Discovering The Mature Lifestyle
Photography, hiking and nature are lifetime passions for one Bloomington man. Page 3
Summer Fun
June 16, 2016
June Issue
BY SUE WEBBER CONTRIBUTING WRITER Can you imagine planning a camping trip for 60 people, some of whom have disabilities? For three days and two nights (Aug. 15-17), senior citizens from throughout the Ebenezer Ridges campus in Burnsville will embark on a trip to Camp Friendship in Annandale. Participants come from the care center, independent living, assisted living, memory care and adult day care. “We have a wonderful time,” said Barbara Netherton, program assistant for the Ebenezer Ridges Adult Day program, who has been part of the annual camping trip every August for the last five years. The idea for such a trip resulted from a conference with residents in 2011, when they began recalling favorite pastimes, hobbies and memories. “Many reminisced about packing up the car and going fishing,” Netherton said. “From that discussion, we got the idea of taking a group to a cabin.” Each department at the Ebenezer Ridges Campus submits names of people who are interested in the trip, and their families are consulted, Netherton said. “We run it by their families and their doctors,” she said. “If someone is really interested in going, we will make it work. The cabins are all wheelchair accessible.” Two buses and a passenger van transport the group, which includes staff, residents, clients, nurses, CNAs (Certified Nursing Assistants), case managers, a chef and an assistant chef. A U-Haul is rented to carry medications, special mattresses, oxygen tanks, wheelchairs and a Hoyer Lift. “We take it all,” Netherton said. “It’s obviously a lot of work, but it’s just an amazing trip. It’s a priority on our campus.” Such a venture is “just too hard for most families to do,” Netherton said. “It’s pretty much out of the question for most families when you have to deal with wheelchairs.” Once the group gets settled in the cabins at Camp
Fishing is fun for many of the camping trip participants. (Submitted photo) Friendship, they are encouraged to enjoy fishing, kayaking, sunset cruises, bingo, pontoon rides, crafts, singalongs and s’mores around the campfire. “It’s fabulous,” Netherton said, adding that many of the participants hadn’t been able to leave the care center for a long time. “We want to help find meaning and purpose in peoples’ lives,” she said. “We want people to know they are still viable and important and have a lot to give, even when
they’re in a wheelchair or using a walker.” She noted that the staff strives to help people achieve things on their bucket lists, or recreate childhood memories. “It might be the last time they get to do that,” she said. Once at the cabins, Netherton said, “We do whatever they want to do. It’s so nice for them to get away, to have CAMPING - TO PAGE 2