Our Life Program's goal is to enrich the daily lives of our residents. Check out some of the fun things going on at Salem Home.
One of life's creature comforts - food. Our team of cooks, dieticians and cookie baking volunteers work hard to make sure everyone is eating healthy and happy.
Bonnie Friesen - Health Care Attendant
Maple Court Residents as young as 43 live in this bright, open concept wing - mostly due to injuries or conditions that make it difficult or impossible to live at home. A large common area contains a kitchenette, tables and chairs, music and decorations. Private rooms surround the common area, their doors looking similar to a row of apartments.
This ‘young’ design follows what Salem calls ‘cluster care’. Residents with like needs are placed in close proximity so the staff can establish relationships. One such staff member is Bonnie, a Health Care Attendant. She practices what Salem calls ‘dedicated care’, a technique used throughout the entire organization. It involves creating relationships with residents to better understand their needs. This attentiveness creates a more comfortable atmosphere for the residents.
“I’ve grown attached to some of the guys in that unit, they’re my age, they have kids that are my kids age. When I go on coffee break in the evenings, some of the guys will come and join myself and other staff members to sit and talk and shoot the breeze,” she said.
In 2004, Bonnie Friesen began her journey with Salem Home. She started as a housekeeper and after two years, decided to take advantage of the in-house Health Care Attendant training program. Her training was built on the sturdy foundation that all employees follow: Salem Home’s mission statement.
“To provide Christ-centred care embracing the values of compassion, dignity, excellence and faith.”
For Bonnie, and others she works with, this is the golden rule to live by or through which all activities are filtered. She says, “In our training, we were told that when we walk into Salem Home, we are walking into the resident’s home. We are to treat it with the respect and dignity as if we were walking into our own parent's home.”
This attitude is what makes Salem Home such a warm, friendly and inviting place. It’s like walking into your grandmother or mother’s home.
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