Day away

TWILLINGATE - Dark glasses, sun hats and leis were the order of the day for most of those in attendance at the special "Caregivers Day Away" at the Lions den in Twillingate on April 8.

The day, prepared for unpaid caregivers, was the eighth that a special Caregiver Committee operating under the local Primary Health Care Advisory Committee has executed. The committee works in affiliation with the Seniors Resource Centre out of St. John's. Their effort is to help alleviate the stress that unpaid caregivers undergo by giving them a "day away" from their normal routines and to show that there are others who do care.

On Wednesday, those who were invited were asked to come as if they had prepared for a vacation in Hawaii. Not only were those attending dressed for the fancied trip but on a side table there were spread some 50 items that one would be expected to take on such an excursion. It was early suspected that these had to be connected to some game that would be played later during the noon-time meeting and sure enough, each individual at the end of the noon meal was requested to write down articles remembered. Not surprisingly, by this time memories were not great.

A pleasant surprise was a visit by Aunt Maggie who was - or so she said - on her way to the airport enroute to Hawaii. Aunt Maggie presented an extensive monologue in which she recounted many hilarious incidents that she had experienced with her husband George - or so she said. She readily captured the attention of her audience who shared several minutes of laughter and fun and no doubt helped them forget their regular daily cares, at least for the time being. Later Aunt Maggie stayed with the group and shared in the noon meal that was topped off by a dessert of fruit and yoghurt.

All caregivers agreed it had been a very successful day and appreciation was extended on their behalf to the committee and to the entertainment. Funding for the Caregivers Day Away is shared jointly by the Seniors New Horizons Program and Central Wellness Coalition.