Knollcrest Lodge brought its supporters in Milverton back in time on Saturday.
The long-term care home in Perth East celebrated its 50th anniversary this weekend with a 70s-themed walkathon. Dozens of people – many in colorful aviators and tie dye shirts – gathered at the Perth East Recreation Complex before walking towards Knollcrest so they could greet residents on the way by.
Jayde Middleton, the long-term care home’s life enrichment manager, helped organize the event — a fundraiser that will boost an ongoing effort in Milverton to revamp Knollcrest’s underutilized back courtyard.
“It’s such a positive thing and it’s so rewarding,” said Middleton, who was wearing orange sunglasses, jeans, and a classic Led Zeppelin t-shirt. “Especially after COVID and having to endure so much isolation, having access to an outdoor space without restrictions is so important for their mental health.”
Although it’s been a few years since Knollcrest has hosted a walkathon, Saturday’s nostalgic celebrations were reminiscent of the fundraisers community members in Milverton organized in the years leading up to the long-term care home’s construction in 1972.
That original effort to purchase essential items not covered by government funds has helped establish a strong connection between Knollcrest and the surrounding community. Today, Knollcrest’s 130 staff members help manage 80 licensed long-term care beds, but that’s only a fraction of the community-wide services area residents can find there.
Family doctors, midwives, physiotherapists and dentists have all been established around Knollcrest while a community outreach team also offers various related services, including three shuttles that provide important access to health and wellness appointments inside and outside the region.
Knollcrest means a lot to the Schwartzentruber family.
Siblings Gary, Colleen, Grant, Karen and Quintin took part in the walkathon Saturday in honor of their late parents Katie and Glenn, former Knollcrest residents.
Katie was an avid walkathon supporter until she was 80 years old, they said, and Glenn was a former Knollcrest board member. Three of the siblings have fond memories of working at Knollcrest in the past.
“Our mother always participated in it,” Colleen said. “It feels great. …because we’re doing it for mom and we’re all together.”
The Milverton Lions Club has raised around $100,000 for the courtyard, a project expected to be fully funded soon after being delayed due to the pandemic.
Earlier on Saturday, Knollcrest officials and residents planted a tree to commemorate the home’s 50th anniversary. Board chair Chris Donnelly said the festivities have helped bring up morale at Knollcrest, which was under a COVID lockdown at this time last year.
“If you’re out in the community you get this sense that COVID is gone,” he said. “In long-term care, it’s still very much a reality.”
Donnelly hopes the walkathon can take place more frequently in the future.
“Most Of the people who were involved with it before have retired so its been a bit of a learning process for everybody who’s still here but there is a lot of enthusiasm in the community,” he said. “The community sponsors have been great, the local businesses have been supportive. Hopefully we can get it started this year and make it an annual event.”