Sarah Pledge Dickson, LJI Journalist
Shawville’s Centre d’Accueil Pontiac (CAP) has received a major facelift for the first time since its construction in 2011, including additions of several themed rooms, art and murals to improve the residents’ quality of life which will be unveiled to the public at an open house on Sept. 14.
For the first time ever, the public at large is invited to come tour the nursing home’s facility, which is located next to the Pontiac Hospital, and where visitors will be able to see the many updates. Mayors and dignitaries from the area are also invited to the event.
Updates include the installation of a theatre, murals with calming nature scenes, a library with large-print books and magazines, a sports room, and a mock nursery and mock laundry room.
Katharine Hayes Summerfield, president of the Pontiac Reception Foundation that gave approximately $30,000 to make these changes possible, said the goal was to make the facility feel less institutional.
“We undertook 14 projects,” said Hayes Summerfield of the various upgrades they made to the facility.
“We’ve really upgraded the facility to become a much more homey and interactive place for the residents.”
Jessica Cox, the general manager of the CAP, echoed that sentiment.
“The whole idea of the project is to make it feel more like home,” she said.
“Nobody wants to move out of their home, so the idea is to integrate different centres into different corners so residents feel at home.”
Hayes Summerfield said that in 2011, when the CAP opened, it felt like an institution.
“When we first started these projects, the facility itself was more like a hospital,” said Hayes Summerfield. “It was sort of cold and sterile. Now it’s their home and, in most cases, their last home.”
Both women agreed it is important that the home have interactive stations where residents can participate in activities and feel like they are engaged.
“We have interactive things, like a living tree on each floor,” said Hayes Summerfield. “It’s a mural but the residents can decorate as per the season.”
Hayes Summerfield said the changes have made residents happier.
“For one thing, the residents are happier and they have more things to do rather than just sit and look outside the window or watch TV,” said Hayes Summerfield. “So it’s really enhanced their life in the facility.”
At the open house on Sept. 14, Cox is hoping to break down some of the barriers between the CAP and the community.
“The idea is to bring the public to them, in the sense that it’s hard for all the older people to leave and have a normal social life,” said Cox.
“So we want to open it up to the community and say that this is a place you can come and visit.”
One of the goals of this project was also to make the space a place that family members and other people from the community could easily interact with people living at the CAP.
Upon entry into the facility, visitors walk into what Hayes Summerfield calls their bistro area, with tables that can accommodate small groups, as well as a wine fridge and a big, floor-to-ceiling window. She said it’s intended as an area where residents can welcome their families when they come to visit.
Hayes Summerfield hopes the open house will be an opportunity for people who wouldn’t usually go to the CAP to see the work they’ve done.
“We have lots of ideas for future projects but we thought it was time to open the home to the public so they could see what type of facility was here,” said Hayes Summerfield. “Most people don’t even go in unless they have family here.”
Hayes Summerfield said they are looking for donations of books, movies, magazines, art, quilts, anything the residents might enjoy. She said people can call the front desk at 819-647-5755 with donation offers.
The open house will begin at 1:30 p.m. on Sept. 14 and go until 4 p.m..