This week, the Therapeutic Activation Program for Seniors (TAPS) received a donation of a box of freshly harvested leaf lettuce, thanks to the staff and volunteers at the College of the Rockies greenhouse. We anticipated their tender taste and enjoyed the look of the almost glowing, glistening green leaves as the staff washed them for lunch. The scent of lilacs is unmistakable throughout the valley and other garden blooms show up at the centre, bringing a bit of spring inside.
Our much anticipated Arts and Culture Week “Come Sing with Us” event promoted by the arts council in April was a great success, with about 50 people participating in singing familiar songs. Thanks to Joanna Wilson with her enthusiastic and skillful piano playing and helping lead us all through an hour of singing. Folks of all ages from the Cresteramics day program, Creston and District Society for Community Living and TAPS, staff, volunteers and community visitors came together. The spirit of song and rhythm rang out for an hour in joyful sounds. Thanks to St. Stephen’s Presbyterian Pastor Church Gwen Brown for inviting us in. Watch for more community sing-alongs throughout the year, as I heard rumors of “more events like this”.
As well as the usual outings and activities through TAPS, a group of seniors travelled by bus to Prince Charles Theatre during Focus on Youth to enjoy an afternoon performance. Thanks to Brenda Brucker for the idea and reserving seats for us. And kudos to the youth and their teachers for their work and enthusiasm. Another outing was to the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area, which, with its easy access for parking and wooden walks, is friendly for all kinds of locomotion.
Our Moving Along Together program for folks affected by memory changes is in its fourth of eight weeks and is going well. Our cook during this program is Kaylie and judging by comments, her skills in the kitchen are much appreciated.
On April 12, the TAPS room was the location for a daylong program by presenters from KCOSA hosted by the Better at Home program. The acronym may not be familiar to most of you (it wasn’t for me either), but KCOSA is the Kootenay Council of Seniors’ Associations, which is the Kootenay branch of the Council of Senior Citizens Organizations of British Columbia (COSCO).
The two workshops, free of charge, were appreciated by the 20 people attending, with the first covering information about licensing issues for mature drivers and the second covering topics and resources relating to advance care planning and directives. Free materials were made available, and many of these are also at your doctor’s office and through Better at Home. Craig and Judy Gray were the presenters (they can be reached at 250-352-6635 or kcosakootenaycosco@gmail.com). We all came away convinced that this information is relevant for us all, to inform yourself and your family and to be proactive for planning ahead no matter what your age.
Last Thursday was Walk with your Doc day and a group of TAPS folks was ready to participate for part of the walk, joining others from the community heading out from the community complex.
Thanks again to our volunteers and partners and donors. Financial donations are appreciated on an ongoing basis to help us keep this program going.
Maureen Cameron is the community liaison development co-ordinator for the Therapeutic Activation Program for Seniors. For more information on TAPS, run by Valley Community Services, call 250-428-5585.
