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#ElderWisdom | Stories from the Green Bench - BONUS | Resident Voices in Long-Term Care with OARC’s Melissa McVie & Devora Greenspon

BONUS | Resident Voices in Long-Term Care with OARC’s Melissa McVie & Devora Greenspon

10/25/22 • 32 min

4 Listeners

#ElderWisdom | Stories from the Green Bench

Bonus Episode - Erin Davis and Doug Robinson are joined in this special episode with the Ontario Association of Residents' Councils, Melissa McVie, Director of Education and Communications, and Devora Greenspon, LTC Resident and REAL Group Co-Chair.

Barry Hickling was our guest in Episode #5 speaking about ageism, living in long-term care, and his role with the OARC. We encourage you to revisit this conversation.

Devora was encouraged by the staff at her Long-Term Care home to participate in the Residents' Council. Feeling of chaos in the meeting and not being shy, stepped in. Before she knew it she was the president of their residents' council.

"There was absolute chaos during the meeting. I'm not shy so I just took over. Next thing I knew I was president of the Residents' Council." - Devora Greenspon

Devora’s Residents’ Council has adopted a Shared Leadership team model with residents from different parts of her home comprising a team that leads the work of Council based on individual strengths. She uses this inclusive team model in place of the traditional Executive model with a President, Secretary etc.

"Residents' Council is a great place for residents to express their hopes, their goals, their concerns with no fear of retribution." - Devora Greenspon

Residents' Councils are mandated to exist in every long-term care home. A vehicle through which residents can speak about the good, the bad, the ugly, and collaborate with the leadership in their home.

"Residents' Councils welcome an open dialogue with the leadership team in their long-term care home." - Melissa McVie

"Council is a place for residents to meet one another and develop relationships. So important when you live in long-term care." - Devora Greenspon

Learn more about OARC and access their newsletter, Season’s Magazine: https://www.ontarc.com/

"Everyone has a story, we cannot paint all residents with the same brush. Take a little extra time to get to know one's story." - Melissa McVie

Doug learns how to say 'good morning' in different languages to be able to greet each resident.

"I did not go into long-term care to die, but to live. To have a fruitful, happy, quality of life." - Devora Greenspon

What are your hopes for the future of long-term care?

Devora - To make quality of life better and better for each resident.

Erin Davis hears in our conversation, 'I'm still me, I will be heard, I want to be part of my community, and I want to help plan for the future.'

What is REAL “Resident Expert Advisors and Leaders”?
Is comprised of members who are resident leaders living in LTC homes across Ontario. It is an advisory group; REAL members bring their own lived experiences and perspectives as residents helping to inform and guide OARC’s work

*An OARC legacy program is in the works to award a long-term care home in Ontario a green #ElderWisdom bench each year in memory of Sharron Cooke.

Subscribe, rate, and review our podcast on any network and share your thoughts on social media using the #ElderWisdom tag to help others find us.

----more----

The Green Bench is a symbol of elder wisdom. Physically or virtually, the bench invites us all to sit alongside a senior, share a conversation, or give and offer advice.

It challenges the stigma seniors face; the ageism still so prevalent in society. It reminds us of the wealth of wisdom our elders offer and in doing so, helps restore them to a place of reverence.

"The greatest untapped resource in Canada, if not the world, is the collective wisdom of our elders." -Ron Schlegel

This podcast is brought to you by Schlegel Villages, retirement & long-term care homes in Ontario, Canada.

#ElderWisdom | Stories from the Green Bench is produced by Memory Tree Productions
Learn more about our host, Erin Davis, at erindavis.com
Learn more about #ElderWisdom at elderwisdom.ca

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Bonus Episode - Erin Davis and Doug Robinson are joined in this special episode with the Ontario Association of Residents' Councils, Melissa McVie, Director of Education and Communications, and Devora Greenspon, LTC Resident and REAL Group Co-Chair.

Barry Hickling was our guest in Episode #5 speaking about ageism, living in long-term care, and his role with the OARC. We encourage you to revisit this conversation.

Devora was encouraged by the staff at her Long-Term Care home to participate in the Residents' Council. Feeling of chaos in the meeting and not being shy, stepped in. Before she knew it she was the president of their residents' council.

"There was absolute chaos during the meeting. I'm not shy so I just took over. Next thing I knew I was president of the Residents' Council." - Devora Greenspon

Devora’s Residents’ Council has adopted a Shared Leadership team model with residents from different parts of her home comprising a team that leads the work of Council based on individual strengths. She uses this inclusive team model in place of the traditional Executive model with a President, Secretary etc.

"Residents' Council is a great place for residents to express their hopes, their goals, their concerns with no fear of retribution." - Devora Greenspon

Residents' Councils are mandated to exist in every long-term care home. A vehicle through which residents can speak about the good, the bad, the ugly, and collaborate with the leadership in their home.

"Residents' Councils welcome an open dialogue with the leadership team in their long-term care home." - Melissa McVie

"Council is a place for residents to meet one another and develop relationships. So important when you live in long-term care." - Devora Greenspon

Learn more about OARC and access their newsletter, Season’s Magazine: https://www.ontarc.com/

"Everyone has a story, we cannot paint all residents with the same brush. Take a little extra time to get to know one's story." - Melissa McVie

Doug learns how to say 'good morning' in different languages to be able to greet each resident.

"I did not go into long-term care to die, but to live. To have a fruitful, happy, quality of life." - Devora Greenspon

What are your hopes for the future of long-term care?

Devora - To make quality of life better and better for each resident.

Erin Davis hears in our conversation, 'I'm still me, I will be heard, I want to be part of my community, and I want to help plan for the future.'

What is REAL “Resident Expert Advisors and Leaders”?
Is comprised of members who are resident leaders living in LTC homes across Ontario. It is an advisory group; REAL members bring their own lived experiences and perspectives as residents helping to inform and guide OARC’s work

*An OARC legacy program is in the works to award a long-term care home in Ontario a green #ElderWisdom bench each year in memory of Sharron Cooke.

Subscribe, rate, and review our podcast on any network and share your thoughts on social media using the #ElderWisdom tag to help others find us.

----more----

The Green Bench is a symbol of elder wisdom. Physically or virtually, the bench invites us all to sit alongside a senior, share a conversation, or give and offer advice.

It challenges the stigma seniors face; the ageism still so prevalent in society. It reminds us of the wealth of wisdom our elders offer and in doing so, helps restore them to a place of reverence.

"The greatest untapped resource in Canada, if not the world, is the collective wisdom of our elders." -Ron Schlegel

This podcast is brought to you by Schlegel Villages, retirement & long-term care homes in Ontario, Canada.

#ElderWisdom | Stories from the Green Bench is produced by Memory Tree Productions
Learn more about our host, Erin Davis, at erindavis.com
Learn more about #ElderWisdom at elderwisdom.ca

Previous Episode

undefined - Critical thinking, long-distance relationships and reading with Evelyn Brindle

Critical thinking, long-distance relationships and reading with Evelyn Brindle

2 Recommendations

Episode #46 - Evelyn Brindle lives at The Village of Erin Meadows in Mississauga with her husband David. A conversation about critical thinking, long-distance relationships, and unexpected travel with Erin Davis & Doug Robinson on the Green Bench.

"If you just stop and talk with somebody. Everybody's got a story. You don't have to have a movie of the week or a book made about you." - Erin Davis

The Village has a library that is well used. The continuous increase of books that are brought in and mixed around.

Evelyn always snuck a book into her grandchildren's stockings at Christmas to encourage reading.

What are your book recommendations?

"It's so important to have the ability to read and to enjoy what you are reading." - Evelyn Brindle

Evelyn has 2 daughters and 4 grandchildren, with one daughter living in Hong Kong. A conversation about staying in touch and how that has changed over the past 25 years.

“Everyone is a person, everyone is beautiful, and everyone has something to contribute.” - Evelyn Brindle

Sharing some laughs as Evelyn shares about her honeymoon travel stories.

Reading the newspaper has been an enjoyment for husband, David living with dementia. With discussing what he is reading and encouraging it, he has reclaimed his ability and joy to read and has moved onto a variety of books.

Subscribe, rate, and review our podcast on any network and share your thoughts on social media using the #ElderWisdom tag to help others find us.

----more----

The Green Bench is a symbol of elder wisdom. Physically or virtually, the bench invites us all to sit alongside a senior, share a conversation, or give and offer advice.

It challenges the stigma seniors face; the ageism still so prevalent in society. It reminds us of the wealth of wisdom our elders offer and in doing so, helps restore them to a place of reverence.

"The greatest untapped resource in Canada, if not the world, is the collective wisdom of our elders." -Ron Schlegel

This podcast is brought to you by Schlegel Villages, retirement & long-term care homes in Ontario, Canada.

#ElderWisdom | Stories from the Green Bench is produced by Memory Tree Productions
Learn more about our host, Erin Davis, at erindavis.com
Learn more about #ElderWisdom at elderwisdom.ca

Next Episode

undefined - Raising a musical family and quirky gardening with Angela Willis

Raising a musical family and quirky gardening with Angela Willis

3 Recommendations

Episode #47 - A woman who always has a song in her heart surrounded by music her whole life, Angela Willis joins Erin Davis and Doug Robinson from The Village of Taunton Mills in Whitby. Stories shared about quirky gardening, art, baking, and raising a musical family - with a special tribute from granddaughter and singer, Cadence Grace.

Erin shares a quote from Terry Tempest Williams, “Once upon a time, when women were birds, there was the simple understanding that to sing at dawn and to sing at dusk was to heal the world through joy. The birds still remember what we have forgotten, that the world is meant to be celebrated.”

Angela and Doug share quirky items that were added to their gardens including a bin for goldfish, a BBQ, a cement mixer, a carousel and more.

"I just planted the flowers in strange things because I liked the look of them." - Angela Willis

Why wouldn't a neighbour take his shoes off? "Because he was afraid I would plant flowers in them."

Angela was the winner of 'Best large garden' in Scugog

"When you get your garden finished and you sit back and look at it, and you say wow, that was worth it." - Angela Willis

"You enjoy the summer twice as much when you have a beautiful garden." - Doug Robinson

Angela has fulfillment in growing her family tree. Growing up with music has been such a joy.

A special message to Angela from granddaughter, Cadence Grace, in thanks for the music.

Music feature: Don't by Cadence Grace

More about Cadence Grace and her music at cadencegrace.com

What advice would you give to someone who wants to bring the benefits of music into their lives.

"Sing! Just keep singing. It makes you feel so good." - Angela Willis

Singing with her husband Jack in the County Town Singers for 20 years. They toured Europe not long after they joined to share music as Canada's Singing Ambassadors. Her favourite venue to sing in was the Catherdral in York, England.

Still 70 members in the County Town Singers in the Durham Region. www.countytownsingers.com

Angela continues to try new things to excel at. She found an art class and decided to start painting in her 50s.

"You can start anything at any age, anytime." - Angela Willis

Angela tried decorating cakes one day. She enjoyed it so much that she made all of her children's wedding cakes. She also loves to bake pies.

She agreed to make a cake to feed 350 people for the 75th anniversary of the cottagers association.

Subscribe, rate, and review our podcast on any network and share your thoughts on social media using the #ElderWisdom tag to help others find us.

----more----

The Green Bench is a symbol of elder wisdom. Physically or virtually, the bench invites us all to sit alongside a senior, share a conversation, or give and offer advice.

It challenges the stigma seniors face; the ageism still so prevalent in society. It reminds us of the wealth of wisdom our elders offer and in doing so, helps restore them to a place of reverence.

"The greatest untapped resource in Canada, if not the world, is the collective wisdom of our elders." -Ron Schlegel

This podcast is brought to you by Schlegel Villages, retirement & long-term care homes in Ontario, Canada.

#ElderWisdom | Stories from the Green Bench is produced by Memory Tree Productions
Learn more about our host, Erin Davis, at erindavis.com
Learn more about #ElderWisdom at elderwisdom.ca

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