By Angela Hill

SUN grant about more than fun and games

Apr 8, 2011 | 6:17 PM

Puzzles, big Lego blocks and tinker toys are making an appearance on activity centres at the Herb Bassett Home.

The work of three volunteers with those toys is helping many of the long-term care residents.

“They make our resident’s day a lot brighter,” said Frank Suchorab, nursing unit manager for Herb Bassett Home at Victoria Hospital.

“This type of stuff addresses some of the boredom and loneliness that plagues nursing homes from time to time and also it does have a positive health benefit.”

The three volunteers, Donna Dalziel, Steve Kowal and Barb Steen, were just recognized for their creation of multi-sensory activity centres to support people with dementia.

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The Saskatchewan Union of Nurses awarded them a $10,000 grant as part of their patient and family first challenge, based on the idea of setting up the programs.

“It was a very exciting opportunity to be awarding the individuals this money,” said Rosalee Longmoore, president of Saskatchewan Union of Nurses.

The project is obviously very near and dear to their heart, she said.

One of the volunteers Donna Dalziel said they are honoured and humbled by the award and look forward to using it to expand their centres into other care homes in Prince Albert.

“We’re just going to try and make lives for dementia patients a little bit brighter,” she said.

The key to the centres is about active engagement, not passive engagement, Dalziel said. There are different levels of activities at each of the activity centres, so people can be engaged at their individual level.

“We’re doing the care aspects, so sometimes the social aspects and cognitive stimulation wouldn’t happen without these fine people,” Suchorab said.

Toys might be part of the equation, but the program isn’t childish, Dalziel said.

“These activity centres are designed to increase the sensory time and allow the resident do and be as good as the resident possibly can.”

The project began after Dalziel’s husband was diagnosed with a type of dementia and she left her job to look after him. She said she finds this program is a way to help the two of them transition to him eventually moving into a care home.

The trio are looking for donations as they move forward to create more activity centres — big Lego blocks, tinker toys, puzzles for young children and big wooden beads for stringing are the best items.

People can bring their donations to the main area of the Herb Bassett Home or contact Dalziel at 961-5101 for more details.

ahill@panow.com