Therapeutic Recreation Programs
Loving Hands offers therapeutic recreation programs that are learning- and developmentally-based. Each program is designed to support personal growth while teaching valuable life skills.
All of our actives encompass the benefit of all three programs (Independence, recreation, and participation).
Our individualized and structured activities allow participants to feel secure and develop a new comfort zone for recreation and learning. This security, combined with playfulness and loving care, allows participants to easily engage in learning new skills and become more self-motivated
Our Programs:
- Independence – This program will promote participants overall independence throughout their daily living
- Recreation – This program is geared around giving our participants a fun-filled day
- Participation – This program teaches participants what it means to be an active participant in life
Our Sensory Room:
Imagine a softly lit, quiet space filled with captivating lights, soothing sounds, and cozy seats It’s like a playground but intended for taking a breather instead of burning off excess energy. That’s right, we’re talking about a sensory room or multi-sensory environment. Everything in the space is carefully chosen and placed so that individuals with SPD, ASD, or have difficulties integrating their senses can chill and play in an engaging and calming manner.
The history
Sensory rooms have been around for a while. They started in the early 1970s by Dutch therapists Ian Hulsegge and Ad Verheul , whose ultimate goal was to help people with disabilities enjoy their environments by slowly integrating play and sensory experiences.
Who can benefit from our sensory room ?
Short answer, anyone. While these environments are typically associated with children, individuals of all ages and abilities can benefit from a safe space where they can regulate themselves and renew focus.On April 1st, 2020, community members can access our sensory room, free of charge, by simply booking a time!
Why might an individual benefit from a sensory room?
The reasons why an individual might benefit from a sensory room is ultimately reliant upon the individual sensory needs of the user.
In helping calm the senses, multi-sensory environments can help focus an individual who is otherwise often distracted. Visually and physically engaging an easily distracted individual with their environment has proven to increase their attention span over time.
Some of the items in our sensory room are items that require an individual to engage their fine motor development For example, individuals with poor fine motor skills can work on sharpening their dexterity by playing with textured balls, throwing balls, playing in a sensory sandbox, or engaging in wall panel work.
Our sensory rooms can provide a much-needed break from the hustle and bustle of real life and engage an individual in their most important work—play—while also giving them the added benefit of some fun therapy
It is our goal to enable parents and caregivers the opportunity to bring individuals diagnosed with Autism to Loving Hands, where we can promote progress and work to develop techniques specifically aimed for individual needs.
At Loving Hands, we will focus on a number of specialized areas including: fine motor exercises, improving fine and gross motor skills, music, crafts, drumming and specialized activities to build brain connections, promoting better communication skills.
Here are some facts about isolation to help you stay informed:
- Both social isolation and loneliness are associated with a higher risk of mortality in adults.
- Feelings of loneliness can negatively affect both physical and mental health.
- Regardless of the facts of a person’s isolation, seniors and adults with disabilities who feel lonely and isolated are more likely to report also having poor physical and/or mental health.
- Connecting seniors and adults with disabilities with social resources, such as adult centre is one way to combat subjective feelings of isolation.
- Perceived loneliness contributes to cognitive decline and risk of dementia.
- Social isolation makes seniors and adults with disabilities more vulnerable to elder abuse.
- Social isolation in seniors and adults with disabilities is linked to long-term illness.
- Loneliness in seniors and adults with disabilities is a major risk factor for depression.
- Loneliness causes high blood pressure.
- Socially isolated seniors and adults with disabilities are more pessimistic about the future.
What is an adult Day Program?
Normally, adult day program is used to relieve the parent/ caregiver or his or her duties for the day while ensuring that the care recipient will still receive the proper care in a safe, friendly environment. Our center is open Monday to Friday from 9-4 (flexible times can be discussed) Our three main purposes focus primarily on social interaction, provide activities, both structured and flexible, and provide service as required.
Who qualifies for this program?
A person enrolled in an adult day care center who is functionally impaired. We define functionally impaired adults as… chronically impaired disabled persons sixteen years of age or older.
Why would one use this service?
Our center enables our members the ability to remain in their own home or in the home of a family member, guardian, or other care giver, and avoid premature institutionalization. Generally, a care recipient can benefit from adult day care because:
• It allows him or her to stay in his or her community while the caregiver goes to work
• It gives him or her a break from the caregiver
• It provides needed social interaction
• It provides greater structure to his or her daily activities
What types of programs are offered?
A monthly activity calendar will be posted 2 weeks prior to the following scheduled month. This will be available on site, and posted on our website and our Facebook page.
• Assistance with eating, taking medicines
• Educational programs or mental stimulation
• Exercise programs
• Podiatry care
• Assistance with preparation of meals and snacks
• Social activities
• Crafts
• Exercises
• Games
• Gardening
• Holiday parties
• Music & pet therapy
• Relaxation techniques
Are you licensed to run a program?
Loving Hands Partners In Care Inc, falls under the “venerable persons” sector.Loving Hands Partners in Care Inc. successfully qualified as an approved PDD service provider through the Alberta Community and Social Services (“the Ministry”) in December of 2017.
Loving Hands Partners In Care Inc, is fully licensed through the city, inspected through Alberta Health Services, and carry and maintain the required liability insurance. All staff must hold, in good standing, a police check under the “venerable Sector” guidelines, as well as First Aid /CPR, and all other mandated certifications.
Are people with higher needs separated from other participants or included in general activities?
This will depend on the individual need of the participant. Our program will be specific to the needs of the individual when applicable. Please note all participants with moderate impairment will require specific staff /participant ratio as required. We reserve the right to disqualify participants with physical abuse issues.
Will the center evaluate the person’s needs? How will this evaluation be accomplished? How often will it be repeated?
As this is not a medical facility, there are some restrictions to participation criteria. Please speak to our facilitator when eligibility is questionable.
Is staff trained?
All staff will have required certifications as required. All 1:1 assigned staff will have the required qualifications to care for this demographic.
How are emergency situations handled?
Each emergency is individual and unique:
• All staff will maintain current CPR/First Aid certification.
• Ongoing training will be maintained.
• A first Aid Kit will remain on site.
• 911 will be utilized as required.
• Required staffing ratio’s will be maintained.
• Facility & equipment will be maintained to all provincial health standards.
What types of health care professionals are on staff?
As we are not a medical facility, we will not have certified medical personal on site daily with the exception of an RN, certified through the VON for-foot care, monthly when we reach copacity. We will, in time, schedule a health care professionals for blood pressure clinics periodically. There will be on staff daily, qualified and experienced caregivers and a Certified Recreation Professional.
How do you ensure the safety of the participants?
• Enrollment procedures.
• Facility, equipment requirements.
• General health and safety requirements, such as infection control, fire safety, and emergency operations.
• Program activities requirements.
• Record keeping requirements.
• Participants’ rights.
• Staff-participant ratios
• Personnel policies not related to staffing and training, such as conducting criminal background checks.
• Meal and food requirements related to food handling, preparation, and storage.
• Medication storage policies.
What are the hours of operation?
Monday to Friday 9-4 (flexibility is available)
Do you provide subsidies?
As this is such a new model, currently, no subsidy is available. We will continue to work with the federal and provincial government in this endeavor. PDD may provide support dollars to qualified individuals. Additionally, there may be funding dollars for qualified seniors.
Is transportation available?
Currently this service is not available. As we grow, this will be an option. There is a service in Airdrie called Seniors to Go (403) 702-6160. We also suggest our Access Airdrie: 403-948-8888
What is Access Airdrie?
ACCESS Airdrie is a shared ride curb to curb accessible public transit service available to residents with disabilities. An applicant is eligible for ACCESS Airdrie if they are a City of Airdrie resident and are unable to use conventional transit services due to a physical or functional limitation, defined as “any condition, either short term or long term”
Does one have to commit to a full-time model?
No. There are several options to choose from if you are wanting to participate in our program. We offer monthly rates, weekly rates, daily rates and even drop in opportunities. Currently we are promoting a “Loyalty Card”, which allows members the option of utilizing 10 programs (plus an additional drop in),for the cost of $100.00. Some restrictions may apply.
Do I have to sign a contract?
For the safety of all parties, we do require a liability agreement to be reviewed, approved and signed. Additionally, an application form is required and a participant information sheet. Participants are under no obligation to sign a long-term contract for participation.
Are lunches provided?
At the current time, lunches are not provided and bag lunches are required. As we grow, this model will evolve. We do provide snacks and beverages throughout the day. Additionally, we do have frozen dinners and soups on hand when required.
Do you access volunteers?
We do access and welcome volunteers within our Center. As expected, the safety certification requirements pertain to our volunteers
Can family members/ guardians drop in without notice?
All family members and guardians are welcome any time.
Because each of our members are unique and attend our center for various reasons,times and support levels, so too is our pricing. Please talk to our management team about pricing.
Emergency Fire and Ambulance Call 911
Calgary Distress Center (24 Hours) 403-266-1601
Health Link (24Hours) 1-866-408-5465
RCMP (non emergency) 403-945-7267
Poisson Control Center 403-944-1414
Protection for Persons In Care 1-888- 357-9339
Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) https://www.alberta.ca/aish.aspx
Persons With Developmental Disabilities Calgary (PDD) http://www.humanservices.alberta.ca/services-near-you/pdd-calgary.html
Alberta Aids to Daily Living Call 310 0000 then ask for 780-427-0731
Children’s Link- your special needs connection ( adults and Children) http://childrenslink.ca/Portal/Project/PWSearchFull.aspx?search=government+services
Veterans Affairs Canada
http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/services/health/treatment-benefits
Alberta Blue Cross 403-2340-9666
Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan Call 310-0000 then 780-427-1432
Philips Life Line 1-800-lifeline (1-800-543-3546)
Geriatric Mental Health 403-948-3878
Community Links – Airdrie
http://www.nrvcl.ab.ca/index.php
Health Link Alberta
https://myhealth.alberta.ca
1-866-408-5465(LINK)
Alberta Health Services
http://www.albertahealthservices.ca
Government of Alberta
seniors services web portal:
http://www.seniors.gov.ab.ca
Alberta Seniors Benefit Program
https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-seniors-benefit.aspx
Special Needs Assistance for Seniors (SNA) Program
https://www.alberta.ca/seniors-special-needs-assistance.aspx
Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia
www.alzheimercalgary.ca
Alberta Health Services
https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/assets/info/seniors/if-sen-self-managed-care-brochure.pdf
Links & References
Accessibility News
Access 2 Card
Alberta Human Rights Commission
Calgary Community Service Guide
Calgary Transit Low Income Application
City of Calgary Accessibility and Disability
Disability News Online
Disability Tax Credit
Fee Assistance Information
Handi Bus Application
Parking Placard for Persons with Disabilities
PDD Calgary Region
PDD Safeguards and Standards
PDD Services Act
Village Square Leisure Centre