CLOSING THE GENERATION GAP

Program matches

A UNIQUE program _in- volving West Vancouver secondary students and West Vancouver seniors is helping to close the generation gap from both ends.

TIMOTHY RENSHAW News Reporter

Developed by the North Shore Volunteers for Residents in Care Facilities (NSVRCF) and Hillside Secondary School’s International Baccalaureate coordinator Marion Langdale, the junior volunteers program combines Hillside bac- calaureate students with seniors from the West Vancouver Care Centre (WVCC).

The program is a pilot project that is an optional part of the bac- calaureate social services cur- riculum, which requires students to invest a half day each week in a community social service.

NSVRCF’s Wendy Hanna said the program was developed to give students an insight into the pro- blems faced by old people in ex- tended care facilities and the various compiexities of com- munication across the gap of generations.

“As far as | know it’s the first of its kind in Canada,’’? Hanna said. ‘‘We are extremely excited (about the program). It provides the students with the opportunity to get to know people in extended care facilities and helps them (the Students) get over the fear of death, dying and illness.’’

The program’s 15 (14 from Hillside, one from Collingwood) students work with WVCC seniors after school four hours per week doing crafts, playing games and

the the

talking and = listening to teminiscences that map out lives of the facility’s residents.

In preparation for the program, which began in September, the students attended a three-hour gerontology seminar that also showed them how to handle various basic care facility equip- ment such as wheelchairs and taught them how to communicate with and listen to people.

“They .were leery about their first, visit (to the facility) because many. of them had not seen people

ARBIZON'S

Christmas Fantasy

Your Complete Christmas Store

Best Selection

GRAND OPENING NOV.

FOR 1 DAY ONLY

Best $$$ Savings

5, 1987

20% discount on EVERY item Come and visit Santa at our Lynn Valley store

between 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Lynn Valley Centre 986-0770

Lougheed Mall 420-8786

Richmond Centre 270-9484

Layaway Plan — Ample parking — Open 7 days a week

"HANDS ON”

full-day instructor-led workshops

Intro to Computers

WordPerfect Multimate Lotus 123

Nov, 14 or Nov, 28

Nov. 5* & 6 Nov. 19* & 20* Nov, 12* & 13*

Nov. 30

Displaywrite 3 Nov. 16 *Two mornings 912 noon Pre-registration required.

the ACCESS

CENTER

wat Lonsdale Quay THE COMPUTER TRAINING SPECIALISTS #290 - 145 Chadwick Court, North Vancouver V7M 3K1

984-4671

Hours: Mon-Thurs. 1-9 p.m.

Fri-Sat. t4 p.m.

in an extended care facility be- fore,’’ Langdale said. ‘“‘But now that they have got to know some of the residents some good rela- tionships have developed. They realized they are people, too.”’

The experience helps young people get to know and understand a generation that, because of con- tinuing disruption in the make-up of modern families, some havz had little or no contact with.

WVCC activity director Janice Stefanac said the program has thus far been a great success.

a 3

es

Ss

SRN ESSE

= Bes SSN

ee.

23 - Sunday, November 1, 1987 - North Shore News

NEWS photo Mike Wakefleld

“The kids are a natural,’’ she said, ‘Sand already the residents look forward to seeing them.”’

The federal government’s New Horizons Program last weck ap- proved $15,000 to help fund the progiam's first 18 months.

New Horizon's field repre- sentative Lillian Baaske said the program ‘‘is something unique in our area aiid is needed especially in care facilities where seniors are so often removed from contact with the younger generation and from most other generations.”’

senicrs with students

OCCUPATIONAL THERA- PIST Ann Finlay shows Hillside secondary students how to work and communicate with seniors {in long-term care facilities. The students are involved in a pilot community project that com- bines school students one-on- one with seniors.

SERVICE TIPS

Here are a few things to check before you give us a call:

Range * Oven dead ~ check fuses - check timer on automatic * Surface elements dead - check fuses

Dishwasher * Not cleaning well - check water lemperature - should be 70C/150F © Leaking - wrong soap used - check if sudsing * Etching glasses — use less soap

Fridge * Cabinet sides warm - normal condition * Dead - check circuit breaker

U; 165 Pemberton Ave.

bass

/Grand Opening 20% Off on everything

Mr Jax, Simon Chang Soo Yung Lee Maggie London