Glacier View Lodge’s vision of ‘feels like home’ has been enhanced this winter.
“The pandemic has not slowed the Lodge’s goal to improve the lives of our residents,” said GVL director of resident lifestyle & community programs, Liz Friis. “In January we began our ‘True Doors’ project, creating a unique look to each resident’s front door. This is one more element of our Wayfinding initiative, aimed at enhancing our dementia-friendly environment and making it easier for people to navigate our home.
“That is great!,” said one resident. “I will know that I have the green door and you have the blue one and we’ll be able to find our way around easier.”
Residents have largely been on the lodge grounds since the pandemic began, so adding this new design element has created much interest and excitement. Glacier View Lodge is amongst a handful of Canadian care-homes to embrace this initiative, which originated in Holland.
The lodge worked with the True Doors company, which creates made-to-measure decals using pictures of real doors. Residents and their families were able to select their design from an enormous catalogue, and GVL staff co-ordinated to ensure each door is unique. Many residents selected a door that reminded them of their own home’s front door while others selected by favourite colour or design.
“Through this project, we learned a lot about each person’s style preferences and this has created many opportunities to reminisce,” said Friis.
Another benefit of the project is to enhance privacy. The look of the front door will be a reminder to knock and wait to enter, and will also deter those from wandering into another resident’s room.
“We are truly grateful for the funds raised by the Auxiliary to Glacier View Lodge, a donation from Coast Capital Savings and a private donation that allowed us to fund the True Doors project,” said Friis. “The Lodge’s next project is to update our main living area with a fresh design and new, comfortable furniture.”
Also: Glacier View Lodge Legacy of Light campaign deadline extended to Feb. 14
Donations to the “Legacy of Light” can be made at www.glacierviewlodge.ca