, life stories they wrote, or memories from their life or childhood,” she said.
The capsule was being buried to recognize 40 years of Caressant Care, she said, adding, it’s hoped a celebration will occur in another 40 years and the capsule will be dug up and the lives of those here today will be remembered.
Other events that occurred throughout the celebration, included clowns entertaining the residents with their antics, wheelchair obstacle course, musical entertainment and dancing, an opportunity to check out the various crafts and photo gallery created by residents and an opportunity to try pureed foods.
Melanie Jones, food services manager at the home, said many residents are not able to eat food that is not pureed. Not wanting to feel left out, Ms. Jones noted any food that can be eaten can be pureed — and it doesn’t taste bad. She provided an opportunity for those at the event to try some of the everyday foods in puree form.
For the residents and guests, there was also a barbecue with treats.
To top off the event, Isabelle Dunlop, who moved into the home in May 2006, helped cut the anniversary cake.
Ms. Alexander thanked all those who helped make this event a grand celebration for residents and guests.
