Celebrating Generosity, Gratitude and Connection at Lynnwood

On Wednesday February 26, residents, families and staff gathered to celebrate Patrick and Dawn and thank them for the pool table the couple recently donated to enhance Lynnwood’s recreation space.

Residents gathered to celebrate Patrick and Dawn.

Patrick has been a resident at Lynnwood for nearly a year, and Dawn, Patrick’s wife, visits him daily. Over the past year, they’ve become integral members of Lynnwood’s community, inspiring residents and staff alike with their generous donations to the CapitalCare Foundation, which empowered Lynnwood to purchase the pool table, VR headsets for their Rendever system, and add an 80-inch flatscreen TV to neighbourhood 4PP.

“This whole thing started just after Patrick moved to Lynnwood,” said Dawn. “We ran into David, another Lynnwood resident downstairs, and he’s a joker, so he said, ‘Patrick, do you play billiards?’ And I said to David, ‘You haven’t played pool until you’ve played against Patrick.’ And that was when David said they’d love to have a pool table here, but that the funds didn’t allow for it unless it was donated.”

David thanking Patrick and Dawn.

The Recreation team arranged for residents to take a trip to West Edmonton Mall on the community funded shuttle to browse pool tables and see what might fit the space. Glen, another resident at Lynnwood who has grown close to Patrick and Dawn, was excited for the trip, and his infectious enthusiasm affirmed for Dawn that her decision to donate the pool table was worth it.

“Lynnwood staff brought the residents down to the rec room to watch the pool table being built and then let everyone take some shots. Glen told me I should be the first person to take the shot, but I wanted to make sure Patrick got the first shot, which he did.”

Patrick taking the first shot on Lynnwood's new pool table.

Dawn lauds the Lynnwood recreation team for consistently going above-and-beyond to enhance residents’ quality of life.

“The thing that makes Lynnwood stand out above all other places, to me, is their recreation program. They have the centralized activities in the rec room, like Bingo and the pub on Friday, but they also have a recreation person on each floor,” says Dawn, who appreciates the recreation staff’s ability to create programming for people with dementia and without. “That’s why we contributed the big TV to 4PP, because a lot of them don’t get to come down to parties like this.”

Residents watching the new 80" TV on neighbourhood 4PP.

Dawn’s appreciation for staff at Lynnwood extends far beyond the recreation team.

“The physiotherapy department’s ability to individualize treatment is wonderful. Patrick will sometimes be asleep when they come by to take him, so they’ve given me permission to bring him down a little later, or sometimes even bring him down on a different day, and they make the time to work with him. They’re also really good about telling me about the things that happen, like whether he was doing all the exercises or if he went for a walk.”

Patrick and Dawn sitting in front of the pool table.

Over the past year, Dawn and Patrick have become a fixture at Lynnwood’s recreational events, even stopping by at a Mother’s Day tea event accidentally. Lynnwood staff ended up setting up a table for Dawn and Patrick so they could listen to the entertainment alongside the mothers. It’s gestures like that, actions embodying CapitalCare’s commitment to providing person-centred care, which sets Lynnwood apart, says Dawn.

"Staff here see people as people and do everything they can to meet people’s needs."

Patrick’s son, Rob, has also been impressed by Lynnwood.

“When we first came here, we thought it was nothing short of amazing. I don’t know how these people do it. It takes a special person to do this work, and I know this is the perfect place for my Dad.”

CapitalCare is honoured to care for residents like Patrick and his wife, Dawn, who help our communities thrive. Enhancing CapitalCare’s recreation spaces and activities is a vital component of the first challenge of CapitalCare’s strategic plan, which focuses on healthy and sustainable living by providing a high quality of care and supporting an engaged community. The support from the CapitalCare Foundation helps CapitalCare centres enhance residents’ quality of life and ensures people continue to thrive in their new homes by facilitating an engaged community and providing residents opportunities to connect through activities they love.

“I like when there’s activities or entertainment going on because I always tell Patrick we’re on a date. To me, the recreation program is what makes Lynnwood, Lynnwood.”