Iakhihsohtha welcomes new activity director

There’s a new but familiar face hanging around at the Iakhihsohtha Home for the Elderly in Tsi Snaihne (Snye) and she is already busy planning the home’s next big events. Maureen Benedict is the facility’s new activity director.

“I had a lot of people telling me that this was something I should be doing,” Benedict said. “But I just wasn’t ready until now.”

Benedict was previously employed at Iakhihsohtha for about two years when it first opened in 1990, before she took time off to raise a family. She is an active member in the community and for years has helped the Snye Recreation with all of their planning and events. Now she’s being paid to do the same thing for the elderly residents of Iakhihsohtha. Along with planning big events like Christmas parties or the Allen King Memorial Walk, Benedict is also in charge of scheduling the resident’s daily activities, from crafts and exercise, to shopping outings.

“I’m used to doing things like this and I thought this would be fun,” she said.

Benedict has had a few weeks to get to know the residents. As a fluent Mohawk speaker she can speak to some of the older residents who are more comfortable speaking in Mohawk.

Benedict has been looking into bringing entertainment groups in the home and also planning more outings that take the residents outside the property.

“This is a very mobile group,” she said. “There are very few who can’t get out.”

Some events coming up at the home include the Allen King Memorial Walk on Oct. 19, followed by a Halloween celebration on Oct. 31.

“I’m happy to be here and I’m enjoying myself,” she said.