The View From a Rocking Chair

Submitted by Tsiionkwanonhso:te Activity Program

The Christmas season is now in full swing and residents at Tsiionkwanonhso:te are enjoying a full calendar of activities. (Last year at this time, the home was in respiratory outbreak and visitor restrictions were in place.) A Sunday afternoon with music from the ‘Crosswinds’ band members kicked off the festivities and had one 94 year-old-up and dancing to nearly every song. The annual visit to ‘Alight at Night’ at Upper Canada Village also took place. Despite taking a wrong turn and initially losing sight of the line of cars driving through the village, the residents were awed by the illuminated sights and sang Christmas songs all the way home.

Music plays a large part in stimulating residents of all abilities. Christmas memories are alive when individuals hear Bing Crosby (White Christmas), Dean Martin (Baby It’s Cold outside), Frank Sinatra (any Holiday song, really), or Elvis (Blue Christmas). And vintage movies are scheduled on Sunday afternoon. Residents have a choice of several favorites, including ‘Holiday Inn’ or ‘White Christmas’ and ‘A Christmas Story’ from the movie library.

Exercise programs also take on a Christmas theme and incorporate the use of bells to go along with songs. Twelve days of Christmas exercises include imitating a drummer (12 drummers), breathe in and out on ‘flute’ (eleven pipers), ankle flex/extensions (ten lords a leaping), knee raises (nine ladies), imitate a person milking (eight maids), arm circles (seven swans), side bends (six geese), hand with fingers extended squeezing (five golden rings), hand to ear/can you hear them? (four calling birds), shoulder circles (three French hens), “kissing” motion/hand to mouth (two turtle doves) and look to far away (a Partridge in a pear tree). Whew! Singing and exercising at the same time is a real work out.

When planning the December calendar, the residents assembled were asked for their ‘wishes’ ‘wants’ and ‘expectations’. We are looking for a visit from Santa Claus! The ladies have asked for a ‘hug’ and ‘kiss’ from Santa as their Christmas wish.

Plans are underway for two Holiday dinners! One Turkey dinner with family members and staff on December 20th and another Turkey dinner on Christmas Day is what the Residents want!

Expectations are hard to satisfy since these are individualized and unique to each person. You can be sure that the staff working at Tsiionkwanonhso:te is doing their best to make it ‘merry and bright’!!

For more information or to find out how to help, please call Teresa (Volunteer Coordinator) at 613.932.1409 during regular business hours.