Long-term care gets in the holiday spirit

Keeping in the spirit of the season, the Kateri Memorial Hospital Centre (KMHC)’s Long-Term Care unit has gone through a holiday makeover, thanks to dedicated staff members, patients, and their families.

Indeed, many have participated in the Xmas Door Decorating Contest, where the doors to the patients’ rooms are decorated with the holidays in mind.

Ashley Gray, an activity aide for the KMHC’s Long-Term Care unit, said the idea was suggested to her by the KMHC’s volunteer coordinator, Vanessa Rice.

“I’m a huge Christmas lover, so I took her idea and I ran with it,” said Gray.

The amount of enthusiasm for the contest from patients, their families, and KMHC staff has blown Gray away, transforming the unit into a “true winter wonderland.”

“Some of their ideas have been so great. It was so nice to see all their creativity come out and just have them be so excited,” said Gray.

Getting the families of patients in the unit involved in a festive activity was very important for Gray, because it gives patients more time to be with loved ones, during a time when loneliness can hit hard.

For those who have less family around, Gray said staff members stepped up to decorate, making creative designs and sometimes crafting their own ornaments or decorations to put up on patients’ doors.

“It’s been really cool to see the staff all come together,” said Gray.

“It started off where we had maybe four volunteers willing to do someone’s door, to almost every single door getting done.”

Gray estimated that 90 percent of the doors in the unit had been decorated, much more than what she was anticipating.

Some highlights include one door themed off the “12 Days of Christmas,” with 12 little gift bags shaped around the door in the shape of a clock; a cardboard fireplace with handmade miniature stockings hung up; several doors wrapped to look like presents; and some even featuring functional Christmas light setups to name but a few of the sometimes elaborate but always creative designs.

Four winners will be selected today (Friday), based on three categories - most festive, most creative, and most traditional - plus a mystery fourth winner, whose name will be drawn at random to give everyone a chance to win.

Judges for the categories will be staff from the outpatient unit.

“They’re not always able to come to the unit, so I tried to pick from the outpatient unit so they can be surprised,” said Gray.

Winners or their families will receive Shop Kahnawake coupons as prizes.

“We wanted to keep it in the community,” said Gray.

With how successful this first run has been, she is hoping this will become a new annual tradition at the hospital.

“I’m super proud of the activity team coming together, pulling this off, and dealing with my Christmas craziness,” said Gray.

“It’s been a really cool experience.”

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