Pinecrest Home Receives Advantage Ontario Community Connections Award for Generations Unite Initiative
June 13, 2018 -Pinecrest District Home for the Aged recently received provincial recognition for their work with seniors and youth. They received the AdvantAge Ontario Community Connections Award for their Generations Unite Initiative. The initiative focuses on creating meaningful relationships and connections with students from local area schools and the elderly residents at the nursing home.
Tracy Stasiuk, Director of Care for Pinecrest Home accepted the award at a recent AdvantAge Annual General Meeting and Convention. "The Generations Unite initiative started in 2017 with Annika Peterson a Grade 12 student from St. Thomas Aquinas High School and Theresa Wilson, Recreation Therapy Lead from Pinecrest. The two worked together to host a prom for the residents and students. Since that first prom, there have been many other opportunities and partnerships with the schools."
The Generations Unite Initiative has seen an increase in the relationships and engagement opportunities with students. A leadership class from St. Thomas Aquinas High School brought modified volleyball, curling, bowling and beanbag lawn darts to the residents, students have performed a play and a Christmas Choir composed of residents and students performed for families, a culinary arts class hosted an afternoon tea, and Grade 9 - 12 students hosted another prom in June at Pinecrest.
"Since that first prom the programming in Generations Unite continues to grow," says Stasiuk. "Teachers in the community come to us with ideas and initiatives and the students have offered many meaningful opportunities for interaction with the residents. There is genuine comradery between the youth and residents. It's added "life" at Pinecrest."
The Community Connections Award honours initiatives that build strong, positive relationships to better serve the local community and profile the organization and its services. The winning organization is presented with a framed certificate and a $1,000 cash award. The presentation took place on April 16 - 18th at the 2018 Annual General Meeting and Convention for AdvantAge Ontario.
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Puneet Khanna, Vice President, Sales and Marketing from the award sponsor Medical Pharmacies Group Limited, Tracy Stasiuk, Director of Care and Kevin Queen, Chief Executive Officer and District Administrator, Pinecrest Home for the Aged.
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St. Thomas Aquinas High School graduate, Annika Pederson, organized a prom in 2017 bringing together elderly residents and Grade 9 - 12 students. The event was completely student-driven. Students hosted another prom in June of 2018.
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