Painting brings employees, residents together

The smell of paint was the first thing a person walking into the Mission at Castle Rock Rehabilitation Center Friday afternoon would encounter.

Numerous employees and residents were busy using rollers and paint brushes to paint the entryway and hallway of the facility. 

A fresh coat of paint was being used as a way to brighten up the facility's atmosphere. A light tan color was selected to put on the walls. 

Bobbi Jo Drozd, CRRC executive director and administrator, said they were preparing one wall for a wood and metal memorial tree. She said the tree's trunk and branches will be made out of wood, which was being done by a local woodworker, while the leaves would be metal. The metal leaves would act as memorial leaves for those who have died. She said it is just one way for CRRC to raise funds. She said a lot of Green River residents have had someone they loved live at the CRRC and this is a way for them to remember them.

This wall will not only serve as a memorial wall, but a milestone wall also.

Drozd said the plan is to have a bunch of stones at the bottom of the wall tree. These stones will represent the milestones CRRC is completing towards it's Eden Alternative certification.

"We are just going to be sending our application," Drozd said.

This will be one milestone for CRRC. They are hoping this application and hopefully its approval are just the beginning of many Eden Alternative milestones they will reach.

According to the website http://www.edenalt.org, "The Eden Alternative is an international, non-profit organization dedicated to creating quality of life for elders and their care partners, wherever they may live. Through education, consultation, and outreach, we offer person-directed principles and practices that support the unique needs of different living environments, ranging from the nursing home to the neighborhood street."

The Eden philosophy also wants employees at its certified nursing homes to help with elder loneliness, boredom and hopelessness. The CRRC employees are working hard to include its residents in all activities it has.

"Things like this give them purpose," Drozd said.

She said something as simple as painting walls can give the resident a sense of pride and ownership in CRRC. This is exactly the kinds of feelings they want residents to have.