Seniors from Kostomłoty municipality who attend activities at the day-care centre in Osiek are living life to the full! They do not have time to get bored.
“The seniors signed up for the activities themselves. At first they were shy, but now they are very active. They prepare Christmas decorations, take part in fairs, and the Easter palm they made won second place in a municipal competition,” says Eugenia Kulak, manager of the Senior+ Home. She adds that meetings with dietitians, a lawyer and a psychologist were very popular.
Around 40 per cent of the residents of Kostomłoty municipality are already of senior age. They live on modest pensions, often alone, and even when they are with family, they still spend many hours by themselves. Now this has changed for many of them.
A Day Like Any Other
In the morning, a minibus picks up the seniors and takes them to the centre. Then it is time for breakfast, joint prayer and singing. Every day there are workshops and fitness exercises. People can read a book, discuss things and play various games. In the afternoon, there is coffee and cake. Then come more activities, conversations and exercises. Finally, there is lunch, and time passes so quickly that it is already 4 p.m.! It is time to leave, because a minibus is waiting to take the seniors home.
In addition to daily activities that are repetitive but always interesting, there are also regular trips to the swimming pool, cinema and theatre performances. The seniors also explore Lower Silesia—there have been trips to Szklarska Poręba, Polanica-Zdrój and Karpacz. Everyone is eager to take part and discover hidden talents within themselves.
The participants themselves say that this approach to senior care works extremely well:
Danuta Żądło from Osiek: “Thanks to being here and to the support of Mrs Eugenia and the entire staff, I can develop my passion—making decorative arrangements, handicrafts and Christmas decorations. Simple products such as newspaper clippings, tissue paper and pumpkin seeds can be used to create a unique picture of saints.”
A Meeting Place
The Day Senior+ Home in Osiek currently has room for 20 seniors living in different localities of the municipality. The Senior Council meets here once a month, while older people who do not use the care home’s services every day also attend events and meetings. The home has therefore become a kind of meeting centre.
Although many of the participants use a cane or crutches to move around, they want to remain active and take care of their health. In addition to help from physiotherapists and medical advice, a telecare wristband makes this easier for them. It monitors not only blood pressure but also enables them to call for medical assistance in the event of a fall or fainting. The telecare wristbands, together with the subscription, were financed through the project “Kostomłoty Municipality Supports Seniors—establishment of the Senior+ Day Home in Kostomłoty Municipality”.
The home for seniors was established in a former school building. The building was renovated and adapted to its new purpose, and the garden was also developed. Zofia Opałka from Jarząbkowice: “I feel safe and happy here, and above all, I am not bored. Everyone around us is kind and takes care of us.”
Informational material from the Marshal’s Office of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship.
