By Joanne Rodgers, Bruce Peninsula Press
Members of the community were invited to an Open House at Golden Dawn Senior Citizen Home on 16 September 2024. Over 60 persons attended the event, enjoyed time with the residents and admired the new murals and displays that decorate the halls of the Home. Visitors were given tours of the hallways and the revamped spaces by Golden Dawn’s Board Members. Residents and their family members enjoyed dancing to lively entertainment provided by an Elvis impersonator, with many residents saying they were thrilled with the event. Visitors were also treated to food items by some of Golden Dawn’s Food Service vendors.
Long-term care resident Gloria McNair Baillargeon described the halls as absolutely beautiful and that the murals look so natural. Geoffrey Sims has been at the Home for two years and says he enjoys being there and there are lots of good things going on at the Home.
Community members attending the Open House were pleased with the redecorating, describing it as ‘awesome”, “looks like a good place to live”, “has a more bright and airy feel” and “beautiful murals.”
Dr. Brian Taylor, President – Chair attributes the vision for re-decorating the Halls to Rachael Wilkens, Administrator of Golden Dawn. Taylor says “when Wilkens started two years ago, one of her first goals was to make this building more home-like… because this is what the Golden Dawn is for our long-term care residents… it is their home!”
The hallways have been repainted with sensory and interactive murals and displays like picking apples and flowers in country scenes reminiscent of the Peninsula where most of the residents have spent their whole lives. The aim is to create a bright, cheerful and stimulating environment, allowing the residents to “touch, feel and see”. Dr Trace Mackay explains that there is a movement in long-term care facilities to create nostalgic scenes that are “all about feelings, something you never lose”.
Taylor congratulates Wilkens and her staff on a job well done and says that he has watched the anticipation, excitement and smiles on the faces of the residents, their families and staff as the hallway reimagining project became reality.
”As we work on our future rebuilding phase, we’ll remember to keep this place a home, not an institution or a building. We’ll keep it as a place where people who have supported their community and need our help can come and live and enjoy and feel at home with the Golden Dawn family”, pledges Taylor.
Wilkens says the project has been lots of fun and a group effort. Hardworking staff and generous donors have made this project a success.
