Church

Do seniors really want a rest home?

As a youngster I remember senior citizen homes being called “rest homes”.  I guess the idea was to move the retired people into places where they had no responsibility.  Into a caring environment with all the amenities necessary to live out the final years of life.  Into a place where the former leaders of a society would be given the honour due them.

Our town is looking at a seniors facility – a bridge between regular housing and the highest level care facility we have in town.  One of those who had been researching this found that words count!  We could not call this “assisted living.”  Even though the idea was to have meals and some home care available.  This must still be “independent living.”  Seniors do not want to “rest.”

So, I”ve coined a new name — “Assisted Independent Living.”  Don’t take the acronym seriously (AIL) — this has nothing to do with what the seniors would be doing in this home!!!

Tuesday we’ll be looking through these windows and up the stairs as my parents arrive.

They will come to Saskatoon on a WestJet flight (should be a merry flight!).  We’ll pick them up and bring them back to Kindersley for 10 days.

We’ll tour around town, visit with friends and see the sights. 

There is one building they will not “see.”  This morning, at 8:00, I attended a meeting of those interested in getting an independent assisted living facility in the town.  Maybe we’ll see some former residents  return.  The building is not yet a “sight” to be seen, but one to be “hoped” for — and for many citizens the sooner the better.

I’ve just finished Paul Chamberlain’s book “Talking about Good and Bad without getting Ugly.”

In our current society we are discouraged from embarking on moral persuasion.  Everyone is said to have their own morals and none is better than the other. 

Chamberlain disputes that approach and with the use of dialogue, examples and logic puts together a good case for seeing a culture change morally and socially.  He uses William Wilberforce as an example of a man of humour, of influence and of conviction who made a difference in his world.

“Incremental strategy” is the approach Chamberlain takes for changing society’s views.  While you can’t change the slow moving ship of culture overnight, at least get on board where some positive movement can be capitalized upon.  Sounds like a strategy politicians need to consider.

I kind of wonder if Steven Harper hasn’t read this book!

We were told (by a reputable source!) that the community carol festival started 34  years ago.  Another reputable source disputed the date – “longer ago than that!”

25 years ago was our last time at the festival.  The building was the same – the United Church in town.  The people have aged together — with some new additions. 

The program was 2 1/2 hours long – probably pushing the limits of centered concentration.  The music was good — for a community this size there are vocal talents galore.

I sang with a quartet.  I guess my voice carried well.  Via the post office, via the school office, via . . . the word is out that the Alliance Pastor can sing (my wife would add “loud”)!

 I love a town this size. 

I’m always amazed how swift the grapevine diffuses a message.   People tell people who tell people.  Sometimes you know who, other times you guess who, and other times best not to know who! 

I’m one who believes in communicating with others.  I recognize that the grapevine will always be one of the major contributors. 

Oh, and about that grapevine!  Don’t get in a flap — tap the sap — and let the message go!