The Friends of the Home is a small group of volunteers who devote their time to making long term care homes a better place to be for the residents in Assiniboia.
Each month or so, Leanna Batty, her daughter Shayla Batty and other individuals bring local pets and some nice treats to the Ross Payant Nursing home and the Long Term Care in Assiniboia Union Hospital.
“Why? Well firstly, it is amazing for us as volunteers to see the residents come to life when they see the animals up close for the first time in possibly years,” explained Shayla Batty. “A light appears in their eyes that somehow got lost in the process of aging, but that, my friends, is why we do what we do. We are here to bring back that shining light.”
She noted that bringing in pet animals jogs the memories of the residents about their family pets. Then the residents share stories with the volunteers as if those events happened just yesterday. “We are here so the ladies and gents can hold kittens like babies and smile like we’ve never seen them smile. We are here to hear laughter, see joy, and of course, taste some good treats,” said Batty.
For more on this, see the Feb. 17, 2017 print or e-edition of the Assiniboia Times. You can also subscribe to the Assiniboia Times here: www.assiniboiatimes.ca/subscribe
