RENFREW COUNTY — Many people and activities, including fundraising, has been affected by COVID-19. The County of Renfrew and City of Pembroke long-term care homes have had to cancel their key 2020 fundraisers. These fundraisers were critical to the homes moving ahead with the implementation of the Butterfly approach, “a concept [that] includes significant changes such as smaller more home-like ‘neighbourhoods’ versus units,” noted Don Goulet, Chairperson of the Bonnechere Manor Foundation.
“Other changes include redesigning the dementia units to be more welcoming and intimate, and filling the household with the ‘stuff of life’ so that residents can connect with a variety of colours, textures and objects that remind them of their lives, work and hobbies,” added Sandra Sell, Chairperson for the Miramichi Lodge Foundation.
Shelley Sheedy, Director of Long-Term Care, said the homes have come up with a unique project which can be both carried out under the current COVID-19 restrictions and support some of the costs to implement the Butterfly approach. Local artist Janet Springer, has been busy creating beautiful stained glass butterflies. Much like the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly, Miramichi Lodge and Bonnechere Manor hope to see the transformation of the two homes with the implementation of the Butterfly approach. The Foundations are pleased to advise the butterflies are now available for sale.
A wall adjacent to the Butterfly unit in each home will be covered with a floral garden design, which will be decorated with the stained glass butterflies. Each butterfly will represent project donors and be sold for $100. They will be displayed in the “Butterfly Garden.” The gardens will become a permanent art installation in each home representing a gift for someone special, a loved one who has passed or as a general donation to the home in support of their journey to become a Butterfly home. For more information, or to choose your butterfly for the garden at either home, please contact Lainy Boldt-Johnson at 613 432 4873 extension 1252 or email [email protected].
