An ode of appreciation to the manor VAN
News
Posted By By Jeannie Harris Lions Manor
Posted 1 month ago
Question of the month: At what point can you say you are truly happy? Contemplate that thought for a moment. Seriously, contemplate that thought for a moment. Close your eyes, close out all other distractions, and contemplate that thought for a moment.
Now, let's replace the word, 'happy', with 'content'. Go ahead, same exercise. Makes quite a difference in perspective, doesn't it? I daresay each of us will have very different and equally individualized ideals. And I daresay, those ideals will vary extensively depending on our age, among a myriad of other factors.
Recently I posed that question to some of my residents here at Lions Prairie Manor. "Define contentment for me." Their answers were surprisingly similar. Responses included: satisfaction with a well-lived life, the joys of children and grandchildren, being well-cared for and the ability to continue to enjoy the simple things of life - music, conversation, and getting out-of-doors, into the community, the countryside and even the city.
May I title my column this month "An Ode of Appreciation to the VAN".
Oftentimes we believe that it has to be the BIG things in life that will satisfy us. A bigger house, a better job that pays more money, the most advanced toys… This wonderful generation of people we work with have learned that it's the little things that bring true contentment.
Why the VAN? Because, simply put, our Lions Manor VAN is one of our greatest assets. It enables our residents to experience life outside the four grey walls.
Our VAN was purchased for us through the effusive generosity of the Lions Foundation in 1995 to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the opening of the Lions Manor. A greater gift could not be found. In its 15 years of use, we have tallied nearly 80,000km. We have travelled to Winnipeg, to Brandon, and all points in between.
Our Winnipeg excursions have included the Museum of Man and Nature, many Goldeyes games, cruising down the Red River on the Paddlewheel Queen, shopping at Polo Park, Whitehorse Gift Emporium, tours and lunch at the Nunnery, and meandering among the animals at the Zoo, to name but a few.
Locally, picnics in the park, picnics on the farm, picnics at Forte la Reine Museum – we like picnics! Men's trips out to examine the crops or the local construction sites. Touring the new PCU Center. Numerous visits to local restaurants, shopping trips, and the Island of Lights – the number of times our VAN has been through this winter wonderland is uncountable!
But far beyond distance and destinations has been the benefits to our residents. This is the crux of our appreciation. Our elder residents have limitations; lets face it. Physical limitations, cognitive limitations, emotional limitations. We are ever so grateful that the venue of most of the aforementioned outings are accessible to those with physical limitations, particularly those in wheelchairs.
What about those with hearing deficits? Or declining eyesight? Or perhaps even more to the point, what about those with cognitive impairment? This is when we realize just how precious those 'little things in life' are.
There is no greater pleasure than to watch a smile grow on a sight-impaired individual as she turns her face to the sunshine and feel the breeze blowing gently through the window.
Or the excitement that a simple, "Would you like to go for a drive today?" can elicit from someone who has shown no interest in any activity for weeks. A long-time farmer may not remember his own name, but he can still tell you each and every crop just by the design of the leaf and the shape of the stalk; and the measure of his self-esteem blossoms as he shares his years of knowledge and experience.
Scenarios like these could fill volumes!
Our VAN is a lifeline in both a concrete and an abstract way. It is our link – to our communities, to our freedom, to our mobility, to all the wonders and experiences awaiting us. May I speak for each and every one of our residents, past, present and future when I express our deepest appreciation to the Lions Foundation for our VAN!
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