A partnership with Lanark County Support Services is helping beautify Almonte Country Haven while providing people with an artistic flair with an audience.
Submitted by OMNI Health Care
Lanark County Support Services, which provides supports for adults with developmental disabilities, has been collaborating with the Lanark County long-term care home for about 10 years. Clients from the agency’s Life Skills program visit Almonte Country Haven regularly to help the environmental services department by folding laundry and completing other tasks.
Many of the people accessing services from the program are gifted artists and expressed during a recent planning meeting that they wanted a venue to display their artwork. Almonte Country Haven seemed a natural fit, says Angie Acheson, one of the Life Skills program’s co-ordinators.
“We naturally thought of Almonte Country Haven first, because we already have such a great partnership in place,” Acheson tells The OMNIway.
Acheson spoke with Almonte Country Haven administrator Carolyn Della Foresta who was immediately on board with the idea. About 10 pieces of artwork created by several people accessing services from the Life Skills program were recently brought to the home to be put on display.
Everyone has benefited from this, says Acheson, a former Almonte Country Haven employee.
“The residents have enjoyed it, the staff members have enjoyed it, and this has provided such inclusion for our people because they feel a strong connection and they feel valued and important in our community,” Acheson says. “Other people are enjoying the artwork that our clients are so passionate about.”
Looking ahead, Acheson says there will be more opportunities for people accessing services from Life Skills to continue to display their artistic creations.
“It will be nice for the residents to enjoy the different artwork coming to the home in the future,” she says.
